From golfing in Brazil to a Belfast food and flower festival, Joan Scaleshas the week's best offers
HOME BREAKS
Wine at Kelly's:€630pps
Wine buff Bill Kelly, of Kelly's Resort Hotel and Spa, in Rosslare, Co Wexford, has lined up a wine-tasting week from Sunday, November 2nd, to Friday, November 7th. Domaine Gauby's Gérard Gauby will be the guest speaker for the tasting on Monday. David Whelehan of O'Briens and Loire and South Africa expert Richard Kelly will preside over tastings. The cost of €630 per person sharing includes all meals and wine sessions. You can come for just one night, or two. 053-9132114, www.kellys.ie.
Shannon cruises:from €114pps
If you fancy a boating holiday, Emerald Star has a three-day package at €114 per person, based on six sharing, until October 4th. 071-9627653, www.emeraldstar.ie.
Belfast food and flower festival
Next weekend sees the Garden Gourmet food and flower festival in Belfast, in the Botanic Gardens. Details of deals on accommodation from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. 1850-230230, www. discovernorthernireland.com.
Go north for a literary festival
The Aspects of Irish Literature festival takes place in Bangor, Co Down, from September 24th to 28th. Expect to see writers Michael Longley, Christopher Marsh, Mary Kenny and Malachí O'Doherty, among others. Details of the programme from the
Northern Ireland Tourist Board. 1850-230230, www.northdown.gov.uk.
Dublin's coast:€99 per room
Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, is fully restored and open for business after a huge fire just 20 weeks ago. Its reopening rates are €99 per room per night, with golf and spa breaks from €115 per person sharing. 01-8413333, www.brackencourt.ie.
Deals in Kerry for the over-60s
In Killarney the Castlerosse Hotel is offering a package for the over-60s this month and next. The price of €175 per person sharing includes three nights' dinner, bed and breakfast, a welcome drink, a sightseeing tour, supervised water aerobics, a make-up demonstration and nightly entertainment, with dancing one evening. 1850-770000, www.castlerosse.com.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Find your feet in a Tuscan palace:from €209 per night
Hotel Villa Padierna is a Tuscan palace in the Spanish countryside near Estepona, in Andalusia, nestled at the head of a valley overlooking Los Flamingos and Gran Flamingo golf courses. This five-star resort, managed by Ritz-Carlton, has some unusual touches, such as a Roman amphitheatre. With reservations until the end of October it is offering a dinner for two, up to the value of €100, in the Veranda restaurant, or spa treatments also worth €100. Rooms from €209 per night based on a three-night stay. 00-34-952-889150, www.ritzcarlton.com.
OVERSEAS BREAKS
London calling:€198 for two
Explore Jermyn Street and
St James, in London, while staying at the Cavendish Hotel. Order a shirt or shoes in one of the bespoke men's shops that the street is famous for. Weekend rates at the Cavendish are £158 (about €200) per night for two, including full English breakfast, until the end of November. 00-44-20-79302111, www.thecavendishlondon.com
Brittany break:€1,360 for four
Autumn in Brittany could tempt, with a special offer from Irish Ferries. Stay in a Breton-style self-catering home at Port du Crouesty, just 300m from the beach. The French resort features two swimming pools and good facilities for children. The eight-night package includes a ferry crossing on the Oscar Wildefor you and your car, with cabin accommodation, from €1,360 for four. 0818-300400, www.irishferries.com
Golfing in Brazil:from €2,895
King Travel is organising a 10-day golfing trip to Brazil from October 29th. You'll spend your first two nights at the Hotel Copacabana in Rio, then move on to Costa do Sauipe for an all-inclusive stay, followed by three nights at the all-inclusive Iberostar in Bahia. Four rounds of golf are included. The deal costs from €2,895. 01-8455600, www.kingtravel.ie
Golfing in Tenerife:€599
Lady golfers might love this package. Going Tenerife will arrange a seven-night stay on the Canary island, with four-star self-catering accommodation, three rounds of golf (with transport to and from the courses) and a day at the spa, including lunch and airport transfers, from €599pps. 00-34-666-093897, www.goingtenerife.com
Majorca in October:€399
Primera's escorted tour to the Spanish island of Majorca in October has a few places left. At €399 it sounds like good value for four nights half-board. 01-6311077, www.primera.ie
The Algarve:€299pps
Special offers from Cork with Stein Travel this month include a week in the Algarve, in Portugal, from €299pps, or a week in Gran Canaria, in the Canaries, also from €299pps. 1800-405406, www.steintravel.ie
Aer Lingus seat sale
An Aer Lingus seat sale begins tomorrow on flights to Europe. Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona and other cities cost from €29.99 each way, including taxes. For travel between next month and February 2009. www.aerlingus.com