Whether you fancy soaking up some rays, sightseeing or an adrenaline-fuelled trip, here’s some inspiration to help you choose your big break

The hottest holiday destinations for 2012 CreteGreece is the word for bargains this year, and Crete, the biggest of all the islands, has lots to offer. It’s known for its nightlife and 24-hour party towns such as Malia, but there is a quieter side to the island – and of course some stunning beaches, particularly the palm-fringed curve of golden sand at Vai. Well worth visiting is the old Venetian harbour of Chania (pictured), which has typical tavernas and an old fortress, and other must-sees include the Minoan Palace of Knossos at Heraklion.

There’s a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets, but for pampering and total relaxation then the all-inclusive Aldemar Royal Mare resort is an oasis of calm.Eating From delicious souvlaki to freshly-caught fish, Greek salad and very good wine, you’ll be spoiled for choice.Money saver Take the local buses – they’re easy to use and a cheap way to get around.

FranceProbably one of the best all-round destinations. This year’s hot spots include Brittany, Aquitaine and the Loire Valley.Eating The beauty of a trip to France is that you can eat astonishingly good food without spending a fortune. A top tip though is to go for the Prixe Fixe (fixed-price menu), or stock up

at a supermarket and picnic on fresh bread, cheeses and meat.Money saver Camping or staying in a holiday home is a brilliant-value holiday, and fabulous fun for large groups or families.

Getting there Cosmos Holidays offers breaks to Crete from £669 per adult for seven nights at the five-star Aldemar Royal Mare resort, based on two people sharing on an all-inclusive basis. For more details, visit cosmos.co.uk.

Getting there Eurotunnel (eurotunnel.com) offers channel crossings from as little as £22 per car. Siblu Holidays (siblu.com) offers family mobile homes in Normandy from £226 for a week.

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Aruba Ideal for families and couples, Aruba is one of the coolest Caribbean destinations right now. For not only does it offer azure sea and white sand beaches, but also its Dutch heritage and proximity to Venezuela give it an intriguing mix of Latin spirit and European architecture. It’s outside the hurricane belt, too. No wonder so many UK tour operators are starting to offer package holidays there. At only 20 miles long, the island is easy to get around and a jeep tour is a

A white sandy beach at the Divi Aruba Resort

brilliant way to see what it has to offer. Visitors can book a half- or full-day drive, with an off-road trip along the rugged coastline of the Arikok National Park that includes a swim in the hard-to-reach Natural Pool. Or there are magical evening catamaran tours where you can watch the sunset out at sea. And a stay at the all-inclusive Divi Aruba resort, which is ideal for both couples and families, offers plenty of watersports and diving.

With sunshine almost all year around, there isn’t really a bad time to travel to Aruba. But

Getting there Seven nights, flying from Gatwick to Aruba staying at the Divi Aruba, on an all-inclusive basis in a double ocean-view room, starts at £1,252 based on two people sharing. For details visit thomson.co.uk. To find out more about Aruba, go to aruba.com.

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[TIP]You can exchange your Clubcard vouchers for up to 3x their value in rewards tokens to pay for holidays. See

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September and October tend to be swelteringly hot months.Eating Sample lots of fresh fish, such as grouper, mahi mahi and shrimp, plus delicious cocktails. Money saver There are lots of free events during the summer, which is also low season.

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Toronto is fast becoming one of the most exciting destinations for a city break, with great shopping, restaurants and sights. Thrill-seekers with nerves of steel should try the Edge Walk on the top of the CN Tower, where you are, literally, walking along the edge of one of the world’s tallest structures. And it’s just a few of hours from the city to the magnificent Niagara Falls, where you can take a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist through the glorious spray or walk behind the Falls.

Kids will love Centreville Amusement Park (centreisland.ca) with its carousel, and Canada’s Wonderland (canadaswonderland.com), which boasts amazing roller coasters. If you can, watch baseball at the Rogers Centre. And make sure you see the city at night – the skyline is spectacular.Eating Toronto has a fabulous array of restaurants in its ethnic neighbourhoods – there are five Chinatowns, a Little Italy, Little Portugal, Little India, Koreatown and a Greektown. Go easy on the maple sugar candy.Money saver A Toronto CityPass saves money on top attractions. Visit citypass.com for details.

LisbonThe Portugese capital, just two hours from the UK, has incredible architecture, great bars and restaurants, fab shopping, golf, and excellent beaches – many of them Blue Flag – well worth a visit are Cascais, Estoril, and Adraga. Must-sees include the 15th-century Belém Tower and the Oceanarium.Eating Basically it’s a foodie paradise – from fresh seafood,

Getting there The four-star Fontana Park Hotel (fontanapark-hotel.com), which is located in the heart of the city, offers rooms from £80 a night. Easyjet.com fly to lisbon.

fish and delicious cured meats to port and wine, and of course scrumptious custard tarts.Money saver The Lisboa Card gives you savings on transport and museum entry. For more details, see visitlisboa.com.

Getting there The Sheraton Centre (sheratontoronto.com) makes a great base for touring the city. Virgin Holidays has city breaks to Toronto from £729, including flights with Air Canada (aircanada.com). For more on Toronto, visit seetorontonow.com.

[TIP]Go online to find the cheapest airport parking. You can also get last-minute car rental deals that offer discounts of up to 60 per cent.

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BreathtakingNiagara Falls are definitely worth visiting

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FloridaFlorida, and particularly Orlando, remains one of our favourite destinations, and Walt Disney World is probably the best-value option for a family holiday. With four fantastic theme parks, two water parks, daily parades and nightly firework displays, there’s zero chance of hearing ‘I’m bored’ from anyone.

Get a free Fastpass where possible for the most popular rides, as this gives you an allocated time and means you avoid queueing. And, if you really want to push the boat out, take the Disney Cruise, which visits its own private island and includes clubs for the kids and an adults-only pool, bar and spa for you – the perfect chillout after visiting the parks.

Eating There is lots of standard theme-park fare but it is possible to eat healthily, too. Money saver Don’t buy passes for every day of your stay because you probably won’t use them – better to pace yourselves.

HollandThe Netherlands is back in vogue – close enough for a short break, but with plenty of glorious beaches and beautiful countryside for an extended stay. Amsterdam also makes a fabulous city break. It’s a wonderful country to cycle around, too, particularly as it’s so flat.Eating Delicious pastries, cheese, seafood, pancakes – sweet and savoury – and speciality beer.Money saver In summer there are loads of free outdoor festivals.

Use your Clubcard rewards to go on holiday Wherever you’re planning an escape to, Clubcard rewards can help you get there. You can exchange your Clubcard vouchers for up to 3x their value in rewards tokens to pay for your holiday with favourite travel companies including: ✽ Virgin Holidays✽ Cosmos Holidays ✽ Park Resorts ✽ Eurotunnel New for 2012 ✽ Virgin Flying Club Now you can exchange your Clubcard vouchers for Flying Club miles. For more information, go online to tesco.com/rewards.

Getting there DFDS Seaways (dfdsseaways.co.uk) offers three-night breaks from Newcastle to Amsterdam from £113 per person. For more ideas, visit holland.com/uk.

Getting there Virgin Holidays (virginholidays.com) has holidays to Orlando from £689, staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. For tickets to Disney World and more on the Cruise line, visit disney.go.com.

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