From Venetian bargains to a Co Down hideaway, Joan Scaleshas the week's best offers
Venice may have flooded, with the mayor requesting that visitors stay away, but the Venetian Hotel Association is urging visitors to come. That could mean you will never get another chance to stay in this amazing city for so little. Dozens of hotels have rooms for less than €100 per night - some are charging less than €50 per night - and even five-star properties have rates of less than €200 per night. In some cases hotels are also providing museum tickets, waders and free breakfast. For a selection of the best deals, see www.hotels.com and www.venere.com.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
11 nights in Turkey: €784pps
You can still escape over Christmas with an 11-night deal to Turkey from Sunway. Leaving Dublin on Christmas Eve, you will wake up on Christmas morning at the Palmin Hotel, in Kusadasi. The price of €784 per person sharing is for half-board and includes Christmas dinner and a New Year's Eve gala dinner. www.sunway.ie, 01-2886828.
Bargain week in Mexico or Egypt
Find the sun this winter with some great hot deals from Tropical Sky. Heading west to Mexico, you can stay for a week at Barceló Costa Cancún from €1,300, all-inclusive, per person sharing, departing on January 15th. Or head east to the Hilton Sharks Bay Hotel for an all-inclusive trip to the Red Sea in Egypt. A week will cost from €853. www.tropicalsky.ie, 01-5262566 or 068-56800.
Spring is just around the corner
City holidays in the spring are worth thinking about now with these prices from Trailfinders. Three nights in Budapest, staying at the Rubin Hotel, from €199. Three nights in Prague, staying at the Duo Praha Hotel, from €239. Royal Madrid: three nights at Puerto de Toledo Hotel from €259. And in Paris, our favourite European city, three nights at the Mirific Opera Hotel from €269. Details from www.trailfinders.ie, 01-8814994 or 021-4648888.
Madeira magic: €655pps
One of Europe's oldest travel destinations is Madeira, an island famous for its flora, subtropical gardens, waterfalls, markets, architecture and balmy weather at this time of the year. Direct Holidays has a relaxing week at the Hotel and Spa Monumental Lido, departing on January 4th, half-board, from €655 per person. www.directholidays.ie , 01-8860400.
White Christmas: from €399
You should be guaranteed a white Christmas with Topflight, which still has some ski trips. Its trips are heading to Austria from Dublin, Cork and Ireland West Airport Knock next Saturday, and there is time to grab a week in the snow with prices from €399 per person in Söll and from €899, half-board, in a hotel in Saalbach. www.topflight.ie, 01-2401700.
HOME BREAKS
Castle Leslie for 2009: from €175
Castle Leslie, in Co Monaghan, will ring in the new year with a gala evening. After champagne and canapes, followed by a five-course dinner with wines, dance the night away with great entertainment. Tickets €175 per person, or stay for a few days from €430 per person sharing. www.castleleslie.com, 047-88100.
Co Mayo walking: from €425pps
Walk off Christmas dinner in Westport, Co Mayo, at the first Westport Walking Festival, from December 29th to January 2nd, in stunning locations such as Achill Island, Croagh Patrick, Leenane and Clew Bay. Packages from €425 per person sharing, including four nights' BB at the Clew Bay Hotel (098-28088), dinner one evening and Blister Ball Gala dinner on December 31st, three days' guided walks and packed lunches for the walks. www.clewbayhotel.com, www.walkingguideireland.com.
Rock'n'roll in Co Kerry: €99
The big gig on St Stephen's night will be at the INEC in Killarney, Co Kerry, when The Stunning, The Blizzards and Mick Flannery take to the stage for a celebration of Irish rock. Tickets €30 from 064-71555 or www.inec.ie. Accommodation and gig-ticket packages from €99 per person sharing. www.destinationkillarney.ie.
Three nights in Down: €297
Lecale Cottages, just outside the seaside town of Rostrevor, Co Down, is offering its lovely houses, with three ensuite bedrooms, for €99 per night, minimum three nights. www.rostrevorholidays.com, 048-41738727.
Champagne new year: €300pps
Ring in the new year at the Twelve Hotel, in Bearna, Co Galway, and begin the night with Moet Chandon champagne, a six-course dinner and entertainment until the early hours in the Pins bar. Two nights from €300 per person sharing. www.thetwelvehotel.ie, 091-597000.
Victorian Kerry: from €395pps
Between Christmas and the new year, taste some Victorian ambience at the Park Hotel, Kenmare. Two nights' bed and breakfast, with dinner one night, from €395pps. www.parkkenmare.com, 064-6641200.
• Please bear in mind that offers are subject to availability