Mother's Day holiday ideas

Taking place on the fourth Sunday of Lent - which this year falls on March 22nd - Mother's Day is the annual chance for children to show their love.

After a year of being trampled and ignored mothers across the UK are returned to the rightful place of respect at the head of the family - albeit for one day only - and heralded for their unflinching love and support over the last year.

For children it is a chance to allay the guilt developed over the same period, and here travelbite.co.uk takes a look at a number of potential Mother's Day holiday ideas to be considered as gifts for that special someone.

Jordan

Treat mum to some much-deserved luxury at Jordan's deluxe Kempinski Ishtar hotel, with its 10,000 square foot spa - offering exquisite local salt and mud treatments and a sunken infinity pool.

And why not combine this with a tour of the classical sites, including the rose-red city of Petra and Jerash's exquisite Roman architecture?

Prices start from £1,260 per person including flights from London Heathrow, all transportation and seven nights' five-star bed and breakfast.

The trip is with Tailormade Explore.

Monaco

Left uninspired by the usual array of Mother's Day gifts and feel that none do justice to your magnificent mum? Look no further than the perfume experience in Monaco.

Sweep mother off her feet with a break to the glamorous principality, travelling to Galimard - France's oldest perfumery - to design a truly unique scent. Once created, the fragrance is exclusively bottled and packaged ready to be presented.

The Fairmont Monte Carlo offers two nights' bed and breakfast from £409 per person, based on two sharing, including the perfume workshop for one person.

Go to Visit Monaco for more information.

Flights from London to Nice are available with easyJet, Air France and BA.

Cyprus

Forget food preparation, ignore the ironing, and let someone else fuss over the chores as mothers are mollycoddled with a fantastic sun, sea and spa holiday in Cyprus.

Guests can lap up the winter sun and sand of Limassol with a stay at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel and enjoy a range of luxurious facilities; including a choice of five gourmet restaurants, bars, boutiques, steam baths, sauna and Jacuzzi.

And, if that hasn't pampered the parent in question, why not send them to the Thalasso Spa and Beauty Shop for more regal rest and relaxation?

A seven-night holiday for magic mums, in March, starts at £816 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights to/from Paphos or Larnaca (from London Gatwick), private transfers to/from the hotel and seven nights' accommodation with breakfast.

Head over to Sunvil for more information.

Spain

For something a little cheeky, how about an anti-aging gourmet spa package that's good enough to eat from just ?264 (approx £245)? The exclusive Aqua Diagonal Wellness Centre at the five star Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia in Barcelona has introduced the new Caviar Spa Treatment, an absolute favourite of red carpet celebs such as Angelina Jolie, thanks to its immediate and very effective results.

As well as being a luxurious aperitif at dinner parties, Caviar is also known as an anti-oxidant with a cell structure that is very similar to human collagen, which leaves skin feeling tight and luminous.

This discovery has been greatly received by celebrities, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Moss, who regularly smoother themselves with caviar prior to an important party to achieve a glamorous complexion, and now thanks the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia mums can be smeared with the anti-ageing delicacy too.

This exclusive Caviar Treatment lasts one hour and 15 minutes and costs ?110 (approx £101) per person. Price includes complimentary access to the 2,000m² Aqua Diagonal Wellness Centre, including a Turkish bath, Swedish sauna, heated swimming pool, supervised exercise classes, the Q spa, Q-Hairdressing service, the IQ Smart Fresh Food and a designated IQ Night chill out area.

A two night stay at the exclusive Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia during the Mother's Day period costs from ?264 (approx £245).

The price includes two night's accommodation in a double room, breakfast and two exclusive Caviar Treatments, including a Caviar wrap, Chinese exfoliation massage and a relaxing almond oil massage. Price also includes access to the spa facilities at the Aqua Diagonal Wellness Centre.

UK

Forget real boxes of chocolates this Mother's Day and book mum and family in for a long weekend at Thatch Cottage (sleeps five) - a property that certainly wouldn't look out of place on the most delectable of choccie boxes.

