Deals and Destinations - 19 November
RTÉ Travel's Ed Leahy helps you find the best value, whether you are booking your summer holidays, taking in a city break for the long weekend, pampering yourself in a spa hotel or just taking a few days out to work on your golf game.
Experience Christmas in London
With London less than an hour away, the city makes for the most convenient city break destination this festive season. Christmas in London is a truly magical time with fantastic special events, attractions and festive packages available throughout the English capital.
Top 5 Christmas Things to do in London
1) Watch the Christmas celebration, London's Christmas Carol
2) Get your skates on and explore a magical Winter Wonderland
3) Enjoy one of the many Christmas afternoon teas
4) Traditional Cologne Christmas Market on London's Southbank
5) Watch Peter Pan, which is moving to The O2 for the Christmas period
Flying from Dublin, bmi has up to six flights a day to London Heathrow from as little as €35 one way including taxes and charges.
For more information, visit www.visitlondon.com and www.flybmi.com.
Traditional Christmas at Bewley's Hotel Ballsbridge
Arrive to Bewley's Hotel Ballsbridge on Thursday, 24 December and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies before dinner in the Brasserie restaurant. Wake up Christmas morning and wander downstairs for a leisurely buffet breakfast, followed by a Christmas lunch that will be served with Champagne and wine in the Brasserie restaurant at Bewley's Hotel Ballsbridge. On St Stephen's Day enjoy a three-course dinner in the Brasserie and round off your trip on 27 December with a final Bewley's breakfast before setting off home.
Stay at Bewley's Hotel Ballsbridge from the 24-27 December from €359pps or for €150 per child under 12 years sharing with an adult.
For more info, go to: www.bewleyshotels.com.
Winter Ski Deals From gohop.ie
Austria: St Johann Resort from €454pps
Includes: Return flights & 7 nights' accommodation
Bulgaria: Pamporovo from €434pps
Includes flights from Dublin to Plovdiv & 7 nights in 4* Hotel
Italy: Livigno from €439pps
Includes flights from Dublin to Verona & 7 nights' accommodation
Visit: www.gohop.ie or call: 01 2412389.
Joe Walsh Tours Down Under
Fly Malaysian Airlines into Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane from only €298 return plus tax/fuel surcharge of €398pp.
Travel from 9 November to 10 December 2009 or 1 March to 15 June 2010 with Malaysian Airlines.
Or if you want to fly in style, check out the 2 for 1 Business Class offer from Etihad Airlines. Fly Business Class to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane from only €3095 return for 2 passengers return plus tax/fuel surcharge €231pp for travel 1st February to 31st May 2010 with Etihad Airlines.
Visit: www.joewalshtours.ie or call: Joe Walsh Tours on 01 2410822.
Tankardstown Celebrates with Blue Book Package
Tankardstown Estate in Co Meath has been invited into the Blue Book Collection for 2010 as the only new property. The Estate is marking the occasion with a suitably celebratory offer that includes two nights bed and breakfast in one of their charming courtyard cottages, an evening meal for two in Brabazon and a delightful Champagne Afternoon Tea for two in the Bistro, all for just €250 per person sharing.
For more info, visit: www.tankardstown.ie or call: (041) 98 24621.
More Routes to The Canary Islands
Aer Lingus has added Fuerteventura to Dublin to its flight schedule. The weekly flight will depart on Saturdays and the new route will be operated with an Airbus A320, with capacity for 174 passengers. Ryanair also adds a new route to its timetable with direct flights twice a week from Dublin to Las Palmas and Lanzarote. It will also extend the offer with a new flight from Shannon to Lanzarote.
Visit: www.aerlingus.com or www.ryanair.com.
Christmas Market in Madrid
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than a trip to the Christmas market in Plaza Mayor, Madrid? The city comes alive every December as the festive season begins and the city glows. As an integral part of the city's festive scene, Plaza Mayor plays host to over 100 stalls selling everything from ornate statues to traditional materials. Apart from the Christmas Market, Madrid boasts many art galleries, great nightlife, fine food and a mix of old and new from traditional cafés and taverns to the latest style trends, shops and restaurants.
For more info, visit: www.spain.info.
Take the City Landmark Quiz
One in three Irish people fail to recognise the capital city landscape without one of its iconic landmarks, the Ha'penny Bridge, in a quiz on Hotels.com. An incredible 32% of Irish people were stumped by an image of their capital city when the memorable bridge was airbrushed out of the picture. Our UK neighbours also struggled to recognise Dublin city's landscape. 75% of those surveyed thought Dublin was Amsterdam.
Take the quiz here:
www.hotels.co.uk/hotel-deals/landmark_quiz.
Ed Leahy
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