Cityjet's new service to East Midlands airport started last week and they are offering an introductory fare of £40 return based on two people travelling together. East Midlands is located right in the heart of and serves many of the Midland cities such as Nottingham, Derby, Coventry, Leicester and Stoke-on-Trent. Book it with your local travel agent. Another new service which started this month is Air Russia to Moscow from Shannon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fares start at £219 return.
During the summer six airports in Ireland have direct connections to Cork, Dublin, Galway, Shannon, Knock and Waterford. Local travel agents have details of flights and packages. Most packages to Jersey are in hotels and are reasonably priced for half board stays.
There are few desirable properties that can accommodate a large group of friends or extended family and when I come across one I immediately daydream about who would I like to invite to spend a week with me. One such property is in , near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. The house, with 10 bedrooms and seven bathrooms has lots of old world charm, and sleeps 19. It is close to Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Stratford-upon-Avon and Gloucestershire and costs £1,200 per week high season and £1,060 low season. You can see it on the Internet at www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/pages/doc01158.htm or phone Stuart Canty at 00 44 1608 641435 for more details.
It looks like the biggest American Independence Weekend events will be in Dun Laoghaire again this year. Entertainment will include a carnival all week, cruises around Dublin Bay, and on the 4th there will be a wagon train, parade, regatta during the day and in the evening a barbeque and Barn Dance at Carlisle Pier followed by a spectacular fireworks display. University of Ulster's summer programme of talks, tours and residencies is a great way to see and learn about a wide range of subjects in a relaxed format. Weekends include a visit to Tory Island, Gardens of Dublin, a literary and archaeological tour of Sligo, Galway, the Burren and West Clare. Tour themes include, the kingdom of Dalriada, the Vampire's Trail, Roaming Round Rathlin, and Ballymoney in 1798 to name a few. The lectures all take place in the Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart and themes include the Vikings in Ireland, the last Czar, wines from the countryside, Ulster dialects and birds of the North Coast. You can obtain a programme from (080) 1265 324145 or Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Nassau Street, Dublin 2, 1850 230 230.
Special offers this month from American Express cardholders includes a third night bed and breakfast free when you book two nights at the station House hotel in Clifden 1850 377000. Two nights cost £79 per person until end July. Diners Club offers card members a three-day break at Rathkeale House Hotel, Co Limerick, three nights bed, breakfast and dinner for £135 per person, (069) 63333, until end August.