DEAL OF THE WEEK:Fancy a journey through the Alps, from Italy to St Moritz in Switzerland?
Cross nearly 200 bridges and wind through picture postcard towns from the comfort of the Bernina Express train. Rail enthusiasts will love this trip from Activity Breaks. It costs from £169pps (€192) including train ticket and two nights half board in a hotel. Tel: 048-90941670 or activitybreaks.com.
Away
LEARN TO surf this winter in 25-degree sunshine at Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. A week staying in Corralejo with five days tuition costs from €421pps. Aer Lingus and Ryanair have flights to Fuerteventura. See surfholidays.com.
EXPLORE EGYPT on a 12-day trip with Intrepid Travel which is reduced by 20 per cent for travel in the next six weeks. Beginning in Cairo, the trip will also visit Aswan, Luxor, the White Desert, Siwa Oasis, Alexandria, and the Nile by Felucca. Cost: from €710pps, flights extra. Tel: 01-5240071 or intrepidtravel.com.
THE NORTHERN Lights time of the year is coming around and Project Travel has a few things to keep you occupied while you wait in hope. A Norwegian five-night trip including flights, two nights in a hotel and three nights on a Hurtigruten ship watching the night sky costs from €1,395pps. Tel: 01-2108391 or project-travel.ie.
CLICK AND go for an unusual trip to Morocco over Christmas. Departing Dublin with Aer Lingus on December 22nd and staying for seven nights in the four-star Hotel Anezi will cost from €489pps, or stay all-inclusive from €757pps, clickandgo.com.
A WEEK’S holiday in the Indian Ocean Galu Beach Retreat in Kenya has been reduced by €350 to €1,599pps for departures in November, including flights and accommodation on an all-inclusive basis. Tel: 01-5262566 or africasky.ie.
GOING TO New York soon? Take the Gossip Girl tour and visit the sites from the hit TV series. Tickets cost €27 from Attraction Tickets Direct. See attractionticketsdirect.ie, tel 1800-927467 or call into their shop at the top of Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.
Home
CHILDREN UNDER 12 stay free with parents at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, Co Clare over Halloween. From €105 per person sharing, stay for two nights, BB with a meal on one evening and learn about the dark history of Ennis. See flynnhotels.com or tel 065-6828127.
BROOKLODGE HOTEL and Wells Spa will tempt you to Wicklow for an overnight and two spa treatments for €100pps for dates in November and December. See brooklodge.com or tel 0402-36444.
ENJOY A lovely winter picnic on the comfort of your balcony in Fota Island Resort. During your two-night stay the waiter will come and lay out a blanket and selection of delicious goodies and a bottle of bubbly. The winter picnic package is €340 for two. See fotaisland.ie or 021-4883700.
GO AND see what all the fuss was about at the new visitor centre at the Cliffs of Moher when you enjoy a two-night break in the Armada Hotel at Spanish Point. Including dinner, it costs €119pps. See armadahotel.com or tel 0818-281281.
IF THE Beech Hill Country Hotel in Derry is good enough for Bill Clinton, it’s good enough for everyone. You can also avail of a special offer of €105pps for two nights accommodation and dinner one evening. See beech-hill.com or tel 01-2958900.
PLAY UNLIMITED golf by the sea in Druid’s Glen and stay overnight for €75pps midweek and €90pps at weekends. See druidsglenresort.com or tel 01-2870847.