Travel trends 2009: what type of trips will we take?

Learney

'lûr'ni', n. a learning holiday/journey in which the participant acquires a new skill.

Try it out:  Learn how to take the perfect photo on an SLR digital camera on a Colorado ranch with Eye Photographic Workshops (eyephotographicworkshops.com). Not only will participants transform their photography skills, but they will become accomplished cowboys too with workshops in rounding up on horseback, lassoing, branding and other skills. Five nights at the Black Mountain Ranch in Colorado costs £2,600 pp including full board accommodation, equipment and all course-related activities (not including flights). Dates: July 18-23 and 25-30.
 

Try it out: Diving is challenging, cheap, not impossible to pick up and fantastically distracting. If the recession's getting too much, swap loan sharks for whale sharks and anomalies for anemones by escaping to a serene underwater paradise. The best place to learn is the Red Sea, with warm, clear waters and a myriad of marine life. Seven nights' B&B with Regaldive (01353 659999; www.regaldive.co.uk) costs from £558 pp in 2009, including flights (London), transfers, and a learn-to-dive course.