Kids stay for free on a Roman holiday

IT'S A FREE WORLD:ROME IS the fourth most visited city by Irish travellers this year, according to the Hotels.com Hotels Price Index.

Lastminute.com has a deal where if you stay in the three-star Idea Hotel Roma Nomentana you get a free buffet breakfast and one child under 12 can stay free with two adults. If booking the double room you need to write “one child free” in the special request box.

The hotel is situated in a residential area of Rome, between Via Nomentana and Via Tiburtina in the northeast of the city, 10km from the city centre with bus links close by and the metro a 15-minute walk away.

Departing Dublin on October 20th the total cost for flights and accommodation for four nights with breakfast is €930.31.

Catch: if you've more than one child you would need to upgrade to a triple room. There would also be the additional flight cost to factor in if the child is over two.

Take note:see lastminute.com for details.

* FOR ANYONE considering a trip to London this month Show and Stay theatre breaks (see show-and-stay.co.uk) has a deal where, if you buy West End theatre tickets, you get overnight accommodation in selected hotels for just £10 (€11.49) per person.

The hotels are close to the West End and range from one to five-star hotels, depending on which theatre tickets you buy.

There’s also a 40 per cent discount on rail tickets for anyone buying theatre tickets – this discount allows two children under 15 to travel free with two adults.

Catch: a good deal but the theatre tickets aren't exactly cheap. Tickets for Blood Brotherscost £52 (€59) per person, Billy Elliotis £100 (€114) per person while Mamma Miais from £114 per person (€130), and Chicagois from £129.50 (€148.80) per person.

Take note:for London freebies see freelondonevents.co.uk. This is a listing of free events, including comedy shows, children's entertainment, workshops, exhibitions and festivals. Why not check out the show Lewis Schaffer is Free until Famous.The New York stand-up appears Monday-Wednesday nights in Soho.

* SKI OPERATORS are vying to lure holiday makers to resorts this winter with freebies and added extras.

VIP Ski, for example, includes cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, a three-course evening meal on six nights followed by a cheese board and coffee and mints, house wine and daily newspapers in some of its deals. It is also offering one free child’s ski pass on all Val d’Isere chalets on December 19th departures if you book by October 31st.

Chalet Davos in Val d’Isere in the French Alps costs from £1,339 per person (€1,559) departing December 19th based on eight sharing.

This includes flights, coach transfers, catered chalet accommodation and a free child’s lift pass.

On its Aspen Lodge Chalets, also in Val d’Isere, if you buy a lift pass you get one free. Departing March 18th and based on six people sharing, the Aspen Lodge Suite costs from £1,049 per person (€1,205).

Catch: flights are from Gatwick only.

Take note: see vip-chalets.com.

Found a freebie on holidays? Tell me about it. E-mail emorgan@irishtimes.com