Mailchimp is supposed to be easy to use but I need help!

I have a mailing list for my travel agency of up to 2500 names but I almost never use it. I have a mailchimp account, but each time I try to get to grips with producing anything other than a very boring basic looking text-based campaign, I give up.

I need someone to do something just slightly more eye-catching that looks good in everyone's mailbox, then do the actual sending.We are promoting coach touring and river cruising. I'd like to stick with Mailchimp as I have credits saved up.

In addition, suggestions and help with enticing more people to sign up to the mailing list in the first place.

If you also know everything about improving Facebook pages, we could move onto that next, but Mailchimp is first.