From Paris for the 6 Nations to Burns Night in Donegal,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers...
DEAL OF THE WEEK
All-inclusive Egypt: from €639
After all the cold weather, Panorama Holidays has a tempting week in Egypt, staying at the St George Three Corners Resort in Hadaba, between Sharm el Sheikh and Naama Bay. All meals, drinks and entertainment are included in the price, which starts at €639 per person sharing, and although the hotel is not on the beach, it has a courtesy bus to the sand. 0818-202020, panoramaholidays.ie or your local travel agent.
HOME DEALS
Burns Night banquet: €55
Rabbie Burns fans should put January 30th in their calendars, for the Burns Night banquet at Harvey’s Point Hotel in Donegal: five courses, poetry, songs and a céilí. The evening is in aid of the Donegal and North West Hospice; tickets cost €55, or stay over for €149pps or, for two nights, €199pps. 074-9722208, sales@harveyspoint.com.
3-day bridal boot camp: €499
Michele Dixon of Fresh Air Fitness is running a bridal boot camp at the Headfort Arms Hotel, in Kells, Co Meath. Over three days, from March 11th to 14th, she’ll lead hiking, aqua-fit, Pilates, yoga, massage and nutritional workshops. Its costs €499pps, full board. 01-2958900.
Wicklow spa deal: €195
From Sundays to Thursdays until the end of next month, the Wells Spa, at BrookLodge in Co Wicklow, has a detox package of three body treatments, use of the thermal suite, an organic dinner and, after breakfast the next day, a guided walk through Aughrim Woods. It costs €195pps. 0402-36444, brooklodge.com.
Dublin BB with dinner: from €190
The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel has two nights’ BB, with dinner one evening, from €190pps. Or stay one night with dinner, plus chocolates in your room, for €115pps. 01-8982900, radissonblu.ie/royalhotel- dublin.
Trad festival break: from €120
To tie in with its Shindig trad music and set-dancing festival, in Tralee next week, the Ballyroe Heights Hotel has two nights’ bed and breakfast, with dinner one evening, from €120pps. shindigfestival.com.
Fermanagh midweek: €89
Killyhevlin House Hotel, in Enniskillen, has two nights’ midweek BB, with dinner one evening, for €89pps. irishcountryhotels.com.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Florida by bicycle: €420 plus flights
If your New Year’s resolution is to get back on two wheels, then this holiday could inspire you to keep it up. A 300km cycle from Key Largo to Key West, in Florida, from April 10th to 17th and costing $595 (about €420), includes six nights’ tent lodgings at beachside campsites, breakfast and five dinners, plus activities. Flights not included. Register on bubbafestbiketours.com.
Surf and yoga in Portugal: €395
Fancy spending a week learning to surf each morning and doing yoga on the beach each afternoon? Surfholidays has breaks in Peniche, 90km north of Lisbon, in Portugal, from March 7th to 14th and from May 16th to 23rd. A week costs from €395 in shared accommodation and from €495 in private accommodation. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies to Lisbon from Dublin and Cork. 01-4822828, surfholidays.com.
6 Nations Paris break: €499
The Travel Department has a trip to Paris for the 6 Nations, departing on February 12th, with flights and two nights’ accommodation, from €499pps. Match tickets not included. 01-6371600, thetraveldepartment.ie.
Cut-price skiing: from €349
Directski has cut the price of many of its holidays. You can go to Livigno, in Italy, on January 30th for from €519, Andorra
on January 31st from €359 or Méribel, in France, on February 6th from €349. All from Dublin. Call 1890-201205. From Belfast you can go to Mayrfhofen, in Austria, on February 6th for from £429 (€475), Tignes, in France, from £419 (€465), and Bad Gastein, also in Austria, on January 30th from £499 (€550) half-board. Call 0800-3580448, directski.com.
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability