From a boutique take on the Camino de Santiago to a night at the G Hotel,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
9 days in 3 European capitals: €1,255
If you like the idea of visiting the former capitals of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a nine-day trip has just been reduced. The tour of Vienna and Budapest – plus Prague, for good measure – begins on May 22nd, and the price of €1,255pps includes flights from Dublin, accommodation, guided tours and free time to explore each city with advice from your tour director. 01-2311888, sunway.ie.
HOME DEALS:
1-parent family? Sligo BB: €69
The Clarion Hotel in Sligo knows not all families are the same, so it has a new midweek One for All rate for single parents. For €69 per night you can have a standard room for one adult and up to three under-12s with breakfast, a drink for the adult and a beach ball for the kids. The offer is available until the end of August. 071-9119000, clarionhotelsligo.com.
4 nights in the west: from €439
You could get the best from the west with four nights at two well-known hotels, Cashel House, in Connemara, and Gregans Castle, in the Burren. The package also includes a trip to the Aran Islands or a visit to Kylemore Abbey, a guided walk on the Burren or a boat trip under the Cliffs of Moher. From €439pps, including dinner one evening in each hotel. 065-7077005.
Wine, dine and stay in Belfast
The artist Neil Shawcross is exhibiting more than 20 never-publicly-viewed works from his private collection at Culloden Estate Spa, in Belfast, for the month of April. (The works are not for sale.) To mark the occasion, the hotel’s head chef, Paul McKnight, and the artist have devised the Shawcross Signature Tasting Menu. Dinner with paired wines and a glass of champagne costs £90 (€102). Overnight accommodation for two starts at £110 (€125). 048-90421066.
Night at the G Hotel: €125
With Galway feeling so much closer to Dublin now the motorway is so good, a mini break at the G Hotel could leave you feeling as if you’ve had two full days away. An overnight stay with an à la carte dinner in the five-star hotel’s Matz restaurant, plus free parking, costs €125pps. Book by next Friday, April 9th, for a free room upgrade. 091-865200, theghotel.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS:
Med bridge cruise: from €1,199
Bridge enthusiasts can play to their hearts’ content on a Mediterranean bridge cruise on Adventure of the Seas. If you book by next Friday, April 9th, you’ll save €100 per person, with prices from €1,199pps. Ports of call include Malaga, Cagliari, Rome, Ajaccio and Palma. 01-8173558 or 021-7010001, cruiseholidays.ie.
Italian lakes: from €1,199
A spring trip to the Italian lakes, staying on Lake Maggiore, will also include guided excursions to some lovely gardens, the Borromean Islands, Lake Orta and even Switzerland, to Zermatt, to see the Matterhorn. The visits depart on May 23rd and June 6th, with prices from €1,199pps. 1890-240170,topflight.ie.
Camp in France: from €406
By taking advantage of the fact that British schools don’t break up for the summer until mid July, your family could bag two weeks in a bungalow tent at Camping l’Atlantique, in Brittany, from €406 between June 26th and July 10th. And Irish Ferries has cut its land-bridge fares to France. 01-4272527, vacansoleil.ie.
‘Boutique’ camino walk: from €530
Walking the Camino de Santiago is on many people’s must-do lists. You can do it in some comfort with One Foot Abroad, which arranges for you to stay and dine in “boutique” farms on each day of your trek. The Camino Rustic costs from €530pps for six nights’ half board. 1890-252602, onefootabroad.com.
Pousada break: from €110
A great way to explore Portugal is by staying in pousadas – restored palaces, monasteries and convents. A two-night Shortbreak stay, which includes lunch one day, costs from €110 to €145pps. pousadas.com.
- Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability