Bargains after the bells?

The recession means plenty of good-value holidays are on offer if you're planning a honeymoon. But an uncertain future means we're less keen to commit to luxury getaways before we have to. ALANNA GALLAGHERgets some tips from travel agents and FIONA McCANNtakes a 'minimoon' closer to home

“Some couples are getting their wedding guests to pay for the honeymoon. “Since most couples already cohabit before they marry they don’t need much by way of household items, so instead they’re opting for an experience

THE HONEYMOON is over. At least it is if you’re talking about the month-long five-star odysseys embarked on by some just-married couples of the boom. Now that our bank balances and our credit options have flatlined, what are the options for newly-weds?

The first change is to take a shorter honeymoon. “It’s down to an average of 10 days,” says John Galligan of John Galligan Travel. We’re looking for a cheaper honeymoon, too. “Most couples still see it as the trip of a lifetime, but they’re opting for four rather than five stars.”

Colm Flanagan of Twohigs Worldwide Holidays adds: “They are looking for value-for-money all-inclusive deals and are shopping around for quotes . . . They want to know what their bottom line is in terms of expenditure before they leave Ireland.”

The market has totally changed in the past 12 months, according to Andy Dolan of Escape2. “There has been a dramatic drop in requests for the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius.”

That has prompted some destinations to fight back, according to Galligan, who sends a significant number of customers to Mauritius. “If you choose a 10-night honeymoon there they’ll offer five of those nights for free – that’s a saving of between €537 and €859.”

Complimentary spa treatments are another carrot used to tempt holidaymakers. “Couples are weighing up the add-ons being offered. It’s these add-ons that clinch the deal.”

It’s an example of Darwinism at work, according to Nikki Davies of Trailfinders. “Historically, as a company we never really did a lot of all-inclusive offers. Now we’re offering them,” she says.

The average Trailfinders customer still spends a lot: about €7,500 per couple, according to the company.

At Specialist Holiday Group, the company behind American Holidays, Crystal Holidays and Tropical Places, the average spend is down from between €5,000 and €8,000 per couple to €3,000 or €4,000.

“But to see that in its true light you need to factor in that, comparatively, prices have dropped; airlines and we have dropped our prices,” explains Lisa Byrne of the company. “Our prices are down 10 to 15 per cent in the last six months.”

She adds that cruises are an increasingly popular form of honeymoon. “Our booking sales are up between 23 and 28 per cent. There is a perception that a cruise is a sea of grey-haired old fogeys, but the reality is that it’s predominately honeymooners aboard.”

At Escape2, honeymooners used to spend between €5,000 and €6,000 per couple. “Now,” says Dolan, “it’s all €599, €699 or €799 for an all-inclusive five-star hotel.”

Smart couples are getting their guests to pay for the honeymoon. Trailfinders’ wedding and honeymoon gift list is proving extremely popular, Davies says. “Since most couples already cohabit before they marry they don’t need much by way of household items, so instead of crystal they’re opting for an experience.”

Specialist Holiday Group, John Galligan Travel, Twohigs and Sunway all offer this type of service, allowing wedding guests to contribute to the cost of a couple’s honeymoon.

That financial help could make all the difference, because many engaged couples are worried about their jobs. As a result they’re waiting until the last minute to book their honeymoon.

“Normally we get inquiries so far ahead of the departure date that we can’t facilitate them,” says Lisa Byrne of Specialist Holiday Group. “But this year couples are trading down, looking for overall value and all-inclusive offers when booking.”

John Galligan has a word of warning, though: “Bear in mind that last minute means inside cabins on a cruiser and hotels with mountain or courtyard views rather than sea views.”

So where should you go? The Americas seem to be extremely popular. Las Vegas is selling like hot cakes, according to Sunway, and Mexico – a predominately all-inclusive destination – has been Specialist Holiday Group’s top seller for the past three years. “The standard is still quite high, and while swine flu affected it at the start the fact that swine flu is now even in Ireland has lowered travellers’ concerns,” says Byrne.

Prices for four-star hotels with flights, transfers and all meals, soft drinks, local spirits and beers, non-motorised water sports, taxes and tips start at €999 per person.

If that sounds like a bargain, the best value is to be had on high-priced honeymoons, says Galligan. “The Yachts of Seabourn is a six-star cruise on an Abramovich-style yacht that sleeps about 200 people. It usually costs between €4,000 and €6,000 per head. Prices are down to €2,000 per person if your budget will stretch to it.”

If it won’t, you could try to make your budget go further by haggling – which, according to all the agents, is back in a big way.

“Couples come to us already informed of what the competition is offering and what their prices are, says Lisa Byrne. “They want us to haggle back. And why not?”

