Travel Bag: We check out the deals so you don’t have to

Italian legends

Celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan next year with a special experience provided by Baglioni Hotel Carlton. The hotel has created a guided tour for guests, allowing visitors to retrace the artist and inventor's steps, from seeing his masterpiece The Last Supper to stopping off at his little-known vineyard at Casa Atellani. Book the tour from €360 for two people at baglionihotels.com.

Feel-good holidays  A new travel website

helps travellers book their escapes while also raising valuable funds for thousands of charitable causes. Charitable Bookings donates 30 per cent of the commission it receives on all hotel bookings back to the customer, where they can give a chosen percentage to a charity, so you can do good while holidaying. Visit charitablebookings.com for more.

Tall tales  This weekend sees the seventh annual Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival take place in the

south Kerry village. Expect storytellers from America and across Ireland, entertainment from singer/songwriter and yarn-spinner John Spillane, a Story Swap Session and music from The Young Tellers Concert plus plenty more across Saturday 10th and Sunday November 11th. See sneemstorytellingfestival.com for the full line-up.

Alaska by

sea

Explore Alaska with The Travel Department's cruise, beginning with a two-night stay in Seattle. Then, on board the Norwegian Pearl, you'll explore Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan, as well as a stop in the Canadian city of Victoria on the return journey. Prices start from €3,499 including return flights from Dublin, transfers, pre-and post-cruise b&b hotel accommodation in Seattle, seven-night all-inclusive cruise with Ultimate Beverage Package and guided Seattle city tour, departing September 6th, 2019. For bookings, call 01 637 1600 or visit traveldepartment.ie.