Got holiday fever but can't wait for the summer? Joan Scaleshas a range of offers at home and abroad
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Tenerife from €259, Greece from €199
Direct Holidays has a week in Playa de las
Américas in Tenerife for from €259 per person, based on
four sharing. It's staying at the Laguna Park apartments, which
have a large pool and play area for children and are 500m from the
beach. Departing on May 9th. Direct also has a week in Crete, in
Koni Village in Stalis, from €199 per person, based on two
sharing, departing on May 16th. Details from 01-8860400,
www.directholidays.ie.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
Ferry to Britain: from €140
Take the family to Britain for a day out with Stena
Line. Trips from Dublin Port and Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead,
Belfast to Stranraer, as well as Rosslare to Fishguard, are
available for €140 return for car and driver, plus €27
for each additional passenger.
www.stenaline.ieand
01-2047777.
A week in France: from €385
Inghams has launched a website for France with a
selection of more than 450 properties. Prices start at seven nights
in L'Ozerain, in Burgundy, from €385; at the top end, a
property in the Vendée that sleeps 12 costs from €1,204
per week. Details from
www.justfrance.ie.
Wild West frontiers: €4,995
Two great frontiers can be explored in the Ultimate
Rockies Railtour and Alaska Cruise. John Galligan Travel is
operating two journeys, on August 3rd and 17th. Take the Goldleaf
service through the Rocky Mountains, followed by a four-night stay
in the five-star Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, before boarding
for a week's cruise to Alaska. Prices from €4,995;
www.jgt.ieand 01-2076555.
May in Orlando: from €688
American Holidays has direct flight with Aer Lingus
on May 13th and two weeks on International Drive, staying in the
Comfort Suites, from €688 per person, based on four sharing.
01-6733800 and
www.americanholidays.ie.
A week in Gran Canaria: from €339
Departing Dublin on April 26th, a week with
Sunworld, based on three sharing and staying in the Corona Blanca
Apartment in Playa del Inglés, from €339.
01-8814300,
www.sunworld.ie.
Germany calling: €59
Lufthansa is selling fares to Frankfurt from
€59 each way, including taxes. The Munich service has some
seats at this price from July 19th to August 31st.
www.lufthansa.com.
Cruise the Med: from €1,299
Cruise with Topflight and MSC to Italy, Greece,
Turkey and Croatia, on an eight-day trip, from €1,459. Or
cruise around Italy, Monaco, Spain, the Balearic Islands, Tunisia
and Sicily for eight days from €1,299. Prices include return
flights from Ireland to Venice or Naples. Children go free on MSC
cruises when sharing with parents.
www.topflight.ieand
01-2401700.
US deals
Two new airline partnerships should make for better
value to the US. Aer Lingus and Jetblue are taking bookings to 25
US destinations. United Airlines and Aer Lingus will begin a
codeshare arrangement from November 1st, using Chicago as a
hub.
www.aerlingus.com,
www.jetblue.comand
www.united.com.
Silversea correction
Last week I mentioned some great cruise offers with
Silversea. Like all things that sound too good to be true, they
were. Silversea apologises profusely to disappointed readers. The
true prices for the cruises are as follows: London to Monte Carlo
is €8,529 for the first guest and €334 for the second.
The Northern Europe cruise is €7,290 plus €295 for the
second guest. 01-6110560,
www.silversea.com.
Ross Hotel reopens with special offers
The hip and happening Ross Hotel in Killarney, Co
Kerry, has reopened after a winter break during which it added a
few interior-design touches, as well as introducing a new menu for
the Lane Café Bar. It has two special offers this month:
€100 per night, including breakfast, or a two-night stay of
€145 per night, including breakfast and dinner on one
evening, for some midweek nights this month. 064-31855,
www.theross.ie.
Summer serenity at the Shelbourne
Why not escape the madding crowd in the serenity of
the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin this summer? Its new Heritage
Lounge, on the first floor, has newspapers, wireless internet
access, food, drinks and a concierge. The hotel's Summer Fun
package, including a luxury room and breakfast, costs €199
per night for two.
Get away for the May bank holiday
Some great deals are around if you're thinking of
hooking up with family and friends for the May bank holiday. An
Struathan Bheag holiday homes, at the foot of the Conor Pass, near
Dingle, Co Kerry, cost from €450 for three nights. In
Rosetown Village, near Rosslare, Co Wexford, a development of 24
two- and three-bedroom holiday homes has weekends from
€350.
In rural Co Westmeath, Loughstown Holiday Village, on a four-hectare (10-acre) site close to Mullingar and Castlepollard, has prices from €300 for the weekend. Details from www.selfcatering.ieand 1850-200236.
A night at the G for €170
Who could resist a night at the G hotel in Galway
for €170 per room for two, including breakfast, from Sunday
to Thursday?
www.theghotel.ie,
091-865200.
Finnstown's B&B special
Get away from the bustle of Dublin this month or
next with a break at Finnstown Country House in Lucan, Co Dublin.
The hotel, which sits in 18 hectares (45 acres) of mature grounds a
35-minute drive from the city, recently renovated its bedrooms. It
is offering single rooms at €99 for bed and breakfast this
month and next.
www.finnstown-hotel.ieor call 01-6214059.