Deals and Destinations - 29 October
RTÉ Travel's Deirdre Mullins will guide you to the best value deals out there this week, whether it's a visit to a Christmas market, a shopping trip to New York or a break closer to home.
Get into the Christmas Spirit
There is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by having a hot drink in the cold air of a traditional Christmas market.
The Travel Department is offering a trip to the Stockholm Christmas markets. Three nights in a four star hotel, leaving on 4 December costs €456, plus taxes and charges. This includes return flights, airport transfers and bed and breakfast.
Or you could head to the Italian Christmas markets for €399 plus tax for five nights leaving 10 December. The price includes flights, airport transfers, bed and breakfast and a three course meal every day. Staying in Lake Garda, the itinerary includes excursions to Venice and the Christmas markets at Bolzano.
For more information on these two trips, visit: www.thetraveldepartment.ie or call: 01 6371600.
Snap up a few traditional Christmas gifts in the Polish city of Krakow with gohop.ie. The company is offering a three-night package leaving Dublin on 4 December from €223 per person sharing. This price includes direct flights from Dublin and three night's accommodation in a three star hotel.
For more information on this offer, call: 01 2412389 or visit: www.gohop.ie.
American Holidays
American Holidays has some late deals; New York for three nights, staying in the Beacon Hotel Manhattan and flights, departing on 10 December, from €667 per person.
If you fancy a flutter, visit Las Vegas: four nights, staying in the Circus Hotel, departing 13 January, costs from €485.
Plan ahead and get good prices on flights to Canada in 2010. Fares to Toronto and Montreal are available from €126 one way or €299 return based on travel in May 2010.
For more information, visit: www.americanholidays.com or call: 01 4331067.
Stay in Ireland
The Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey, Co Donegal has a two night mid-week bed and breakfast and one dinner offer for €99pps. Or stay for just one night with dinner and enjoy a back massage from €105pps.
Go for a gourmet weekend break to Belfast and stay in the new Fitzwilliam hotel. €240 for two people for two nights and dinner in the hotel's restaurant. The menu is devised by Kevin Thornton (of the Michelin-starred Thornton's restaurant in Dublin).
Visit: www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com or call: 048 90442080 for more information.
Go west to Galway this weekend for the city's Hallowe'en festival. Highlights include Friday night's 'The Big Fancy Dress Party' in The Latin Quarter. On Saturday traditional Hallowe'en party games will be played along the streets and all zombies in the area have been called to take part in a re-enactment of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video.
Irish Rail will be running a series of Ghost Trains from Dublin at a special fare of €10 each way. To book your seat, visit: www.irishrail.ie or for weekend packages, visit: www.discoverireland.ie/galway.
€10 Spa treatments
This December, the BrookLodge Hotel and Wells Spa will celebrate its 10th birthday. To mark the occasion BrookLodge is offering a special rate of €10 on treatments throughout November and December at The Wells Spa. Guests can choose a maximum of three treatments from the four Natural Element categories for each night of their stay for €60pps midweek and €75pps on weekend nights. For more information, visit: www.brooklodge.com.
Deirdre Mullins
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