'A minimoon in a swanky hotel with romantic walks on a beach? Fiona McCann and her other half didn't need much persuasion'

THE WEDDING was a rollicking knees-up of a perfect day, but despite corners cut, bargains found, borrowed and begged, and the sweet sight of suddenly recessionary price tags, it still left a hole in our pockets that pushed the possibility of a honeymoon far into a more solvent future. Yet after the months of preparation, running around, choosing a menu and sending invitations, not to mention the fatigue of hosting duties and a day in the limelight, we newly-weds were desirous of – desperate for in fact – for some time together and a break from the bills and the brouhaha.

The likes of Bali or the Bahamas was clearly out, and with much of my annual leave already gobbled by dress fittings and venue visits, we didn’t have a lot of time to play with. So when the opportunity arose for a home-grown alternative to the two-week splash in the Seychelles it seemed to fit the bill. A “minimoon” in a swanky hotel, with quality eating and drinking and the promise of spa treatments and long romantic walks on the beach? We didn’t need much persuasion.

It may come as a shock to realise that you can find all of the above less than four hours from Dublin, or closer still if you fly. Our destination produced the goods, with sunshine unexpectedly thrown into the bargain. But more of that later. First we packed our honeymoon bags and headed north to Rathmullan, a village on the shore of Lough Swilly, in the north of Donegal county, that offers spectacular surroundings and a friendly welcome, not to mention the real reason we were headed that way: Rathmullan House.

This four-star family-run country house right on the lough has 32 rooms of varying sizes and styles, many with views of the inlet and the Donegal hills beyond. Some are even dog-friendly, in case your pooch needs some downtime, too.

Though the hotel has a new Regency wing, we stayed in the older part, which dates from 1820, though the Wheeler family only took over management in 1962. Bob and Robin have since handed the reins to their two sons, Mark and William, and their wives, Mary and Yvonne, but Bob’s jams and chutneys are still available for purchase, made from the berries and plants that grow in the house’s walled gardens, which he still tends.

Our room was plenty spacious, with a homely mix of old and new fixtures and furnishings, among them the old-school romantic stalwart of a free-standing bath.

So what makes for a romantic getaway? Warm welcome? Check. Comfy bed? Check. Candles? Everywhere, including in the fireplace, lit every evening by the same hotel elf that filled hot-water bottles and placed them in our bed to warm the sheets. Sure, the telly was smaller than your LCD flat-screen variety, and required getting out from under the duvet and making the long trek across the room to the sofa suite to watch, but one can accustom oneself to such minor deprivations when there’s a view of the beach to compensate.

Downstairs, a series of lounges and living rooms open into each other, with sink-in sofas by flickering fires for preprandial drinks, all the way through the bar to the restaurant. Award-winning restaurant, no less, what with Good Food Ireland giving it the top accolade this year. Head chef Ian Orr has built an extensive menu around local produce, to lip-smacking effect.

For an alternative repast on our second night we headed for the legendary local An Bonnán Buí (074-9158453). Serving a unique mix of Irish and Brazilian fare – local man Martin Kelly married Brazilian woman Monica Santos and the Rathmullan restaurant was the result – this warm and well-staffed gem goes some way towards bolstering Rathmullan's gastronomic credentials. Who knew you could get bolinhos de bacalhau– salt-cod fritters – in Donegal?

The hotel offers various spa treatments – Dr Hauschka facial, anyone? – and has a small swimming pool and steam room, but the real selling point of Rathmullan House is its location, slap bang on Lough Swilly. Just a waddle from the front door is the beach, a stretch of soft sand with hardly a soul to disturb the view of the lough and the Donegal hills in the background. Turn right along the water’s edge and you’re a five-minute walk from the tiny town, with its smattering of pubs. Rathmullan also has a heritage centre themed around the Flight of the Earls, who high-tailed it from these parts 400-odd years ago, and a ruined ivy-clad priory that crumbles into an old graveyard overlooking the water.

It’s the kind of picturesque location that would be tourism gold dust if sunshine were guaranteed. But who are we kidding: it’s Donegal, right? Except that even in November we found ourselves strolling under clear blue skies and watching the light chase over the water in an unprecedented display of sunshine. The beaches of Donegal may be wild much of the year, but when the sun shines here the Seychelles barely get a look-in. Let’s be clear: white sands and palm trees are a pleasant fantasy, but in the real world there’s still plenty that’s romantic about sipping hot whiskeys before a roaring fire or wandering through the villages of north Donegal past coves that reveal themselves in sudden glimpses, all sparkling in the changing light, and happening upon castles and fairy-tale forts around bends in the roads that lead you through stretches of breathtaking natural beauty.

Because Donegal is beautiful: wild and rugged and wet and beautiful, in a manner that more traditional honeymoon spots, for all their calm and balmy climes, can’t rival.

Don’t get me wrong: I still have a hankering for palm trees and tropical cocktails, but until our bank balances buck up we have to search romance out in our own backyard. Minimooning Irish style is a little easier on the pocket and a cracking way to see the country through new eyes – a reminder that, just like in the movies, romance is only around the corner, if you just go looking for it.

Where to go if you’re in Donegal

Glenveagh National Park. Churchill 074-9137090 ext 3608 or 3609, glenveaghnationalpark.ie.

With more than 6,000 hectares of rust-coloured mountains, rolling bogs and pockets of rich green woodland sheltering red deer and the recently reintroduced golden eagle, this wild and wondrous nature reserve should not be missed. It’s also home to Glenveagh Castle, a picturesque estate on the shores of Lough Gartan with its own troubled history. Nowadays the castle offers tours of its prettily preserved interior, and walks through the well-kept gardens, with a tea room on site for some post-hike rewards.

Dunfanaghy Stables. Arnolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy, 074-9100980, dunfanaghystables.com.

Take to Dunfanaghy strand and over the dunes on horseback, courtesy of this local stable that offers rides for all comers, from beginners to more experienced riders, whether it’s a half-hour lead out or a two-hour trek you’re after. Prices start at €10. The stable also offers week-long horse-riding packages in collaboration with Arnolds Hotel for longer excursions and experienced riders.

Tory Island. oileanthorai.com and toryislandferry.com.

If you’ve come this far, it’s only a ferry ride farther to this rugged island off the northwestern coast. With monastic ruins, rugged landscapes and its distinctive island traditions, it’s worth a visit or overnight stay for the summer-time tripper. Irish enthusiasts, get ready to put your school-learned Gaeilge to the test.

Last minute honeymoon deals

Caribbean cruise: from €1,616

John Galligan Travel has a package of flights to Fort Lauderdale, in Florida, followed by a cruise to St Maarten, St Thomas, Puerto Rico and Haiti. An inside cabin on Independence of the Seas, leaving Florida on February 6th next year, costs from €1,616 per person, including flights, a night's accommodation in Fort Lauderdale and seven nights' cruising, with all meals, entertainment and transfers. 01-2076555, jgt.ie.

5-star Phuket: from €929

Trailfinders has eight nights at the five-star Sheraton Grande Laguna, on the Thai island of Phuket, from €929 per person – a 50 per cent discount on the room, saving €572 per couple. The price includes return flights with Malaysia Airlines, all taxes and charges, transfers and accommodation. Honeymooners also receive a fruit plate, flowers, a welcome drink, a king-size bed and a room upgrade. Valid for departures from April 10th to June 15th next year, booked by November 30th. 01-8814994, 021-4648888, trailfinders.ie.

Luxury in Bali: from €989

Trailfinders also has seven nights at the five-star Oberoi Bali from €989 per person, which includes two free nights; honeymooners receive a further 25 per cent reduction on the room rate, saving €845 per couple. The deal includes return flights with Malaysia Airlines, all prepayable taxes and charges, transfers and accommodation – plus a cake, personalised stationery and a special final-night turndown service. Valid for departures from January 15th to March 25th next year, booked by November 30th. 01-8814994, 021-4648888, trailfinders.ie.

Caribbean all-in: from €1,343

Sunway has seven nights at the five-star all-inclusive Dreams La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, from €1,343 per person. The price includes return flights, accommodation, all meals and drinks, taxes and charges, a champagne breakfast in bed and 15 per cent off spa treatments. Offer available until mid December. 01-2311888, sunway.ie.

Egyptian riviera: from €882

Last-minute honeymooners might like Sunway’s seven nights at the four-star Hilton Sharks Bay at Sharm el Sheikh, on Egypt’s Red Sea riviera, from €882 per person. The offer includes return flights, accommodation, all food and drink, and taxes and charges. Available until the end of November. 01-2311888, sunway.ie.

Mexican inclusive deal: €1,322

Tropical Places has seven nights in a junior suite at the four-star Riu Palace Pacifico, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from €1,322 per person. The all-inclusive deal includes all meals, soft drinks, all local spirits and beers, all non-motorised water sports, return flights with Delta Airlines via Atlanta or New York from Dublin and Shannon, accommodation and return airport transfers and taxes. 01-4331029, tropicalplaces.ie.

Last-minute all-in Cancún: from €1,129

Last-minute honeymooners should check out Twohigs Worldwide Holidays’ seven-night all-inclusive deals at Dreams Cancún, also in Mexico. You get all your food and drinks – including room service and minibar and premium beers and spirits – return flights from Dublin (via Atlanta with Delta or New York with Continental) and airport transfers. Prices start at €1,299 per person sharing, for travel between January 3rd and March 31st next year. 01-6480800, twohigs.com.

Live it up in Las Vegas: from €869

Sunway has two offers in Las Vegas. Seven nights at the five-star Wynn Hotel costs from €869 per person, including flights, accommodation and taxes. Seven nights at the Aria, the newest five-star hotel on the Strip, beside the Bellagio, costs €885 per person, also including flights, accommodation and taxes. Both offers are available in February and March next year. 01-2311888, sunway.ie.