Deal of the Week:Grab a bargain from a new tour operator to Malta from Ireland, Mercury Direct. It has been around for 30 years in the UK. A week in the four-star Qawra Palace Hotel, on the Qawra seafront, is from €329pps and there is no single supplement until April 30th. Tel: 1800 805 515 or your local agent.
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UNIQUE JAPAN Tours launched its small group fully guided tours to Japan last week. The tours begin at the end of March and a 13-night tour taking in Takayama Spring Festival and Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Miyajima and Hakone is from €3,475pps. A six-day tour visiting the highlights of Japan is from €2,405pps. Tel: 01-6787008 or uniquejapantours.com.
THE SECRETS of El Hierro in the Canary Islands will be revealed on a walking tour with Shane Gray during the spring. Plants and spring flowers will be out and the trip on April 9th has two botanists to guide you. Fly to Tenerife and meet the group for a week exploring the island from €382pps, including accommodation and walks. Mr Gray also has walks to La Palma and La Gomera. Tel: 095-43834 or shane-gray.com.
SPRING SKIING prices are coming down. A week in Hotel Finlandia, Pamporovo, Bulgaria from €309pps – topflight.ie or tel 01-2401700. In St Anton stay in Pepi Gabl from €499 – tel 1850-929021 or inghams.ie. Crystal Ski has a week in Val d’Isère from €444pps – tel 01-433 1010 or crystalski.ie.
VISIT MAJORCA for Easter and you could enjoy two weeks for the price of one with Villa Select properties in Pollensa and Cala D’Or. The holiday homes sleep from two to 12, with pools, satellite TV and hot tubs – villaselect.com or tel 00-44-1789-764909.
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PLAY TWO golf courses in Kerry when staying at Butler Arms Hotel. A three-day package includes a day at the famous Waterville course and a day at Skelligs Bay. The price of €420pps includes three nights accommodation and dinner on two nights. Two-nights with a tee time on the Skelligs Bay from €179pps. Tel: 0818-281281 or manorhousehotels.com.
IT’S A dog’s life at Ardilaun Hotel in Galway, where pooch gets a holiday too. For an extra €10 a day you can bring the dog on holidays. Weekends from €185pps include dinner one evening. Tel: 091-521433 or theardilaunhotel.ie.
SEE THE St Patrick’s Day parade in Galway and have a great view from the windows of the Meyrick Hotel, where it will give you an Irish coffee while you watch. Two nights BB and dinner one evening from €159.50pps. Tel: 091-564041 or hotelmeyrick.ie or stpatricksgalway.com.
COME TO the Burren to see the signs of spring. Sheedy’s of Lisdoonvarna is a great location for walking and exploring The Burren. Two-night breaks with one dinner from April 1st to May 20th from €139pps. Or walking breaks with a guide and packed lunch from €195pps. Tel: 065-7074026 or sheedys.com.
* Please remember that all offers are subject to availability