From a girlie trip to the Algarve to ut-price B&B at Mount Juliet, JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers
DEAL OF THE WEEK: Festive nights in Salzburg: from €618
The Alps around Salzburg are covered in snow at this time of year, and in its old town the Austrian city is busy with carol singing, concerts and Christmas markets (above) selling gingerbread, chocolate and handmade toys and crafts. Interhome has a week in an apartment close to the old town square from €618 for seven nights for four sharing. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) fly to Salzburg from Dublin. 1850-929340, interhome.ie.
Home deals
2 nights in Glens of Antrim: €75
The Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coast should be high on everyone's list of places in Ireland to visit.
When you can stay in a hotel for two nights for €75pps - including dinner one night - it could make for a very reasonably priced short break. The Londonderry Arms Hotel, in Carnlough, is ideally located for exploring the north Antrim coast. The offer is available for arrivals from Monday to Thursday next week. 048-28885255, glensofantrim.com.
Newgrange talk and stay: €95
Are you interested in the winter solstice, a month from today? If so, you might also be interested in an event at Newgrange Lodge, in Donore, Co Meath, the day before. Irish-American author Martin Brennan, who helped to change how we look at our Stone Age monuments, will be speaking about his research into ancient astronomical alignments at the Boyne Valley Revision, a conference it is hosting.
Tickets cost €65; stay overnight from €30pps. 041-9882478, newgrangelodge.com.
Waterford break: from €129
It's unusual enough to stay in an old castle, but Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort adds an extra dimension to a visit by being located on a private island. It's offering midweek one-night stays, including dinner prepared by chef Michael Quinn, for €129pps. You can extend the break to two nights for an extra €40pps. Waterford Castle also has self-catering lodges, which sleep up to six people, for
€200 per night midweek. 051-878203, waterfordcastle.com.
Mount Juliet: from €69
Mount Juliet, in Co Kilkenny, has probably never been better value. It's offering B&B from €69pps midweek or from €79pps at weekends. It also has a weekend package of two nights in Club House rooms, with breakfast and dinner in Kendals French brasserie, from €175pps.
Book activities in advance for 20 per cent off. 056-7773000, mountjuliet.ie.
Overseas deals
Algarve his and hers: from €205
Oceânico Resorts has seven-day golf trips to its new Villa Baia resort, in the Algarve in Portugal, from €250pps, including three rounds. Or, for the girls, it has a three-night stay at the Estrella de la Luz resort with three Elemis beauty treatments from €205pps. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies to Faro from Dublin, Belfast and Cork. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from Dublin and Shannon. 01-6177967, oceanicoresorts. com.
London rooms: from €91
Base2Stay, in Earls Court in London, has rooms for up to four people, with kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi and, during January, 10 per cent off. £81-£199 (€91-€225) per night. 00-44- 20-72442255, base2stay.com.
Scandinavia: from €59 each way
Scandinavian Airlines has fares from Dublin to Oslo from €59 each way until December 15th - or book a return to Stockholm from €79 each way until New Year's Eve and get a Stockholm Card for free public transport and entrance to museums. Hotels.com has three nights for two at many hotels. flysas.ie.
Australian flights: from €696
Joe Walsh Tours is offering flights to Australia with Malaysia Airlines, going via Kuala Lumpur, from €696. Book before November 30th for travel between March 1st and June 15th next year. joewalshtours.ie.
Canaries week: from €249
Direct Holidays has a week in Fuerteventura from December 6th or 13th from €249. A week in Lanzarote costs from €289, or spend a week in Gran Canaria from €299. 0818-200110, directholidays.ie.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability