CHRISTMAS always comes early for the Reader Travel department and this is because the festive brochures arrive long before the Easter bunny.

Readers book our trips well in advance, so if you cannot think past your summer holiday, think again.

Last year's Christmas in the Heart of England holiday through Newmarket Promotions was very popular, especially with single travellers. This four-day break leaving on December 24 is ideal if you do not want to travel too far, but just want to get away from it all at Christmastime.

The price of £249 per person includes coach travel throughout, three nights at the three-star Britannia Hotel, Birmingham, a welcome drink, full English breakfasts, three-course dinners on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, a four-course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, buffet supper on Christmas Day, entertainment every evening and a visit to Worcester. Insurance is extra and the single supplement is £45 per person.

Reader Travel also has an abundance of pre-Christmas mini breaks and shopping trips to choose from including a Glasgow Christmas Shopper; Crafts for Christmas; Christmas at Chatsworth; Dublin's Fair City Christmas Shopper; Christmas Crafts at Blenheim Palace; Christmas Shopping at the Bullring and the NEC Gift Fair; Albert Hall Classical Spectacular; Warwick Castle and Worcester Christmas Fayre; Christmas at Althorp and Leamington Spa's Yuletide Fayre; London Christmas Spectacular; Christmastime Tribute to Musical Greats at Pontins; Edinburgh Christmas Shopping Special; China, Crystal and Christmas Chocs; Christmas Carols in Chester Cathedral; Christmastime on the London Eye; and Christmas Carols with the Stars. More will follow shortly including Shearings' popular one-day shopping trips to London.

For those people who have already been into the office looking for New Year brochures, I can tell you they are starting to arrive - spend New Year in Dublin for three days from £169, Paris for three or four days from £99, Brussels for three days from £99 or New York for five days from £549. Travellers with WA Shearings will be able to pick up their new Autumn Winter brochure from this office from the middle of May featuring all their Christmas and New Year breaks (don't forget the Open Day on May 24 with free insurance and special offers).

Incidentally, WA Shearings has another fantastic deal, which is nothing to do with Christmas. If you fancy spending five days from June 6 at Dornoch with an included visit to the Castle of Mey, the price has been reduced from £189 to £159 per person with free insurance.

Phone me on 01904 567123 to find out more, or telephone our 24-hour brochure line on 01904 567124, stating the trips you are interested in.

Updated: 08:57 Saturday, April 30, 2005