Fancy a spring break? Joan Scalespicks out some of the top holiday choices at home and abroad
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Flights to France from €49 each way, including taxes
Aer Arann is selling seats to France from Cork, Galway and Waterford from €49 each way, including taxes. It's offering the deal on its routes from Cork to Brest, Nantes, La Rochelle (above) and Lorient, and from Galway and Waterford to Lorient and Bordeaux. The sale continues until next Thursday. Book online at www.aerarann.com.
HOME BREAKS
Boating on the Shannon, plus golf along the way: from €210
Emerald Star, the boating- holiday company, has introduced a seven-day itinerary to help you plan the perfect getaway on the Shannon. Its Castle and Golf itinerary will give you an opportunity to play courses along the route, see some great castles and visit favoured pubs and restaurants. A week in a six-berth Caprice will cost from €210 per person sharing. 071-9627653, www.emerald star.ie.
Trout fishing and a night at Bellinter House: €380
Bellinter House, which has earned a reputation for its great food and spa, has introduced a course in brown-trout fishing, taking advantage of the fact that the Boyne flows past the hotel. Its expert gillie will provide tuition in casting and rivercraft. A two-day midweek course, including all equipment and dinner one night, costs €380 per person sharing. 046-9030900, www.bellinterhouse.com.
Bank-holiday big-band jazz in Derry
Jazz it up for the May bank holiday at City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival. The event will be feature both local and international names in an eclectic programme.
The festival has an event line on 048-71376545 and an accommodation line on 048-71263511. You can also contact Northern Ireland Tourism on 1850-230230, www.discovernorthernireland.com.
A new face for online hotel bookings
Did you talk to Ned before you booked a hotel? He's the face of www.hotelsinone.ie, and he'll help you book a hotel stay in Ireland. He will also be selling packages, special offers, concert and sporting-event offers, group bookings and family holidays in 120 hotels around the country. April and May offers include rooms from €79 per night and two nights' bed and breakfast, plus one dinner, from €99 per person sharing. Ned appears on Bebo, Facebook and YouTube under Ned Needabed.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
Cruise from €4,492 and your companion goes free
Silversea, the luxury cruise line, has some special offers this summer. On 12 cruises during July and August each paying passenger can take a companion for free, apart from port charges. Choices include a cruise from London's Tower Bridge on August 31st, visiting ports along the way to arrive in Monte Carlo on September 12th (€6,070) and a 10-day northern Europe cruise calling to the best-known Baltic cities (from €4,492). Details from 01-6110560 or your travel agent. www.silversea.com.
Spanish paradors: from €1,595
Not everyone can walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, but if you could manage part of it then this trip might be perfect. A seven-night visit, from May 6th to 13th, staying in paradors in Baiona and Santiago, lets you explore Galicia, Baiona, Cape Finisterre and Melide, with an opportunity for two days of golfing and a 12km walk on part of the route. Prices from €1,595, including dinner on six nights. 095-23511, www.lornarobertsholidays.com
Kitesurfing in Spain: from €535
If you kitesurf, then you might know or have heard of Tarifa, the windiest place in southern Spain, and here's a great way to improve or learn the sport. Kevin Mitchem, an internationally qualified instructor, is running week-long courses, with as much kiting as you can handle, from €535, including accommodation and picnic lunches on the beach. 00-34-676-286118, www.highflyerstarifa.com.
Tuscan art holiday: €1,065
Set in the heart of Lunigiana, in Tuscany, in a medieval hilltop town, Studio Paradiso art holidays cater for all abilities. Accommodation is in an 18th-century villa with pool and secret garden, and lots of home-cooked Italian meals are included in the price of €1,065 per person (no single supplement) for the week. Some places are available for May 10th-17th and June 14th-21st. The nearest airport is Pisa, which is served by Ryanair. 074-9542388, www.studio-paradiso.com.
Save up to €570 on a summer holiday
Sunway Holidays is having a sale until Wednesday on family holidays this summer to resorts in Majorca, Bulgaria, Morocco, Tunisia, Lisbon, Turkey and the Canary Islands. You can save up to €570 othe regular family price. 01-2311888, www.sunway.ie.
Fuerteventura: from €254
April treats from Panorama include a week in Fuerteventura from €254; and Tenerife, in Los Cristianos from €279 and Madeira, on a half-board basis, from €430. All prices are per person sharing. 0818-202020, www.panoramaholidays.ie.
Canararies: from €292
Falcon Holidays has a selection of deals from Dublin, Cork and Shannon this month to Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Majorca, with prices from €292 to €342. It also has family deals in May, from Knock and Kerry, with prices from €737 for two adults and one child. www.falconholidays.ie or your travel agent.