COOK ISLANDS

Get seven nights for the price of six at the Crown Beach Resort Raratonga, plus breakfast daily and a NZ$350 ($326) resort credit.

from $1485 a person twin share. Valid for sale until February 29 and for travel select dates April 1 to August 31. Phone 1300 799 783 and quote deal code 3920104. See escapetravel.com.au.

THAILAND

Stay three nights in any room category and save 20 per cent or stay five nights to get 25 per cent off at Andara Phuket Resorts and Villas.  The deal includes daily breakfast, wi-fi and shuttle to Kamala Beach. From THB20,173 ($797) a night and till March 31. Blackout dates apply.  See andaraphuket.com.

CRUISE

SOUTH AMERICA

G Adventures' first cruise up the West coast of South America is now 45 per cent off across all cabin categories.  This package includes 20 nights aboard the G Expedition, four nights' hotel accommodation, 54 meals, transfers and lots of experiences.

From $8249 a person .  Phone 1300 180 969 and quote promo code 16EB045SAM01. See gadventures.com.au.

FRANCE

Uniworld's 15-day A Portrait of Majestic France river cruise is up to $1600 a couple off. Visit Paris, Rouen, Bordeaux and Blaye with many inclusions. From $8389 a person, twin share if booked with full payment by February 29. Select departures April 1 to May 12 and June 12 to August 31. Phone 1300 780 231. See uniworld.com.

TOUR

EUROPE 

This whistle stop Europe Taster coach tour is now $500 off a person.  Departing London monthly, it visits France, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. It includes six nights' accommodation with breakfast daily, four dinners, some guided walks, orientation walks and driving tours.

The discount price is $1099 a person twin share if booked by February 29. Phone 1300 813391.  See ditravel.com.au.

 AFRICA

Save 11 per cent on a group tour in South Africa. It goes from Johannesburg to Cape Town and visits Blyde River Canyon and the Drakensberg Mountains, and includes Big Five game viewing in Kruger National Park. Breakfast and three-star accommodation are among many inclusions.

$2425 a person twin share. Valid for travel till April 24. Phone 1300 237 422 and quote "Essentially South Africa Special". See benchinternational.com.au.

HOTEL

POKOLBIN

This deal for the Leisure Inn Pokolbin Hill in the Hunter Valley includes accommodation in a Superior Queen Room or Superior One Bedroom Apartment, starting from $105 a night for two. You get a bottle of wine on arrival, late check-out and free wi-fi.

Valid for stays from Sunday to Thursday night. Minimum two-night stay. Conditions apply. Valid for sale till March 31. See leisureinnpokolbinhill.com.au.

PORT STEPHENS

Save 15 per cent on three-night stays midweek at Marty's at Little Beach, a boutique resort near the beach  in Port Stephens.

The discount prices start at $285 a room Sunday to Thursday and include cheese board and a bottle of wine on arrival plus $20 vouchers for Port Stephens Paddlesports and Allure Massage.

The package is available until March 31 with some blackout dates applying. Phone (02) 4984 9100. See martys.net.au.

FAMILY

CANADA

Book Adventure World's nine-day Canadian Rockies Getaway package by March 4 and receive an additional CAD$600 ($600) a double in added value to customise your journey with extra hotel nights, activities, tours and more.

Priced from $4856 a person.  Available for travel April 1 – October 31. See adventureworld.com.

UNITED STATES

This nine-day California self-drive tour is now discounted by $500 a person.

The price includes nine days' car hire and eight nights' accommodation at premium hotels. From $1415 a person twin share. On sale till March 31. Travel:  April 1 to 31 May and September 1 to October 31. Phone  131 415. See helloworld.com.au.

EXPERT OPINION

Insight Vacations CEO, John Boulding

Q. Post the Gallipoli anniversary year, does landmark date travel continue to be a growing trend?

A. Travel is no longer just about "where" and "what", it is increasingly becoming about "why"; why choose a particular destination over another? We've seen a growing trend towards anniversary-related travel with people selecting destinations because there is something special and culturally unique occurring there. Anniversaries can incite a mixture of emotions; they can be poignant or celebratory, so basing a trip around a significant date is a great way to guarantee a truly meaningful travelling experience.

Take the American South which will celebrate the 85th year since the publication of Margaret Mitchell's novel, Gone with the Wind, this year. Booking a tour like Insight Vacation's Southern Glamour is a great way to ensure a truly immersive​ Deep South experience with an expert tour director on hand to spread their knowledge of all things American South-related, including the influence of this hugely popular book.

India will also be celebrating an anniversary with the Taj Lake Place marking 270 years since its construction. Now one of the country's most outstanding hotels, Insight guests can find themselves within these historic walls on a Luxury Gold tour and reflect on the passing of time during this important anniversary year.  The interest in this destination is already evident with bookings for India in 2016 up 7 per cent.

Europe is also commemorating some landmark anniversaries this year including 100 years since the Easter Rising in Dublin and 400 years since Shakespeare's death – making 2016 quite the year for enriching anniversary travel experiences.

GEBICKI TIP

An apartment is a great money-saver for families on the go. You can save heaps on meal costs, do your own laundry and a two-bedroom apartment almost always works out cheaper than two hotel rooms.