From a tennis break in Spain to a Georgian Christmas in Limerick,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers...
Overseas deals
DAL OF THE WEEK: Operatic mini cruise: from €1,600
Next summer Christina O, on which Aristotle Onassis romanced Maria Callas, will host concerts by Nelly Miricioiu, Claire Rutter, Mary Plazas and other sopranos. Between May 21st and June 6th you can join the Irish-owned ship in Monte Carlo for an overnight cruise to Cannes, with an eight- course dinner and a concert. Prices start at €1,600pps. Aer Lingus flies to Nice from Dublin and Cork. Ryanair flies from Dublin. 01-6327507, mariacallasexperience.com.
Stay and serve: from €450 for 2La Manga Club, in the Spanish region of Murcia, is offering a free Weekend Warriors intensive adult tennis course when you stay three nights or more at the five-star Hotel La Manga Club Príncipe Felipe. Rooms cost from €150 per night for two. The offer also includes entry to the tennis- centre gym, sauna and jacuzzi. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies to Murcia from Dublin. 00-34- 968-331234, lamangaclub.com.
Week in Austrian snow: from €599You can spend New Year's Eve in the snow in Austria, leaving from Dublin or Cork with Topflight on St Stephen's Day. A week in St Johann costs from €599pps; half-board in Soll costs €959; and four-star half-board in Saalbach costs from €1,279. 1890-240170, topflight.ie or your travel agent.
Ferry to the Mersey: €41.99The cheapest way to Liverpool until the end of January could be to sail with Norfolkline from Dublin to Birkenhead. Book by December 19th to travel for €29.99 return, plus a €12 fuel surcharge. 01-8192999. norfolkline.com.
Hogmanay: Edinburgh plans to give Hogmanay an extra boost this year (edinburghfestivals.co.uk).There will be a chance to visit the castle, St Giles' Cathedral, the Scotch Whisky Experience and John Knox House on the night of December 30th. New Year's Eve will feature a fire- and-light show, music and concerts. Try exploring the city's boutique hotels, such as the Balmoral, Roxburghe and Missoni. Check 1800hotels.ie and lastminute.com. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies from Dublin. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from Dublin and Shannon. EasyJet (easyjet.com) flies from Belfast.
Go last second...
2 Kenmare nights:from €129 Brook Lane Hotel, in Kenmare, Co Kerry, is offering two nights, with dinner one evening and a bottle of wine, for €129pps midweek or €159pps at weekends. You can add an extra night with dinner from €69pps midweek. 064-6642077, brooklanehotel. com.
4-star Dublin:€89 per room If you're planning to visit friends and relatives in Dublin over Christmas, then you could do worse than pay €89 for a room in a four-star hotel. The Hilton Dublin, on the banks of the Grand Canal, has rooms at this rate between December 18th and January 10th. 01-4029988, hilton.com/dublin, rate code PR09VF.
Christmas markets:on now Christmas markets are popping up around the country this month. Tralee German Christmas Market is on until Tuesday; then, next weekend, the Lodge at Doonbeg, in Co Clare, will be transformed. Duckett's Grove stately home, in Co Carlow, and Rowallane Garden, in Co Down, are also hosting markets next weekend.
Georgian break:from €199 No 1 Pery Square, the only Irish property to make the Condé Nast Hot List this year, is promising its customers a Georgian Christmas. The Limerick hotel's seasonal menu features roast partridge with pickled chestnuts, plus port by the log fire. Two nights, with dinner one evening, costs from €199pps. Be in Limerick for Saturday and you can shop at the artisan food market. 061-402402, oneperysquare. com.
Lazy Dublin:€98 for 2 How about sneaking off to Ballsbridge for a lazy stay at Pembroke Townhouse? It will throw in some bubbly and chocolate berries – and, better still, a late check-out and complimentary parking – for €98 for two. 01-6600277, pembroketownhouse.ie.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability