Opera buffs, are you looking for a little getaway from the gloomy weather? You could hop over to Paris next weekend to take in Don Giovanni at the Opera Bastille and Cosi Fan Tutte at the Palais Garnier. Harry Cahill 01-6705123 has a few packages left, with best seats from January 28th to 31st. It includes Aer Lingus flights, accommodation in a four-star hotel for three nights, and a city tour.
If you are planning a visit to Dublin to see the new Millennium Bridge then the Eliza Lodge could not be closer. At Wellington Quay, it is situated right at the new bridge, and has two-night weekend specials for £99 a head. Eliza Lodge is in Temple Bar and if you cross the bridge you are right in the heart of the Henry Street/ Mary Street shopping area. Don't forget to make a wish as you cross. Tel: 01 6718044.
SAS has introduced a third daily flight to Copenhagen from mid-December. The first flight departs Dublin at 6.40 a.m. and gets you to there early enough to journey onwards on the same day on SAS services to all of Scandinavia, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Seattle, Tokyo and Beijing.
This month there is a special low mid-week fare of £139 to Copenhagen and £199 to all other Scandinavian destinations. Details from your ITAA agent or SAS on 018445440.
Recently I received an email from an Irishwoman, Annette Kunigon (nee Steiber), who is married and living in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Annette and her husband run a tourism venture, Eagle House, in Chiang Mai. They offer accommodation and organise treks to visit the Doi Inthanon National Park and also the hill tribes in the area. You can also learn to cook Thai at their Chilli Club Cooking Academy.
The Kunigons are committed to environmentally and socially respectful tourism. Annette says that if you come to Chiang Mai, she would be delighted with any assistance for their "Helping Hands" project. Volunteers are always welcome for however much time they can afford. You can read more about Eagle House at www.trekeagl@cm.ksc.th, or write to Annette at Eagle House, 16 Chang Moi Gao Road, Soi 3, Chiang Mai 50 300, Thailand.
PS - the Holiday World Experience is on in the RDS next week, from Friday to Sunday.
Joan Scales can be contacted at jscales@irish-times.ie