DEAL OF THE WEEK:Spend Easter in Turkey with a trip to Istanbul from April 21st-25th. Flying with Turkish Airlines, the price from €375pps plus taxes includes accommodation in the three-star Grand Asiyan Hotel in the old city close to the Hagia Sofia Museum and the Blue Mosque. Details from Abbey Travel, 01-8047100, abbeytravel.ie. Other dates also available.
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WALKERS AND ramblers will love the location of Mas Pujol gîtes in the Pyrenees, on the border between France and Spain. During spring and autumn, they can enjoy a special offer of a second week half price. See maspujol- delmitg.com or phone John Doyle on 00-33-468-957568.
FAMILIES CAN learn to surf in Portugal this April from €759 for a week. Based in Cascais, close to Lisbon, Surfholidays (01-4822828, surfholidays.com) includes seven nights accommodation, a five-day surf course and equipment for two adults and two children under 13, staying in the Villa Gale Spa Hotel.
LEARN TO cook the traditional Italian way with authentic ingredients from Tuscany. GTI (01-8434734, gti-ireland.com) has some places available on four-day cooking holidays in the Chianti region in April and June. Based at the Villa Casagrande in Figline Valdarno, the price from €775pps includes flights from Dublin, three nights accommodation and two afternoons cooking.
IF THE FUN at Cheltenham has got you yearning for more horse racing, the next big meet is Aintree for the Grand National. Holidaysonline (01-7640469, holidaysonline.ie) has a two-night package on April 8th, travelling by coach from Dublin with Stena Line, including entrance to the Tattersalls enclosure and two nights BB in the Ramada Hotel in Chester, from €349pps.
TRAVEL IN luxury for less with British Airways (ba.com) when you buy tickets during its sale which ends on March 22nd. First class and club world fares have been reduced by up to 32 per cent. Fares from Dublin, Cork or Shannon to Cape Town from €2,205, Hong Kong from €2,130, Las Vegas from €2,017 and Boston from €1,717.
VILAMOURA HAS some of the best golf courses in Europe and during May you could play and stay at the Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas resort from €699pps for a week. Details from Sunway, (01-2311800 and sunway.ie).
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SEE HOW the food critic fares when the shoe is on the other foot. Paulo Tullio of The Restaurant on RTÉ1 will be showing his cooking skills at the Brehon Hotel in Killarney from April 4th-9th for the Gourmet Festival. Tullio and head chef Mike Hayes will be designing a special menu with cooking demonstrations. There will be tours to the farmers’ market in Kenmare and to Dingle. Prices are from €169 for two nights, including one dinner, to €269pps for four nights. Details from 064-6671543, thebrehon.com.
AN INTERNATIONAL wine weekend takes place in Renvyle House Hotel (095-43511, renvyle.com) from April 1st-3rd with producers from France and Chile making their way to Connemara. The price of €199pps includes the wine tastings, followed by a seven-course dinner with wines, and lectures.
ROSEMARY BURNS will be giving a painting course at Lough Inagh Lodge in Connemara from March 27th-29th, with the fourth night complimentary at the hotel. The price from €395pps includes accommodation, most meals and tuition. Book on 087-9675630 or loughinaghlodgehotel.ie.