IT'S A FREE WORLD:VICIOUS PLANTS that can eat sheep. The philosopher's stone (where Wittgenstein sat and thought). And the shrub that inspired Thomas Moore's The Last Rose of Summerare some of over 30 short stories featured in a free audio tour and a smartphone app of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.
The audio tours (which you download, like a podcast) and the app, are free, and allow visitors to explore the gardens at their own pace. Visitors who don’t have an MP3 player or smartphone are also catered for, with an hour’s highlights available on a souvenir audio player.
Catch:none.
Take note:botanicgardens.ie and ingeniousireland.ie.
* AT CHESSINGTON World of Adventure and Zoo in Surrey outside London kids go free on selected off-peak dates up to October 31st. You can also get two days at the park for the price of one and an overnight at the onsite Chessington Resort Hotel with one child going free with each full paying adult.
With a second day at the park there’s time to visit the other attractions including Sea Life centre and zoo. A family stay costs from £131 (€149) when you book off peak.
“Roar and Snore” is a special package which includes park tickets, a stay at the onsite safari themed Holiday Inn and breakfast and access to park.
Families staying at the Holiday Inn on selected dates get access to the park half an hour before it officially opens at 9.30am with access to the Jungle Bus, Tuk Tuk Turmoil Dodgems, Monkey Swinger, Temple of Mayhem and the Lorikeet Lagoon with exotic and colourful birds.
Catch: off-peak means going outside school holidays.
Take note:see chessingtonholidays.co.uk.
* A NUMBER of Irish hotels are offering kids-go-free deals over Easter.
The four-star Garryvoe Hotel overlooking Ballycotton Bay in east Cork has a family package that includes four nights BB and dinner on two evenings in the Samphire Restaurant. It also includes use of the health club with 25m pool, kids’ splash pool, water jet massage, sauna, steam room, outdoor hot tub for adults, a gym and aerobics studio. Every child gets a free Easter egg on Easter Sunday.
The package costs €274 per adult sharing based on two adults and two kids under 12.
At Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa kids stay free if they sleep in their parent’s room. The package includes two nights accommodation in a family room. The break costs €380 per room at weekends and €300 per room midweek. It also includes a monster Easter egg hunt on Inchydoney beach on Easter Sunday. The deal is valid from April 16th to May 1st.
The Brehon in Killarney, Co Kerry will host chocolatier Benoit Lorge who will give a free chocolate egg workshop at the hotel for residents on Easter Saturday where kids and parents will have the chance to make their own eggs. Stay two nights over the Easter weekend for €189 per adult sharing and €75 per child. This includes breakfast, dinner one night, a chocolate inspired afternoon tea, Easter egg hunt and the Easter egg workshop.
Catch:there is a €50 supplement for each additional child in Garryvoe Hotel. Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa says kids go free when they share a room with parents. Rooms realistically only fit two adults and two kids but a third child will fit if they're in a cot.
Take note:garryvoehotel.com, inchydoneyisland.com and thebrehon.com.
* Found a freebie on holiday? Tell me about it. E-mail emorgan@irishtimes.com
