From Father's Day golf to a José Carreras concert in Italy, Joan Scalespicks out holiday choices at home and abroad
DEAL OF THE WEEK
The Algarve: book now and get up to 20 per cent off
Oceanico, which has three resorts in the Algarve, is
offering discounts of 15 to 20 per cent for holidays booked between
now and the end of June and taken any time before the end of the
year. The resorts are Jardim de Meia Praia, near Lagos, Estrela da
Luz and the new Vila Baía. All the resorts have large swimming
pools, childrens' facilities, tennis and restaurants. Oceanico has
five golf courses in the region, and lessons and coaching can be
arranged. 01-6177967,
www.oceanicoresorts.com.
HOME BREAKS
Wickow night, dinner and golf for dad: €175pps
On June 15th, Father's Day, treat Dad to an
overnight stay at Brooklodge Wells Spa in Macreddin, Co Wicklow,
with dinner for two in Strawberry Tree, Ireland's only certified
organic restaurant. He can work off dinner next day with nine holes
of golf on the new Macreddin course, designed by Paul McGinley. The
package costs €175 per person sharing. 0402-36444,
www.brooklodge.com.
A marathon stay plus spa on Fota: from €239pps
Cork City Marathon takes place on June 2nd, and you
could prepare with a break at Sheraton Fota Island Resort Spa. Two
nights' accommodation, full body massage and access to the
hydrotherapy and thermal suites cost from €239 per person
sharing. 021-4883700,
www.fotaisland.ie.
Bank holiday in Enniscorthy: from €79pps
Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, has
offers around next week's bank holiday. Friday night, dinner, BB is
€79 per person sharing. A stay for Sunday and Monday costs
€109 per person including dinner one night. Golden-years
specials for midweek cost €155 for three nights, including
dinner. 053-9237800,
www.riversideparkhotel.com.
Hope springs: Friday night in Athlone, €85pps
Athlone Springs Hotel has a Friday-night special of
€85 per person sharing, which includes dinner and a bottle of
wine. It also has a 20m pool and a spa. 090-6444444,
www.athlonespringshotel.com.
The good life: Organic Centre course, €690
From July 21st to 25th the Organic Centre in
Rossinver, Co Leitrim, will host a course on growing vegetables,
fruit and herbs, making yogurt and soft cheeses, baking, cooking,
storing and preserving. There will also be sessions on yoga and
relaxation techniques and on sustainable building, plus a seaweed
walk. The fee of €690 includes meals but not accommodation.
071-9854338,
www.theorganiccentre.ie.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
Manor and music in Bath: £595
Tune in to Bath International Music Festival until
June 7th at Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds. The beautifully
restored house is just 30 minutes from Bath, where you can attend
concerts and recitals of classical and contemporary music
throughout the city. See
www.bathmusicfest.org.ukfor details of tickets. Two midweek
nights in the manor will cost £595 (about €750) for two,
including dinner one night and a one-hour spa treatment.
00-44-1666-822888,
www.whatleymanor.com.
Carreras Monza package: €750
José Carreras will pay tribute to his late
friend Luciano Pavarotti with a concert in the gardens of the Royal
Villa in Monza, Italy, on June 12th. He will be accompanied by the
Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by David Giménez. You
can book a package at the Hotel de la Ville that includes a welcome
cocktail, fruit and champagne to your room, pre-concert dinner,
concert tickets and a lavish buffet breakfast for €750 for
two. Details from
www.hoteldelaville.comand 00-39-03939421. The nearest airport
is Milan.
Shandon autumn trips: from €359
Shandon Travel has some great autumn deals. Three
nights in Prague from €369, three nights in Rome from
€359, four nights in Marbella in a four-star hotel from
€459 and Nice from €445 for four nights. All prices per
person sharing. 021-4277094,
www.shandontrravel.ie.
Caribbean crazy: from €1,878
Sandals and Beaches all-inclusive resorts in the
Caribbean have extended their 25 per cent discount to all bookings
made before July 31st for travel though this year and into next. In
Antigua, the Sandals Grande Resort will cost from €1,878. In
Jamaica the Sandals at Ochos Rios Beach will cost from
€1,562, all prices per person sharing for a week. At the
Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club, also in Jamaica, two adults
and two children in a family room, which costs from €5,380
and is valid for October and November, might make a lovely mid-term
holiday. 0818-222426,
www.caribbeancollection.ie.
Free night in Disney Paris
Disneyland Paris has extended its free-night offer
from July 10th to 31st, which gives you an extra night at your
hotel and an extra day's entrance to Disneyland Paris and Walt
Disney Studios. The 15th-anniversary celebrations are ongoing, with
new shows, attractions and parades and extended hours.
01-6079900,
www.breakaway.ie.
A week in Crete: from €299
Steintravel has some offers for the end of the
month, including a week in the Alcudia Pins apartments in Majorca
from €399, and a week at the Maras apartments or Papadakis
apartments in Crete from €299. On June 1st there is some
availability for the Lanzaplaya apartments in Lanzarote from
€499 per person sharing. 1890-408408,
www.steintravel.ie.