Check In: Family festivals, the wild west, and Czech mates

NEWS
Czech it out: It's never too early to start planning a New Year's Eve soirée. Prague's New Year's offering is on our radar this week, thanks to its endless options, from jazz river cruises, to opera and theatre performances, beer and food tours and parties aplenty to choose from. Sign up for their New Year's Eve Planner at pragueexperience.com, explore your options at eatingpraguetours.com, and ring in 2017 in style.

Cheap thrills: A new edition of Lonely Planet's The Best Things In Life Are Free travel guide has named Dublin as a more expensive destination than Tokyo, Berlin and Madrid. An average day will cost around €120, still cheaper than Edinburgh, Amsterdam or Beirut. More than 60 cities are recommended for tourist travelling on a budget. Dublin highlights mentioned include Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Forty Foot and Trinity College.

Coming from Quantas: Australian airline Qantas is set to unveil its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner air routes. Travellers will enjoy fine interiors, a more comfortable journey and a possibility of direct services between London and Perth, drastically reducing the flight duration. See quantas.com for more.

FAMILY FESTIVALS
Historical Highs: From today until August 28th, Heritage Week opens some of Ireland's most interesting homes, houses and landmarks. Tour Portrane's Martello Tower (below), or visit one of the dozens of exhibition and talks taking place in almost every county; heritage week.ie
Musical Magic: New family arts festival Our Land takes place Saturday, August 20th, in Lough Boora, Co Offaly, featuring Mundy and RTÉ's The Insiders, Imaginosity Children's Museum, food fairs and an art zone; loughboora.com
Classic comedy: Waterville's annual Charlie Chaplin festival hosts everything from art exhibitions, animation and comedy workshops to screenings and family fun from August 25th-28th; chaplinfilmfestival.com

AASLEAGH ADVENTURE Restored 19th century Victorian country house Aasleagh Lodge in Leenane, Co Galway, has a new offering for nature-loving guests. From this month, local expert Prof Ken Whelan will take groups exploring flora and fauna. Uncover ice roads, hidden river valleys created by glaciers; see how herons and seals interact with sea trout and wild Atlantic salmon, and gain a new understanding of our eco systems. Freshwater Detective weekends take place August 26th-29th, October 7th-9th and November 18th-20th. From €349 per person including B&B at Aasleagh Lodge, two lunches and dinner plus all course fees; aasleaghlodge.ie

GET 'APPY
Culture Key: Get the best out of London's art and culture scene with this app, which offers a curated programme of what's happening in the English capital. Download it for free in the Apple Store.

DEALS
Croatia: One week guided daily walks with TDactive of the Dalmatian coast, flights from Dublin, 3* hotel half-board from €969pp, 14th October, 01 6371600; traveldepartment.ie
Albufeira from Cork: stay a week in the 4* Varandas De Albufeira Apartments, Algarve, on an all-inclusive basis, from only €383pp. Flights from Cork, (01) 2312489; gohop.ie
North America Sale: celebrating two new routes in September, all US routes are on sale, New York, Boston, €209, Toronto and Washington €219, Chicago €239, and LA €279; aerlingus.com