Discounts to Istanbul

IT'S A FREE WORLD:EXCLUSIVE ESCAPES is offering savings of up to £200pp (€233) off short breaks to Istanbul between November 15th and December 14th, including the services of a private guide for half a day to help locate the shops and stores to head for.

Accommodation includes the award-winning Sumahan on the Water hotel which has a private launch to ferry guests to the European side of Istanbul. Three nights BB at the Sumahan on the Water starts at £720pp (€839), including return flights with Turkish Airlines, transfers and a private, half-day city guide, saving £180pp (€209).

The Stablesgate House is a private mansion in the heart of Sultan Ahmet. It has two double bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, dining and sitting rooms, and a private roof terrace with views of the Blue Mosque.

Breakfast can be taken every morning on the roof terrace of the nearby Armada hotel. Three nights’ BB at the Stablesgate House is from £670pp (€781), including return flights with Turkish Airlines, transfers and a private city guide for half a day, saving £130pp (€151).

Catch:flights are from the UK.

Take note:see exclusiveescapes.co.uk.

- HALLOWEENis barely over and hotels are already publicising Christmas deals.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel in Dublin has a one-night Christmas offer on December 2nd which includes a €50 voucher for the Disney store on Grafton Street.

The offer includes a one-night stay in a deluxe family room, dinner in the hotel's Citron Brasserie followed by a screening of the Late Late Toy Show. The package costs €450 for two adults and two children, and also includes car-parking, free Wi-Fi, and all rates and service charges.

Catch:why spend €450 to watch the Late Late Toy Showin a hotel when you can watch it at home for free?

Take note: see fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com.

THE KEMPINSKIHotel in Barbardos Bay near Bodrum, Turkey is offering a Christmas package between December 23rd and January 1st that includes a free night's accommodation, free spa treatment and 15 per cent off subsequent treatments, and a cooking class with the hotel's chef. Airport transfers in a limousine are also part of the deal. Five nights costs from €491 per person.

Catch:flights not included.

Take note:see kempinski.com.

IRISH FERRIEShas launched an iPhone app which allows you to make bookings.

It’s available free through the iTunes App Store and you can use it to pay for fares and book on-board extras. Other features include real-time sailing information, trip planner with driving directions to and from ports, on-board information and FAQ’s.

The app will be followed shortly by an Android version.

Catch: unless you are a frequent traveller, this will be one of your least used apps.

Take note:see irishferries.com.