JOAN SCALES rounds up the best deals, from Rome by Vespa to Volvo Ocean Race stays in Galway
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
Eight days in Malta and Sicily: from €1,075pps
Explore the Mediterranean islands of Malta (above) and Sicily on an eight-day trip with the Travel Department from next Saturday, May 23rd. The trip uses direct flights with Ryanair from Dublin to Malta and with Aer Lingus, on the way back, from Catania to Dublin, and includes guided tours of both islands, with accommodation. In Malta you'll stay in St Julian's and Siracusa. In Sicily accommodation will be in the resort of Taormina. Travel between the islands will be by ferry, a 90-minute journey. Prices from €1,075pps. 01-6371600,
www.thetraveldepartment.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS:
Roman holiday: from €447
Discover the angels and demons of Rome from the back of a Vespa scooter. Or even the era of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. The InterContinental de la Ville Roma hotel is offering guests their own Roman holiday, with a four-hour Dolce Vita Vespa tour, from €447, including overnight accommodation, breakfast and the tour for two. www.intercontinental.com/icrome, 00-39-06-67331 or, in Ireland, 1800-511689.
Med cruises: from €1,099
Two specialist cruises on Royal Caribbean's Celebrity Century ship from Cruise Holidays will appeal to gardeners and bridge players. On September 26th, Gerry Daly will be leading a trip around the Mediterranean that will also visit the Jardins Ephrussi, outside Cannes; from €1,299. In October, Seamus Dowling will lead a bridge cruise around the Mediterranean for a week, with nightly bridge and entertainment, from €1,099, including flights from Ireland. www.cruiseholidays.ie, 01-8173558.
Orlando offers: from €719pps
Book your family holiday to Florida for August now with American Sky and you get a week self-catering in a three-bedroom home in the Orlando area with a kids-eat-free card, from €719pps. www.americansky.ie, 01-5262566. Sunway also has a family package to Orlando in August: from €1,635 for seven nights for two adults and two children at the Holiday Inn, or from €1,818 at the Staybridge Suites. 01-2886828, www.sunway.ie.
Algarve golf and free board: €600
Book a €600 golf package with Oceânico in the Algarve and get accommodation free. The deal, based on at least two sharing, includes six rounds of golf, complimentary buggies and a practice session at Amendoeira Golf Academy. Junior golfer rates and non-golfer rates also available from €300. Must book by June 30th. www.oceanicogroup.com, 00-351-289-320525.
Fishguard ferry: from €105
The Stena Express high-speed ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard returns this week, with fares from €105 each way for a car and two adults. Oakwood Theme Park day outings, also return, are €54 for adults and €48 for children. Or have a day at Folly Farm zoo and vintage funfair from €168 for a car, two adults and two children. 01-2047777,
www.stenaline.ie.
Sleep like a Lion: from €32pp
1800hotels.com is selling hotel rooms in South Africa for the British Irish Lions rugby tour with rates from €32 per person per night. 1800-468357, www.1800hotels.com.
Hotel sale: up to 40% off
The Hotels.com summer sale is on, with up to 40 per cent off a wide selection of beachside hotels. The Deauville Beach Resort in Miami has rooms from €53 per night. In Albufeira, in Portugal, the five-star Ponta Grande Resort has rooms from €162 per night, and in Spain the Barceló Marbella from €86 per night. www.hotels.com.
Fly to Japan: from €1,250
Travel to Japan in style – premium economy fares with Japan Airlines cost from €1,250 return from Dublin, Cork or Shannon via major European cities. 01-6610749,
www.premair.ie.
HOME DEALS:
Volvo Ocean Race offers
Leg seven of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Boston to Galway, begins today, and accommodation is still available in Galway during the stopover, from May 23rd to June 6th.
The Radisson has a variety of packages over the two-week period, including a stay on May 31st for the display by the Red Arrows. The price of €117pps includes lunch, bed and breakfast. The farewell package on June 6th cost €120pps, including dinner. 091-538300, www.radissonhotelgalway.com.
The G Hotel has a midweek package, in a superior room, for €445 for two nights’ BB and dinner one night. 091-865200, www.theghotel.ie.
In Taylor’s Hill, the Ardilaun hotel has a midweek package of two nights’ BB and one dinner for €135pps during the race. The bank-holiday weekend is €255pps for two nights, including a dinner. 091-521433, www.theardilaunhotel.ie.
Cúirt na Rásaí self-catering accommodation, by Ballybrit, costs from €255 for two nights in a two-bedroom apartment. www.cuirtnarasai.com, 091-764131.
The Harbour Hotel, at the Race Village, has a number of rooms at €110 per night during race period, and has a good view of the action. 091-596466, www.harbour.ie.
Dinner, wine and a bed: €29.95pp
Smugglers Inn, a well-known restaurant and BB next to Waterville Golf Links in Co Kerry has this offer: book in for a three-course dinner, at €29.95 per person, and it will throw in a bottle of wine per couple and a night in one of its rooms (or, if you prefer, a taxi home, if you live within 20km). The offer runs until May 28th. www.the-smugglers-inn.com, 066-9474330.
Waterford foodie treat: €160pps
Tantalise your taste buds with an epicurean event at Waterford Castle Hotel next Friday. Guests will meet the hotel’s food suppliers and enjoy a tasting menu devised by chef Michael Quinn that uses only local and organic produce. Stay overnight for €160pps, including breakfast and the tasting menu. Two nights from €260pps. www.waterfordcastle.com, 051-878203.
Paint and be merry: from €85
The Burren Painting Centre is running a course next weekend in Lisdoonvarna from €85pps for two nights’ BB with a painting demonstration and drawing workshop. www.burrenpainting centre.com, 065-7074208.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability