Good news for Dublin in-bound travellers on Ryanair flights. Now you can buy tickets on board for the new Aircoach service and get moving quickly from the airport to your destination. Aircoach operates luxury coaches every 15 minutes from right outside the terminal building to the city centre and can drop you off at most major hotels on the way to Donnybrook. A one-way journey is £4 and you can use the service in the opposite direction too, from 5.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m.
GOOD news also for travellers from the mid-west with the launch of the Virgin Express daily service from Shannon to Brussels. Flights depart at 11.35 a.m. and return from Brussels airport at 3.15 p.m. Return fares begin at £78 plus tax. The flight arrives in Brussels to connect with Virgin Express services to Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Copenhagen, Milan and Nice. You can book through your local ITAA travel agent.
MY EYE was drawn to a big advertisement in the back of this newspaper recently and I couldn't believe the value from Jurys Doyle hotel group. If you book a room between this week and January 10th you get another one free, subject to availability. Prices are from £63 in the Tara, Skylon, Montrose and Green Isle; £89 in the Burlington; £99 in Jurys Ballsbridge and the Berkeley Court, and £109 in the sumptuous Towers. This is a great offer if you are coming to the city to shop, visit the sales, do some partying or as a treat for the family. Give the Central Reservations a call on (01) 6070000.
If you are planning on visiting Belfast over Christmas to see Swan Lake performed by the Russian Ballet of St Petersburg, Jurys Inn Belfast is offering rooms at £55 sterling. You can book them through the same number (01) 6070000.
The Irish Landmark Trust has added another property to its growing list of unusual places to rent. Ballealy Cottage is the first in the Northern Ireland and is located near Randalstown, Co Antrim. Ballealy was built from local blackstone around 1865 and modelled in miniature on the lodge of the Windsor forest ranger. Located in a woodland setting it presents a romantic appearance, edged with ornate bargeboard of trefoils and bold horned curls. Ballealy is for rent at this time of the year for £350 per week and sleeps 5-7 in restored comfort. Details from Irish Landmark Trust, 25 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 6704733.
Having mentioned Alan Lynch Travel in my column from time to time I'm pleased to see the company has gone from strength to strength. No longer just organising theatre breaks in London, it has changed its name to Citiescapes to reflect more the wide range of European cities, plus New York and Boston - and it now packages for short breaks. Prices have always been very reasonable and continue into the new brochure. You can get a copy from your local travel agent or from The Chimney Stack, 1A Crow Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 6775533.
jscales@irish-times.ie