DRIVETIME TRIP TO JORDAN COMPETITION

Well your brains have had a well-earned break from Drivetime competitions so time to get them back working again…. this time with an unusual destination for our first foreign prize of 2010.

It comes courtesy of BMI and the Jordan Tourist Board and it's a six night trip for two to Amman… the capital of Jordan - a country which boasts the Red and Dead seas.. wonderful wildlife… amazing history… sunshine and good shopping. The trip includes four star accommodation….. trips and guides and a chance to unwind with a friend or partner.

So to be in with a chance… here’s what you have to do…

Remember the Hollywood epic "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" starring Harrison Ford. Well it was was filmed in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra which you will certainly want to visit if you win this prize.

So, with your usual intelligence… sense of humour…and flair….we want you to invent a film title suitable for the weather we've just experienced and you must name your leading actor of choice to star in this imaginary movie and in no more than 20 words… explain why you have chosen this person.

I'm sure I don’t have to say that you can choose anyone to be your leading man or woman!

So entries by post to me here at Drivetime with Mary Wilson, RTE Radio, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 or by email to drivetime@rte.ie

And to win this six night trip to Amman with BMI and the Jordan Tourist Board, your entries must be with us by Friday 12th February.

THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON THIS PRIZE…IT IS AVAILABLE FROM MAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER…SO TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY AND ALL DETAILS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE ….www.rte.ie/radio/drivetime.

To find out more about bmi, with over 90 worldwide destinations from London Heathrow visit flybmi.com.

TRAVEL WITH JOAN SCALES - FRIDAY 29th JANUARY

Golden Years Festival – Westport – from €229pps for five nights

Westport Plaza Hotel www.wesportplazahotel.ie and 098 51166

Castle Court Hotel www.castlecourthotel.ie and 098 28622

Castlerosse Hotel, Killarney, from €179pps for three nights

www.castlerosse.com or 1850 770000

Newpark Hotel – Kilkenny, from €262.50pps for five nights

www.flynnhotels.com and (056) 7760500

Meyrick – Galway – from €299 for five nights

www.hotelmeyrick.ie, 091 564041

Connemara

Abbey Glen Castle from €224 – three nights

www.abbeyglencastle.ie, 095 21201

Connemara Coast Hotel from €195 – four nights

www.sinnotthotels.com and (091) 592108

Mayo - Claremorris

Bridge at the McWilliam Park Hotel, from €309 – five nights

www.mcwilliampark.ie, 094 9378000

Clare

The Falls Hotel Ennistymon, three nights from €150pps

www.fallshotel.ie and 065 7071004

Tipperary

Dundrum House Hotel three nights from €159

www.dundrumhousehotel.com and 062 71116

Wexford

White’s Hotel, from €89pps, two nights

www.whitesofwexford.ie and 053 91 22311

Dublin

Castleknock Hotel and country club, three nights from €165pps

www.castleknockhotel.com, 01 640 6300

North East

Four Seasons Carlingford, four nights from €210pps

www.4seasonshotelcarlingford.ie and 042 9373530

Northern Itreland

Two nights one dinner in Bushmills Inn from €98 (about €109)

www.bushmillsinn.com and (048) 2073 2339

VALENTINE'S DAY BARGAINS

Joan Scale's ideas on how to celebrate Valentine's Day from 25 euros to 5,000 euros:

Last year Marks and Spencer had a special meal for two deal and I believe they will have it again this year. It includes a special upmarket dinner and a bottle of bubbly. A few candles and you're set.

Or you could cook a special meal:

Paul Flynn of the Tannery Restaurant in Dungarvan is running a Cook for your Valentine course on Feb 11, perfect for the special meal on the 14th. The course costs 50.

What do you get for 5,000 euros?

This offer is running not just on Valentine's day but is also available throughout the year. It is the Get Down on One Knee package from Tankardstown House in Co Meath to put you in the mood for that special moment. Become lord and lady of the Manor for a day and night and Tankardstown will be your residence, all six glorious bedrooms suites, pick which one you like.

Sip vintage champagne while being entertained by your own musician, dine by candle light in the romantic dining room, have a lazy breakfast in bed, follow by a picnic in the woods and then to top it off you very own private balloon flights up over co Meath.

What about more reasonable high flying deals?

The Clarion in Sligo have teamed up with Aer Arann to take romantic couples from Dublin on Saturday for dinner, overnight stay chocolates and bubbly and a late check out will cost 135pps.

Deals for Earthly lovers?

There is hardly a hotel or restaurant around the country not doing something for Valentine's and offers range from

Bewleys Hotel in Ballsbridge has champagne all the way package including, a bottle of champagne in your room, a five course dinner with champagne, and a champagne breakfast in bed for €190 for two.

The Twelve in Galway has lots of little luxurious touches, with their own bakery, romantic dinner and late checkout from 165pp for two nights

In Donegal the Nesbitt Arms in Ardara Donegal has two nights B&B with dinner and a bottle of wine for 129pps. And if you postpone the Valentine's celebration to midweek, it will only cost 79pps.

Let the Wicklow Mountains be the backdrop for your romantic break at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Powerscourt. Staying in a Mountain view suite with lunch in Gordon Ramsey restaurant and a late checkout on Sunday up to 4pm from 325 per couple. Alternatively the package with dinner is 365 for two.

Islands or remote places always seem romantic at this time of the year

Waterford Island and Fota Island hotels are both in the Valentine's market this year with two night stays with dinner room 179 in Waterford and 195 in Fota. More remote is Trinity Island Lodge on 160 acre in Co Cavan and three kms off the nearest roadway. Bring supplies and hole up for a perfect quiet weekend. 600 for and you have space to bring some other couples too.

Castles

A few of the well known castles like Ashford are doing deals, Two nights with dinner and dozen roses will set you back 395pps or in the new, that is as a hotel, Solis Lough Eske is doing the weekend from 285pps with a rose-petal turndown!!

Valentine's Balls used to be popular, are there any on this year?

In Belfast the Culloden Hotel is having a ball on Feb 13 bringing you into Valentine's Day with dinner, bed and breakfast from £100pps. Unfortunately the ball at Barberstown Castle was cancelled.

Going away for Valentine's:

The Six Nations Ireland France match is in Paris on February 13, perfect timing for the lads to take the lassies to the match and find romance. The City of Light is full of romance. But wrap up. It can be bitter in Paris in February. Hotels.com has released some deals today for hotels in Paris from €90 per night. Ryanair have 30 per cent discount on fares today, and I have seen Paris for around 200 return. If you are flush then the Crillon or the George V, still vie for best hotel in Paris.