That means there’s still plenty of time to book your Easter break! (Just don’t forget to factor in the UK’s May Bank Holiday, which falls on May 6, giving you an extra day to work with.)

To help you choose a Greek Easter destination that’s perfect for you, we’ve taken a look at some of the traditions and events you might expect around Greece.

Easter traditions to expect – Rhodes

Rhodes shares the religious rites and family feasts that attend Easter all over Greece. But it’s also a place where you can witness a tradition that’s not practiced everywhere. In Rhodes, and in a handful of other towns including Leros and Chania, the local children create an effigy of Judas to be burned over a big public bonfire. Choose Rhodes for your Greek Easter getaway, and you’ll not only get a second shot at Easter, but you’ll also enjoy an early edition of Bonfire Night!

Easter traditions to expect – Zante

Easter is one of the biggest events in Zante’s calendar, and it’s a great time to see this Ionian island come alive in a celebratory spirit, and to witness some true local traditions. The unmissable Easter event on Zante is the procession of the Byzantine icon of the Holy Mother of Chryssopigi on Easter Saturday night. Everyone participating carries a candle around the city streets until they arrive in San Marco square, where at midnight they pass a single flame from candle to candle until the entire square is illuminated. The square is the centre of the action on Easter Sunday, too. Expect a lamb roast, folk dances and friends breaking their red boiled eggs.

Easter traditions to expect – Crete

There are two unforgettable smells associated with Greek Easter in Crete’s capital, Heraklion. The first is the smell of rose water sprinkled on the city streets on Good Friday evening – the same evening that all of Heraklion makes its way to the Greek Orthodox cathedral of St Minas to visit the epitaphos, or the funeral bier of Christ. The second is the smell that fills Heraklion that same night: seafood feasts for the faithful returning from the cathedral. If you want to sample the traditional Good Friday dinner of calamari and shrimps in Heraklion, make sure you book a restaurant well in advance.

If Italy is a no-brainer for your next family holiday, why not enlarge your child’s love for the country even more with some books that will let them explore its stories and culture? Here’s a handful to read together before you go.

If you’re going to Southern Italy – Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola

This picture book has a special place in my memory. I must have pored endlessly over the illustrations when I was little, because I can still vividly recall so many details from the world of ‘Grandma Witch’ and Big Anthony – her special potions and magic pasta pot, particularly, and even the tiled roofs of her little Calabrian village. And it wasn’t just me who fell under Strega Nona’s spell. The book was so widely loved that it spawned a whole series by Tomie dePaola, including Big Anthony and the Magic Ring (another favourite of mine), Merry Christmas Strega Nona, and pop-up book Brava Strega Nona!

Recommended for: ages 4 and up

If you’re going to Venice – The Voice of the Wood, by Claude Clement

Gorgeous illustrations will make this picture book a firm favourite for you, too. It’s a moving story about a magical cello, made from a special tree, which will only make music if it’s held by a musician who plays from the heart. Every page conjures up the glories of Venice, including the pageantry of the Grand Carnival and the grace of its canals.

Recommended for: ages 5 and up

If you’re going to Rome – The Happy Hollisters and the Punch and Judy Mystery, by Jerry West

This gem from 1964 sees the Hollister family – those American fictional favourites who just love solving mysteries – continue their adventures in Italy. Their travels take them from Pisa to Pompeii (not neglecting the capital) in search of a disappeared puppeteer – and hot on the tail of a gang of thieves!

Recommended for: ages 4–12 (the ages of the Hollister children)

If you’re going to Florence – The Apprentice, by Pilar Molina Llorente

The story of a boy who leaves his family business to become a painter, this book brings Renaissance Florence truly to life. It’s an ideal introduction to the rich history of this city, and an appealing story that never fails to earn glowing reviews.

Recommended for: ages 11 and up

If you’re going anywhere in Italy – The Thread of Life: Twelve Old Italian Tales, by Domenico Vittorini

The author of this collection has retold the tales he himself heard when he was growing up in Italy. They have the timeless appeal of fairy tales, and are accompanied by charming pictures from Mary GrandPre, the illustrator of American editions in the Harry Potter series. Perfect for reading aloud.

Recommended for: all ages

She chose a package because it would be easy on her budget and easy on her, saving her the hassles that can make hard work of family holidays. But there was one extra benefit my sister-in-law didn’t expect. The ease of a package break left her and the kids free to get on with the serious stuff of holidays – getting sand between their toes, swimming and staring vacantly into space.

My sister-in-law certainly isn’t the UK’s only new convert to the package experience. According to the Office for National Statistics, the popularity of package holidays has climbed consistently since the financial crisis of 2008.

In these cash-strapped times, it’s natural that we’re putting affordability at the top of our holiday checklists. But are package breaks right for everyone? Here, we take a look at how they compare to independent travel.

Budget

From New York to Bangkok, I’ve travelled the world independently – and almost always on a shoestring. I’ve done it to experience different places, but also for the sense of achievement it brings. It’s incredibly satisfying to get around on your own steam. But doing it on a budget means that money is almost always on your mind, whether you’re planning, penny-pinching or putting up with cut-rate accommodation.

Package travel, by contrast, means that you can forget about money from the moment you step onto the plane. With flights, accommodation, transfers, entertainment and more in one upfront price, you know exactly where you stand. The package traveller’s pound often goes further than the independent traveller’s, too, because the buying power of package providers delivers big discounts.

Convenience

Ever been abroad with an extreme planner? You know the sort. They jet off with a spreadsheet plotting activities against transport in order to blitz all attractions efficiently. With this type of traveller, you’ll never miss your connection, get lost or encounter any of independent travel’s more common mishaps – but you will return home exhausted.

I think independent travel is done best with a free spirit – a land-and-see-what-happens approach and a willingness to go with the flow no matter how inconvenient things get.

If you’re somewhere between those two extremes, package holidays will work for you. You can relax knowing that you’ll be free of the niggling inconveniences of independent travel. But you can also leave the spreadsheet behind, because all the nitty-gritty is worked out for you.

Experience

What of the thrill of travel? Don’t package holidays take away all the adventure? It’s true that the package traveller’s choice is more limited than that of the independent traveller, who can explore the world in whichever way they choose. But it’s equally true that the variety of package holidays has expanded incredibly over the years. These days, a package can deliver some pretty special experiences, from close-up crocodiles sightings in Gambia to the awe-inspiring northern lights of Lapland.

The survey, which marked World Book Day on 7 March, also found that 67% of children are encouraged to read to entertain themselves during journeys and between activities.

Commenting on the findings in the Telegraph, Emma Kenny, a child psychologist, said: “I cannot express how important reading to your children is. The book world is a world of make believe, which invites the imagination to embark on creative and magical journeys.”

Books can also be windows onto the real world for children, conjuring up images and stories that will then make their experiences of actual travel so much richer. That’s why we’re suggesting books you that will bring history, mythology and nature alive for your children on holidays to Greece. Each book here is paired with a Greek destination, so you and your child can read your way across Greece.

If you’re going to Mykonos – This is Greece, by Miroslav Šašek

The This is… series of picture books by classic Czech illustrator Šašek have inspired generations of children to become travellers from the late 1950s on. Greece is much changed since this book was first published in 1966, but that’s no matter because it beautifully captures Greek tradition, history and some of its most recognisable landmarks, too. Little visitors to the island of Mykonos, in the Cyclades, will be particularly thrilled to see Šašek’s illustrations of its windmills come to life.

Recommended for: picture book readers of all ages

If you’re going to Crete – Old Greek Stories, by James Baldwin

There are many books retelling Ancient Greek myths for children, but if you want to choose one that transmits a love of literature, too, then don’t go past this collection by the great American novelist Baldwin. You could match so many of the stories in this book with destinations all over Greece, but perhaps none more so than the story of that mythical creature, the Minotaur, or Cretan Bull.

Recommended for: ages 8 and up

If you’re going to the Peloponnese –Young Zeus, by G. Brian Karas

Young Zeus is a more irreverent take on Greek myth, and one that you could read to much smaller children. The Peloponnese peninsula is peppered with ancient sites, including the ruins of the temple of Zeus at Olympus, and this book could go a long way to giving little travellers a more personal connection with the past. It imagines Zeus as a small boy and tracks his action-packed path to becoming ruler of the whole world!

Recommended for: ages 6 and up

If you’re going to Corfu – My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Durrell

While this is not strictly a children’s book, I read it when I was about 11 or 12 and its funny and spellbinding depiction of life on the island of Corfu has lived in my imagination ever since. It’s a brilliant and often bonkers tale of Durrell’s own five years on Corfu from age 10. He later became a naturalist, so it’s no wonder that he pays as much attention to the pets he collected (including Achilles the tortoise and Quasimodo the pigeon) as he does his own quirky family and the island’s other inhabitants. Read it aloud or just let independent readers enjoy.

Recommended for: age 11 and up

What are your top tips for books to inspire an interest in Greece for kids? Pop them in the comments below!

Once you’ve booked, you’ll need to start planning. Packing for a ski holiday can be a bit of a challenge, but here’s a list of a few things you mustn’t forget (and don’t forget to tell us your tips in the comments below!)

A back-pack

When it’s later on in the season, and warmer weather, you don’t need to be ducking into a restaurant every five minutes to warm up. In fact, a great way to save money and to enjoy the environment is to pack a picnic and have lunch on the mountain. Have everyone build themselves a seat out of snow, then bring out the bread, cheese and salami, and enjoy your food in the fresh air.

A swimming costume

After a hard day’s skiing, there’s nothing like slipping into a hot tub to ease those aching muscles. Many hotels have their own, but if not, almost every resort has a central leisure complex as well as plenty of luxury spas. Treat yourself to a pampering session, or bring the kids along and have fun splashing around.

Some sun-cream

Temperatures in ski resorts at this time of year may still be low, but the sun can be very strong. There’s nothing like reclining in a deck chair at the bottom of the piste with a glass of vin chaud, but make sure you’re wearing plenty of sunblock. There’s nothing less glamorous than a panda tan and a peeling nose. If you put your kids in ski school, the instructors will ensure they’re constantly slathering cream on, but don’t forget to sun-cream them up too.

Something fancy

Ski resorts are famous for their cuisine, and you have to go out for at least one nice meal while you’re there. Book a babysitter through the hotel and have a grown up night out on the town. Best of all, after all that hard work skiing, you can eat all the cheese, meat and chocolate you want without feeling the slightest bit guilty.

Your snow boots

After taking off your ski boots, you might just want to slip into your slippers. But don’t forget to bring snow boots, because a ski resort isn’t just about what happens on the piste. In fact, there are hundreds of activities available, from dog-sledding to toboggan-racing, to extreme sports like paragliding for the more adventurous. Why not book a surprise treat for the last night of your stay? Just imagine the look on the little ones’ faces when they see the skidoos they’re going to get a ride on.

Is there anything we’ve forgotten? Pop your tips in the comments below!

When I was quite small, Madeline took me to Paris. And after my dad read me Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates all I wanted to do was skate along a Dutch canal. Later, Heidi introduced me to the Swiss Alps and Little Women transported me to America.

Reading opened my imagination to the world, fired my curiosity and made the experience so much richer when I eventually did travel. So just think what a well-chosen title or two could do for children who are just about to go abroad.

If you’re taking your children on Spain holidays, there’s bound to be a title they’ll love in this list – whether they’re independent readers or still hooked on your bedtime stories. I’ve linked each book to a place in Spain, too, so your child can get to know destinations through stories.

If you’re going to Madrid – The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf

“Once upon a time in Spain there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand.” It’s a classic start to a classic book, which has justly earned generations of fans. Ferdinand liked nothing better than to smell flowers, so what does he do when he’s picked for a bullfight in Madrid?

Recommended for: Ages 4 and up (although young and old alike will relish Robert Lawson’s beautiful line drawings)

If you’re going to Granada – Prince of the Birds, by Amanda Hall

Prince of the Birds opens a window onto Spain’s Moorish past. Love inspires Ahmed, prince of Granada, to make a magical journey through the mountains and medieval cities of southern Spain.

Recommended for: Ages 4 and up

If you’re going to Barcelona – Building with Nature, by Rachel Rodriguez

In Barcelona, the work of architect Antoni Gaudí – especially the Sagrada Família and the fantastical Park Güell – are imaginative adventures in themselves. For curious young minds, this book will bring Gaudí’s love of nature and creative vision alive.

Recommended for: ages 5 and up

If you’re going to Seville – Bernal & Florinda: A Spanish Tale, by Eric A. Kimmel

This is an original story, but one with the timeless feeling of a fairy tale. Bernal, a poor man from Seville who owns nothing but a field of grasshoppers, is desperate to rise in the world so he can convince his beloved Florinda’s father that she should marry him. It’s funny and bold, too.

Recommended for: ages 5–8

For Spain, from coast to coast – Anno’s Spain, by Mitsumasa Anno

You, too, will want to pore over the illustrations in this extraordinary picture-only journey through Spain. This is the latest in the much-loved wordless books by the Japanese illustrator Anno.

Recommended for: all ages

What books inspired you to go to Spain? Are there any you’d share with a child? Let us know!

As a long-time resident of this fair city, I can assure you our wild side isn’t just about the alligators, but they sure make for great stories! These eco-adventures will give you memories to share at home after your Florida holidays.

Gator Tales

Gatorland

Gatorland is the best place to take close-up pictures of alligators and Florida’s own parade of colorful native wading birds. Even bright pink roseate spoonbills alight along the alligator ponds. Gatorland offers passes for photographers to arrive for first light and to stay after dusk. You’ll be startled at the size of the alligators that leap out of the ponds for their feedings. Did you know you can go one-on-one with a gator? They call it Rookie Wrestling, and yes, you come away with a photo of yourself on a live alligator’s back. For a heart-pounding experience that I won’t dare try myself, try the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line, a wild ride dangling you over the pools of alligators and crocs. Now that’ll give you one to brag about!

Black Hammock Fish Camp

When you fly into Sanford, the big lake along the airport is Lake Jesup, the most gator-filled lake in Orlando. We won’t swim or kayak there, with all those gators afloat. But we will whiz across the lake in an airboat from Black Hammock Fish Camp, a funky restaurant-and-tiki-bar along the marshy shore of the lake, complete with its own gator pen and gators on the menu. Your guides know where to find those 800-pound wild gators, and as you zip across the water, you’ll want to have that camera ready!

Swamp Things

Lake Jessup Wilderness

Alligators aren’t the only things that grow big at Lake Jesup. At Spring Hammock Preserve, a walk in the woods on their gentle nature trails and boardwalks leads to some of the most enormous cypress trees you’ll ever see, towering more than 100 feet overhead. Spring Hammock is also known for its Mud Walk, a soggy set of trails that schoolchildren explore and you can too—or stay perfectly dry on the boardwalks and uplands trails, watching osprey and woodpeckers.

Spring Hammock Preserve

Lake Jesup Wilderness borders the marshy lake edge. In late summer, it’s transformed into nature’s canvas, with sometimes-soggy trails leading to palm hammocks through giant stands of swamp sunflowers that tower overhead.

For the birds

Lyonia Preserve

One of the area’s more unusual natural attractions is Lyonia Preserve, a nature preserve with a lovely environmental center. It is almost desert-like along the trails, a true taste of Florida’s ancient sand dunes, with steep hills and valleys filled with marshes. The star of the show is the Florida scrub-jay, a rare bird only found in the Florida peninsula. Blue, big, and curious, they travel in family groups and, although wild, will often just land on your head.

Have you experienced Orlando’s wild side? Do you have ideas to share? Pop them in the comments below!

Before going global, our modern-day Mother’s Day began with one woman’s quest to celebrate all mothers in the U.S. When Mother’s Day campaigner Anna Jarvis won over the nation in 1914, little did she realise her idea would eventually win over the world, too.

As the concept of Mother’s Day travelled, it mixed with other traditions and picked up a few new ones along the way. So now it’s a little bit different all around the world. It’s another perfect excuse to explore the globe (as if there weren’t enough reasons already). This time, just don’t forget to take your mum with you!

India

Say ‘Matru Din’ in India, and you’ll likely be celebrating Mother’s Day in a style that most Brits and Americans would recognise. Indians make the second Sunday of May a day to reflect on the role of mothers in their lives. In major cities like Delhi, it’s becoming highly commercialised, too. But if your mum prefers a more low-key celebration, then take her on Goa holidays for a Mother’s Day treat in a place that’s a great escape from the commercial hype.

Greece

Dig into Greece’s ancient past, and you’ll discover a history of cults devoted to the ‘mother-goddess’ Cybele. These days, Greek mothers are honoured on the second Sunday in May in the internationally recognised language of flowers. Gifts and cards feature, too, but some Greeks see 2 February as an anti-commercial alternative. That day, in the Greek Orthodox calendar, celebrates the day that the Virgin Mary presented the baby Jesus to the temple.

Spain

The Virgin Mary is often honoured on Mother’s Day in Spain, too. After all, May is dedicated to Mary in the Christian tradition. Nevertheless, mothers all over the country still get chocolates, flowers and cards on the first Sunday of May. To keep up older traditions, small children will often be encouraged to draw their own cards for mum, or even memorise a poem for her.

Italy

Mother’s Day is a big deal in Italy, as you’d expect. Italian families make a point of getting together on the second Sunday of May. In fact, it’s become the most popular day of the year for families to dine out – because the rule of the day is no housework for mamma!

Mexico

Mexico was an early adopter of Mother’s Day in 1992. It was brought in by the government back then, and it has an interesting political history. Today, though, the people of Mexico have made the Dià de las Madres their own.  Every 9 May, sons and daughters visit their mothers on Mother’s Day Eve. On the day itself, expect festive masses and special presentations by school children.

Belgium

I suspect most mothers around the world will think Belgians have got Mother’s Day just right. On the second Sunday of May, it’s dad’s job to collect croissants and pastries for mum’s breakfast in bed – and that’s just the start of a day dedicated to pampering her.

So how are you going to spoil your mum this year? A holiday abroad? Tell us in the comments below

Don’t forget to tell us your holiday personality in the comments below

The hammock hog

Oh, sweet nothing. That’s what holidays are all about, according to the hammock hog. The hog arrives at its destination, throw its bags down and then makes like a cat: snoozing or lolling with eyes half open, alternating between sun and shade (or the cool of pool, not being an actual cat).

Go: Somewhere hot, where doing nothing makes perfect sense – try Sharm El Sheikh

Do: Nothing, naturally

Pack: A big hat and a novel (not to read, mind you – just to shade the face)

The holiday homemaker

Holiday homemakers unpack straight away, find a place for everything and put on a cup of tea. These are the travellers who bring a touch of domestic bliss to any destination. They particularly love tracking down fresh and interesting local produce and cooking up a feast (perhaps inspired by a trip to a traditional restaurant). And their first call to reception is for an ironing board.

Go: villa holidays anywhere in the world, to really revel in a home away from home

Do: Visit local food markets and delicatessens

Pack: Recipes on an e-reader and a travel salt-and-pepper dispenser

The spreadsheet freak

It’s all go with the spreadsheet freak. No aspect of a holiday is left to chance. Destinations are analysed, activities grouped by location and ease of transport, and bookings are secured in advance. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not knocking the freaks. They can make the best travelling companions. With them, you come away feeling like you’ve really done your destination.

Go: City breaks in Rome or Venice for more sights and museums than you thought possible

Do: Everything, if you can

Pack: A compass

The rugged world-roamer

From the alps to the tropics, they’ve seen it all and done it all. They ski, they climb, they raft and they sail. And they make great friends if you’re not adventurous yourself – just meet them in the pub after the trip and live vicariously through their experiences.

Go: Kenya or Lapland

Do: Go on safari (Kenya) or witness the northern lights (Lapland)

Pack: A camera, please, so we can see it all, too!

The play-hard party goer

We’ve all got friends who look shattered when they come back from holidays. We know what they’ve been up to, and we’re kind of jealous, too. These party-goers live to play and they’re not afraid to dedicate night and day to the pursuit of a good time. Holidays are their time to let it all hang out.

Go: The Balearic islands, especially the world-famous party isle of Ibiza

Do: for the full array of Ibiza nightlife, spend time in both San Antonio and Ibiza town

Pack: glad rags and dancing shoes

So what’s your holiday personality? Can you think of other options? Tell us in the comments below

Greece

When supermarkets begin selling chocolate eggs almost immediately after Christmas, it’s easy to fall out of love with the commercialised aspects of Easter. To get away from it all, I suggest Greece holidays this Easter. It’s not that Greeks don’t celebrate Easter (they do, and in a big way), it’s simply that Greek Orthodox Christian traditions run on a different calendar to that of Western traditions. In 2013, Greek Easter falls in May.

Best for: a break without the dreaded bunny

Spain

Easter is Pascua in Spanish, and it’s preceded by a week of religious celebrations known as Semana Santa (Holy Week). The traditions of Holy Week go right back to the Middle Ages, and participants today still don the nazareno robes and pointed capirote hoods worn by medieval penitents. You’ll be able to witness all the pomp and ceremony of Holy Week without feeling like you’re intruding, too – street processions are the norm, many complete with floats and musicians.

Best for: choose Spain holidays for an Easter spectacle like no other

US

Epic Easter egg hunts are the order of the day in the States. It’s a tradition that’s particularly taken off in Florida – so much so that Coconut Creek, near Orlando, once scooped the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest Easter egg hunt with its Eggstravaganza. On that occasion, in 2007, 10,000 people hunted down half a million eggs in one hour. And the grand prize was a full university scholarship! Coconut Creek’s Eggstravaganza is still South Florida’s largest, even though it promises just a modest 60,000 eggs in 2013.

Best for: family fun

Germany

German Easter traditions are pretty special, too. I particularly love Easter Saturday’s sweet treat: a cake in the shape of a lamb. As in most places, Easter and spring go hand in hand here, but Germans really make the most of spring’s vibrant colours with floral displays and cheerily painted ‘Easter trees’. Easter Saturday is also a night for bonfires in northern Germany, a tradition that welcomes the coming of spring and the banishing of winter’s dark spirits. Look out for open-air Easter markets in German cities like Munich for delicately handcrafted Easter eggs.

Best for: a joyful beginning to spring