From sun getaways to five-star stays in Donegal,
JOAN SCALEShas the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
A week in Crete from €1,376 for a family of four
If the turn in the weather is prompting you to escape to the sun, here’s a selection of deals from the tour operators. Budget Travel (www.budgettravel.ie) has a week in Crete from Dublin on July 25th, from €1,376 for two adults and two children, or a week in Salou for two adults and three children from €1,845. Falcon Holidays (www.falconholidays.ie) has a week from Shannon to Costa Almeria in Spain from July 20th for a family of four from €1,780. Sunworld (www.sunworld.ie) has a week from Cork to Lanzarote on July 25th from €499 for one week.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Climbing in Slovenia: €500
Climb Slovenia’s highest mountain, Mount Triglav, with Extreme Ireland. Meeting in Ljubljana, the five-day trip includes guides, transport in Slovenia, bed and board. From €500pps. 01-82555167, www.extremeireland.ie.
A day at the races in Wales: €170
Stena Line is offering day trips to Wales’s newest racecourse, Ffos Las in Carmarthenshire: €170 for a car and two adults. Next meetings are on July 21st, August 28th and September 13th. www.stenaline.ie/races, 01-2047777.
Thirty per cent off ferry to France
Irish Ferries has extended its summer sale fare to France until July 15th. The saving is 30 per cent based on four sharing and you also get a free trip to the UK for a car and two people, for travel up to August 31st. 0818-300400, www.irishferries.com.
It’s worth noting that VAT has been reduced in restaurants in France, making eating out 14 per cent cheaper.
Mediterranean cruise: €910pps
The Cruise Centre has opened at 3 Marlboro Street, Cork. It is offering a Mediterranean cruise in September from €910pps including taxes, a Caribbean trip from €1,120, and a family cruise for next summer from €1,691 for four. www.beaconcruises.ie, 021-4277094/4543100.
London hotels summer rates
The Summer Daze rate at the Berkeley Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge is from £229 (about €266) per night between July 17th and August 31st. In the hotel’s outdoor pool area, Lulu Guinness sunglasses, Rodial Skinny Beach sunscreens and Vilebrequin towels are loaned to guests. www.the-berkeley.co.uk, 00-44-2072356000.
Also in London, the Gore Hotel in Kensington has a three-for-two offer on rooms, with continental breakfast and a two-course dinner one evening from £414 (about €482) until September 6th. Call reservations and quote “Luxe” to avail of this rate. 00-44-2075846601.
Alpine breaks from £255
If you fancy heading for the hills and spending a few days walking in the French Alps, the adventure company Karibuni has four-day packages, from Thursdays to Mondays, every weekend from now until mid-October. Interested parties can make their way to Geneva (Aer Lingus flies to Geneva from Dublin and Cork, www.aerlingus.com), from where they will be collected.
The four-day break includes two full days of walking and full board and costs from £255pps (about €296). www.walkweekender.com.
HOME DEALS
Five-star hotel for €133
Where could you stay in a five-star hotel for €133 per room per night? The Solis Lough Eske Castle Hotel outside Donegal town has recently received its five stars and has three nights for the price of two during July. www.solislougheskecastle.ie, 074-9725100.
Music and adventure: €120
Trad music meets adventure activities on the weekend of July 24th-26th in Delphi Mountain Resort in Mayo. Two nights BB for €120pps. www.delphimountainresort.com, 095-42208.
Stay and see a show: €179pps
The Castlecourt Hotel in Westport is the venue for the stage show The Legend of Gráinne Mhaol, the Pirate Queen every Wednesday during summer. Tickets cost €20 and two-night packages, including dinner one night, are from €179pps. 098-88088, www.castlecourthotel.ie,
Family break in Ballsbridge: €199
Bring the family to Dublin and two adults and two children can stay for two nights in the Ballsbridge Inn for €199 midweek. The price includes breakfast, dinner each night for the children and dinner one night for the adults. www.d4hotels.ie.
Connemara kayaking: €350
Kayak with Shearwater Sea Kayaking on a midweek or weekend course in August. Two-day courses include guiding, kayak hire, equipment, accommodation and all meals for €350 per person. www.shearwaterseakayaking.ie, 087-9885658.
Pet-friendly hotels: from €98
If you want to bring your dog on holiday, try the Sheraton Fota Island Resort, which has stays from €114 per night, and the Twelve Hotel in Barna, Galway, which has rooms from €98 per night on selected dates in July, www.hotels.com.
Galway Races bargain: €180
A sign of the times is the Claregalway Hotel doing a package for the Galway Races. Two nights’ BB from July 28th, with free tickets and transfers to the races, from €180pps. 0818-281281, www.irishcountryhotels.com.
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability