From Premiership games to amphitheatre shows,
JOAN SCALESrounds up the week's best offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
All aboard for 3 nights in Connemara: from €189pps
The last steam train left Clifden more than 60 years ago, and now the station house has a modern hotel built around it, the aptly named Station House Hotel. You can explore the heart of Connemara (above) with a special offer this month: three nights’ BB and two dinners costs from €189pps, with children under 12 free when sharing with parents. The Railway Kids Club provides lots of activities, including drama workshops and supervised swimming. Self-catering apartments are also available. 095-21699, www.clifdenstationhouse.com.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Score a Premier game: from €199
The start of the Premiership season is looming, and Sunway has packages aimed at getting you to matches. Saturdays at Manchester United home games cost from €199 for adults and €179 for children. Overnight packages to Liverpool games cost from €329 for adults and €309 for children. 01-2886828, www.sunway.ie.
Change your flights for free
Aer Lingus is allowing customers to change flights free if they make a booking to Manchester from Dublin or Cork up to August 28th for the 2009-10 football season if the fixture is moved. Changes can be made at 0818-365033.
Amphitheatre nights: €29
The only hotel on the Costa del Sol with a Roman amphitheatre, Villa Padierna, near Estepona, in Spain, is entertaining guests and visitors with a series of blues, jazz and flamenco concerts on Thursday nights for €29 per person, or €64 with dinner; staying over costs from €209 per room. www.ritzcarlton.com.
Spain family deal: from €1,476
There is still time to book a family break in the sun. Falcon Holidays has a week in Salou for two adults and two children from €1,606 from Dublin, a week in Fuengirola from Shannon from €1,660, or a week in Costa de Almeria from Cork for €1,632. A week for a family in Santa Ponsa, Majorca, from Ireland West Knock costs €1,476. 1850-453545, www.falcon holidays.ie
Lake Garda: from €399
Prices for holidays in Lake Garda, in Italy, and Austria have been reduced by Crystal Holidays. A week at a guest house in Mayrhofen costs from €399; a week in the Italian lakes at Malcesine, half-board at Hotel Cristallo, costs from €699; or a week at Grand Hotel Bristol, on Lake Maggiore, costs from €999 half-board. 01-4331080, www.crystal lakes.ie.
Malaga flights: from €249
Budget Travel has some seats to Malaga, in Spain, and Faro, in Portugal, for next week from €249 return, and to Larnaca, in Cyprus, from €299 return. 01-6311111. Check www.1800hotels.ie for good accommodation rates.
Red Sea escape: from €655pps
Escape to the Red Sea on August 20th with Panorama Holidays for a week in the El Hayat Sharm Resort in Nabq from €655pps, all inclusive. 0818-202020, www.panorama holidays.ie.
HOME DEALS
Sligo races: from €200 per night
Racing comes to Sligo next Wednesday and Thursday. The Clarion Hotel is offering a two-bedroom suite for €200 per night, which includes race tickets for four. 071-9119000, www.clarionhotelsligo.com.
Up for the Horse Show: from €79
Dublin Horse Show begins on Wednesday. You can stay at the nearby Pembroke Townhouse, between then and August 9th for €79 per night, including tickets to the RDS. 01-6600277, www.pembroke townhouse.ie.
Child goes free at Mulranny
A third child goes free at the Park Inn Mulranny, in Co Mayo. Family breaks in August cost €699 for three nights for two adults and three children, including dinner on two evenings. 1850-336000, www.parkinnmulranny.ie.
‘Sinful’ spas: under €200pps
Spa Ireland has come up with the “seven deadly sins” of spa breaks under €200pps. Choose from the Radisson Blu in Limerick; the Ritz-Carlton in Co Wicklow; Farnham Estate, in Cavan; Aghadoe Heights, in Killarney; Carton House, in Maynooth; the Royal Marine, in Dún Laoghaire; and the Maryborough, in Cork. www.spa-ireland.com.
Bed-in at Westin: €259 per room
Celebrate 10 years of the Heavenly Bed at the Westin in Dublin this month and next with two “Heavenly Nightcaps”, relaxing bath salts, lavender-scented sleeps masks and full Irish breakfast the next morning. The rate is from €259 per room per night. 01-6451000, www.thewestin dublin.com
Carlow in bloom: from €99pps
Carlow Floral Festival Trail begins today and runs until August 9th. Two nights midweek with one dinner at the Killerig Resort costs from €99pps. Two nights at Mulvarra House, St Mullins, with one dinner, costs €105pps. www.carlowfloralfestival.com.
Inishmore Guesthouse
An article in last Saturday’s Go referred to charges of €270 per room for two people at Inishmore Guesthouse. This was incorrect. The guest house has pointed out that its highest charge is €140 per room.
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability