During the summer, many four and five star hotels reduce their rates considerably, due to the dependence on business travel which sees them with lots of empty rooms. In London you can stay at the Regency in Kensington for £72 (room only), at the Westbury in Bond Street for £112 and the Rathbone close to Covent Garden for £72. SRS World Hotels also have special offers all over the world and you can contact them toll-free on 00800-77796753.
If you are in London then I suggest a walk along the Millennium Mile (the South Bank) - to see under construction the world's tallest observation wheel (British Airways sponsored) and the first new bridge in London this century. Already open are the Design Museum, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the London Aquarium and the IMAX. About to open is the first football hall of fame and a wine attraction, Vinopolis. Millennium Mile leaflets are available from the British Tourist Authority, 18/19 College Green, Dublin 2. Tel 01670 8000.
Air Malta has launched a weekly scheduled service from Cork. It will operate on Saturdays until the end of September. Seatonlys will be available and brochure holidays are available from Belleair Holidays, Budget Travel, Delta Travel and Panorama.
Following the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya, British Airways has started a non-stop service, twice weekly to Tripoli.
Child-friendly Ryan Hotels still have some special offer deals for July. The Killarney and Galway hotels have reduced the rate for a four-day break with dinner and breakfast each day to only £230 per adult sharing and special child rates are available. Ryan "Friendly Fellows" will be on hand to amuse the little darlings. Other Ryan Hotels in Limerick, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin have special rates too. Reservations on 1850 777777.
The Lady of the Lake Festival takes place from next Friday to July 26th, one of the premier community festival in Northern Ireland. Over the past 20 years they have come up with some novel ideas and this year is no exception - in advance of the millennium bug, the "Beetlemania bug" is going to hit Fermanagh. Next Saturday, 2,000 beetle cars will assemble in Irvinestown for a Bug Barbeque, followed on Sunday by a parade around the town. All beetles welcome. Details from Jenny Irvine 0801-365628656.
The Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street has been at the forefront of tourism education. This year they will introduce a new M.Sc. in Tourism Management which will replace the postgraduate Diploma in Rural Tourism. A unique feature of the programme will be an option to complete a semester at the University of Paris at the Sorbonne. Details from Dr Sheila Flanagan or Noel O'Connor, tel 01-4024352.
Irish passengers can take advantage of the expansion to British Midland's check-in facilities at Paddington Station. Taking the Heathrow Express has never been easier. You check your bags in at Paddington, collect your boarding card and go straight to the gate at Heathrow.