From A Sailing Holiday On The Nile To An Après Match Getaway In Galway, JOAN SCALES Has The Best Of The Week's Offers
Deal Of The Week
Walk in the Julian Alps: from €434
The Slovenian town of Kranjska Gora is best known for its winter sports. Once the snow has melted, however, you get to see the area's full beauty. Inghams has a walking holiday that will follow scenic routes through meadows and up into the Julian Alps. A week half board from June 2nd, staying at Hotel Alpina, costs from €434pps. 1850-929021, inghams.ie.
Home Deals
Loughcrew outdoors: €150
Loughcrew House and Gardens, in Co Meath, is offering B&B packages to coincide with the launch of its adventure course and bush- survival camp. Two nights' accommodation costs €100pps, and a day on either course costs €50pp. The less energetic might prefer the nature trails, megalithic tombs or even a massage. 049-8541356, loughcrew.com.
2-night Derry jazz deal: from €98
With big bands coming to Derry for the May bank holiday, at the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival (cityofderryjazz festival.com), the Everglades Hotel has a two-night package, including dinner one evening, for £85pps (about €98pps) or £115 (about €132) single. 048-71321066, hastingshotels. com/everglades-hotel. Jazz is also coming to Ballydehob, in Co Cork, that weekend (ballydehobjazzfestival.org).
Après Match in Galway: €159
The Courtyard Hotel in Galway has packages that include tickets to Après Match's Possibly So at the Town Hall Theatre on April 30th. Two nights' accommodation, with dinner one evening and a show ticket, costs €159pps. Or come for a Friday night and have dinner with a bottle of wine for €69.50pps. 091-513200, courtyardgalway.com.
Photography in Waterford: €350
Waterford photographer George Munday is holding residential digital-photography workshops from now until the end of the summer. The €350 fee for the two-day course includes accommodation, meals and tuition. 086-1524403, coppercoastworkshops.com.
Burren art breaks: from €205
Spring in the Burren could be the perfect opportunity to create some art. Burren Painting Centre, which begins its 37th season this month, is offering courses in landscape painting, watercolours, seascapes, pastels, capturing light and more. Two-day residential courses start at €205. 065-7074208, burrenpaintingcentre.com.
Overseas Deals
Sail along the Nile: €2,185
If you fancy dipping a toe in the Nile, how about a holiday on a sailing boat? In May and September a 12-day cruise costs
from £1,910 (about €2,185), including flights from London, seven days' cruising and three nights in Cairo. 00-44-845- 0570600, balesworldwide.com.
Heineken Cup semi-final: €349
Leinster rugby fans can make it to Toulouse for the Heineken Cup semi-final on May 1st for €349 with Abbey Travel Sports. The price excludes a match ticket. 01-8047100, sports@abbeytravel.ie.
Free Irish Ferries crossing
Irish Ferries is offering all motorists who travel on its Oscar Wildeferry between Rosslare and Cherbourg or Roscoff in June, July or August a free return trip to Britain for a car plus two adults on its Dublin-Holyhead or Rosslare-Pembroke ferry. 0818-300400, irishferries.com.
Week in Crete: from €369
A week in Crete from May 21st, staying at the Lyda Beach Resort, costs from €369pps, with direct flights from Dublin. lydahotels.com.
Canaries week in May: from €349
Holidays in May to the Canary Islands include a week in Playa de las Americas, on Tenerife, from €349pps and a week in Puerto del Carmen, on Lanzarote, from €375pps. 0818-200110, directholidays.ie.
Cruise to New York: from €3,656
This September Silver Whisper, a Silversea cruise ship, will pick up passengers in Waterford for a 10-day crossing to New York. Silver Whisper will also visit St John's, in Newfoundland, Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and the state of Rhode Island. Prices, which start at €3,656, includes all meals, entertainment and tips. 01-2886828, sunway.ie. For ideas about where to stay and go in New York, see nycgo.com.
- Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability