Whether it's late opportunities to catch some sun or gardening in Connemara, Joan Scalesruns through the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
Visit the land of the Pharaohs: from €399
If you are planning a trip to Africa this autumn, then these fares from Lufthansa will be tempting. You can fly to Cairo, the city of the pyramids, from €399 or to Alexandria, Egypt's second city, from €449. Flights to Khartoum, in Sudan, and Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, cost from €549. Prices include taxes, charges and 20kg of baggage from Dublin. Book by Monday for travel in October. See
www.lufthansa.ieor call into your travel agent.
HOME BREAKS:
Vikings at war in Bunratty
Head to Co Clare next weekend for Ireland's largest ever Viking re-enactment, at Bunratty Castle Folk Park. More than 100 "Vikings" from all over Europe will invade the castle and re-create two battles.
There will also be displays of armour, chain-mail making, woodworking and weaving. The events take place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Rooms at the Hilton Hotel in Limerick cost from €84 per night. www.hilton.com.
Eco-activities at Leitrim retreat
Ard Nahoo Eco Retreat, in Co Leitrim, is opening its doors today for tours, theatre, art, yoga and children's activities. The architect who designed the new ecocabins will be giving a tour of the development. An ecobus will run from Dromahair village from 2pm to 6pm. See
www.ardnahoo.com.
Capital accommodation
Dublin is alive with festivals and events during the summer, and many hotels still have rooms available. Temple Bar Hotel has a midweek special of two nights for €99 per person sharing, while at the new Tower Hotel, in Tallaght, you can stay three nights and get one free, from €89 per room per night. For details see
www.towerhotelgroup.ie.
Stay and see a show: €270pps
If you have never been to Galway Arts Festival, this might tempt you. Hotel Meyrick is offering two nights in an executive room, dinner one night in the Oyster Grill restaurant and tickets to see Circa's By the Light of the Stars Which Are No Longer, in a big top. It costs €270pps from Monday, July 14th to Thursday, July 17th. 091-564041 and
www.hotelmeyrick.ie
Garden retreat in Connemara
For the inaugural gardening course at Cashel House Hotel, in Connemara, from June 30th to July 2nd, Ciarán Burke will take you through two days in and out of the garden, learning about plants and horticulture. The package includes seminars, bed and breakfast, dinner on two nights and two lunches, all for €320 per person sharing. Details from 095-31001 or
www.cashel-house-hotel.com. Other courses are on July 7th-9th, August 30th to September 2nd and September 15th-17th.
OVERSEAS BREAKS:
Iberian sunshine or a Cretan trip: from €749
Just when you thought there were no holidays left for the summer, Direct released some deals. Seven nights at the Rosamar Apartments in the Algarve, Portugal, costs from €749 for two adults and one child on July 3rd. On Spain's Costa del Sol, the Sol Principe hotel offers a break on a half-board basis for two adults and one child from €1,039 on July 6th. Sun worshippers will be guaranteed long days of sunshine on Crete; a week for two adults and one child staying in the Koni Village costs from €1,229. You can book on
www.directholidays.ieand 01-8860400.
Mediterranean vacation: from €419
Late deals from Panorama include a week in Cyprus, staying at the Rising Star in Protaras, from €419 per person sharing. From Shannon, a week in Majorca at the Hotel Bellevue, Alcudia, costs from €499. From Cork a week in Lanzarote, in Costa Teguise, costs from €409 per person sharing. For booking details, see
www.panoramaholidays.ieor call 0818-202020.
Exploring France with Rick Stein
The Irish boating-holiday company Emerald Star is giving customers a copy of Rick Stein's book Odyssey, about his journey on the Canal du Midi, in France, when they book a cruise there. It will direct you to the best places to eat, where to shop for the finest ingredients and how to cook French regional favourites, making it a unique way to explore France. Emerald Star has a 20 per cent discount for holidays in July and 10 per cent off holidays in August if booked by June 30th. For booking details and prices, see
www.emeraldstar.ie.
Disney magic: from €1,100
John Barrett, who began his career at Disneyland Paris, has opened a specialist travel agency, bringing his Disney experience to Magic Vacations. He has some special offers to celebrate his company's launch, such as free dining in Orlando, free children's tickets and early-booking offers. A pre-Christmas package to Disneyland Paris for three days from December 11th, for two adults and two children, including flights, parking tickets, accommodation and transfers, costs from €1,110. See
www.magicvacations.ieor call 021-4700568.
Bus and ferry to the UK: from €25
Bus Éireann, Eurolines and Stena Line have joined forces to offer bus and ferry travel from around the country to various cities in the UK, with prices from €25 each way. Details from www.buseireann.ie and 01-8366111.
Glimpses of Italy: from €745pps
Stay four nights for the price of three from July 21st and explore the medieval Italian city of Bologna with Citalia, or stay seven nights for the price of six at Villa Pitiana, in Tuscany, from €745pps on July 7th. Details on www.citalia.ie or call 1890-812302.
Canary cuisine: from €1,185pps
Learn to cook when you stay at the five-star Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia in Fuerteventura, in the Canaries, with Sunway. The hotel chefs will be giving three classes per week on Japanese cuisine, Mediterranean rice dishes and creative cooking. The hotel also boasts a breakfast experience that is worth getting out of bed for. A week from Dublin costs from €1,185 per person sharing. See
www.sunway.ieor call 01-2886828.