Free flights for children: the best holiday bargains this week

Great Escapes: mid-Christmas break in west Cork for €260, winter sun from €349 and leaf-peeping in New England

Save up to €300  with a summer travel offer  to Algarve
Save up to €300 with a summer travel offer to Algarve

Kids fly free
If you book by December 15th with Clickandgo. com, families can avail of free flights for kids if travelling to Portugal's Algarve or the Spanish resorts of Majorca, Salou, Costa del Sol and Lanzarote – which could mean a saving of up to €300 on summer holidays. The offer is for two paid adult fares and one free child's flight, staying in self-catering accommodation. Travel to be taken from May 1st-September 30th, 2018. To book call 01-9069551.

Get some sea air in Courtmacsherry

The Lifeboat Inn in Courtmacsherry, West Cork
The Lifeboat Inn in Courtmacsherry, West Cork

In those days between Christmas and New Year you could treat yourself to two nights in lovely Courtmacsherry in west Cork. Stay in the Life Boat Inn and enjoy delicious food and walking the coast. Two nights for two will cost €260 and include breakfast and dinner one evening meal.lifeboatinn.ie and 023-8864656.

Winter sun in January in the Canaries

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Beautiful turquoise water and white sand of Grandes Playas de Corralejo on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain,
Beautiful turquoise water and white sand of Grandes Playas de Corralejo on Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain,

Gran Canaria has sunshine all year round and a week's break in January in the Monte Verde Apartments will cost from €349pps. In Lanzarote, a week in the Puertocarmen apartments will cost from €349pps. In Fuerteventura, explore the beautiful beaches or try surfing, staying in the Broncemar Beach apartments from €349pps. sunway.ie, 01-2311866.

Tickets giveaway for new Dublin Airport lounge
The new lounge at Dublin Airport 51st & Green is a beautiful oasis and well worth arriving early for. It is after US preclearance and normally costs €35. Delta Airlines are giving away 51 tickets for the lounge for flights booked with Gohop.ie for 2018. Fares to Boston from €443 return and Orlando from €443 return. gohop.ie, 01-2412389.

Cheltenham and Aintree for horse-racing fans

Get ready for the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National by booking early
Get ready for the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National by booking early

Two of the most popular horse-racing meets with the Irish are the Cheltenham Festival from March 14th-18th from €499 and the Grand National from April 13th, €299pps. The excitement of being there is brilliant. Transport by coaches from various cities and towns around Ireland. Book your trip before January 1st by telephone and you pay a low €50 deposit. celtichorizontours.com, 01-6292000.

Thinking about the Camino?

Follow the yellow arrow to the Camino de Santiago
Follow the yellow arrow to the Camino de Santiago

Doing the Camino de Santiago trip in May is a lovely time of the year to walk 100km and receive your Pilgrim's passport. Organised by travalue.ie, the trip takes place from May 19th to 26th, 2018, and costs from €795pps. Included are flights, accommodation in hotels and private pensions, B&B – best of all, your luggage is transported every day. travalue.ie, 1890-289255.

Be a leaf-peeper in New England

Leaf peeping in autumn in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston
Leaf peeping in autumn in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston

That's what the locals call the hordes of visitors that descend on New England in the Fall to see the leaves changing colour. It is an amazing sight some trees look like they are on fire. The beauty next year is you can travel from Dublin or Cork with Norwegian. An 11-day trip (Aug-Oct) to New England will cost €1,899pps including flights, accommodation. slatterys.com