Go Last Minute

From Father's Day golf to a José Carreras concert in Italy, Joan Scales picks out holiday choices at home and abroad

From Father's Day golf to a José Carreras concert in Italy, Joan Scalespicks out holiday choices at home and abroad

DEAL OF THE WEEK

The Algarve: book now and get up to 20 per cent off
Oceanico, which has three resorts in the Algarve, is offering discounts of 15 to 20 per cent for holidays booked between now and the end of June and taken any time before the end of the year. The resorts are Jardim de Meia Praia, near Lagos, Estrela da Luz and the new Vila Baía. All the resorts have large swimming pools, childrens' facilities, tennis and restaurants. Oceanico has five golf courses in the region, and lessons and coaching can be arranged. 01-6177967,  www.oceanicoresorts.com.

HOME BREAKS

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Wickow night, dinner and golf for dad: €175pps
On June 15th, Father's Day, treat Dad to an overnight stay at Brooklodge Wells Spa in Macreddin, Co Wicklow, with dinner for two in Strawberry Tree, Ireland's only certified organic restaurant. He can work off dinner next day with nine holes of golf on the new Macreddin course, designed by Paul McGinley. The package costs €175 per person sharing. 0402-36444,  www.brooklodge.com.

A marathon stay plus spa on Fota: from €239pps
Cork City Marathon takes place on June 2nd, and you could prepare with a break at Sheraton Fota Island Resort Spa. Two nights' accommodation, full body massage and access to the hydrotherapy and thermal suites cost from €239 per person sharing. 021-4883700,  www.fotaisland.ie.

Bank holiday in Enniscorthy: from €79pps
Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, has offers around next week's bank holiday. Friday night, dinner, BB is €79 per person sharing. A stay for Sunday and Monday costs €109 per person including dinner one night. Golden-years specials for midweek cost €155 for three nights, including dinner. 053-9237800,  www.riversideparkhotel.com.

Hope springs: Friday night in Athlone, €85pps
Athlone Springs Hotel has a Friday-night special of €85 per person sharing, which includes dinner and a bottle of wine. It also has a 20m pool and a spa. 090-6444444,  www.athlonespringshotel.com.

The good life: Organic Centre course, €690
From July 21st to 25th the Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim, will host a course on growing vegetables, fruit and herbs, making yogurt and soft cheeses, baking, cooking, storing and preserving. There will also be sessions on yoga and relaxation techniques and on sustainable building, plus a seaweed walk. The fee of €690 includes meals but not accommodation. 071-9854338, www.theorganiccentre.ie.

OVERSEAS BREAKS

Manor and music in Bath: £595
Tune in to Bath International Music Festival until June 7th at Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds. The beautifully restored house is just 30 minutes from Bath, where you can attend concerts and recitals of classical and contemporary music throughout the city. See  www.bathmusicfest.org.ukfor details of tickets. Two midweek nights in the manor will cost £595 (about €750) for two, including dinner one night and a one-hour spa treatment. 00-44-1666-822888,  www.whatleymanor.com.

Carreras Monza package: €750
José Carreras will pay tribute to his late friend Luciano Pavarotti with a concert in the gardens of the Royal Villa in Monza, Italy, on June 12th. He will be accompanied by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by David Giménez. You can book a package at the Hotel de la Ville that includes a welcome cocktail, fruit and champagne to your room, pre-concert dinner, concert tickets and a lavish buffet breakfast for €750 for two. Details from  www.hoteldelaville.comand 00-39-03939421. The nearest airport is Milan.

Shandon autumn trips: from €359
Shandon Travel has some great autumn deals. Three nights in Prague from €369, three nights in Rome from €359, four nights in Marbella in a four-star hotel from €459 and Nice from €445 for four nights. All prices per person sharing. 021-4277094,  www.shandontrravel.ie.

Caribbean crazy: from €1,878
Sandals and Beaches all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean have extended their 25 per cent discount to all bookings made before July 31st for travel though this year and into next. In Antigua, the Sandals Grande Resort will cost from €1,878. In Jamaica the Sandals at Ochos Rios Beach will cost from €1,562, all prices per person sharing for a week. At the Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club, also in Jamaica, two adults and two children in a family room, which costs from €5,380 and is valid for October and November, might make a lovely mid-term holiday. 0818-222426,  www.caribbeancollection.ie.

Free night in Disney Paris
Disneyland Paris has extended its free-night offer from July 10th to 31st, which gives you an extra night at your hotel and an extra day's entrance to Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios. The 15th-anniversary celebrations are ongoing, with new shows, attractions and parades and extended hours. 01-6079900,  www.breakaway.ie.

A week in Crete: from €299
Steintravel has some offers for the end of the month, including a week in the Alcudia Pins apartments in Majorca from €399, and a week at the Maras apartments or Papadakis apartments in Crete from €299. On June 1st there is some availability for the Lanzaplaya apartments in Lanzarote from €499 per person sharing. 1890-408408,  www.steintravel.ie.