Deal of the Week: Get away from the gloom and still have change in your pocket on a three-night trip to Malta on December 10th or 13th. Combine accommodation deals from clickandgo.com with cheap Ryanair flights and you can be looking at a trip for around €100pps. Tel: 01-6371699.
Away
* EXPLORE SOUTH Africa on a budget and see Kruger National Park. A four-day camping trip from Johannesburg gives you plenty of time to enjoy the sights by day and night. From €440pps, flights to Johannesburg from €650. Tel: 01-524 0071 or intrepidtravel.com.
* ICELAND EXPRESS begins flights from Dublin to Reykjavik next June. For the summer the weekly service will operate on Tuesday with fares from €125 each way including taxes. See icelandexpress.com.
* NEXT TUESDAY Jurys Inns is offering 25 per cent off room rates for stays in December and January, except in Edinburgh. Use the code ODS to get the sale rate. See jurysinns.com.
* CARIBBEAN COLLECTION returns under new ownership with great prices. A week in Barbados at the Coconut Court Beach Hotel from €869pps or a week in Cuba at Hotel Nacional in Havana from €969pps. Tel: 01-4350090 or caribbeancollection.ie.
* CLUB MED’S new property on Sinai Bay in Egypt is a great base for Egypt and Jordan. A week in February from €1,211pps. Tel: 01-2366800 or clubmedsunway.ie.
Home
* THE MUSIC Box Christmas show with Peter Corry and the Ulster Operatic Company is at the Ulster Folk Museum, Co Down from December 16th to 22nd. Have afternoon tea at the Cultra Inn, see the show and stay at Culloden Estate for £100pps (about €116). Book with NITB at 1850 230230.
* THE PANTO comes to Wexford Opera House this year and it is the Wizard of Oz from December 20th. Two nights BB, tickets for the show and dinner one evening for €450 (two adults and two children). Tel: 053-9122311 or whitesofwexford.ie.
* RELAX AFTER a day’s shopping in Dublin with afternoon tea, a cocktail and overnight in the Gresham Hotel from €90pps midweek. Tel: 01-8746881 or gresham-hotels.com.
* TAKE THE kids to Dublin and stay in the five-star Westin Hotel during the 12 days of Christmas. See the lights and do some shopping, take afternoon tea with Secret Santa in the Atrium. Interconnecting rooms and breakfast from €320. Tel: 01-6451000 or thewestindublin.com.