Go Now: From horses in Hyde Park to dinner at Thornton's, Joan Scaleshas the best of the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Horse-riding in Hyde Park, with deluxe B&B: €280
If you have seen people riding around Hyde Park in London and thought you'd love to do that, now you can. The Royal Lancaster Hotel, overlooking the park, has a package that includes a one-hour horse ride along the bridleways of Hyde Park, with horses from the nearby stables. The price of £227 (about €280) per person sharing also includes bed and breakfast and a raspberry mule cocktail in the bar. www.royallancaster.com, 00-44-20-72626737.
HOME BREAKS
Mount Juliet cookery: €350
You should be able to serve a feast this Christmas after attending the entertaining masterclass at Mount Juliet Conrad, in Co Kilkenny. The two-day programme, on Monday and Tuesday, December 1st and 2nd, will be presented by chef Eugene McSweeney, formerly of Lacken House. From €430 per person single or €350 per person sharing, including lunch both days, breakfast, dinner with wine pairings and accommodation. www.mountjuliet.ie, 056-7773000.
Thornton's treat: €200pps
Spoil yourself with a trip to Dublin to have dinner at Thornton's, at the Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephen's Green, Dublin. Chef of the Year Kevin Thornton is offering dinner and a night at the hotel from €200pps, including full breakfast and parking. www.fitzwilliamhotel.com, 01-4787000.
Moy House: €210pps
Moy House, the 18th-century country home overlooking Lahinch Bay, in Co Clare, has been lovingly restored to be a mix of classical and contemporary styles. Its two-night special, at €210 per person sharing, includes a gourmet tasting dinner one night and a surprise gift each evening on turndown. www.moyhouse.com, 065-7082800.
Kerry new year: from €269pps
Join Sharon Shannon, Mundy and Shane MacGowan for New Year's Eve at the INEC in Killarney, Co Galway, and I bet they will do Galway Girl. Two-night packages, with a ticket to the gig and dinner one night, are available at the Gleneagle Hotel, from €269 per person sharing, and at the Brehon Hotel from €289 per person sharing. 064-71550, www.destinationkillarney.ie.
Early bookings: from €65pn
Maldron Hotels is a group of nine mid-priced hotels that opened around the country in September. Four are in Dublin; the others are in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Wexford and Portlaoise. All are centrally located and, with rates from €69 to €99, well priced. If you book by December 15th, you can get a rate of €65 per night in January and February. Rates are higher at weekends. 1850-885885, www.maldronhotels.com.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
New York: fares from €367rtn
Once the frenzy of New York Christmas shopping has died down, so do airfares to the city. Great value from Aer Lingus in January and February, with returns from €367, including taxes and surcharges. Hotel rates fall, too. You can stay with the Apple Core group, which has five hotels in Manhattan, from $139 (about €110) a night, excluding taxes, from January 2nd to February 14th. www.aerlingus.com and www.applecorehotels.com.
Cheshire shops: from €99pps
Or why not try a shopping trip to Cheshire? Stena Line will take you from Dublin Port, with a one-night stay at Holiday Inn, dinner, breakfast and coach transfers to Cheshire Oaks Village and Mostyn Market from €99 per person sharing. You can bring your car for €150pps. www.stenaline.ie/ shopping, 01-2047733.
Arctic thrills: from €1,628pps
Project Travel has a selection of Arctic adventures for people who love wild and unspoilt places with a bit of adventure. All programmes are tailored; as an example, a five-day trip can include flights, four activities, such as dog sledging, snowmobile safaris, reindeer racing and a night in an igloo, from €1,628pps. www.project- travel.ie, 01-2108391.
Tour of China: from €2,752pps
If the Olympics gave you a taste of their host country, then Tour China will take you there to experience it. Its 13-day trips will visit Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Zian, the giant panda reserve in Chengdhu and Jiuzhai National Park. The price, from €2,752, includes all flights, accommodation, most meals, transfers and taxes. The tours depart in April, May and June. www.tourchina.ie, 01-8173575.
Bermudan break: from €935pps
Escape to Bermuda for some winter sun and relax on sandy coral beaches and dip in the blue seas. The former British colony, which retains some of its cultural links, has a wealth of heritage sites and golf courses. A week at Grotto Bay Beach resort, on a room-only basis, is available from €935 per person sharing with Caribbean Collection. Book before November 30th for travel from January 14th to March 4th, 2009. 0818-222426, www.caribbeancollection.ie.
Austrian stays: €1,200 a week
Bergview Haus apartments, built in Söll, in Austria, by Irish ski guide Leonard Carroll, are open for business this season. Each apartment is fully fitted as a home from home and sleeps six, so it could be ideal for skiing friends and families. The weekly rate is €1,200. Söll is about an hour from Salzburg airport. If you want to travel without hiring a car, Munich airport is a better option, as you can take the train from there to Söll. www.bergviewhaus.com.
• Please bear in mind that offers are subject to availability