From a room with a view in Knightsbridge to a get-together with friends in Waterford, Joan Scaleshas the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Walking in Austria with a week's half-board: €759ppsUwalk, a walking-holiday company, is waiving its single supplement for guided walks to Austria booked by next Saturday, June 14th. It has a selection of itineraries, for different abilities. Choose from Zell am See, Lermoos, Seefeld and Eagle's way in Walchsee. From €759 half-board for a week. 1890-289255, www.uwalk.ieor your travel agent. Uwalk also has a guided walk along the Camino de Santiago in August for 10 days from €1,399.
HOME BREAKS
25% off with Emerald StarUntil June 15th Emerald Star is offering 20 per cent off its Caprice and 25 per cent off its Irish Star cruisers. Its website features 360-degree images of the boats, if you'd like to check out what you're booking. 071-9627633, www.emeraldstar.ie.
Get set for the World FleadhThe World Fleadh is coming to Portlaoise for the August bank holiday, from July 31st to August 4th. As well as the world title in set dancing and sean-nós, there'll be music from Sharon Shannon, Mundy, Shane MacGowan, Hothouse Flowers, Frankie Gavin, Lúnasa and The Kilfenora Ceilí Band. Expect family and street entertainment, too, along with a food market and craft fair. www.laoistourism.ie, www.theworldfleadh.com.
Storytelling in Co DownThe annual storytelling festival takes place at Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, in Co Down, from June 26th to 28th. It's an ideal place to take the children, as they can also enjoy the exhibitions. There's lots of family accommodation in the Mournes and surrounding areas, within easy distance of the museum. 1850-230230, www.discovernorthernireland.com, www.uftm.org.uk.
Get-together getaway: €61ppsA break with a group of friends? Good for the soul and even the wallet. The houses at Shanagarry Holiday Village, in Co Cork - with leather couches, solid-oak interiors and artwork by a local artist - sleep seven from only €61 per person per week. In Co Kerry, the well- fitted-out Kenmare View houses cost from €82 per person sharing per week. In
Co Waterford, houses in the comfortable Willow Wood development, on the 60-hectare (150-acre) Faithlegg Estate, cost from €96pps per week. 1850-200236, www.selfcatering-ireland.com.
Adventure in Killary: €149ppsRevitalise yourself with an adventure break around Killary Harbour, in Co Mayo. Delphi Mountain Resort offers more than 25 ocean, forest and mountain activities, from surfing to abseiling. You can choose two activities during a two-day stay. All equipment is provided. Two nights' B&B from €149 per person sharing. 095-42208, www.delphimountainresort.com.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
Hyde Park views: €295 per roomThe terrace opens this month at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge, London; it will give guests uninterrupted views into Hyde Park. Have your breakfast there and watch the Horse Guards pass by on their way to Buckingham Palace. (On the other side of the hotel are uninterrupted views of Harvey Nichols.) The hotel has online rates this summer of £235 (about €295) per room per night, with no charge for rollaway beds for under-12s. www.mandarinoriental.com/london.
Upmarket London: €60ppsAs well as Knightsbridge, you could stay in Chelsea or any other of London's upmarket areas in homes of architectural and historic significance when you book with Uptown Reservations. The Uptown hosts - people who share their homes with paying guests - can be artists, diplomats, designers, actors . . . Rates from £72 (about €91) per night single and £95 (about €120) double, including breakfast. www.uptownres.co.uk, 00-44-20-79372001.
Autumn cruises: from €799E-travel has deals on cruises between September and November. A seven-night Mediterranean cruise costs from €799, including flights. A 12-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise costs from €1,199. A 13-night Italy and Croatia cruise costs from €1,139. Shop-and-sail itineraries are popular from October to December, with nights in New York and short cruises to Bermuda. 01-4081999, www.e-travel.ie.
Golf in Andorra: from €699ppsPlay golf on Europe's highest course, which is about to open in Andorra, in the Pyrenees. The Grandvalira course is at 2,250m and can only be reached by gondola. A week in Andorra this month, staying at the Sporthotel on a half-board basis, costs from €699 per person sharing. 01-6611377, www.inghams.ie.
Kenyan safari: from €1,980ppsTrips to Kenya, to explore the Masai Mara on safari, flying with Virgin Airways and staying in four-star accommodation, are available from July to October, starting at €1,980 full board per person. 01-2311888, www.sunway.ie.
Surf classes in Portugal: €380Learn to surf in Portugal's Atlantic rollers with Surf Holidays. Stay in an ecolodge in Ericeira, 50km northeast of Lisbon, and take lessons with a coach from the Portuguese national team. A week in Ericeira, including tuition, starts at €380, based on four people sharing. Flights to Lisbon with Aer Lingus. 01-4822828, www.surfholidays.ie.
Christmas shops in Boston: €899Book now for your US Christmas-shopping experience and stay at Jurys Boston from November 25th or 26th. The hotel is in Back Bay, a step from the classy shops on Newbury Street. Gerry McMahon Travel will take you there from €889 per person sharing, with four nights' accommodation, airport transfers and a day trip to Wrentham outlet shopping centre. 01-2052004, www.gerrymcmahon.ie.