The tranquil hamlet of Trevalsoe in Cornwall is located close to the seaside village of Coverack. Thatch Cottage is an exquisite property that has been beautifully refurbished with some charming features including oak floors, an ornamental stone fireplace and an unusual pebble-effect floor in the bathroom.

Spectacular walking is on the doorstep with the coastal path only a short distance away.

Fir a gift with a difference, the nearby Greenhouse Organic Restaurant is running bread-making courses (Tues & Sat) where mum can learn or brush-up on her technique.

A four-night stay costs from £60 per person (£300 total), with more information at Classic Cottages.

Alternately, Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire has come up with a great family package - which includes lots of treats for mum and the rest of the family.

When four share a five-star self-catering cottage, a four-night break starting March 21st is from just £169 per person. Also included, for mum, are flowers on arrival and a Spa Day at a nearby health and beauty centre, while the whole family gets a £25 meal voucher and a luxury limousine transfer for lunch on Mothering Sunday itself to a choice of top Pembrokeshire restaurants.

If the whole family fancies the spa day, the price starts at £239 each.

As an example of the cottages available, 5 Tudor Lodge Cottages is a pretty, semi-detached property (sleeps six) in the village of Jameston, within a few minutes' drive of several beaches, the seaside resort of Tenby and Pembroke with its historic castle.
Take a look at Coastal Cottages.

Belgium

If mother is the kind to be captivated by Colin Farrell, it's likely she will have loved his Golden Globe-winning performance from In Bruges.

Go on location in Belgium's beautiful canal-side city where, as well as retracing the movie star's steps amid cobbled streets and mediaeval stone squares, there are picturesque shops selling hand-made lace, delicious local waffles and lots of lovely chocolate!

Until March 28th, guests can enjoy three nights for the price of two at the deluxe four-star De Tuilerieen hotel, where prices start from £399 per person, based on two sharing. The offer includes return first class Eurostar (St Pancras) to Brussels, return rail tickets to Bruges, three nights' accommodation with breakfast, Kirker's guide notes to restaurants and sightseeing, and champagne on arrival.

Check out Kirker Holidays for more information.

Namibia

To really do something special this Mother's Day, why not whisk mum away on Wild about Africa's 13-day Namibia Highlights Camping Safari?

She'll spend an afternoon at the AfriCat Foundation - a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of the country's big cats - and also visit a Cape fur seal colony, see big game in Etosha National Park and spend Mother's Day itself on spectacular desert dunes at Sossusvlei.

Departing March 13th, the trip costs £1,367 per person (no single supplement), including scheduled flights (Gatwick Airport), transport, most meals, accommodation, camping equipment, park fees, the services of a trained guide and camp assistant.

More information from Wild About Africa here.

Italy

Alternatively, say grazie to mum this Mother's Day with a relaxing week on Italy's most spectacular stretch of coastline and discover the region's abundant historical treasures.

Visit the lively city of Naples before exploring the ancient sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Also on offer is a chance to unwind on the picturesque Amalfi coast; visiting dramatically-perched villages set among lemon and olive groves, and take a boat trip to the pretty island of Capri.

The trip departs on March 28th - giving Mum almost a week to pack - and costs £1,005 per person. The deal includes flights (Gatwick), all transportation, seven nights' B&B and the services of an Explore tour leader.

Still in Italy, sons and daughters can make it a Mother's Day to remember by revealing the joys of Rome to their favourite female. Revel in the splendour of Roman architecture with such sights as the Pantheon, Vatican City and the epic amphitheatre - the Colosseum - before climbing to the top of the Spanish Steps for a lavish look out across this historical city.

Then, swap sensational sightseeing for a shopping splurge along the Vias Condotti and del Babuino, where designer boutiques, art galleries and antique shops await to sate mum's shopping desires.

A short-break in March starts at £289 per person, based on two sharing; including return flights to/from Rome (Gatwick) and two nights' accommodation with breakfast at the three-star Hotel Siena.

Take a look at VFB Holidays for more information.

Morocco

Repay your mum for all the stress caused with a holistic break to Marrakech.

The queen of the house should relish a desert sands' exfoliating treatment, a corporal Moroccan clay mask and a body-scrubbing session with abrasive gloves and organic soap.

There's even a chickpea-powder exfoliating facial to oust any remaining tension!

Three nights' B&B at the Riad Laora cost from £590 per person departing on March 20th, including flights (Gatwick) and private transfers.

Treatments can be booked in advance, from Real Morocco.

Iceland

Take mum on a real adventure this Mother's Day by whisking her off on a unique and magical quest to see the Aurora Borealis in Iceland.

Fortuitously, March is one of the best times to catch this spectacular natural display of vivid lights and colours, and on this self-drive tour, guests can explore Iceland's rural south in your own 4WD vehicle.

Driving the famous Golden Circle route, as well as past iconic waterfalls, the trip provides the perfect chance to explore the dramatic coastline. Then, return to Hotel Ranga for a soak in a naturally-heated outdoor hot tub under the night sky.

The four-day Aurora Nights trip costs from £517 per person (based on two sharing) and includes return flights (regional departures available) and three nights' B&B. More information is available at Discover the World.

Sweden

Recharge mum's batteries this Mother's Day at the luxurious Stromstad Spa in west Sweden.

Located on Sweden's picturesque coast, Stromstad Spa is the ideal place to relax and unwind. The Spa Package costs from SEK1,995 (£164) per person per day, and includes accommodation with breakfast, lunch, a three-course dinner and fruit buffet, bathrobe and slippers to take home and a 50-minute treatment of your choice.

Guests also gain access to the elegant Spa and Fitness Department where one can indulge the senses in the whirlpool with a view, Roman steam bath, steam saunas, Kneipp bath or snow bath.

Follow the link for more information on West Sweden.

Egypt

Dahab - meaning 'gold' - is situated at the foot of the Sinai Mountains, and comes with a very relaxed vibe. Let mum stay at the Hilton Dahab Resort, set on a beautiful lagoon, and bask in balmy spring sunshine, learn to scuba dive, go camel riding or even undertake a jeep desert safari.

By evening there are plenty of bars and Bedouin-style restaurants lining the bustling waterfront, just a short stroll from the hotel. Departures in March cost from £629 per person including flights (Gatwick), transfers and seven nights' B&B.

More information at Regal Dive.

Or, still in Egypt, take mummy to the land of the mummies with a right royal cruise on the River Nile.

Step aboard the SS Karim, a historic paddle steamer built for the Sultan of Egypt and now available exclusively for clients of Voyages Jules Verne.

Survey Fuad's fantastic kingdom from this elegant vessel on a seven-night tour of Ancient Egypt's famous sites; including the temples of Sobek and Haroeris, Karnak, Philae and the Valley of the Kings.

A felucca ride to the Kitchener Island Botanical Gardens is sure to fascinate the family's most important female, while a private evening reception at the Luxor Temple will inevitably impress.

Departing March 16th, 23rd and 30th, 'King Fuad's Nile Steamer; costs from £1,248 per person; including return flights and taxes to Luxor (Gatwick), transfers, seven nights' full-board accommodation, a sightseeing itinerary and the services of guides and local representatives.

Botswana

Does mum love the great outdoors and see herself as resembling the wildlife-loving Michaela Strachan? If so, why not let her showcase her skills and get up close and personal to some really wild animals on a conservation project in Botswana?

The Tuli Conservation Project is located in stunning surroundings on the banks of the Limpopo River. Volunteers will study closely some of the world's most threatened species - the African Elephant and the Leopard. Activities include recording information about herd dynamics and monitoring behaviour to further understanding of the species.

A two-week trip costs from £2,290 per person, including flights from Heathrow, transfers, accommodation, meals and all project-related activities.

More information at African Conservation Experience.

Chris O'Toole