DEAL OF THE WEEK: A week in Orlando, including flights: from €355pps
American Holidays is offering fantastic value to Orlando in March, with a week's holiday costing less than the transatlantic fare. Flying with Continental via Newark, and staying at the Quality Inn on International Drive, four adults sharing can go away from €355 each, including taxes and charges – but you need to be flexible about your day of travel. The average temperature in March is 18 degrees, and with an exchange rate of about $1.20 to the euro it's a good time for shopping and eating out. The newest attraction at the Universal Studios theme park is the Simpsons Ride (above). Seven-day tickets for Universal are available from €94. www.americanholidays.ie, 01-6733800.
OVERSEAS BREAKS:
14 nights camping for the price of 10
KelAir Campotel has some good deals for family camping and mobile-home holidays in France, Italy and Spain. Stay 14 nights and pay for 10 nights at some locations, and a holiday for four will cost from €1,270 including ferry. There are further reductions for departures before June 20th. 090-9648750, www.campotel.com.
The wonders of Egypt:
€1,129
Visit Egypt on a fully escorted eight-day tour with Primera from April 29th, to include visits to the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, Cairo, Giza, Luxor,
the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, from €1,129 pps. 01-6311077, www.primeratours.ie.
Ski breaks:
from €237pps
Big discounts for ski holidays next week with Directski. Ski in Söll, Austria, from €379pps (was €819); Pamporovo, in Bulgaria, from €389pps (was €629) half-board; and Méribel, France, from €237 (was €538), based on four sharing. www.directski.com.
Sunway summer: get €150 off
Sunway has discounted its summer bookings by €150 in all resorts, including in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Turkey and Tunisia, until January 31st. 01-2886828, www.sunway.ie.
Canaries week: from €259pps
Budget Travel is offering a week in Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife or Fuerteventura from €259pps and two weeks for €299pps. Alternatively, a week in Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt, departing on Wednesdays, costs from €369; a two-week stay costs from €449 pps. www.budgettravel.ie.
Family Wales: from €299
Stena Line can bring a family of up to six for three nights at the Park Resorts in Carmarthen Bay or Ty Mawr, staying in a modern mobile home, for from €299 for ferry and accommodation, 01-2047733. www.stenaline.ie/selfcatering. Irish Ferries can bring a family of five to Haven's Hafen y Mor holiday resort, in north Wales, with a great range of indoor and outdoor activities, for a week from €867 in July, also staying in a mobile home. 0818-300400,
www.irishferries.com
Home Breaks
Trad Clarence: from €145 for 2
If you're going to the Temple Bar Trad Fest, in Dublin from Wednesday until tomorrow week, the Clarence Hotel could be the place to stay. Each day during the festival there will be sessions from 5pm to 7pm in the hotel's Octagon Bar, and if you want to make a night of it rooms cost from €145 per night for two sharing. 01-4070810, www.theclarence.ie, www.templebartrad.com.
Adventure in Cork: from €340
For an adventure holiday in west Cork, try the Inish Beg estate, near Baltimore. When you stay for two nights you can choose from sea kayaking (€400), a scuba-diving class in a heated indoor pool (€400) or trips to Cape Clear and Sherkin islands (€340). Prices are for four people sharing self-catering accommodation. 028-21745, www.inishbeg.com/special-offers.html.
2 Killarney nights: from €165pps
Feel at home at the Malton Hotel (formerly the Great Southern), in Killarney, Co Kerry. Curl up in front of the fire in the Victorian hotel, take a dip in the pool and enjoy strolling around Killarney or through Killarney National Park. Two nights’ bed and breakfast with one dinner costs from €165pps. 064-6638004, www.themalton.com.
Co Kerry escape: €49pps BB
The Lake Hotel, in Killarney, Co Kerry, reopens next Wednesday. It is looking forward to welcoming guests with a rate of €49pps per night for bed and breakfast. 064-6631035, www.lakehotel.com.
Free green fees in Connemara
Take a break at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, in Clifden, Co Galway, on Wednesday February 11th, 18th or 25th and you can get free green fees at Connemara Golf Club. Two nights’ BB with one dinner costs from €129pps midweek. 1850-357035, www.abbeyglen.ie.
Sleuth in Offaly: from €225pps
Have a bit of fun next weekend at the County Arms in Birr, Co Offaly, when the hotel becomes the scene of a murder mystery. René and the rest of the characters from ’Allo ’Allo! will be providing the fun. From €225pps. 057-9120791, www.countyarmshotel.com.
- Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability