With summer — and school break — just around the corner, it’s time to start planning a great getaway for the whole family. These money-saving deals are suitable for a group, whether you’re taking the kids to Orlando for some theme park hopping, planning your next family reunion on a cruise, or hiding out at a Caribbean resort where little ones stay free. We found those deals and more, good for travel throughout summer and fall, starting from just $87. Book soon to lock in the best savings.

$87+ Orlando: Disney-Area Hotel w/Breakfast, Save 50%

$389+ Weeklong Mexico Cruise to Cabo, Save 45%

$599+ 5 Nights at Jamaica All-Inclusive Resort w/Air; Kids Stay Free

$17+ Save on Car Rentals in Top Cities Nationwide

$107+ Fly Each Way Between Orlando and Dallas-Fort Worth

$1125+ Hilton Head: 5 Nts at Oceanfront Resort w/Bikes & Tennis, $388 Off

$415+ Fly Round-Trip to Mexico City this Season

$896+ Antigua: 5 Nights at All-Incl. Beachfront Resort, Save 45%

$869+ 7-Nt Caribbean Cruise on World’s Largest Ship w/Oceanview

$1188+ Round-Trip Flights to Africa in Spring

$129+ Vail: Luxe Condo Hotel w/Credit, Save 30%

Click here for more great family travel deals or peruse our family travel hub for trip ideas and money-saving advice.

Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? ...

Another great holiday idea London Travel Apps is a tip from the guest travel writers at Europe & Beyond a travel blog with lots of holiday ideas.

App Tips for Travelling Around London

Already one of the world’s most visited cities, London is warming up for the Olympic Games with even greater efforts to charm and entertain tourists and natives alike.  Navigating the city can be a challenge if you don’t have the right tools, but there are some handy apps out there to make sure you never feel lost in London again.   Tackle the Tube like a seasoned Londoner, master the bus system, and make friends with a London cabbie – all with the help of a few well-chosen apps!

London Tube Map

London’s Underground system can be daunting, but you don’t need to worry about looking like a tourist with this app. It features maps of the Tube plus service updates, as well as a route planner and a Google map indicating your location and proximity to adjacent stations.

Don’t worry about getting lost because the GPS locator will provide instructions on the trains to take to reach your desired destination.

London Tube Deluxe

This is arguably the best transport guide to Greater London.  Packed with features and easy to use, it is consulted over 50,000 times a day by locals, tourists, and even Tube drivers. Simply input the details of where you are and where you need to go, and it will get you there.  It even informs you in advance of delays and weekend line closures. It also includes a map and list view of over 750 bus routes, as well as bus route location tracking.

London City Slicker

Bring London to life with the London City Slicker app. Wherever you are in London, you can access information, maps, images and audio about the surrounding area.  Plug in your headphones and enjoy your own guided audio tour of London with celebrated historian Adam Heart Davis, who takes you through celebrated London sites on themed walks.

Integrated Google Maps means following the walking-tours is a breeze.

London Taxi

If you’re not familiar with London’s streets, taking a taxi can be a challenging prospect, but this app makes the process a whole lot easier.  It calculates your taxi fare, taking traffic congestion into account, and it also helps you work out a route.

BusMapper

Download BusMapper and you’ll feel like you have a magic wand for the London Bus system.  With the new Live Routing feature you can view four options for your destination and choose the one that’s leaving first.  The simplest and quickest bus app you’ll find, it is certainly the most useful.

Aoife o Carroll is a travel writer for Nova Car Hire which offers car hire in London  and in over 26,000 locations worldwide.

Get away to Chicago this summer, when temperatures rise, baseball’s in season, and the parks are in full bloom. Stay steps from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at the 4-star MileNorth Hotel, where rooms start at $168 per night in July – including over Independence Day. Book this deal and you’ll save 35 percent on the hotel’s rates earlier in the season.

Enjoy spacious and contemporary accommodations, including high-speed Internet, flat-screen TVs, and stereos with MP3 capability. MileNorth also features an upscale restaurant, C-House, and a rooftop bar and lounge, C-View, where you can enjoy views of downtown Chicago.

Leave the hotel and stroll down the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s most famous stretch, with its upscale shopping, restaurants, and historic buildings like the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower, headquarters for the Chicago Tribune. The theater district and Lake Michigan are also within easy walking distance. Plus, Chicago is celebrating its 175^th birthday this year with special events throughout the summer, including an outdoor farmer’s market in Lincoln Market and bi-weekly fireworks at Navy Pier.

To book this deal, visit the MileNorth Hotel website and enter your dates; the lowest available pricing will appear in the booking engine. For the $168 rate, stay July 1-4 or July 15. Many other dates in July are available for $175 per night.

See our Chicago destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Eye-catching art and a Jaws lookalike at the Hotel Jaime III

This week’s hotel comes from Majorca Island and is suitable for couples, groups or families who want a modern and trendy base for their holiday.

The capital of Majorca, Palma, is known for its culture, style and amazing nightlife, which really shows off this beautiful Spanish island in the Balearics. Whether you're a couple looking for a romantic getaway, a family with teens who want somewhere cool to spend the holidays, or you're part of a group that needs a large range of clubs and bars for a fun-packed weekend, this could be the place for you.

