From hotel discounts in New York to a midweek break on Lough Erne,
JOAN SCALEShas the week's best offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Italian Lakes week: from €669pps
If you’re within reach of Cork Airport, you might be interested in packages on October 8th and 15th for a week’s holiday on the Italian Lakes. Choose from Lake Como (above), with excursions to Milan and St Moritz, or Lake Garda, with trips to Venice and Verona. Prices start at €669pps for flights, half-board accommodation and excursions. 01-6371600, thetraveldepartment.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS
New York nights: 25% off stays
Off to New York? What sounds like a great-value contemporary hotel is the Paramount, on West 46th Street close to Times Square. You can get 25 per cent off bookings of four nights or more, reducing the price to between about $250 and $360 (about €175 and €250) for rooms that sleep from two to four people. 00-1-866-7603174, nycparamount.com.
Costa del Sol: from €329pps
This month and next is a good time to visit the Costa del Sol, in Spain. Sunway has seven- night self-catering packages, including at the two-star Aparthotel Veramar in Fuengirola from €329pps, the three-star Sol Timor in Torremolinos from €554pps and the four-star Sunset Beach Club in Benalmadena from €694. 01-2311888, sunway.ie.
Parador Spain: from €1,450pps
You can explore Catalonia in style next month. You’ll stay in three very different paradors from October 17th to 24th, and visit Montserrat, Núria, Girona and the Aiguablava area. From €1,450pps, including dinner on five days. 095-23511, lornarobertsholidays.com.
Hong Kong: from €869pps
We’ve all heard of heading to the US for a pre-Christmas shopping trip, but what about Hong Kong? At from €869pps for flights and seven nights at a four-star hotel, it might not be beyond the bounds of reality. Stanley Market beckons, from November 11th to December 12th. 01-4350092, destinations.ie.
Bargain London: rooms from €14
If you’re planning a trip to London you could bag a room for between £12 and £29 (about €14 and €35) per night at one of the city’s 10 Travelodges – or at any of its other locations in the UK – staying between January 1st and April 11th next year. travelodge.co.uk.
HOME DEALS
Cork culture: less than €100
Cork Culture Night, on September 25th, threatens to outdo Dublin’s, with 150 events planned, from the Lord Mayor’s Tea Dance at City Hall to dozens of cultural venues opening their doors until the wee hours (corkcity.ie/culturenight). Lots of hotels in the city have rooms for well under €100 per night. irelandhotels.com.
Sheen Falls deal: €115pps
Sheen Falls Lodge, in Kenmare, Co Kerry, has anticipated an Indian summer with its September offers. You can stay for a night from Sunday to Thursday, with breakfast and a beauty treatment, for €115pps. If you have a bit more time to spare, three nights with breakfast, plus dinner on two nights, costs €375 per adult. 064-6641600, sheenfallslodge.ie.
Garryvoe break: from €205pps
To mark its fourth star, the Garryvoe Hotel, on Ballycotton Bay in east Cork, is offering a three-night midweek break, with dinner on two evenings, from €205pps. 021-4646718, garryvoehotel.com.
Herbert Park gift: €175 for 2
How about treating your loved one to a birthday stay at the Herbert Park Hotel, in Dublin? For €175 you’ll get not just your room but also champagne and a little birthday cake for two, plus full Irish breakfast the next morning. 01-6672200, herbertparkhotel.ie.
Lough Erne offer: €225pps
Visit Lough Erne Golf Resort, just outside Enniskillen, in Co Fermanagh, for a midweek break, and £195pps (about €225pps) will buy you two nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation, plus dinner one evening. You could extend your stay and take a seaplane tour from the hotel’s jetty for an additional £153pps (about €175), booked directly with the hotel. 048-66323230, loughernegolfresort.com.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability