From family holidays to honeymoons in Southeast Asia and New Year's Eve deals,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Belleair, the specialist travel company for Malta, Gozo and Comino, has launched a website for booking accommodation. There is a big range of hotels, self-catering and villas available. Over the winter season, hotel rates are from €22 per room per night for two. Longer stays in the five-star Westin Dragonara Hotel from €54 per room per night. Self-catering apartments cost from €36 per night for four. Call 1890-940500 for details; belleair.ie. Ryanair flies from Dublin to Malta on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Tours of Camino de Santiago
Next year is a holy year on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela , due to the fact that St James’s feast day falls on a Sunday, July 25th.
MAP Travel has a number of tours planned with prices from €895 for a 10-day trip. Details from 01-8783111 and maptravel.ie.
Four-star deals for Orlando
Prices in Orlando remain competitive for next year and Sunway has some good deals in four-star hotels. A week in a one-bedroom apartment in Staybridge Suites on International Drive costs €2,260 for a family with two adults and two children under 12. Tel: 01-2886828; sunway.ie.
Southeast Asia honeymoon deals
Trailfinders has great offers in the Six Senses Resorts and Spas in Thailand, Vietnam and the Maldives. A week in a five-star villa in Samui Thailand costs from €1,349pps or a week in Ninh Van Bay in Vietnam from €1,949. Book a honeymoon appointment on 01-8814990 and 021-4648860, honeymoons.trailfinders.ie.
Mediterranean cruises from Italy
See the Adriatic, Greece and Turkey from the comfort of an NCL cruise liner, Norwegian Gem. In May a classical Mediterranean cruise from Venice will cost from €669pps, including flights to Venice with Aer Lingus. Tel: 01-8173558 or -021-7010001, cruiseholidays.ie.
Family holiday deals in Greece
Keycamp will offer family holidays to beautiful Halkidiki in Greece this summer. A week in a two-bed bungalow will cost from €735 in June. Tel: 021-4252300, keycamp.ie. Flights to Thessaloniki are available with easyjet.com, lufthansa.com and malev.com
HOME DEALS
Scenic walks and great food
Carton house in Kildare has beautiful rooms and acres of tracks and woods to walk off the great food it provides. Two nights with lunches, dinners and champagne is €460pps. Tel: 01-5052000; cartonhouse.ie
Christmas at the Radisson Galway
The Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway has a Christmas rate of €255pps for two nights with Christmas dinner and €338 for three nights with two dinners. Tel: 091-538300; radissonhotelgalway.com
New Year’s Eve deals nationwide
O’Shea’s by the Sea in Tramore has a great offer that includes dinner with entertainment on New Year’s Eve and tickets for the races that day. Two nights for €155pps and three nights for €199pps. Tel: 051-381246; osheas-hotel.com.
The Clarion in Sligo, with the biggest suites of any hotel, will have plenty to entertain families over the new year, including a family disco on New Year’s Eve. Two nights will cost from €310 for two adults and two children with dinner one night. Tel: 071-9119000, clarionhotel sligo.com. Meanwhile, Christmas time is walking time in Westport, from December 30th to January 3rd, 2010. Dust off your boots and chase the cobwebs away with four days at the Hotel Westport with guided walks each day. Transport to and from the walks, packed lunches and dinner on two evenings including New Year’s Eve costs €479pps and €559 single. Tel: 098-25122, hotelwestport.ie.
Waltz the night away in Dundalk
The 55-piece Cross Border Orchestra performs at the Strauss Ball in the Fairways Hotel in Dundalk on December 27th. Champagne reception followed by banquet. Tickets are €100; €69 per room. Tel: 042-9321500; fairways.ie.
Mountain climb and stay in luxury
Climb Carraun Tuohill guided by Con Moriart and stay in luxury at Aghadoe Heights Hotel. Two nights’ BB plus dinner one evening for two is €500 up to the end of March 2010. Details from Con on 087-2214002, sct.ie. Aghadoe Heights, 064-6631766.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability