I metT a lovely couple at the Holiday World Show - Tomas and Gine Bagge. He is Irish and she is Swiss and they live in a lovely Alpine village high in the Berne Oberland called Kandersteg. They were at the show to promote holidays in their village and it sounds idyllic. Set in the mountains, it is a typical Swiss village with log cabins and great views. The selection of activities available includes hiking, trekking, fishing, swimming, boating, and sightseeing. A week in Kandersteg will cost from £470 for flights, B&B, half price rail travel during your stay and airport transfers. You can contact them at Postfach 7, CH3718, Kandersteg, Switzerland or 0049761289962, or email tng- bagge@yahoo.com.
IF you were planning a weekend away, Newry would not perhaps be the first place you would think of. But if a weekend only cost IR£69 for two nights B&B and one dinner in a lovely hotel, might you think again? And if you took into consideration the beautiful countryside around Newry with the Mournes on one side and the Cooley Mountains on the other, it might become still more tempting. The hotel is the Canal Court on the banks of the Newry Canal, with full leisure facilities and swimming pool and the offer includes entertainment. Ring 080-1693-251234, quoting the Holiday World Offer. This offer is available until the end of April.
The new owner of Emerald Star, the Connoisseur Group, has invested in 20 new cruisers designed specifically for the type of waterways on the Shannon navigation. Emerald Star has bases at Portumna, Carrickon-Shannon and Belturbet, giving access to different regions of the waterway. Brochures are available from 078-20234 or email: emeraldstar@clubi.ie
In a joint venture between the various bodies involved in the waterways in this island, a tempting brochure called Ire- land's Welcoming Waterways has been produced. It covers all the main waterways, canals, rivers and lakes in great detail and includes the various charter companies and descriptions of their boats.ilte, Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Shannon Erne Waterway Promotions with funding from the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. A good example of all the various strands of cross-border tourism working together. Copies available from tourist offices.
To take advantage now of off-season in the Aran Islands, take the new Railtours one-day trip. For £79 you leave Heuston Station at 7 a.m. for Galway and transfer to Connemara for an Aer Arann flight to Inishmore, Lunch in Kilronan and a visit to Dun Aengus before a puddle-jump back to Galway city with time for a quick shop before taking the train back home to arrive at 9 p.m. Reservations on 01-8560045 or at the Dublin Tourism Office in Suffolk Street.
Canada 3000, the Canadian charter airline, will again be providing direct flights from Ireland to Toronto from May. Lead-in prices will be £269 and they have a new telephone number for bookings 014733000.
Joan Scales can be contacted at jscales@irish-times.ie