Palma’s Hotel Jaime III is right in the heart of the best shopping areas, with shops to suit all budgets, and it’s also conveniently close to the best district for relaxed evenings in restaurants and bars, which is known as Santa Catalina.

Hotel Jaime III not only boasts memorable décor that will probably find its way into your holiday snaps (look out for the shark in the lobby), but it also comes with top-notch facilities to help you unwind after a long day of sightseeing or trying out the tantalising local sweet pastries, Ensaimadas. Enjoy a cocktail or some seasonal dishes from the Constanza restaurant, and then head to the spa for a massage.

A double room at the Hotel Jaime III

A glimpse of the hotel's chic spa.

Other spa and body facilities include a gym, a Jacuzzi and the unmissable Turkish baths, where you can truly be pampered. If you’re looking to head out and explore Palma’s buzzing art scene, remember to visit the hotel’s art library for some inspiration. Galleries and museums nearby include Es Baluard, which has contemporary art, Fundacion Juan March, and the Museu de Mallorca. Further afield, you can hang out at the Playa de Palma beach, hire a bike and explore the city, or take a boat trip from the marina.

For those who need a bit of pampering...

Palma's shops range from designer stores to international brands and vintage boutiques

Relax in this trendy hotel on Majorca Island

Click here to start planning your Palma City holiday at Hotel Jaime III. Don’t forget that the prices displayed are for both flights and accommodation, making your 2012 break much more affordable.

Another great holiday idea Hanmer Springs New Zealand is a tip from the guest travel writers at Europe & Beyond a travel blog with lots of holiday ideas.

Relaxing, Bicycling And Jet Boating In Hanmer Springs

There are so many places in New Zealand which are beautiful,  it’s rather difficult to pick one but I want to cover Hanmer Springs in this post. It’s perfect for both relaxation and exercise and it’s located in the South Island of New Zealand. It’s located approximately 130 km north of the city of Christchurch. The drive alone is a great experience in itself!

Stay At Hanmer Hot Springs

One of the main reasons to visit this area is the actual hot springs themselves. It has a good selection of hot spring pools, with different temperatures, views and water types. They include:

Three Sulphur Pools – these are my favorite as they are true volcanic pools in my opinion. No chlorine is added meaning many of the healthy minerals are untouched by chemicals. They are very hot though, reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius but this can vary.

Tip: Don’t spend ages in the high temperature pools, it’s not a competition! I found alternating between the very hot and ‘only’ hot pools worked best for me.

Twelve Thermal Pools – they also have a good variety of thermal pools, which still use the volcanic water but it’s treated a little. These pools come in all shapes and sizes including rock pools where you can relax against a bolder watching the day go by and taking in the views of course. They also have some message pools where various water jets and waterfalls are used to massage your body.

Private Pools – these cost extra but you can hire one of their private pools for those who want to be left alone.

Other Activities – the pools are the main reason to stay here but they do have other activities and services such as massage, spa treatments, a waterslide etc.

Tip: If you have the time and money then go ahead and try a massage and spa treatments but if you have to choose then I recommend you always go with the pools over their other activities. You can find more information at their Hanmersprings website.

Cycle To Hanmer Springs

For those of you with some energy and a little bit of adventurous spirit you can do a cycling trip around the Hanmer Spring area, taking in the views, finally ending up at the springs themselves. You can either start cycling from Christchurch or get someone to drive you with your bikes to somewhere closer such as Glasnevin. The ride is quite gentle and the route fairly simple. If you’re starting from Christchurch then you need to head north on state highway 1 then turn left onto state highway 7, approximately 4km north of Glasnevin.

Once you’re on route 7 you should be able to see some lovely views on the way to Hanmer Springs. You’ll pass through the small towns of Waikari and Culverden (if you’re a golfer then stop here for a round of golf) before turning right onto route 7A (Hanmer Springs Road) where you’ll ride approximately 10km until your arrive at the actual Hanmer Springs resort. You can either use a bike touring company such as Pedaltours to plan and travel with you or you can plan and go by yourself or with family and friends.

The benefit of using a company is they will usually book all the different accommodation and places to eat, they’ll know some good places to stop at on the way and they’ll have transport to carry your baggage and other items which you may buy along the way. If you have the budget then using a cycle touring company for this type of trip is usually a stress free option.

Jet Boat

The jet boat is something New Zealanders are proud of since we invented them. So it makes sense to ride in one of these marvelous boats while you’re in the Hanmer Spring area as it contains some great rivers that are perfect for jet boats. You’ll share the ride with a number of other brave passengers where the boat weaves its way through the river, seemingly dodging rocks and other obstacles at the last possible moment. This ride isn’t for the faint hearted but if you’re up for some thrills, then it’s a lot of fun. The well-known company for jet boating in this area is Thrillseekers who also do other activities such as bungy jumping, rafting and quad bikes.

City break deals

Following on from yesterday's easyJet holidays blog bringing you fantastic Bank holiday beach deals, today the blog team bring you more deals, but this time on city break escapes.

