DEAL OF THE WEEK:May opening offers to Kusadasi, Turkey with Wings Abroad from Cork and Dublin include a week in the Melissa Apartments from €249pps; Pine Club Apartments from €279; Saturn Hotel from €269; and Golden Day Hotel from €279pps. Tel: 1890-929939, wingsabroad.ie.
Away
* DISCOVER THE colonnaded city of Bologna on a three-day break with Citalia from May 7th. Enjoy the lovely food of Emilia-Romagna in the food market and restaurants. Staying in the Metropolitan Hotel with flights from Dublin from €374pps. Tel: 01-4331040 or citalia.ie.
* CHÂTEAU LA Roque de Bas, between St Emilion and Bordeaux, in the Frondais wine region of France is a luxury base to explore this famous area. It has five bedrooms, swimming pool, tennis court, and a Paul Bocuse-trained chef available for private dinners. It is offering a 10 per cent discount for stays through the season, rates normally from €3,795 to €4,950. See chateaularoque.fr.
* LEARN JUNGLE survival skills in the wilds of Cumbria this May. Fieldskills is running a three-day course that will teach you how to use a machete, make camp, sling a hammock and navigate your way safely. There will be plenty of trekking and water safety in this quiet area of Cumbria. From £150 (€172) – see fieldskills.com.
* THE ROYAL Lancaster Hotel, overlooking Hyde Park in London, has reduced the price of its rooms for the royal wedding weekend to £169 (€194) per night plus VAT – this includes a royal breakfast (minimum two nights stay). Tel: 00-44-207-5516110 or lancasterlondon.com.
* THE DAILY Air Canada direct service from Dublin to Toronto returns on June 10th for the summer season – fares from €640 return. Fly in style in the Comfort Plus cabin for a supplement of €110 each way. Tel: 01-6793958 or se aircanada.com.
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* THE CÚIRT International Festival of Literature returns to Galway from April 12th to 17th with the best of contemporary writing in poetry, fiction and memoir. Check the programme on cuirt.ie and the Connemara Coast Hotel for packages. Two nights with dinner one evening from €169pps. Tel: 091-592108 or connemaracoast.ie.
* PARKNASILLA Resort in Kerry has reopened for the season and is offering advance purchase offers. Book before the end of May and stay before the end of June. Two nights BB with dinner one evening from €159pps and three nights with two dinners from €229pps. Tel: 064-6675600 or parknasillahotel.ie.
* SINGLES SHOULD check into the D4 Berkeley hotel in Ballsbridge for the “Singlelista” event in aid of the Hope Foundation on Easter Sunday, April 24th. The S Factor will have salsa speed dating, and salsa lessons followed by a party and DJ till late. Prices are €160 for two and €110 for a single luxury room. See singlelista.ie or 01-4373444.
* SPRING IS in the air and time to start thinking of getting outdoors and enjoying a picnic. Ballyknocken House in Co Wicklow will make it easy for you as it will provide a lovely picnic. After your walk, enjoy dinner and overnight in the guesthouse with a lovely breakfast to send you on your way for €112pps. Tel: 0404-44627 or see ballyknocken.com.
* AS A runner or a cheerleader, experience the fun of the Connemarathon on April 10th in Maam Cross. Stay in Delphi Mountain Resort between April 8th and 11th and two nights BB with dinner one evening is from €229pps. See delphimountainresort.com.
* All deals are subject to availability