From golf swings in Spain to the swing of jazz in Cork,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers
OVERSEAS DEALS
Spanish golf holiday: from €242pps
La Cala, a three-course golf resort on the Costa del Sol, in Spain, is offering three nights’ BB, two green fees and one dinner from €242pps, staying in a double room with a terrace, or five nights with one dinner and outings on all three courses, from €387pps. Non-golfers can use the spa and perhaps indulge in a luxury treatment. La Cala (above) is 40 minutes from Malaga Airport; private transfers cost about €65. 00-34-952-669000, lacala.com.
Week on the Algarve: €208pps
Here’s a recession buster from Rio Arade Accommodation, in a fishing village near Portimão, in Portugal’s Algarve region. With seven nights for the price of five, a week costs from €208pps. You’ll be 40 minutes from Faro airport and close to some lovely beaches. 00-351- 282-423202, rioarade.com.
European city breaks: €199pps
The continental Christmas markets begin at the end of November, and a city break is the perfect warmer-upper for the festivities. Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Cracow: take your pick. Topflight has three-night trips from €199pps including flights. 01-2401701, topflight.ie.
London art fair stay: from €270
The Frieze Art Fair is running in London’s Regent Park from October 12th to 18th, and if you stay at Claridge’s or the Connaught the hotel will include two four-day passes. The package costs from £249 (about €270). 00-44-20- 71078830 or reservations@ maybourne.com. Quote Frieze Art Exclusive.
4-star skiing break: €799pps
Inghams has an offer to Slovakia: half-board at the four-star Grand Hotel Smokovec, with lunch in a mountain restaurant, ski equipment, tuition and lift pass, from €799pps. 1850-929021, www.inghams.ie.
New York deals before Christmas
With shopping season looming, New York has lots of discounts for visitors, such as 15 per cent off tickets at Carnegie Hall, two-for-one to the Gotham Comedy Club and the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, or 20 per cent of the bill at BarBao, Gust Organics and Fig Olive. See nycvisit.com.
HOME DEALS
2 for 1 in foodie Waterford
On the West Waterford Weekend break, you get to stay at two great properties in one package. Stay one night at the Tannery Restaurant and Townhouse, with dinner, and one night at the Cliff House Hotel, also with dinner, from €495 for two. If you go midweek, from Tuesday to Thursday, the rate is €420 for two. tannery.ie and thecliffhousehotel.com.
3 Galway nights: from €290pps
Take the family to Glenlo Abbey Hotel, in Galway, over midterm and the children can stay free in your room. Three nights’ accommodation, with dinner on two nights, costs from €290pps. 091-526666, glenlo.com.
Jazz break in Fota: €194pps
Fota Island Resort is getting into the swing of Cork Jazz Festival with live jazz in the Amber Lounge on the bank-holiday weekend. Two nights’ accommodation, with dinner one night, is €194pps. 021-4883700, fotaisland.ie.
Ballymaloe jazz: from €95
The latest addition to Ballymaloe House is the Grain Store, a 17th-century farmyard building converted for concerts and other events. On October 25th it will welcome Mary Coughlan. Tickets cost €20, and you can stay over from €95 per room. 021-4652531, ballymaloe.ie.
Self-catering week: from €308
You might find a good-value break over midterm with Trident Holiday Homes. A self-catering week in a three- bedroom house costs from €328; bank-holiday weekend from €308. 01-2018440, tridentholidayhomes.ie.
Castlemartyr: 3 nights for 2
You can get three nights for the price of two at Castlemartyr Resort, in Co Cork, or Classic Links rooms at Doonbeg from €150 through dealsoftheweek.ie, a new website with lots of hotel offers.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability