Freebies for groups on Gran Canaria

IT'S A FREE WORLD: THOMSON IS offering freebies with some of its winter package holidays including room upgrades and free places…

IT'S A FREE WORLD:THOMSON IS offering freebies with some of its winter package holidays including room upgrades and free places for groups if the holiday is booked before August 31st.

The winter programme features a range of four and five star hotels in Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Sharm El Sheikh in the Red Sea Riviera with flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon. They start at €689 for seven nights half board.

The programme contains a range of hotels including the Sensatori hotel in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and two cruise options.

Catch: these are adult-only holidays. Children under 16 won't be welcome

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Take note:contact your travel agent or Falcon Travel Shop or visit thomson.co.uk.

FOTA ISLANDHotel and Spa in Cork has a summer family package with free access to its day-time and evening summer camp for kids.

Two nights B&B, a three-course meal on one evening (excluding the kid’s meals) and and evening camps cost from €251 per night for two adults and two children. If you book a minimum seven-night stay in a courtyard or course-side self catering lodge at Fota Island Resort you receive a free weekly Fota Wildlife Park family pass and complimentary kids camp places.

Catch:children's evening meals are excluded.

Take note: call 021-4883700 or see fotaisland.ie.

COTTON BAYVillage in St Lucia is offering couples a free night's stay and a range of romantic treats worth around £450 (€516). In addition to the extra night, a complimentary candlelit dinner including wine, a champagne breakfast, and side-by-side couples' massage are included.

Guests can also tailor their package, by trading freebies – for example, foodies might wish to swap their spa treatment for another candlelit dinner.

It’s also open to mothers and daughters, groups of friends, and even golfing buddies who could swap spa treatments and dinners for green fees at the neighbouring St Lucia Golf Resort and Country Club.

The price for seven nights accommodation, based on two people sharing a one-bed villa, costs from £1,200 (€1,376) each. The offer is valid until October 31st and must be booked by October 24th.

Catch: flights are from Gatwick airport so you will have to factor in travel to and from Ireland.

Take note: see Prestbury Worldwide Resorts (prestburyworldwideresorts.co.uk or phone 01625-855851).

Edel Morgan

Edel Morgan

Edel Morgan is Special Reports Editor of The Irish Times