From skiing in St Moritz to a cookery course in west Cork, JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's deals
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Pad in Paris: from €281 for 3 nights
Here’s a chance to live like a Parisian. You can pick your own pad from a selection of more than 250, ranging from studios to classy pieds-à-terres, everywhere from the trendy Marais to around Notre Dame Cathedral (above), on Île de la Cité. Between now and Christmas a studio costs from €500 to €650 per week, or from €281 if you’d like three nights over a weekend in, for example, the Latin Quarter. 01-4433588, parisbynumbers.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS:
US breaks in 2010: from €445
Trailfinders has good-value US breaks from January to March. It has three nights in Boston from €509pps, Chicago from €515pps and Washington from €579pps. It also has four nights in Los Angeles from €549, in San Francisco from €519 and in Las Vegas from €445. 01-6777888, trailfinders.ie.
3 Arctic nights: from €976
How about three nights inside the Arctic Circle in Norway? You’ll dog-sledge, go on a snow safari, dip in an outdoor hot tub, watch for the Northern Lights and spend a night in an igloo hotel. The trip costs from €976pps, excluding flights. 087-7507262, traveltimeireland.com.
St Moritz skiing: from €1,400 for 2
Badrutt’s Palace, in the Swiss resort of St Moritz, has a two-night deal, staying in a superior room, with breakfast and dinner, two regional ski passes and transfers to the lifts – plus a full-body massage each. It’s available between Sundays and Wednesdays from December 6th to 19th for from €1,400 for two. 00-41-81- 8371100, badruttspalace.com.
Old London: from €155
Within a stone’s throw of St Paul’s Cathedral and Smithfield Market, the Rookery combines decor from the 18th and 19th centuries with the comforts of a modern hotel. Quiet luxury costs from £140 (about €155) per room per night. 00-44-20-73360931, rookeryhotel.com.
Tenerife luxury: from €458
Two nights in a luxury villa on Tenerife’s Costa Adeje, with pool, breakfast each day and dinner one evening, plus the use of a convertible Mercedes, costs from €458pps. royalgardenvillas.com.
HOME DEALS
Rathsallagh race stay: €199
Rathsallagh House, in Co Wicklow, is offering an insider’s tour of the winter National Hunt festival at Punchestown next Saturday. Arrive for breakfast, then take a coach to the racecourse for the tour and a four-course lunch. That evening it’s back to Rathsallagh for dinner and the night. €199pps. 045-403112, rathsallagh.com.
3 nights in Westport: €159
The Wyatt Hotel in Westport is offering three-night midweek breaks for the over-55s for €159 this November. The deal includes dinner each evening, and there’s no single supplement. If you fancy seeing Jon Kenny – half of D’Unbelievables – at the hotel on Friday, the Wyatt has two-night packages for €119pps, including dinner one evening. 1800-205270, wyatthotel.com.
Clonmel comedy deal: €55
Comedy is also coming to Clonmel the following week, from November 19th to 22nd, with the Bulmers Comedy Festival. Acts include Jason Byrne, Nob Nation Live, Jimeoin, Dead Cat Bounce and visitors from Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Stay at Hearn’s Hotel – festival HQ – from €55pps per night, including a day festival ticket. 052-6121611, clonmelcomedy.com.
Inish Beg cookery: €195
Jacqueline Lanigan Ryan is giving a two-day cookery course, on artisan baking and edible gifts, at Inish Beg in Baltimore, west Cork, on December 12th and 13th. The weekend costs €195, with accommodation from €50pps per night. 028-21745, inishbeg.com.
Dublin pamper break: €99
If you are coming to Dublin over the next two months, the Herbert Park Hotel, in Ballsbridge, has rooms at €99 per night, including Prosecco and canapes before you go out, breakfast in bed and a late checkout. 01-6672200, herbertparkhotel.ie.
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability