Deal of the Week: Explore the Gulf of Arabia at a comfortable 24 degrees in December on the Brilliance of the Seas. On land you can go on a desert adventure, wadi bash (driving through dry riverbeds), ski indoors, go Christmas shopping and see the world's tallest building. WeTravel2.com is offering this trip, from €1,179pps, with flights from Dublin, visiting Dubai, Fujairah, Oman and Abu Dhabi. Tel: 01-2401788.
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SEE THEsights of Madrid and Toledo and travel across the La Mancha plains where Cervantes based the adventures of Don Quixote. The Travel Department has an eight day tour of Spain leaving on September 6th for eight days. Price from €949 plus tax. thetraveldepartment.ie.
TAKE A HEALTHYholiday at the Grayshott Spa resort in Surrey, England, and enjoy a two-night stay, two spa treatments, all meals, and a full programme of fitness classes from £420pps (about €482). Book on grayshottspa.com.
SEPTEMBER OFFERSfor lone travellers or those who want their own rooms are on offer from Steintravel. Trips from Dublin to the Algarve and Majorca cost from €399, Cork to Fuerteventura is from €429 and Shannon to Costa del Sol from €429. Tel: 1890-408408 or steintravel.ie.
SPECIAL OFFERSon Irish Ferries to France will continue into September with discounts of up to 30 per cent and a free trip to the UK at a later date. Return ferry to France with accommodation is from €776 for four with a car. Tel: 0818- 300400 or irishferries.com.
LAST-MINUTEholidays to Sicily on August 17th, with Concorde Travel, include a week in Letojanni from €699pps half board, Taormina from €899pps B&B and Giardini Naxos from €954pps all inclusive. Book with a travel agent or on concordetravel.ie.
HAVE Afive star holiday in Croatia with places available at the Hotel Croatia on the Bay of Cavtat, from next week from €840pps, with a day flight from Dublin. Book on 01-879 4611 and croatia.ie.
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TUTOREDWINE tastings at the Twelve Hotel in Barna, Galway are on Thursday nights in September and October. Sommelier Fergus O'Halloran, will lead a wine tasting and pairings. The package includes a five-course dinner with wines, two nights accommodation for €480 per couple sharing. Tel: 091-597000, thetwelvehotel.ie.
TAKE A FREEcruise on the Shannon in the Moon River Cruiser when you stay at Lough Rynn Castle, Co Leitrim. Two nights stays with dinner costs from €155pps, 01-295 8900 and manorhousehotels.com.
THE LAST COURSEof the summer at the Burren Painting Centre, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare,has a few places available from August 20th-22nd with artist Barbara Barrett. Two nights B&B, two days of painting, one dinner and no single supplement will cost €200. Book on 065-7074208, burrenpaintingcentre.com.
SOPRANO VIRGINIAKerr, will be taking the floor in the Print Room at Marlfield House, Wexford, on August 21st. Tickets for the recital only are €20 but have the four-course lunch first for €63 including recital. Stay over on Saturday for €80pps or on Sunday for €70pps B&B. Book on 053-9421124, marlfieldhouse.com.
THE IRISH LANDMARKTrust has some late availability for August and September. Three nights at the romantic Annes Grove gate house in Castletownroche, Co Cork, costs €280, and three nights at the Triumphal Arch Gate Lodge in Colebrooke Park, Co Fermanagh, is £285 (about €325). Book on 01-670 4733 and irishlandmark.com.
THE 7 HILLS BLUESFest is on in Armagh next week from August 12th-14th and will feature musicians from Ireland, England, America and Australia. See the programme on armagh.co.uk. Two nights B&B and one dinner in the Armagh City Hotel will cost from £99pps (about €114), call 1850-230230 or 048-3751-8888.
Please note all deals are subject to availability