DEAL OF THE WEEK: One of the nicest ways to explore the East is to have your own personal driver/guide. Trailfinders has put together tours in India, China, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia using a combination of private car and drivers, local flights, boats and trains.
The Golden Triangle Tour of India is from €1,199pps, Vietnam including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh from €1,359 and Laos (Vientiane and Luang Prabang) from €1,569. Tel: 01-8814948 or trailfinders.ie.
Away
SEE ISTANBUL on a three-day trip from February 25th. Flying from Dublin or Belfast the trip for lone travellers includes flights, accommodation in the four-star Senatus Hotel and the chance to make new friends. Cost: €775 from Dublin or £635 from Belfast. Tel: 048-94462211 or friendshiptravel.com.
TAKE YOUR holidays in June and enjoy great value in the luxury Manoir Atlantique, catered villa in southwest France. A week in the nine-bed mansion is from €9,214 to €13,520, sleeping 10 to 18 people and includes breakfast each day, two lunches, afternoon tea and four gourmet dinners with wine. See vintagetravel.co.uk or tel 00-44-1954261431.
FIND THE room with the highest view on a trekking tour of the Teahouse Trails of Nepal departing February 27th with Explore. The trek over two weeks costs from €1,755pps, including flights and will take you to Mount Everest. Tel: 1890-747747 or explore.co.uk.
DUST OFF the dancing shoes, as the Ballina Set Dancing Festival is on from March 4th to 6th in the Downhill Hotel. The cost for two nights with one dinner is €110pps and for three nights €140pps. The fee for the workshops, ceilí and entertainment is €45. See downhillhotel.ie or 096-21033.
Home
WHEN IS a cottage not a cottage? When it is over 3,000sq ft with four en suite bedrooms, which is what Doonbeg calls a cottage. At Doonbeg’s self-catering cottages you can order takeaway from the restaurant and have a breakfast basket brought over if you rather not cook. Prices in February are from €170pps at weekends and €160pps midweek. Tel: 065-9055600 or doonbeggolfclub.com.
AT THE Hodson Bay Food Academy on the weekend of February 18th the theme is a taste of the sea. Chef Kevin Curran will demonstrate how to prepare, cook and present seafood. Themed weekends cost €99pps for one night with dinner and €149 for two nights and one dinner. Other themed weekends include wine and cheese appreciation, lakelands walking, woodland workshop and pampering. Tel: 090-644200 or hodsonbayhotel.com.
ONE OF the best restaurants in Kilkenny, Campagne, has teamed up with the Newpark Hotel to offer a gourmet getaway package. Enjoy two nights in the Newpark and early bird dinner in Campagne from €129pps. You also get breakfast each day and use of the leisure facilities at Newpark. Tel: 056-7760500.