Compiled by JOAN SCALES
Deal of the Week
October is the time to find extraordinary value in cruising, especially on this one from Cruiseholidays.ie, sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas from Venice to Malaga. The ship will visit Dubrovnik, Malta, Cartagena and Gibraltar on the way. The cost, from €599pps, includes an overnight in Venice and flights too. Tel: 01-8173555 or 021-2429555.
Away
DISCOVERBordeaux in the autumn with a special package from the local tourist office. The two-night deal includes hotel, guided city tour, wine tour, complimentary bottle of wine in your room, and free entry to major sites of interest. Prices in two-star hotels are from €105pps and in three-star hotels from €144pps. See bordeaux-tourisme.com.
A GREATway to enjoy Croatia is on a two-centre holiday. Stay for four nights in the Hotel Croatia, Cavtat (near Dubrovnik) and three nights on the islands of Mijet in the Hotel Odisej. Departs September 24th with a week from €739. See croatia.ie, tel 01-8780800.
SEE BUDAPESTthis autumn with three-night packages from Topflight. Enjoy a night at the State Opera, a guided city tour, airport transfers and hotel accommodation from €249pps. Flights with Aer Lingus cost from €150. Tel: 01-2401700 or topflight.ie.
AUTUMNis a good time to visit Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen with flights from Dublin with SAS. Take a weekend visit and two nights B&B in a central hotel from €299pps. Tel: 0818-332500 or cassidytravel.ie.
ON SEPTEMBER16th Irish Ferries will host a wine fair on its Oscar Wildesailing from Rosslare to Roscoff. French wine producers will offer tastings, give advice and preview some wines that can be bought at a discount of 12.5 per cent. Passengers can make a short trip of it with two-night hotel accommodation and return ferry travel from €199pps, based on four passengers, returning from Cherbourg on the 19th. Tel: 0818-300400, irishferries.com.
Home
THE SHANNONestuary has a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins and if you stay in Doonbeg Lodge, Co Clare it can organise a boat trip to see the dolphins and do some fishing. Two-night packages in the luxury lodge with dinner one night and boat charter are from €580pps. Tel: 065-9055600 or doonbeglodge.com.
KILLARNEYis comedy central for September 16th and 17th when 18 top Irish and international comedians descend for a weekend of wisecracks at the INEC. Day tickets are from €27.65 and two-day tickets are from €45. Book accommodation on destinationkillarney.com: the Gleneagle is from €80 per night; and the Brehon from €99 per night.
AFTERNOONtea is in vogue with two hotels in Dublin offering this lovely treat. Tea at the Conrad includes cupcakes and macaroons with speciality teas for €21. Tel: 01-6028900 or conraddublin.com. In the Shelbourne Hotel, berries are the theme and you can make a night of it with champagne afternoon tea and an overnight stay for €232 per room. Tel: 01-6634500, theshelbourne.ie.
A SKELLIGSRock special from the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville includes a boat trip to the rock with a packed lunch (subject to weather conditions). A two-night stay with dinner one evening is from €220pps, valid until September 15th but book by September 8th. Tel: 01-2958900 or manorhousehotels.com.
THE NEXTfull moon walk with Hilltop Treks is on September 10th in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. Make a night of it with a stay in the Summerhill House Hotel for €95 including a bar meal. No single supplement. Tel: 01-2867928 or see summerhillhousehotel.com or hilltoptreks.ie.
FROM RUSSIAwith Love is the theme at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin during the Dublin Theatre Festival from September 29th to October 16th. Stay a night in the hotel and you can have a Russian inspired meal and tickets for Donka: A letter to Chekhov with breakfast for €299 for two. Tel: 01-6791122 or see doylecollection.com.
Please note all deals are subject to availability