JOAN SCALESrounds up the best offers, from cheap flights to Australia to Irish bank holiday hotel deals
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
Family breaks in Turkey and Portugal: from €1,169
Direct Holidays has reduced the price of some family breaks in July and August and will also have additional free child places and free insurance in some cases. Fly to Izmir (above) in Turkey on July 18th for seven nights' BB from €1,169 for two adults and
one child. On August 16th, a week at Club Alvorfeiras in the Algarve, Portugal, costs from €1,329 for two adults and one child. On August 29th, a week at Terraza Mar Sunsuites, in Gran Canaria, costs from €1,379 for a family of two adults and two children. Discounts on family holidays from Cork are also available. 01-8860400, www.directholidays.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS:
Detox in Jersey: from €340
Ayush Wellness Spa (www.ayush spa.com), in Jersey, has a detox and immunity-boost programme in May. It includes a number of treatments and two nights at the four-star Hotel de France (00-44-1534-614000, www.defrance.co.uk) from £305pps (about €340).
Algarve pluses: from €204pps
Oceânico Resorts, in the Algarve, has family freebies for the first 500 visitors, including golf lessons, spa treatments, soccer training, meals and water-park passes. Six nights in May from €204pps or in June from €226.50pps, in a two-bed apartment. 01-6177967, www.oceanicoresorts.com.
Lufthansa price reductions
Until tomorrow, Lufthansa is selling a million seats across its network at reduced prices for the summer. Flights to Frankfurt from Dublin are €59 each way. There are reductions on all routes; best bargains are on long-haul services. Prices include taxes, charges and 20kg baggage. www.lufthansa.com.
Fly to Australia: from €670
Australia Holidays is selling an exclusive fare from Ireland to Australia with Malaysia Airlines, from €670 including taxes, for travel until the end of June. It will also process your visitor’s visa free. 01-4350019, www.australianholidays.ie.
Up to €200 off hotels in the Med
Falcon Holidays has additional summer discounts in the Mediterranean. Book before the end of April and get up to €200 per adult off the cost of select Premier hotels, and up to €100 per adult off other hotels and apartments. There are also some free upgrades from self-catering to half-board and half-board to all-inclusive. www.falconholidays.ie, 1890-453545.
The Costa car hire this summer
If you’re thinking of hiring a car on the Continent this summer, Argus Car Hire will charge from €14 per day in Malaga and Murcia, in Spain, from €18 per day in Faro, in Portugal, from €26 in Nice, in France, and from €122 for a week in Cyprus if you book by April 29th. www.arguscar hire.com.
Car ferry for Old Trafford: €40pps
Stena Line offers a relatively cheap way to get to the Champions League semi-final first leg between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, from €40pps. A car and up to four people costs €160 return, travelling on Wednesday. The ferry departs Dublin at 8.20am and returns from Holyhead at 2.30am or 8.20am on Thursday. 01-2047777 (reference A441), www.stenaline.ie/football.
Med cruises: from €1,999
Through John Galligan Travel you can experience a seven-night Mediterranean cruise in the summer on a luxurious Seabourn ship from €1,999 – it would usually be double that. 01-2076555, www.jgt.ie.
HOME DEALS:
Punchestown meals: from €85
If you’re going to Punchestown next week you can lunch at the Village at Lyons Estate, in Co Kildare, on Thursday. For €85 per person you will be whisked by helicopter from the racecourse to a sumptuous lunch at Restaurant la Serre, before heading back to the action. There is also a five-course dinner for €105 per person, including helicopter transfer. 01-6303500.
Put a Sheen on it: from €345pps
Appreciate the spring beauty of Co Kerry and enjoy some luxury on a walking package organised by Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare. The two-night packages will include a half-day guided walk, with a guidebook to walking in Kenmare. Two nights’ accommodation, breakfast, dinner one night and a full body massage from €345pps. 064-41600, www.sheenfallslodge.ie.
Fermanagh fly fishing: €380pps
Learn how to fly fish with gillie Patrick Trotter when you stay at Lough Erne Resort, in Co Fermanagh. The two-night package includes accommodation in a lake-view lodge with breakfast, a gourmet picnic, dinner in the Halfway House (from May 22nd) and a foot-therapy treatment. The price is €380pps, based on four sharing. 048-66323230, www.loughernegolfresort.com.
Offaly plush festival: €299
Castle Palooza music festival, on the August bank holiday at Charleville Castle, Tullamore, is offering two weekend camping passes, pitched tent ready on arrival, duvet and pillows, chocolates, a bottle of champagne and breakfast in bed (including a Sunday paper) for €299. If you don’t fancy sharing your sleeping quarters, single tickets cost €179, with the same luxuries. www.castlepalooza.com.
Hotel deals for the bank holiday
Next weekend is the bank holiday, and if you have not booked anything yet there are deals available on www.irelandhotels.com, in the “value breaks” section, where various hotels are selling two nights’ BB with dinner one night for €99pps. Even better value is the Absolute Hotel in Limerick, with a weekend package of €87pps, or St Helen’s Hotel in Rosslare, Co Wexford, for €89pps. There are some family deals available, mainly in Dublin, with two- night breaks from €198 for up to two adults and two children.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability