MIDTERM BREAKS:From midterm deals to St Valentine's romance, Joan Scales has the week's best offers
Deal of the week
Half-price skiing in France and Italy: from €249pps
Take the family skiing for midterm with some terrific offers from Directski for Livigno, in Italy, and Méribel, in France. Prices have been halved: a week in France now costs from €249 and a week in Italy from €349, based on four sharing self-catering accommodation. Livigno and Méribel are good family resorts with excellent ski schools. Livigno benefits from being a duty-free resort – perfect for combining skiing and shopping. Expect to pay about €350 for a week's ski pack that includes lessons, equipment and lift pass. www.directski.com, 1890-201205.
St Valentine's getaways
Two nights to woo: €130pps
Bracken Court Hotel, in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, is wooing romantics with a two-night package that includes chocolates and bubbly, a five-course dinner on St Valentine’s night, a bottle of wine and a rose, and music from The Wiseguys for €130pps. www.brackencourt.ie, 01-8413333.
Book a cruise, win a pendant
Emerald Star has joined up with Gemini Designer Jewellery to give you a chance to win what might be a tempting prize. The first 10 people to book a cruise before February 14th will win a one-of-a-kind Gemini heart pendant made in Italy with Swarovski crystals and cubic zirconia stones. Log on to www.emeraldstar.ie or call 071-9623710 and mention the word “Gemini”.
Clarence luxury: €1,600
The penthouse suite at Dublin’s Clarence is big enough to bring your friends for a St Valentine’s treat to remember; €1,600 for breakfast, champagne and homemade chocolates – and don’t forget the outdoor hot tub. www.theclarence.ie, 01-4070800.
Wine, chocolates and passion: €145
Wine, chocolates and a “passion parcel” of gifts are part of the two-night package at the Westgrove Hotel, in Clane, Co Kildare, for €145pps next weekend, with dinner one night. www.westgrovehotel.com.
Living the D4 life: €159 for 2
D4 Hotels in Dublin has a romantic weekend planned for St Valentine’s, with dinner, bed and breakfast for two for €159 per night. www.d4hotels.ie.
Connemara dreaming: €189
Feed your lover chocolate- covered strawberries and champagne at Connemara Coast Hotel for St Valentine’s. Two nights’ BB and dinner one night for €189pps. www. sinnotthotels.com, 091-592108.
Romance in Kilkenny:€140
River Court, in Kilkenny, could be an ideal destination for lovers. Dinner and BB on St Valentine’s Day for €140pps or two nights for €215pps. www.rivercourthotel.com, 056-7723388.
* Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability
Midterm Breaks
Lanzarote for four: from €1,324
Falcon Holidays has some availability to Lanzarote from Dublin and Shannon for two adults and two children departing on February 12th from €1,324 from Dublin and €1,587 from Shannon. www. falconholidays.ie, 1850-453545. Tunisia and Morocco: €299
The sun is shining in Tunisia and Morocco, and Sunway has some midterm deals for both. A week in either Hammamet or Agadir will cost from €299. A seat only on the charter flight is €199. www.sunway.ie, 01-2886828.
Family break to Orlando: €2,500
There is still time to go to Orlando, Florida, for midterm, with deals for two adults and two children from €2,500 with Touramerica for a week, including accommodation, flights and transfers. www. touramerica.ie, 01-8173535.
Skiing in Austria: from €299
Topflight will have a three-day end-of-season ski sale from 9am on Monday until 6pm on Wednesday. Heavy snow in the Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees and Tyrol are making ski conditions perfect this year. Prices from Dublin and Cork to Andorra start at €479 per person half-board in four-star hotels for a week from February 14th. In Bulgaria, a week in Pamporovo will cost from €379 and in Bankso from €399 in hotels from February 14th. Flying to Austria on February 28th, prices range from €299 for pension accommodation to €739 half-board for a four-star hotel. www.topflight.ie, 1890-240170.
Self-catering at home: €300
Dream Ireland has some great value for the midterm week in self-catering properties around the country. Prices range from less than €300 to €600 for lovely houses and apartments. www.dreamireland.com.
Wexford break: from €350
Seafield Golf Spa Hotel, in Ballymoney, near Gorey, Co Wexford, will entertain families for midterm in its courtyard suites, which sleep four or five. Prices start at €350 for three days. www.seafieldhotel.com, 053-9424000.
Galway Marriott: €99 per night
Marriott’s Courtyard Hotel in Galway will be doing bed and breakfast for two adults and two children during midterm for €99 per night, or two nights’ BB and one dinner for €139pps; children share free. www.courtyard galway.com, 091-513200.