Great escapes: save 42% on a five-star holiday in Portugal

Holiday savings and travel deals at home and abroad


Save more than €600 a couple on a holiday in the Algarve, Portugal
A week in the five-star Pestana Vila Sol resort is reduced from €888 to €513pps B&B for the week commencing August 27th. The golf resort is five minutes from the town of Vilamoura and has a 27-hole course, driving range and golf academy. There are two swimming pools, tennis courts and bike hire. The spa has a selection of treatments, indoor heated pool and fully equipped gym. During the summer there is a kids' club and kids' swimming pool. See falconholidays.ie

Thai luxury – plus an elephant safari – for €1,389
This 10-day trip to Thailand includes two days at the Elephant Hills Jungle Safari in Koh Sok. Spend eight nights on the beach at Centara Karon in Phuket on a B&B basis. The two-night stay at the four-star Elephant Hills Jungle Safari in Koh Sok is on a full-board basis. The price, from €1,389pps, includes flights from Dublin, accommodation and taxes, travelling in September. Book with Travelmood.ie (01-4331063) reference 1512864.

Flash sale: 25% off polar voyages
Explore, the adventure travel specialist, has announced a flash sale on some exciting polar voyages for 2017. Cool down your mind, soul and wallet with 25 per cent off selected July and August Arctic voyages when you book before July 31st, from €3,311 (spaces limited).

The Realm of the Polar Bear expedition enables guests to search for the bears in their natural habitat, see an intoxicating mix of other wildlife and discover the deep fjords and ice-blue glaciers of Norway. Price includes seven nights' accommodation on a premium boat with all meals, expedition crew and naturalists. explore.co.uk

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Sweet deals in 'Summer of 99s'
Sunway is celebrating its "Summer of 99s" with a five-day sale that begins today and runs until midnight on Monday, July 24th.

Holidays for September and October include a wide selection of sunny destinations. Prices will also include flights, transfers, accommodation, 20kg bag and the services of a representative on site. Take your pick: Kusadasi from €299pps, Algarve from €349pps, Lanzarote from €399pps, Costa del Sol from €399pps, Bulgaria Sunny Beach from €399 and Sardinia from €499. Book online for a further €15 discount, at sunway.ie; 01-2311800.

Holidaying solo with your kids?
Not every parent can jet off for the holidays with their children, so the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney is offering Flying Solo breaks for parents travelling alone with their children across a number of dates in July and August. A double room for one adult and one child costs from €100 per night, while rooms with a double and single bed for one adult and two children cost from €120 per night. These rates include breakfast, free nightly entertainment, free kids' clubs and kids' entertainment. The Gleneagle has a 25m swimming pool and great indoor and outdoor leisure facilities. gleneaglehotel.com; 064-6671550.

New York Christmas is surprisingly good value
Picture yourself clip-clopping through Central Park on a snowy Christmas Day in New York – it may seem a million miles away now, but this deal could give you something to look forward to come winter. The decorations in New York at Christmas are amazing, the trees are the highest you will ever see, and the whole city oozes Christmas cheer. A five-night trip to NYC with americanholidays.com costs from €875pps with flights and three-star accommodation. americanholidays.com or 01-6994233, reference 1517703.

Bring Oscar, Reilly and Ringo for a walk in the woods
One of the bonuses of staying at Lyrath Estate is the opportunity to bring the hotel's three dogs for a walk. The golden retrievers love children – who adore the fluffy trio in return. On the outskirts of Kilkenny city, it offers good combination breaks for families. Parents can go to the spa while the children go to the kids' club, and everyone can go sightseeing in the medieval city. A three-night family break for two adults and two children with B&B and dinner one evening costs from €560. lyrath.com or 056-770088