From Cape Town to seeing in the new year at the Ritz-Carlton, Joan Scaleshas the week's offers
HOME BREAKS
Barberstown Castle: €239pps
Give someone the gift of a castle for Christmas. Barberstown Castle is 30 minutes from Dublin city centre, an oasis in the Co Kildare countryside. There is no rushing around to the spa and swimming pool, just quiet days in the atrium, enjoying afternoon tea and relaxing. Its Christmas package costs €239 per person sharing for two nights' accommodation with dinner one night. www.barberstowncastle.ie, 01-6288157.
Ramsay new year: from €1,070 for 2
Ring in the new year at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, in Co Wicklow, with a five-course dinner at Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, at 9pm, and a champagne toast at midnight. Spend the next day relaxing and enjoying brunch, then explore the Wicklow Mountains. Prices from €535 per couple per night, based on a two-night stay. If you'd prefer just to go for dinner on New Year's Eve, it costs €260 per person. www.ritzcarlton.com/ powerscourt, 01-2748888.
Kilkenny escape: from €35pps
Join Patricia Cantlon for a unique stay in her period house in Inistioge, Co Kilkenny. Cullintra is a 200-year-old farmhouse on more than 90 hectares of farm and woodlands. Cantlon welcomes guests for two-day stays; guests dine together in the little
dining room, and many a good chat is had late into the night. Prices from €35 to €55 per person sharing; dinner from €35 to €40. 051-423614, www.cullintrahouse.com.
Free breakfast at the Shelbourne
Hotels that charge extra for breakfast are a bugbear with many travellers. The Shelbourne must have heard, as it is providing free breakfast for bookings in January. So sit back and enjoy breakfast in the Saddle Room, with rooms from €185 per night. www.theshelbourne.ie, 01-6634500.
2 nights in Westport: €99pps
The Castlecourt Hotel in Westport, Co Mayo, has a great two-night midweek break this month and next. Two nights' BB, plus dinner one night, with a bottle of wine, costs €99 per person sharing. Its new spa, Sula, is offering two treatments for the price of one. www.castlecourthotel.ie, 098-55088.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
A week in Cape town: from €899
Packages to Cape Town are cheaper than last year - and, with the rand now 13 to the euro, great value when you get there. Slatterys has a week at the three-star Fountains Hotel from €899, or a week at Table Bay Hotel from €1,349. www.slatterys.com, 1890-200525.
All-in Kenyan safari: €3,400
Take to the saddle on safari in Kenya with Olympic gold medallist Lucinda Green. Explore the Masai Mara on horseback from January 8th for 10 days, seeing some incredible sights. Green will lead a group and share her riding tips. The price of €3,400 includes all transfers, accommodation, horses, meals and drinks, but you have to make your own way to Nairobi to join the trip. www.african explorations.com, 00-44-1993-822443.
Air Asia opens up Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia gets its first low-cost carrier in March next year, when Air Asia begins services from London Stansted to Kuala Lumpur. Fares begin at €290. Air Asia operates flights all over southeast Asia. www.airasia.com.
Join someone on a cruise for €1.20
MSC Cruises is giving you the opportunity to cruise for £1 (about €1.20) if you book by tomorrow. When one adult books a cruise for next year at brochure price, the second adult pays £1. There are more than 100 departures to chose from between March and November. Prices begin at £700 (about €840), with departures from a variety of European cities. www.msccruises.co.uk.
Hit Chicago for Inauguration Day
Join Chicagoans in January when they celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Witness history and even dine in some of his favourite restaurants, such as Topolobampo. Three nights at the Essex Inn, with flights from Dublin, travelling January 19th-22nd, costs from €495 per person sharing. www.sunway.ie, 01-2886828.
5 Dubai nights: from €985
Find the winter sun in Dubai with some great offers from Shandon Travel. Three-star hotels from €985 for five nights and luxurious five-star resorts from €1,520. www.shandontravel.ie, 021-4277094.
Austrian skiing: from €489
St Anton, a top ski resort in Austria, is available at the bargain price of €489 per person sharing, for a week, reduced from €779, for travel on January 10th. Must be booked by December 10th. www.directski.com, 1890-201205.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
A week in a manor house in the Algarve: €205 a room
Rio Arade is a nine-bedroom Portuguese manor house 10 minutes from Portimão. There are lots of beaches and golf courses nearby, and guests have access to a local leisure centre. (The house's outdoor pool may be a bit chilly at this time of year.) For January and February Irish Times readers can stay for a week for €205 - not per person but per room. Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) fly to Faro from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Belfast. www.rioarade.com, 00-351-282-423202.
*Please bear in mind that offers are subject to availability