From seven nights in Honolulu to New Year's Eve at Castlemaryr, JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers...
Deal of the week
Half-price ski holidays: from €229
Skiers should get ready for Monday morning, when Topflight starts a four-day sale with up to 50 per cent off ski holidays. You can self-cater in Alpe d'Huez (above), in France, from €229pps, or Chalet Montana in Lermoos, Austria, from €249pp, both from January 9th. To ski for Christmas, head to Livigno next Saturday from €249pp, with lift passes for €80 for adults and €59 for children. 01-2401700, topflight.ie and your local travel agent.
Home deals
Revisit Cork: €90-€100pr
As Cork recovers from its flooding, the Clarion Hotel is encouraging visitors to stay in the city with a rate of €90-€100 per room per night until December 23rd. 021-4224900, clarionhotelcorkcity.com.
2 Donegal nights: €178 with dinner
The Shandon Hotel, at Marble Hill Strand in Co Donegal, has an opening offer of two nights' dinner, B&B for €178pps. Stay December 28th-30th or January 3rd-5th. 074-9136137, shandonhotel.com.
Glimmer Ball stay: €145
Fancy dress is on the cards at the Glimmer Ball, at Charleville Castle, in Co Offaly. Tickets, which cost €50, include mulled wine, plus burgers and chips. For €70 you can take a return bus from Dublin, or stay over in Tullamore for €145pps. glimmerball.com.
Connemara family stay: €400
The Twelve Hotel in Barna, Co Galway, is offering two nights' bed and breakfast, with dinner one evening, for €400 for two adults and two under-12s sharing. Santa will be there tomorrow week, with presents for the children and mince pies for parents. 091-597000, thetwelvehotel.ie.
Old Ground B&B: €75 with dinner
Mr Claus has also taken up residence at Aillwee Cave, near Ballyvaughan in Co Clare, until December 22nd. The nearby Old Ground Hotel, in Ennis, has dinner, bed and breakfast for €75 per night for adults and €40 for children sharing. 065-6828127, flynnhotels.com.
5-star New Year's Eve: €295
Castlemartyr Resort, in Co Cork, has a New Year's Eve package of afternoon tea, black-tie gala dinner with wine pairings, and a party. Entertainment comes from the Roaring 40s swing band. Breakfast will be brunch on New Year's Day. The offer costs €295pps. 021-4219000, castlemartyrresort.ie.
Overseas deals
Honolulu week: from €1,549
If you'd like to escape the January gloom, Hawaii should have plenty of sun. Aloha Holidays has a deal until March 19th that includes flights, a week in Honolulu, a city tour and a Paradise Cove traditional luau, or feast, from €1,549pps. 01-2108391, alohaholidays.ie.
All-in St Lucia: from €1,699
Or how about nine all-inclusive nights in St Lucia, staying at Rendezvous? This couples-only resort is on a beautiful beach with lots of sports and activities available. Departing on January 5th, with prices starting at €1,699pps. 01-5262566, tropicalsky.ie.
5-star Dubai: from €50 per night
Dubai's financial straits mean you can chase the winter sun to the Persian Gulf at reduced prices. Five-star hotels now start at less than €200 per night, four-stars at about €100 and apartments from €50. Flights from €450 with ebookers.ie. See hotels.com.
Canary Christmas: from €1,696 for 4
Last-minute sun offers for Christmas from Falcon include a week in Egypt from €849 and Lanzarote from Dublin for two adults and one child from €1,852. From Cork to Lanzarote on December 20th, for two adults and two children staying in Playa Blanca, costs from €1,696. 1850-453545, falconholidays.ie.
3-day Budapest break: €515
How about a three-day trip to Budapest from February 5th with no single supplement? It includes two tours and a dinner in a traditional restaurant, staying at the four-star Mercure Buda Hotel. €515 including charges. 01-6371600, thetraveldepartment.ie.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability