A round-up of other travel news in brief
Ocean race bookings
Six thousand bed nights have been booked in Galway for the Volvo Ocean Race in May – and that's just for the organisers, writes Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent. More than 30 hotels in the city and county have signed up to a charter that prevents overcharging during the prestigious international event. Fáilte Ireland and the race organisers are working with pubs and taxis to ensure that published rates are not exceeded during the fortnight from May 23rd to June 6th. Failte Ireland West's general manager, Fiona Monaghan, says that in spite of the recession interest is significant in what will be the world's largest sporting event of its type this year. An estimated €43 million will be spent by 200,000 visitors.
100,000 €29 rooms
Travelodge, which says it has created 50 jobs at its new hotel in Limerick, is offering 100,000 rooms at €29 each at its 11 Irish hotels this year. Each room can accommodate three adults or a family of two adults and two children.
See www.travelodge.ieand major hotel-booking websites.
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Percentage of Irish people who use their hotel’s minibar on holiday, spending an average of €23.47, the highest in Europe, according to Hotels.com. French and Norwegians are most frugal, at €12 and €10.