For those of us who adore all things chocolate, indulge your passion when you travel! We've gathered our favourite chocolate-inspired ideas to make this holiday one to remember

Calling all chocoholics

Belgium is famous for its chocolate, so where better to indulge than in the country's capital Brussels. You'll find loads of different shops selling the finest handmade truffles, bars and more.

Trendy Pierre Marcolini has summer and winter 'collections', just like a fashion designer; Wittamer's signature bright pink packaging is almost as irresistible as the contents; and Leonidas and Godiva also have their fans.

Not surprisingly, you'll have no trouble finding a decent cup of hot chocolate, either, though even a cup of coffee comes with a little square of the sweet stuff.

Perfect for: couples, friends.
The facts: See www.visitbelgium.com/chocolate.htm for a list of shops, museums, tours and exhibitions throughout the country. Eurostar (www.eurostar.co.uk) has return fares to Brussels from £59.

A day to relish

Cadbury World in Birmingham is perfect for a family-friendly day out, and you can even claim it's educational! This mouthwatering theme park has fascinating exhibits on everything from where cocoa comes from and the history of chocolate making to John Cadbury, who started selling the stuff nearly 200 years ago.

Naturally, there are also plenty of places to indulge in suitably choccy treats, whether at the cafe or in the largest Cadbury shop in the world.

Perfect for: families.
The facts: Tickets cost £13 for adults, £9.95 for children (4-15 yrs) and £40 for a family. Book ahead at www.cadburyworld.co.uk or on 0845 450 3599

I should cocoa

It's a fact: chocolate really is good for you! That's especially true at the Dermed Cosmetic and Dermatological Centre in Krakow's beautiful Old Town.

There you can enjoy a fantastic two-hour chocolate-scented pampering at a wallet-friendly price.

It starts with a cocoa body scrub, followed by a chocolate-mousse wrap, and finishes with a soothing massage with chocolate and orange cream. It's great for your skin, figure and stress levels, and smells delicious!

Perfect for: couples, friends.
The facts: One session costs around £60 [290 zlotys]; book online at www.healthcare.intercrac.com.pl. Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) flies to Krakow from Luton, Belfast, Bristol, Liverpool and Newcastle from £38 return. For accommodation ideas, contact the Polish National Tourist Office on 08700 675012, or at www.visitpoland.org.

Handmade heaven

Learn the secrets of tempering, dipping and moulding during an indulgent weekend on Britain's south coast. The historic Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth holds regular Chocolate Weekends, where you'll become an expert and have lots of fun at the same time.

Sessions include a light-hearted history and tasting as well of plenty of hands-on experience. By the end, you'll have mastered making Belgian truffles and moulded chocolates, and will have a couple of professional-looking boxes to take home with you.

Perfect for: singles, friends.
The facts: Chocolate Weekends cost £265pp, B&B, based on two sharing, and take place on the last weekend of each month. Book on 01202 556857 or visit www.thechocolateboutiquehotel.co.uk

Melting moments

Top up your tan on a luxury Caribbean cruise with a difference. It's not cheap, but Regent Seven Seas Cruises' annual one-week Spotlight on Chocolate is every chocoholics dream.

Between excursions from ports such as laid-back Key West and bustling Cozumel, there are cookery demonstrations from guest chefs, lectures on every aspect of chocolate-making and plenty of chances to treat your taste buds to everything chocolatey.

Perfect for: mums and daughters.
The facts: The next cruise departs 1 December from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and costs from £1385 [$2695] including meals, drinks and tips. Book at www.rssc.com. Flights are not included; expect to pay from £399 return with Zoom Airways (www.flyzoom.com).

Sweet dreams

Sleep in a hotel with a difference in the historic Italian town of Perugia, home of Baci chocolates. At the three-star Etruscan Chocohotel everything, even the names of the rooms, has an unmistakeable theme.

The menu in the restaurant includes dishes such as rabbit with pistachios and chocolate; the lobby shop has an international selection along with non-fattening options such as cocoa-scented shampoo; and each room has a Chocodesk filled with sweet treats. If you can tear yourself away, the town is beautiful and well worth exploring.

Perfect for: couples.
The facts: Doubles at the Chocohotel cost from £36 a night and can be booked at www.chocohotel.it. The nearest airports are Pisa, Florence and Rome.

Just the ticket

Take a scenic train ride with a helping of chocolate through the picturesque Swiss countryside. The Swiss Chocolate Train - a first-class-only excursion train - leaves from Montreux, stopping at Gruyeres for an excursion to a cheese factory and the local castle.

From there it continues to Broc, home of the Cailler-Nestle chocolate factory, where you can watch the production line, have a tasting and stock up on chocolate at factory prices to nibble on the way back to Montreux.

Perfect for: older families.
The facts: The Chocolate Train runs every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from June to October (Mon-Fri Jul-Aug). Tickets cost £50 and can be booked through the Switzerland Travel Centre on 00800 100 200 30, or at www.myswitzerland.com

Say spaaaah!

Pamper yourself with a luxurious break at the Vineyard at Stockcross. This five-star hotel near Newbury boasts a small but sleek spa with some tempting treatments.

The ChocoTherapy Facial starts with a spoonful of homemade vanilla, coconut and chocolate mousse followed by a back massage and skin cleansing with chocolate and vanilla milkshake foam.

After an exfoliating grape and lavender honey face mask, with a side order of honey and lavender chocolate, there's a tiramisu serum and an anti-ageing milk chocolate mask, washed down by more homemade chocolate.

Perfect for: friends, honeymoons.
The facts: The ChocoTherapy Facial costs £90. Doubles cost from £275 a night, B&B. Call 01635 528770 or visit www.the-vineyard.co.uk