During the Christmas period, if you are travelling through Heathrow with the family you can bring children free on the new Heathrow Express. The service is the most rapid way into London and takes only 15 minutes to Paddington. From December 1st to January 3rd you can bring up to four children under 16 free with the purchase of one adult ticket. Adult one way tickets are £10.
The other advantage of the Heathrow Express for visitors to and from Ireland is that the access lift is located at the right end of Terminal 1 for Irish flights, and cuts down on some of the walking.
DID you ever have a windfall and think that you would like to spend it on going somewhere nice within days? Thanks to the Internet and Lastminute.com you can do just that. This website sells off excess inventory for airlines and hotels and is all based on travelling in the next week or so. This week on Lastminute.com you could have gone to Bejing or South Africa for £326 sterling, and Istanbul or Athens for £109 sterling. It also specialises in late seats for the theatre in London. Check out the website on ww.lastminute.com.
If you are in the Derry area this weekend, then don't miss the Craft Fair at the Guildhall. All day Saturday and Sunday you can visit the fair and choose from the wide range of items on sale. Another date for your diary is the Belfast Christmas Parade which takes place on Friday December 11th, at 7.30 pm. Led by the Lord Mayor, David Alderdice, in his horse-drawn carriage, it will feature the Toy Soldiers, Frosty the Snowman, the Christmas Clowns, Cinderella, Mr Sweetooth, and lots more.
A most unusual sports championships will take place from March 24th to 29th 1999. The World Ice Golf Championships, in Greenland. Well known Irish golfer Ronan Raffery has agreed to take part in the Drambuie Championships, and must be regarded as the favourite. The Uummannaq Fjord, 500 kms north of the Arctic Circle provides the perfect setting for a unique golfing experience. Connections from Ireland to Greenland are via Copenhagen. You can get details of this most unusual event from Tel: 00 299 951518, fax: 00 299 951262 or email: artic.adventure@dkb.dk.
Fitzpatrick Hotel Group has some special offers to entice you during the winter. If you were planning a shopping trip to Dublin then Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel in Killiney (01 284 0700) could make a good base. A courtesy coach will bring you into the city centre. When not shopping, you can go star gazing around Killiney. Bed and breakfast is £79 per night for two. In Bunratty, Fitzpatrick's (061 361177) weekend rate is £41.50 per night, dinner, bed and breakfast, per person sharing.
Staying in London can be an expensive proposition, especially if you are bringing the family. London Homestead Services provides the ideal way to spend a couple of days in London and even get to experience what its like to live there. It provides a bed and breakfast service in family homes, which are located in the suburbs, or central locations. Prices range from £16-35 per person. You can contact them on Tel: 0044 181 949 4455 or Fax: 00 44 181 549 5492.