From the Camino de Santiago to cruises in the Mediterranean,
JOAN SCALEShas the best offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
Go all-inclusive in the Med: from €793pps
Leave your wallet in the safe and enjoy holidaying in a place where you won’t need to spend any money. Club Med has cut its prices for all-inclusive holidays in September and October. Choose from Nabeul, in Tunisia, from €793pps; Agadir, in Morocco, from €969; Kamarina, in Sicily, from €1,028; La Palmyre Atlantique, in France, from €1,187; and Da Balaia, in Portugal, from €1,409. All include flights from Ireland. There is some availability also for August 29th to Morocco and Tunisia, from €805pps. www.clubmedsunway.ie, 01-2366800.
OVERSEAS DEALS
5-star Rome: €330 for 2
The five-star Rome Cavalieri Hotel has some great value until the end of the month. Two nights for the price of one, including breakfast, costs from €330 for two, including tax. The hotel has a fabulous collection of art on display, and it can organise treats such as a private visit to the Vatican Gardens. www.romecavalieri.com, 00-390-635091.
Santiago walk: from 490pps
September is a lovely time for walking, and Uwalk has places available for the Camino de Santiago. The seven-day, 111km trek is perfect for those who want to walk alone or in small groups. Uwalk organises your trip from Sarria to Santiago, with seven days’ accommodation, pilgrim passport and map, from €490pps. Baggage transfers are also available. Flights extra. www.uwalk.ie, 046-9068686.
Designer hotels: 1 night free
Design Hotels’ summer offers include three nights for the price of two in stylish properties such as the Grand Hotel Central, in Barcelona, Hotel Bel Ami, in Paris, Rockwell, Metropolitan and Pelham Hotels, in London, and Gallery Art Hotel, in Florence. www.designhotels.com.
Cruise the Med: from €599pps
Cruise Holidays is offering a Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Gem on November 15th from €599pps for a week, including flights from Ireland to Barcelona. www.cruise holidays.ie, 01-8173558.
Ocean adventure: from €600pps
Topflight has Mediterranean cruise deals in September and October, with the Italian line MSC Cruises, from less than €600pps for a week. www.topflight.ie,01-2401700.
Bangkok flights: from €447
Jet Airways is offering flights to Bangkok from London Heathrow via Mumbai. The newest Indian carrier has two flights a day, with fares from £385 (€447) return. www.jetairways.com.
France ferry sale extended
Irish Ferries has extended its sale for trips to France until Monday. Fares are discounted by 30 per cent for travel until the end of the month. www.irish ferries.com, 0818-300400.
Moscow flights: from €330 return
The winter schedule with S7 airline will have direct flights from Dublin to Moscow on Sundays from September 6th, with fares from €330 return. www.s7.ru.
HOME DEALS
Gourmet break: from €449
How about taking your taste buds on holiday to Gregans Castle Hotel, in Co Clare? Chef Mickael Vilijanen eschews the usual comfort food of country-house hotels to bring you the sort of contemporary and fresh cooking associated with Michelin-starred restaurants. A three-night gourmet break includes a five-course dinner on one evening and a nine-course tasting menu, with paired wines, on another. In between you can go walking on the Burren to work up an appetite. Prices, which start at €449pps, include a box of goodies to take home. www.gregans.ie, 065-7077005.
Lough Neagh: from €110pps
Saddle or paddle in Northern Ireland at the Lough Neagh Festival, which runs from next Saturday until the end of the month. Lap the lough on a 100km cycle or explore its canoe trail. Accomodation is available at Armagh City Hotel from £99 (€115) pps, Mahons Hotel from £95 (€110) pps and Westville Hotel, Fermanagh, from £155 (€180) pps, all for two nights’ accommodation with dinner one evening. www.discoverloughneagh.com.
Dance lessons in Donegal: €249pps
Come dancing in Donegal with a midweek break at Villa Rose Hotel, in Ballybofey, from October 4th for four nights. Dance professionals Josephine and Jim Tinneny will be giving lessons each morning, and you can put what you’ve learned into practice every night. There will be a gala dinner on the last night. The break costs €249pps with dinner each evening. www.villarose.ie, 074-9132266.
Waterford walks: from €195pps
Discover walking and nature trails on a Co Waterford isle when you take a two-night stay this month at the island Waterford Castle Hotel. Included in the break is dinner one night and a gourmet picnic to enjoy on your walk. Prices from €195pps. www.waterford castle.com, 051-878203.
Family special: €249 for adults
The Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny has a family offer for the final week of August, before the kids go back to school. Three nights’ bed and breakfast, with dinner two evenings, a spa treatment for Mum and Dad and a family ticket for Kilkenny Castle, costs €249 per adult. Children sharing just pay for their meals. www.flynnhotels.com, 056-7760500.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability