From a 'Mamma Mia!' holiday to boredom-busting summer camps, JOAN SCALEShas the best offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Thai 5-star week, flying business class: from €1,987pps
Fancy a week at the Thai resort of Hua Hin for less than the price of a business-class seat to Bangkok? Sunway is selling seven nights' BB at the five-star Anantara Hua Hin, flying business class on Etihad Airways, from €1,987pps. The resort, on more than five hectares of beachfront tropical gardens, has four restaurants, two pools (above), a kids' club, a fitness centre, a spa, a weekly floating market and a Thai cookery school. The flights alone would normally cost about €2,000 each. Book by next Saturday for travel from June 15th to August 31st. 01-2886828, www.sunway.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Celebrate Bauhaus: €89pps
To celebrate the Bauhaus movement's 90th anniversary, a two-day, one-night Bauhaus and Highlights of Thuringia break starts from €89 per person in a double room, including breakfast, in one of the Bauhaus towns, the Bauhaus card and a Bauhaus information package. http://bauhaus2009.itsrv.de and
www.thueringen-tourismus.de.
Europe-wide biking: €1,550
If the BBC TV series Long Way Down inspired you, then this offer from Motor Cycle Touring may be just what you are looking for. From June 27th to July 12th you can tour eight countries in Europe, including England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy and France. The escorted trip costs from €1,550pps, including accommodation and evening meals.
www.motorcycletouring.ie.
Inghams adds extra value
Inghams has added value to its summer holidays to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Slovakia. Free extras include sports-equipment hire, excursions, guided walks and wine tasting tours. A week in Kranjska Gora, in Slovenia, will include packed lunches, a hiking tour and dinner from €606pps. 01-6610788, www.inghams.ie.
Hawaii and Vegas: €1,615
Combine a trip to vibrant Las Vegas with chilling out in Hawaii. Aloha Holidays can do a 10-night trip, staying in four-star hotels in both places, from €1,615pps. 01-2108391, www.alohaholidays.ie.
Greece: the show and the holiday
Get in the Mamma Mia! mood for a holiday to Greece. Findabreak will take you to London to see the stage show on the way to the Greek island of Santorini. The trip costs from €749pps. 0818-332884, www.findabreak.ie.
Albufeira for 4: €1,577
Falcon Holidays has some great family deals at the end of June. A week in Albufeira, Portugal, for two adults and two children costs from €1,577. A week on the Costa Dorada, near Salon, costs from €1,554; a week in Crete will cost from €1,753. 1850-453545, www.falconholidays.ie.
Join the Lions on tour: €2,995pps
Excitement is building for the Lions tours with so many Irish players taking part. Packages are available from a number of tour operators around the country. Dawson Travel, in Cork, has a 15-night package from €2,995pps. 021-4274397, www.dawson-travel.com.
HOME DEALS
Wicklow 4-star break: €89
Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort, overlooking Blessington Lakes, in Co Wicklow, has reopened as a four-star destination. Opening offers are €89pps for two nights' BB and one dinner from Sunday to Thursday, or for €99pps at weekends. Green fees from €30. www.tulfarris.com, 045-867600.
Youghal dinner, BB: €90pps
Thursdays and Sundays are feast days at Aherne’s Townhouse and Restaurant – known for its seafood – in Youghal, Co Cork. On those days it offers a nine-course tasting menu with wines to suit, plus bed and breakfast, for €90pps. 024-92424, www.ahernes.net.
Cork self-cater: from €486
Book a holiday house at Castle Quay, near Kinsale in Co Cork, and you will get 10 per cent off GTown Surf School's summer camps. Or paddle up the Bandon river with H2O Sea Kayaking. A week in a house that sleeps six costs from €486, including heating. 01-2018440, www.tridentholidayhomes.ie.
Offaly murder mystery: €159
Is Miss Scarlett waiting in the drawing room with the candlestick for Professor Plum? Solve the mystery at a fun weekend of intrigue at Bridge House hotel in Tullamore, Co Offaly, from June 5th to 7th. Two nights’ BB, with dinner one night, costs €159pps. 1850-312312.
Boredom busting camps: €350
Horizon Ireland has cut the price of some its teenage boredom busters – week-long residential camps in Westport, Rockwell and Westmeath featuring activities such as tennis, football, surfing, languages, motorsports and performance. They cost €350 on selected dates in July and August if you book by next Friday. www.horizonireland.com, 098-35844.
Paint in Achill: from €275pps
In Achill this month and next, a week with Achill Painting, including five days’ tuition and seven nights in a self-catering apartment, costs from €275pps if four share and €300pps if three share. 098-36137, www.achillpainting.com.
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability