Ryanair has been especially tough on slightly oversize bags, sometimes creating lengthy departure gate queues as passengers with a cabin bag bulging beyond the max argue with staff then desperately extract enough to slim the bag.

If no-one has yet coined the phrase cabin bag anxiety, it’s time they did. But what the extortionate bag check-in charges do mean is that it’s worth investing in a cabin bag that makes the most of what you’re allowed. Luggage specialist Antler has come up a bag specifically designed for that purpose. It claims the Duolite is the lightest, most durable case it has ever produced. Combining a hybrid ABS and nylon material with a frameless construction, the Duolite is super lightweight, with the cabin case weighing in at just 2.1kg. With dimensions of 55x35x20, it meets most airlines’ cabin bag size limits (but always check before flying).

A weight of 2.1kg probably doesn’t mean much to most people, but we’ve been trying one out and the first thing everyone says is, “Isn’t it light?” The second is that  it nevertheless feels well made and strong in a high-tech sort of way, and the third is that it wheels along very easily. So although it has a recommended retail price of £89 (the lowest discounted price we saw online was £84), that could be a worthwhile investment. Our only reservation is that its width of 35cm is actually 5cm, or a couple of inches, less than most airlines allow, so you aren’t quite maximising the allowance. Having said that, the structure of the case intrudes very little into the internal space, which can also be expanded slightly by undoing a zip-fastened gusset extension to give a depth of 23cm if the airline isn’t being too strict. The bag has one zipped external pocket, and comes complete with a TSA padlock (which can be opened by security staff without having to break into the case).

For those trips where a cabin bag just isn’t enough, Antler does two matching suitcases of similar construction. The medium case (67x44x30/33cm) weighs 2.5kg, with a rrp of £105 and the large (74x49x33/36cm) weighs 2.9kg with a rrp of £109. With excess baggage charges of up to £40 per kilo, the two kilos or so saved compared with a typical case could almost pay for these cases, which all come with a 10-year warranty. Further details and stockists at www.antler.co.uk

The new services to the Balearic Islands direct from the Docklands airport start in May using new Embraer 190 aircraft. The initial three-times-a-week service will operate on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. The extra Majorca flights will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the extra Ibiza flights on Wednesdays.

The airline will also increase the frequency of flights from London City to Edinburgh, with a total of seven flights a day from 29th March.

One of Villa Parade

Independent villa company Villa Parade have bolstered their collection of villas in order to cope with increased demand from holiday makers wanting a break on the Mediteraranean cost, adding 40 new holiday properties. Their collection of holiday accommodation includes new villas in Puerto Pollenca and Pollensa Old Town in Mallorca and Albufeira in Portugal.

Villa Parade’s new properties include a traditional family retreat complete with hot tub and views over Pollenca Old Town, and a large property with 5 en-suite bathrooms situated high over the Port of Alcuidia, Mallorca.

Nick Bartholet, operations director at Villa Parade said:  “We’ve introduced twenty new villas in Mallorca, eight in Portugal and twelve in Kefalonia this year as we’re increasingly finding that families and friends are finding villa holidays much more popular due to the value that can be had, while still enjoying high quality accommodation.   Villa bookings were up for us in 2009, so we’re delighted to bring more choice for British holidaymakers for 2010.

“Mallorca and Portugal are always firm favourites with British holiday makers as they’re easily accessible and have a great climate, however we’re finding that the Greek island of Kefalonia is becoming more and more popular with couples and families thanks to its idyllic beaches, unspoilt countryside and the warm and friendly local residents.”

You can save £25 through VillaSeek by using saving code HVVP1 online at Villa Parade‘s website, or call 0844 72 00 40. Villas are available from £395 per week, excluding flights.

Villa Parade are also offering holidaymakers a second week at half price on a selection of villas plus they are providing guaranteed car hire (for grade B vehicle) on bookings made before 31 March 2010. See Villa Parade’s website and individual villa listings for more details.

You can find out more about the festival via the official festival website

There will be parades happening on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm (and Monday 11am) – finishing up at Albert Square.