From a cut-price cruise to a pampering break in the Cork countryside, Joan Scaleshas the best of the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
European cities for singles: from €369
Three great cities of Europe are available on a no-single-supplement basis in January for a winter midweek escape. Choose from Prague (pictured), Vienna or Berlin on January 18th, in a trip that includes flights, transfers, city tour and a stay at a four-star hotel with breakfast. Prague for three nights costs €369, Berlin for three nights is €399 and Vienna for four nights costs €549, including all taxes and charges. 01-2941000, citiescapes.ie.
HOME DEALS:
Spa treatments in Cork hotel: €180
Fancy escaping to the country for a bit of pampering? Grove House Health Spa, which occupies a country house in north Co Cork, offers body treatments, facials, reiki and reflexology. It also has an indoor pool. Between now and the end of January an overnight stay, including dinner with wine and a day of treatments, costs €180pps. 022-25518, grovehousespa.com.
Christmas spirit break: €165
Parknasilla Hotel, in Co Kerry, is getting ready for Christmas: the tree has been decorated and the log fires are roaring. In advance of the rush it has an offer for the weekend of December 11th-13th. Two nights’ bed and breakfast, with dinner one evening and a 30 per cent discount on massages in the spa, costs from €165pps. 064-6675600, parknasillahotel.ie.
Dublin shopping break: from €440
The Westin Dublin’s Christmas shopping package includes accommodation for two nights for two with full Irish breakfast, two cocktails in the Mint Bar and a gift card of €50 for Brown Thomas. And it runs until the end of January, so you can make the sales, too. It costs from €440. 01-6451000, thewestindublin.com.
New Year in Connemara: €299
Renvyle House Hotel, in Connemara, Co Galway, has a two-night package of a gala dinner on New Year’s Eve, with a Guinness and oyster reception, entertainment and dancing. And there’s a free kids’ club every day from 2pm until 10pm. It costs €299 per person (no single supplement) for two nights, including the gala dinner. 095-43511, renvyle.com.
Weekends in Cavan: €150
The Slieve Russell Hotel, in Cavan, has weekend packages from January to March for €150pps when you pay in advance. The offer is for two nights and includes dinner one evening. 049-9526444, slieverussell.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Buy a cruise, get a 2nd for €1
If you book an MSC Cruises holiday between now and Monday week at the full brochure price, a second person can travel for €1.
The offer is available on more than 300 cruises to 30 destinations for three-, seven-, eight- and 11-night cruises. 1800 932499.
Head to Barbados: from €1,329
Find badly needed winter sun in Barbados on December 8th with Tropical Sky. A two-week stay at Discovery Bay, on the west coast, includes flights from Dublin, all-inclusive accommodation and water sports, from €1,329pps. 01-5262566, tropicalsky.ie.
Central London for 2: €360
The four-star Cavendish Hotel, near Fortnum Mason in the heart of London, has offers on January and February breaks. If you book and pay 14 days ahead you can get two nights’ bed and breakfast for two for £278 plus VAT – or about €360. thecavendishlondon.com.
Alpine ski break: from €330
Get to Geneva and Karibuni will bring to you to its lodge for a Monday-to-Thursday ski break. The price, from £295 (about €330), includes lift pass, ski hosting, two dinners and entertainment. 00-44-1202- 661865, skiweekender.com.
French camping: from €334 for 6
You can try bush tucker, eat a blindfold banquet and build a raft at Canvas Holidays's I'm a Celebrityfor softies at its campsites next summer.
A week at Camping Parc de Fierbois, near Tours, from June 7th costs from €334 for two adults and up to four children, including an early-booking discount. 01-2421901, canvasholidays.ie.