Deal of the Week:INGHAMS IS running a freshers' week for ski beginners on January 22nd and March 19th in Courcheval, Val Thorens in France and Zermatt in Switzerland. Deals including flights, accommodation, ski equipment, lift passes and tuition from €809pps half board. Tel: 1850-929021 or inghams.ie.
Away:
- GET CLOSE to the excitement and sweat of an NBA game with a trip to Chicago to see the Bulls. Sunway and the Essex Inn in Chicago have teamed up to put a deal together for flights, three nights accommodation and tickets to the game, travelling on December 3rd from €619pps based on two sharing and €555pps based on four sharing. Tel: 01-231 1800 or sunway.ie.
- HIDE OUT from the winter in the Caribbean for Christmas and New Year with a tempting offer from Tropical Sky. A week in St Lucia, departing on December 23rd, is from €1,159 or two weeks from €1,499pps, half board in Rex Resorts's St Lucian hotel. Tel: 01-8077996 or tropicalsky.ie.
- IF YOU are getting married next year between May 1st and October 20th then Mahlatini is offering a special package where the bride stays for free. Ten nights in Mauritius in Le Prince Maurice Resort costs from €3,920 including flights from Ireland via London, transfers, half board, staying in a junior suite in the resort. Tel: 1890-886630 or mahlatini.com.
- BEGIN THE mid term break with a two-day trip by coach to Alton Towers on Saturday, October 23rd. Celtic Horizon Tours and Irish Ferries are running a trip from Galway, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Portlaoise, Carlow, Kilkenny and Dublin that includes one night's accommodation and two days at Scarefest for €199 (adults) and €179 (children). Tel: 0818 300 400.
- BOOK NOW for a special day trip to Lapland on December 10th with Falcon Holidays. Prices are from €599 for adults and €519 for children. See falconholidays.ie or tel 1850-453545.
Home:
- BECOME A detective and solve the mystery of the murder at the castle on a weekend visit to the Clare Inn in Dromoland, Co Clare. The medieval themed event takes place from November 5th and includes a lavish banquet at nearby Knappogue Castle. Prices from €159pps. Tel: 1890-669900 or lynchotels.com.
- CELEBRATE THE season with a wine and game evening at Gregans Castle near Ballyvaughan, Co Clare. Chef Mickael Viljanen has devised a tasting game menu accompanied by Spanish wines from Artadi. Prepare for dinner on Saturday night with a guided walk in the Burren. The weekend is from €289pps, including dinner and wines. See gregans.ie or tel 065-7077005.
- DUST OFF your walking boots for a weekend exploring the Kerry Way trail when staying in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel. The package includes transfers to Kenmare to begin the 19km walk with packed lunch. The price of €250pps also includes two nights accommodation and dinner one evening. Tel: 064-6631766 or aghadoeheights.com.
- IT'S THREE, two, one at the Wineport Lodge, near Glasson, Co Westmeath, where you can stay for three nights for the price of two and have one dinner and a 30-minute treatment for €220pps, in November. See wineport.ie or tel 090-6439010.
- STAY FOR two nights with breakfast and dinner one evening at the Cahir House Hotel in Co Tipperary for €90pps. Golf offers are from €150pps to include two rounds of golf at a selection of nearby courses. See cahirhousehotel.ie or tel 052-7443000.
- GIRLIE GETAWAYS at Bellinter House in Co Meath include a cocktail on arrival, dinner in the private cellar and your own theatre room for movies and munchies for €129pps. Tel: 01-2958900 or see manorhousehotels.com.