No visit to New York would be complete without some dining out. You can get a good idea of where to dine from the new Zagat Survey of 2,000 NY restaurants. The survey is not written by food critics, but by ordinary customers.
Some of the comments are terrific: Diva on Broadway, "some call the place passe' and the staff are worthy of the name". Or Le Reserve on 49th St, "first class all the way, sure and solid, the way its moneyed clientele likes it". Of Nearys on East 57th St, an Irish emporium, "where Erin aristocrats mingle over hearty meat-and-potatoes fare". Check out their website at www.zagat.com and, while there, have a look at the Unfit to Print comments. Available from bookstores.
If you are stuck for a really nice present for someone this Christmas, consider a short break that includes music or a show in one of the world's great cities. Keith Prowse Entertainment Travel has a great selection of packages to London, Paris, Prague, Vienna, Amsterdam and New York.
Prices from £184 per person, but for a really upmarket treat you could stay at Claridges for £570 each. New York breaks start at £469 and you have the choice of Broadway or off-Broadway. Details from an ITAA agent or Keith Prowse Travel on 01-6795333.
Two new Internet sites that will be of interest to travellers. The first is at www.farenet.ie and is a division of Atlas Travel. You can search a database for fares to thousands of destinations. Farenet is backed up by consultants who will check the booking you have made and assist you if you cannot find what you are looking for. I have tried it and found that availability was difficult to get on a selection of dates and destinations, but it will give you an idea of what fares are available and then agency staff can chase them for you.
British Midland has joined auction site www.qxl.com in offering seats on all its routes to the highest bidder for a limited period. I have seen Dublin-London going for £33 and London-Nice for £44. Bidding begins at £19 sterling, with a range of dates for which seats are available. An auction will be held every day for 350 seats.
Cork Airport goes from strength to strength and next year will have over 30 services a week to 16 sun destinations. The new Jack Lynch Tunnel makes Cork airport 30 minutes closer to Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick and Kilkenny.
Diary date for An Oige members, Thursday January 6th at 8 p.m. at 61 Mountjoy Street, Dublin 1, if you are interested in going on the California Tour next year. The tour will take place from June 11th to July 1st, and will take in LA, San Francisco and National Parks.
Joan Scales can be contacted at jscales@irish-times.ie