From bargain fares through Zurich to stints in the luxurious end of Italy, Joan Scalesfinds breaks to beat the band
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Flights at knockdown prices- and this time they're real Swiss International Air Lines has some fantastic deals in its spring seat sale. As well as return flights to Zurich for €118, it's offering fares via Zurich to Rome for €121, Athens for €131 and Moscow for €139. Fares include taxes and extras, such as a 20kg baggage allowance, assigned seating and in-flight meals. Book by the end of April for travel until the end of June. Details on www.swiss.com. Check the Offers section and then Spring Specials from Ireland.
HOME BREAKS
Bank holiday yoga: from €450Over the May bank holiday weekend, Julie Brown will be teaching an Iyengar hatha yoga workshop at East Clare Yoga Centre, in Tuamgraney. The course, which runs from May 2nd to 5th, will cost from €450. 061-640923 and www.eastclareyoga.com.
Wexford golf getaway: from €195Seafield Golf & Spa Hotel near Ballymoney in Co Wexford is celebrating its first anniversary this month by offering a two-night break, including dinner one night, a spa treatment and a round of golf midweek, for €195 per person sharing; weekends from €245. 053-9424000, www.seafieldhotel.com.
Dublin shopping trip: from €195La Stampa Hotel, on Dawson Street in Dublin 2, is offering shoppers two-night packages. The deal includes dinner on one night in Tiger Becs or Balzac Brasserie, Luas tickets to Dundrum and a cocktail in Samsara. Prices midweek are €195 per person sharing; €245 at weekends. 01-6774444, www.lastampa.ie.
Bed and breakfast in a castle: €49Pretend you're a king or queen with a stay in a castle in Co Sligo. Markree Castle, which sits in 320 hectares (800 acres) of wood and parkland with Victorian gardens that beg to be strolled in, is offering bed and breakfast for €49 per person sharing. 071-9167800, www.markreecastle.ie.
Kerry from a hot tub: from €74Imagine admiring the mountains of Co Kerry from an outdoor hot tub. You could have the chance at the four-star Lake Hotel in Killarney, where one night's dinner, bed and breakfast in May from Sundays to Thursdays will cost from €74 per person sharing. 064-31035, www.lakehotel.com.
Hostels: the next generationNot all hostels are about creaky bunk beds and shared bathrooms. www.hostelworld.comhas listings for upscale hostels in Ireland and abroad. Sleepzone, for example, is a 130-bed former hotel, with its own bar and restaurant, in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
London luxury: from £159Chelsea Flower Show is coming up, and Draycott Hotel in London is just a short walk away. It's offering an overnight stay in a plush room, with afternoon tea, champagne at 6pm, hot chocolate before bed and breakfast the next day for £159 (about €197) per person sharing. 00-44-20-77306466, www.draycotthotel.com.
A week in Egypt: from €439There is great value to Egypt in May with Budget Travel, with a week in Luxor from €439. Combination holidays, with a stay in Luxor and a three-night cruise on the Nile, cost from €579. www.budgettravel.ie, 01-6311111.
Italian seaside style: from €590Sorrento, Ravello, Positano, Ischia, Capri - the names of these gorgeous Italian seaside resorts roll off the tongue. And Citalia might tempt you to explore them next month with some good offers. Half-board in Sorrento is available from €590 for a week, or half-board in Ravello from €677. In Positano, the Grand Tritone Hotel will cost €1,022 for B&B. The five-star Tiberio Palace in Capri is available for €1,729 for a week. Prices are per person sharing with flights. www.citalia.ie, 1890-812302.
A break in the Cotswolds: £711Whatley Manor, in the heart of the Cotswolds, says it has the perfect pampering package to prepare for summer with La Prairie treatments. It's offering a two-night midweek break, from Sunday to Thursday, for £711 (about €880), including a serial mud chamber treatment, and full use of the facilities. The rate, based on two sharing, includes a full breakfast. www.whatleymanor.com, 00-44-1666-822888. Whatley is about an hour from Bristol Airport.
West Palm Beach: from $309Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, has announced its summer Stay Longer and Save rates. The beachfront property has two golf courses, tennis courts, summer entertainment, cabanas, fitness classes, a spa and chill-out areas. An old-style resort built in the early 1900s, it is a hop from the high living of West Palm Beach. Rates for stays of five or more nights until the end of July cost from $309 (about €193). In August and September they're from $249 (about €156) per room per night. 00-1-561-6556611, www.thebreakers.com/summer. Flights to West Palm Beach are available on the Aer Lingus website with jetBlue.
Vietnam tour: from €2,170Discover Vietnam with Sunway from mid-August until the end of October from €2,170. The nine-night tour will bring you from Hanoi to Hue, Hoi An and, finally, Saigon, with full sightseeing trips in each destination. www.sunway.ie, 01-2311888.
Three-day sale: bag €50 off Crystal Holidays is having a three-day sale from Monday to Wednesday next week, with €50 per person off all holidays. The sale is also valid on current special offers. 01-4331080, www.crystalholidays.ie.