So you’ve got the cheap plane deal, but where are you going to stay on that half-term or weekend break?A new company, Holiday Hotels, offers independent travellers the kind of accommodation once only available as part of a package deal. Particularly useful for family holidays in resort areas, it has hotel rooms and apartments that can be booked by the week or by the night - good if you don’t want to go away for the whole of half-term. And if you’re not such an expert web surfer - I seemed to be incapable of filling in the little boxes satisfactorily when I tried - you can ring the company (though you’ll lose the pound;5 online booking discount).

Holiday Hotels covers cities and resorts all over Europe and the United States. For example:seven nights from October 26 at the Club Praia de Rocha apartment complex in the Algarve, Portugal, in a one-bedroom apartment five minutes from the beach and sleeping two adults and two children costs pound;112; while in Malta, the company can offer four nights bed and breakfast from October 28 at the Aparthotel La Valette, in a twin room sleeping two adults and one child for pound;70. Details:0870 273 0273; www.holidayhotels.co.uk.

Renata Rubnikowicz