Travel Briefs

If you are planning on visiting, then your first stop should be the wonderful Citalia brochure

If you are planning on visiting, then your first stop should be the wonderful Citalia brochure. Choose from stunning coastlines, idyllic islands, charming countryside, enchanting lakes and, most of all, romantic cities.

With Citalia you can opt for escorted tours, multi-centre holidays and tailormade packages to suit. Budget Travel are the agents for Citalia, and you can get a brochure from them or your local travel agent.

Belfast Festival at Queen's this year looks like the biggest and best yet. It will be joined by two new sister festivals: the Young at Art Festival, and the Belfast Fringe Festival.

Sandwiched between the Guinness Folk weekend and the Jazz Weekend from November 12th to 29th, is a wonderful selection of theatre, film, music, comedy, exhibitions, dance, the Royal Ballet and talks.

READ MORE

You can get a programme from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, 16 Nassau Street, Dublin 2, 1850 230230. They will be happy to help make arrangements for accommodation.

You can probably take advantage of their Short Breaks promotion of £49 or £59 for two nights bed and breakfast in a selection of hotels.

IRISH Ferries has launched the first in the world ferry Internet booking service. The new service provides passengers with real-time online booking linked to the company's central reservations computer system in Dublin. You can contact them on www.irishferries.ie.

LAST week the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, launched a brochure which encompasses all of his portfolios: The Great Fishing Houses of Ireland features 21 specialist angling operators and details of the specific game fishing holidays which each property provides.

One of the nicest things about this idea is that the range of properties will suit every pocket, from grand stately homes to comfortable B&Bs. You can pick up a copy in your local tourist office, or from PO Box 6375, Dublin 4 Tel: (01) 668 8278.

STENA Line and Warner are introducing a new concept into the Irish holiday market, Just for Adults, with a choice of picturesque locations, a castle or country house hotels to choose from, good food, extensive leisure facilities and fabulous entertainment, all included in the price.

Half board, breakfast and dinner each day of your stay with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays to give you a little longer to lie in.

There is also a special package for Cheltenham Races which includes transport to and from the course and entry. Prices start at £159, based on two sharing and includes taking your car on the ferry.

I HAVE a request from a reader, Josephine Gaynor, who is a retired professional lady, asking me to mention that she is trying to get a group of single people together, who would like to travel.

As any single person knows, it is often very difficult and expensive to travel on your own. If you are interested, you can give her a call (01) 458 0098.