From a week in Thailand to nights at Clifden Arts Week, Joan Scaleshas the best of the week's deals
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
See Antarctica: from €6,473pps
A chance to spot penguins, seals and whales is part of the deal if you sign up for New Horizon's two-week trip to Antarctica in January, down to €6,473pps from more than €8,000pps. Over 10 days aboard
MV Planciusyou'll visit a research station and can even kayak and spend a night on the ice. The package also includes flights from Dublin, meals, lectures, three nights in Argentina and a trip to Tierra del Fuego National Park. 01-2883385, newhorizon.ie.
HOME DEALS:
Clifden arts: from €79pps
To tempt you to Clifden Arts Week, from September 17th to 24th, hotels in and around the Co Galway town have some great rates for festival-goers. Abbeyglen Castle Hotel (095- 21201, abbeyglen.ie) is charging €89pps midweek for dinner, bed and breakfast. Station House Hotel (095-21699, clifdenstationhouse.com) is offering a four-night midweek stay with dinner from €199pps. Foyle’s Hotel (095-21801, foyleshotel.com) has two nights with dinner one night from €109pps. Rock Glen Country House (095-21035, rockglen hotel.com) has midweek dinner, bed and breakfast from €79pps.
Autumn night: from €199pps
The Private Ireland association of small independent hotels has a lovely autumn offer. Two nights’ BB, with a “harvest dinner” on the evening of your choice, plus champagne, fruit and chocolates in your room, costs from €199pps. Properties include Carrig Country House, Co Kerry; No 1 Pery Square, Limerick; and Ross Lake House Hotel, Co Galway. 061-402444, privateireland.com.
Offaly comedy night: €100pps
The Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, Co Offaly, is the venue for a comedy night on September 27th, when the US comedian Michael Winslow will perform his stand-up routine. Dinner, bed, breakfast and the show costs €100pps. 1850-312312, bridgehouse.com.
Kilkenny break: from €140pps
Butler House, formerly the dower house of Kilkenny Castle, is all sweeping staircases, detailed ceilings and marble fireplaces – plus plenty of contemporary furnishings. It has an autumn two-night stay for €140pps midweek and €160pps at weekends. 056-7722828, butler.ie.
All-in in Cork: from €200 for 2
You’ll pay €200 for two at the Castle Hotel in Macroom, Co Cork, for two nights’s B&B, plus and dinner with wine one evening. Suites €300 for two. 1850-924123, castlehotel.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS:
Thai week: from €499pps
Book by Monday for a week in Thailand, staying at the Centara Karon resort on Phuket, from €499 plus taxes. Or choose the Evason Hua Hin Six Senses resort, overlooking the Gulf of Siam, from €665 plus taxes. Taxes €245-€280. 01-4331020, tropicalplaces.ie.
Jurys Prague: rooms from €69
Jurys Inns opened a hotel in Prague, its first in mainland Europe, this week. Rooms can sleep three adults or two adults and two children. It’s five minutes from the old town, making it a contender on a good-value break to the city. Rooms this month from €69. jurysinns.com.
All-in Grenada: from €999pps
Tropical Sky has a week at the Rex resort on the Caribbean island of Grenada from €999pps. Valid until October 9th, the price includes all-inclusive accommodation with flights from London and overnight accommodation on the outward journey. 01-5262566, tropicalsky.ie.
Catch late sun: from €354pps
Falcon Holidays has lots of weeks in the sun for less than €400pps. Menorca from Dublin, staying at the Sea Club Aparthotel, costs from €393pps. Bulgaria from Cork, staying at Hotel Aquamarine, in Sunny Beach, is from €359pps. Lanzarote from Shannon, staying in the Flora apartments, costs €354pps. 1850-453545, falconholidays.ie.
Honolulu offer: from €1,370pps
Aloha Holidays is offering a week in Honolulu, with flights and accommodation, from €1,370pps. Or combine Hawaii with a trip to Las Vegas from €1,795pps. 01-2108391, alohaholidays.ie.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability