Compiled by
JOAN SCALES
Deal of the week
The autumn offer from the Portuguese Rio Arade Manor House, near Portimao on the Algarve, is three days for €80pps or seven days for €189pps. In November, the price goes down again and three days will cost €56pps, €130pps for a week, including breakfast each day. Book on +351 282 4230220 or info@rioarade.com.
Away
* THE NORTHERNLights, or Aurora Borealis, will be the best this season when the Solar Cycle bursts back into activity, and you can join some tours from Ireland. Rory McDyer Travel will have trips in December and February, with prices from €849pps for four nights from Dublin, including SAS flights via Oslo to Tromso and evening wilderness excursions. Book on 01-8335100 or e-mail scan@rorymcdyertravel.ie.
A more specialised trip will take place from January 20th, with Astronomy Ireland, and involves a week cruising along the Norwegian coast up to the Arctic Circle on MS Midnatsol. The renowned astronomer John Mason will give lectures and guided tours of the night sky. It costs from €2,150pps including flights, cruise and a night in Oslo. Book by October 10th with Project Travel on 01-210 8391.
* THE MADEIRAholiday programme is ending on October 23rd so there's time to book a last trip to the island of eternal spring. Topflight have four-star hotels from €599pps for a week and five-star hotels from €699pps. Book now for Sundays in October on 01-2401700 or topflight.ie.
* ETIHAD AIRWAYSis celebrating their fourth anniversary in Ireland with a sale until October 3rd for travel up to June next year. Johannesburg and Cape Town from €599, Delhi from €559, Australia and New Zealand from €899. See etihad.com.
* ENJOY SOMEsunshine in October on an over-55s holiday to the Golden Day Wings Hotel in Kusadasi from €342pps, half board. Limited availability so book soon on wingsabroad.ie.
* THE USITtravel sale ends on October 4th, with flights to Singapore from €769, Hong Kong from €599 and Mumbai from €539. Package holidays to Las Vegas and Los Angeles for four nights from €839. Book on 01-6021600 or usit.ie.
Home
* ARE YOUup to it? Seven peaks of the McGillycuddy Reeks, including Carrauntoohil. You can try on the weekends of October 1st, 29th or November 5th, when Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Hidden Ireland Adventures team up to offer some of the best hill-walking in the country. Weekends including walks, transfers, dinner and massages from €330pps. Book on 064-6631766 or aghadoeheights.com.
* DRUMCREEHYHouse, in Ballyvaughan, will be running textile workshops from next weekend for three weeks, covering creative hand-knitting for beginners and advanced knitters and a felting workshop. The weekends cost from €175 to €225pps and include BB, lunches and 12 hours of tuition. Book on 065-7077377 or drumcreehyhouse.com.
* NEXT WEEKENDis the Celtic Festival in Kilkenny, with a selection of music and events, including the Irish Harp Orchestra, a Welsh dance group and a Celtic evening and ceilí. See celticfestival.ie for more. Book hotels and guesthouses on kilkennytourism.ie.
* THE RADISSONBlu in Little Island, Cork, has declared October Pink month and will support the Irish Cancer Society's breast cancer campaign with €10 for every Girls' Night In booking, which includes two nights B&B, DVDs, chocolates and wine and an express treatment for hands or feet, from €139pps. Book on 021-4297000 or radissonblu.ie/hotel-cork.
* BE A ROSEin Tralee at the Ballygarry House Hotel on a Girls Night Away Break during October. Dinner, B&B and a choice of spa treatments cost from €149pps. Details from ballygarryhouse.com
* FOR Arejuvenating midweek escape, the Girl Power break at Kelly's Resort, Wexford, could be just the ticket. Dinner, BB and a one-hour spa treatment from €165pp, and you can have your own room. Book on 053-9132114 or kellys.ie.
* SEERosemary Mac Cabe's girlie getaway in Clonakilty: P10
* BALLYGALLYCastle is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Isabelle Shaw, and you have a chance to meet her on October 29th. On the wild Antrim coast and 40km from Belfast, the night promises to be fun, with a four-course dinner, overnight and breakfast from £95pps (€110). Book on 048-28582066 and hastingshotels.com.
* All deals are subject to availability