Carlow is freebie heaven

IT'S A FREE WORLD:CARLOW WILL be freebie heaven on May 15th with free entry into a long list of attractions around the county. A number of Carlow hotels are also offering deals that include free child places and meals.

There’s free admission into bowling at the Dome Family Entertainment Centre and roller skating at The Grid arena in Carlow town. At Southern County Fishing Resort, families can enjoy complimentary train rides and free admission to the pet farm, play area and nature trails. There’s also a tour that includes a visit to the Brownshill Dolmen near Carlow town, the Ring of the Rath, Duckett’s Grove Historic House and Walled Gardens and Altamont Gardens.

Altamont Gardens, Arboretum Inspirational Gardens and the Delta Sensory Gardens are free in, and Hardymount Gardens near Tullow is offering free tea and coffee.

Hotels will be giving guests the option of late check-out until 4pm which will continue on Sundays throughout the year and should be requested at the time of booking.

The Carlow Food Hero Festival at the Step House Hotel in Borris will have free tastings and there will be demonstrations at the Chocolate Garden of Ireland near Tullow.

Catch: will Carlow be able to cope if cash-strapped families from all over Ireland descend on it?

Take note: for details of special offers in hotels – including free child places, child meals and complimentary drinks – and details of how to obtain a free “endless Sunday” pass see carlowtourism.com.

A FREE boat trip on Lake Zell and bike hire are two of the extras being offered by Crystal Holidays with stays at the four-star Schwebebahn Hotel in Zell in Austria on an all-in basis on July 14th from €2,631.

This offer, for two adults and two kids (11 and under), also includes a children’s activity programme and a free farm visit and weekly guided walk.

Call Crystal Holidays on 01-4331080 or call into its shop on Duke Street in Dublin city centre or contact your local travel agent.

Catch:with all the walks and activities provided, a few months fitness training before you go is advisable.

Take note:Topflight is offering free lunches, bicycle hire, candlelight dinner, wine and afternoon tea or coffee to guests at Hotel Garda in Riva del Garda, Italy where prices are form €799 per person fora week. See topflight.ie.

FOR CULTUREvultures Thursday is the day to visit Los Angeles because there's no charge into a number of museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in downtown Los Angeles between 5pm and 8pm.

Skirball Cultural Center is free from noon to 9pm while the UCLA Hammer Museum is free all day and the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles is free from 5pm to 8pm, and every third Thursday all day.

Catch:that's a lot of culture to absorb in one day.

Take note:on Fridays in Long beach, California, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Latin American Art are free while the Getty Centre in Brentwood and the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History and the California Science Center in Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Bowl Museum are free every day. For more, see golosangeles.about.com.

Found a freebie on holiday?Tell me about it. E-mail emorgan@irishtimes.com