So if you can't quite stretch to rewarding yourself with a week long holiday, grabbing one of the city break deals below for a short escape is a great alternative!

Two days of Spanish sun and sightseeing - Madrid

Take some time out in the Spanish capital with a two night stay at the three star Sunotel Amaral, from £239 per person, including return flights from Liverpool airport. Get out and explore the highlights of Madrid, with the likes of the Museo del Prado and the Santiago Bernabeu easily reached. After a day of wandering Madrid's streets, take advantage of the swimming pool and sun terrace to unwind. Book this deal today

Set off from Southend to Amsterdam - Amsterdam

Stay in great comfort at the four star Blue Square hotel with easy transit links to the city centre. This two night stay includes return flights from Southend Airport for £249 per person. One of the most popular city break destinations in Europe, you can take time to see the Van Gogh Museum after stopping by the trendy Jordaan neighbourhood. Other top attractions include the Rijksmuseum, Vondel Park and one of the many canal tours. Book this deal today

Nice Deals

Relax on the French Riviera - Nice

Have the best of a beach holiday and a city break with a trip to Nice, on the French Riviera. Stay metres from the sea front at the three star Locarno from £286 per person with return flights from Liverpool airport. The hotel is located in a nice area of the city in close reach of great restaurants and lots of stylish shops. Enjoy days on the beach and unwind in the evening at any of the top restaurants in the city. Book this deal today

All featured deals are price accurate at the time of publish. Deal prices subject to change. To find more deals for the Jubilee bank holiday, visit the Jubilee holidays deal page.

Be sure to check back for more deals posted on the easyJet holidays blog, or to make sure you don't miss out on anything follow @easyJetholidays on twitter.

Bet Her Majesty wishes she was at the sunny Enotel Lido for the Jubilee...

With the Jubilee Bank Holiday fast approaching (and boy, are you guys ready for a four day weekend), it’s not too late to book a last minute extended fix of European sunshine without emptying your wallet.

Don’t rely on our dodgy British weather to stay decent – why not jet off to the shores of the Costa Brava, or a five star luxury break with spa treatments?

 Super Deals on Seven Nights of Sunshine

Get a taste of Andalucía on the Costa de la Luz: for just £498pp, enjoy seven nights at the Hotel Barcelo Isla Canela, flying from Liverpool. Explore the 7km long beach, visit the marina and take a boat tour, or play at the popular 18 hole golf club. You’re also close to the border with Portugal, so why not take a day trip to the Algarve? Click here for this holiday offer.

Go for five stars in fabulous Funchal: Madeira is a little slice of paradise, even more so when you can grab flights from Gatwick and a week’s All Inclusive stay at the Enotel Lido Madeira for only £682pp. Based on the south coast of the island, the hotel is close to the Lido promenade and its shops and bars. On-site facilities include Portuguese language lessons, yoga classes and water aerobics, so you can work your mind and body.

Take the Family with Free Kids’ Places

Try the Costa Brava’s Royal Hotel: in the spirit of the Jubilee, fly from Luton to the HTOP Royal Beach Hotel for a week’s All Inclusive stay in Lloret de Mar, at only £252pp for a family of four. With the two children going free, there’s plenty of spare change for seeing the sights of the Costa Brava. Visit Sant Joan castle, the Santa Clotilde Gardens and the lively Lloret de Mar beach.

Family fun at the Fuerteventura Caleta Garden

Fancy a bit of Fuerteventura? Go All Inclusive at the Caleta Garden Apartments for just £307pp, flying from Liverpool. Take two children for free and spend some quality family time in the resort of Caleta de Fuste, heading to Chipmunk Mountain, the beautiful Costa Antigua beaches, and maybe even going for a camel ride across the landscape.

Top up your tan in the Costa del Sol: make the most of a week in Fuengirola at the five star THB Reserva del Higueron Hotel, when you fly from Gatwick for £600pp with two kids free. Sporty families can choose from two tennis courts, 11 paddle tennis courts and four fitness rooms, followed by chill out time for mum in the Nagomi Spa with a Turkish bath, sauna and Vichy showers. In the evenings, the resort is full of bars and restaurants where you can sample local food and drink. Book your Fuengirola stay now.

Those Little Extras

Free Water Park Access in Lanzarote: £473pp on an All Inclusive basis at the Hotel Rio Playa Blanca also gives a family of four the added bonus of complimentary entry to the Paradise Island Water Park. Fly from Gatwick and discover what Lanzarote’s Playa Blanca resort has to offer, from the trendy shops of the Marina Rubicon to the water sports at the seafront. You could also hire a bike and roam the island on two wheels. Click here for this special deal.

Take a spa break for less: head to Crete’s pretty town of Bali and discover the Filion Suites Resort and Spa. £380pp gets you five star luxury for seven nights, flying from Manchester. The Blue Spa Club uses natural products and exciting treatments such as Swedish massage, use of a Hamam and Hydrotherapy. The centre of Bali is easily reached, so you can explore its tavernas and shops.

For more bargains, keep checking back on the blog. If you want to stay updated on the hottest deals, why not follow @easyJetHolidays on Twitter?