Spend a week in Paris for €197
Live like a Parisian and spend a week in a traditional part of the French capital, staying near the Gare de Nord. A week with Travelcheaper will include flights from Dublin on January 11th, room-only in the three-star Hotel de l'Europe. Take your time to explore the city and book some events and galleries, travelcheaper.ie, 021-4274417
Rome in December from €197
Take a three-day break to Rome in December when prices shrink and a hotel close to the Vatican is an ideal location for exploring. The oddly named Franklin Feel the Sound Hotel is a quick hop from the city centre and a short break in December will cost from €197 pps sharing with flights and accommodation, breakfast extra, clickandgo.com, 01-5397777.
€270 discounts on Barbados holidays
Get away from it all and book a trip to Barbados by November 30th for travel between December 16th and April 30th for a discount of €270pps. On the picturesque west coast the adults only Sugar Cane Club hotel has two swimming pools, gym, spa and squash court. Try Bajan cuisine on the all-inclusive price from €1,629pps for a week. Book with Tropicalsky.ie, 01 6649999.
Leaving Cert holiday offers
The Greek isle of Crete is one of the most popular destinations for post-Leaving Cert students. The beaches are gorgeous and the nightlife is very lively. There are lots of activities, from water-sports, to day trips and sight-seeing. A week in August at the Mika apartments near Hersonnissos will be from €519pps, travelbroker.ie, 01-8333921.
Five star luxury in Kildare from €130
The K Club is very convenient for a weekday overnight from Dublin. The winter warmer special of €130pps includes overnight in a luxurious room, breakfast and a three course dinner in the Byerley Turk restaurant. There are also the lovely facilities to enjoy like the spa, walking the stunning grounds and maybe a round of golf (extra). Rates are from Sunday to Thursday. Kclub.ie, 01-6017200.
Best value holiday weeks of the year are in December
Traditionally, the first two weeks in December are the lowest priced for trips to Spain, the Canary Islands and Portugal. A week in the Sunset Beach Club, Benelmadena, Spain, is from €278pps on December 3rd. Also on the Costa del Sol, the Eurostars Mijas Golf resort is from €272pps on the same date. Lanzarote from Cork staying in the Beatriz Playa Hotel in Matagorda is from €297pps and the Diverhotel in Lanzarote from Dublin is from €244pps on December 12th. The Vilanova Resort in Albufeira f rom December 2nd, Algarve from €124pps, book with steintravel.ie, 01-5175990.
Eleven nights in Torremolinos from €167pps
Spend 11 nights in the 3-star Apartamentos el Velero, Torremolinos from only €167pp, based on two sharing. Price includes return flights from Cork, accommodation on a self-catering basis. Travelling on December 6th, gohop.ie, 01-2412389.