After a truly miserable winter, the spring escape is looking ever more enticing. From Egyptian beaches to Swedish skiing and Jordan teen treks, DAVID WICKERS has options for all

YOUNG COUPLES
A new  destination for the 2010 season from Thomson (0871 231 5595/ www.thomson.co.uk) is a place more commonly associated with Montgomery's Second World War desert campaign than jolly holidays. Long popular with Egyptians however, Marsa Matruh on Egypt's White Coast is an alternative to the country's more familiar Red Sea resorts, offering Easter sunshine combined with exotic culture.

The actual town isn't that interesting, nor are its doorstep beaches. Beyond its boundaries, however, they shoot into the premier league. Even Cleopatra brought Antony to frolic here.
Stay at the five-star, all-inclusive Jaz Almaza Beach on Almaza Bay which shares a two-mile private beach with the Jaz Oriental and has a spa and plenty of watersports. If you get bored with loafing, you could consider an excursion to Monty's El Alamein battlefield.
 
Seven nights from £1,175pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes return flights from Gatwick. Departs April 6.

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COUPLES OVER 50
P&O Cruises (0845 355 5333/ www.pocruises.com) offers special appeal to those looking for a traditional British-style of cruising, a similar age profile of passengers and the convenience of sailing from the UK. The elegant Oceana, although not exclusively for adults, has 10 bars, four restaurants (including Gary Rhodes signature restaurant), a theatre, cinema, casino and beauty salon.

A 13-night Western Mediterranean cruise calls at Cadiz - the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western world - Barcelona, where you can inspect the works of art nouveau architect Gaudí, and Monte Carlo for a flutter at the casino or a stroll around its harbour rich in floating assets.

Gibraltar, a mini but mighty chunk of imperial Britain complete with apes, is also on the itinerary.

A 13-night cruise on Oceana from £1,177pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes entertainment and £50pp on-board spending money.

Departs Southampton April 4.

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SINGLETONS
Solo's (0844 371 8860/www.solos.co.uk), the single travel specialist aimed exclusively at the over-30s, has the perfect solution for those desperate to escape grey skies. Among its escorted, small-group getaways is the Dominican Republic, the most popular Caribbean island for British visitors.

Solo's has opted for a resort on the north coast of the island, set on an amber sand beach not far from lively Puerto Plata and with a full range of watersports (it's particularly good for windsurfing).

As well as indulging in a choice of restaurants and bars, guests can join daily classes in Spanish, tai chi, merengue dancing or cocktail-making, or visit nearby Ocean World and go swimming with the dolphins.

Seven nights from £1,399pp, full board. Price includes return flights from Gatwick and all activities and entertainment.

Departs March 29.

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER FIVE
Kirker Holidays (0207 593 2283/ www.kirkerholidays.com) recommends the four-star Hotel Almyra, set in eight acres of landscaped gardens in the Cypriot resort of Paphos. As well as a dedicated children's club, with great facilities and special children's menus, it has a "Baby Go Lightly" crèche for children aged from six months to four years with fully qualified, English speaking nursery nurses.

There's an indoor swimming pool plus two outdoor freshwater pools - one of which is especially for children; and the attractions of Paphos (restaurants, shops and archaeological sites) are just a five-minute buggy stroll away.

The resort is in a prime spot for those who want to rent a Jeep and explore the island's two most appealing natural assets - the monastery-peppered Troodos Mountains and the wild and protected Akamas peninsula.

Seven nights from £4,349, (two adults and one child sharing a sea-view room), B&B. Price includes flights from Heathrow and transfers. Departs April 1.

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED FIVE TO 13
Neilson (0845 070 3460/www.neilson.co.uk) has the perfect solution for families inspired by the Winter Olympics. Because of its northerly latitude, the Swedish resort of Are is likely to offer a combination of long hours of bright sunshine, great snow conditions and uncrowded pistes.

With accommodation close to the slopes and plenty of gentle gradients and activities, it's an ideal choice for families. If the children fancy a change from the slopes, there's also pony trekking, dogsledding, ice karting, ice fishing and snowmobile safaris.

Seven nights from £519 per adult, £448 per child (under 12), self-catering (three sharing).
Price includes return flights from Heathrow and transfers. Departs April 4. Lift passes £155 per adult and £125 per child (8 to 15 years).

FAMILIES WITH TEENAGERS
Explore (0844 499 0901/www.explore.co.uk) offers family tours aimed at those with active teenagers (minimum age 11).

Over Easter you can follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, flying to Jordan, a destination that combines classical sites, the far horizons of the desert and the underwater wonders of the Red Sea.

Among a range of adventures on this particular trip are hiking and horseback riding in the rose red city of Petra, visits to traditional markets, sleeping in a desert camp in the Wadi Rum and riding camels through the twisting Siq al Barrah gorge.

An eight-night tour from £1,245pp (two sharing), half board. Price includes return flights
from Heathrow, transfers and excursions. Departs April 4.