DEAL OF THE WEEK:Discover the City of Canals from a river cruiser. Explore the hidden gems of Venice and the islands of the Venetian Lagoon with Citiescapes, staying on a luxury river cruiser 15-minutes walk from St Mark's Square. Departing Dublin on November 6th, the four-night trip will be full board with tours and cruises from €659pps. Details from (01) 2941000 and citiescapes.ie.
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TAKE ADVANTAGE of November deals for Orlando with Killester Travel. From November 18th-25th, a week with Aer Lingus flights and staying in the Quality Inn International Drive will cost €625 based on four sharing and €825 based on two sharing. The Staybridge Suites will cost from €695 based on four sharing. Details from (01) 8336935 and laura@killestertravel.com.
GRAB A last-minute bargain to Ayia Napa in Cyprus where the sun is still shining. Travelling next Sunday (October 17th) a week in the Olympic Lagoon Resort will cost from €669pps or self-catering from €449pps, (01) 288 6828 and sunway.ie.
ESCAPE TO the sun for seven weeks or more and you can enjoy great hotels at good prices. Direct Holidays have long stays in Tunisia and Tenerife departing October 30th and returning for Christmas. The five-star Hotel el Mouradi Palm Marina in Port El Kantaoui costs from €2,399 all-inclusive. Self-catering from €999pps. In Tenerife, the luxury Bahia Principe Hotel, all-inclusive, will cost from €4,079. Self-catering from €915pps. Details (0818) 200 110.
MAKE THE MOST OF a short ski break with Highlife when you pre-order equipment and lift passes and take advantage of the team’s ski guiding. During January Highlife will have three- and four-day breaks in Morzine with transfers, chalet accommodation, food and wine from €499pps. Details on (01) 6771100 and highlife.ie.
BOOK NOW for the best deals in cruises in May next year with Cassidy Travel. A seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Adventure of the Sea, from Malaga with flights from Dublin, from €899pps. The deposit is €250 with the balance payable next year. Details from 0818 332 500 and cassidytravel.ie.
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- LEARN IN luxury at the Brehon Hotel in Killarney with November packages themed around food, wine and fitness. Catherine Fulvio of Catherine's Italian Kitchenwill be appearing on November 3rd for cooking demonstrations. On November 10th Karl Henry will recreate your own Operation Transformationand Tom Doorley will be suggesting wines on November 17th. Packages from €149 including two nights BB and evening meal, (064) 6630700 thebrehon.com
- HERE'S THE perfect way to explore the west coast around Clifden: from a bike. The Ocean Villa BB is including one-day bike hire with all two-night bookings for €80pps. There are four other BB establishments also offering this promotion in Cork, Mayo, Limerick and Wicklow. Book on (071) 982222 and bandbireland.com.
- EXPLORE IRELAND'S mining past on a visit to the Arigna Mines when you stay in Lough Rynn Castle Hotel, in Mohill, Co Leitrim. The two-night stay with dinner on one evening comes with passes to the mines from €160pps. Book on manorhousehotels.com and (01) 295 8900.
- JAZZ TIME is coming to Cork from October 22nd–25th and the Imperial Hotel has rooms available from €70pps per night. Stay for three nights and get tickets to Jazz events in the hotel on Saturday and Sunday for €225pps. Book on (021) 427 4040 and flynnhotels.com.
- BRING THE CHILDREN to Dublin and stay in the new Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown from €124 per room, including tickets to the Zoo or the National Aquatic Centre. Children under 12 eat free, (01) 897 7777.
- BENOIT LORGE, the chocolatier, will return to the Inish Beg Estate near Baltimore for a two-day course called Chocolate Passions and Edible Treats on October 23rd and 24th. The course costs €195 and accommodation is available from €50pps per night. Details from (028) 21745 and inishbeg.com.