JOAN SCALESbrings you the best bargains on travel
Deal of the Week
The earlier you book the better the price with new online travel company, lowcostholidays.com. Choose flights, accommodation and transfers and make your own holiday package. Family packages to the Algarve in June for a week are from €1,237 for four including flights, accommodation, transfers and baggage. See lowcostholidays.com or tel 01-4853835.
Away
UK TOUR operator Wings Abroad opened in Ireland this week and will specialise in holidays to Turkey. Flights from Dublin and Cork from May with prices from €489 for all-in packages to Bodrum – seat only prices are from €299. See wingsabroad.ie or tel 1850-929939.
TEN DAYS will give you plenty of time to explore the splendours of Jordan. In March MAP Travel has a group trip to include three days at Petra, Jerash, Kerak, Madaba and Mount Nebo, with a dip in the Red Sea too. The €1,395pps price includes flights, half board accommodation, tours. See maptravel.ie or 01-8783111.
TRAVELMOOD HAS some good offers for trips to the sun. Ten days in Mexico, all-in for travel in June, costs €904pps or nine nights in Phuket, Thailand in May from €1,040. See travelmood.ie or tel 01-4331040.
BRITISH AIRWAYS’ sale is on with good deals to long haul destinations. Book flights from Dublin, Cork or Shannon to keep the taxes down. Barbados from €519, Mumbai from €495, Philadelphia from €479 and Beijing from €501, including taxes and 23kg baggage. See ba.com or a travel agent.
THE ARGUS car hire sale is on with up to 20 per cent off across many holiday locations, book on arguscarhire.com.
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TO MARK the opening of the 27-mile long Great Western Greenway, the old coastal rail line from Westport to Achill, Railtours Ireland has created a cycle break. Staying for two nights in the Mulranny Park Hotel with return rail to Westport, transfers to the hotel, and cycle hire for €249pps. The section from Newport to Mulranny is open now and the full route will open in April. Tel: 01-8560045 or railtoursireland.com.
TREAT YOURSELF to a stay in historic Dromoland Castle between now and March 31st for a nice price of €195pps. This limited special offer includes two nights BB with dinner one evening in the Earl of Thomond restaurant or two nights BB with a third night free. Tel: 061-363636 or dromolandcollection.ie.
THE BELFAST Out to Lunch Arts festival began this week and will run until January 30th. Festival performers will include David Soul, Bronagh Gallagher, the Phantom Band, Tucan, Heidi Talbot, Brass Off, Roddy Woomble and more. Make a trip to Belfast and stay for two nights with dinner one evening in the Ramada Hotel from £79pps (about €93). Tel: 1850-230230 or discovernorthernireland.com.
COME TO Dublin for the sales and enjoy hauling your shopping back to the Westbury Hotel. An overnight with breakfast and two €25 vouchers towards lunch or dinner in Café Novo costs €249 for two. See doylecollection.com or tel 01-6791122.
COMBINE THE Harlequin Hotel’s January room sale with a night at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar. Shows on in January and February include singer Tommy Fleming, The Field, On a Wing and a Prayer and Dr Hook. Prices from €69pps with show tickets and overnight. Tel: 094-9286200 or see harlequinhotel.ie.
THE PARK House Hotel in Galway is giving an extra 20 per cent discount on BB bookings made online for stays in January. Two nights BB with dinner one evening from €120 midweek and €160 at weekends, arrive on Sundays and it is €10 less. Tel: 091-564924 or see parkhousehotel.ie.
Please note that all deals are subject to availability