JOAN SCALESbrings you best the details of the best travel deals on offer
Deal of the week
Combine a trip to Las Vegas with exploring the scenery of Nevada, Colorado and Utah. American Sky has a package that includes three days in Vegas and one night each in four national parks, including Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde and Bryce Canyon. The price from €799pps includes flights, accommodation, car hire and taxes for travel between January to March. See americansky.ie or tel 01-8077997.
Away
BOOK WITH Sunway by December 14th for a selection of long haul holiday offers, flying with Air France or KLM during January to March. Five nights in Dubai from €1,029pps; a week in Dominican Republic from €1,155pps; Cuba all-in from €1,275pps; two-centre South Africa with game drives from €1,685pps; and safari in the Masai Mara from €2,310pps. Tel: 01-2886828 or sunway.ie.
THE 2011 Panorama Holidays brochure is out and early bookers for family holidays can enjoy both the couple’s discount and free child places. A week in July at Aqualand Resort, Corfu costs €2,659; or a week in Gouves Park, Crete is from €2,209, for four – both are all-in resorts. Tel: 0818-202020 or panoramaholidays.ie.
IF YOU haven’t had enough snow here, then you can find a lot more in Norway from January to March when SAS will be flying to Oslo four times a week. Book between December 7th and 9th for fares from €59 each way, including taxes and 23kg baggage allowance. See flysas.ie.
GRAB SOME sun in Egypt before Christmas. A week in Sharm el-Sheikh on December 9th or 16th from Dublin costs from €414pps. Or two weeks in Lanzarote from December 12th from Shannon is from €699pps. Tel: 1850- 453545 or falconholidays.ie.
Home
GO TO the dogs this month in Shelbourne Park and the Herbert Park Hotel will include tickets, overnight accommodation and parking for €59.50pps. Or instead of the dogs you could enjoy a glass of prosecco and canapés along with an overnight stay. Tel: 01-6672200 or herbertparkhotel.ie.
RING IN the New Year with a selection of special deals. In Galway the Radisson Blu (tel 091-538300) will celebrate 10 years with a big ball, dinner and entertainment – two nights from €270pps. For a less frenetic event, the Twelve Hotel at Bearna (091-597000) will have champagne and a six-course dinner – two nights from €250pps.
IN KERRY, Parknasilla Resort (tel 064-6675600) will have a new year gala dinner, brunch and fun for all the family from €299pps and €155 for children. The Old Ground in Ennis (tel 065-6828127) will provide great value with the best of Clare food and entertainment – two nights from €165pps.
THE IRISH Landmark Trust has some very special prices this month. Weekends or midweek stays in romantic Salterbridge Gatelodge in Waterford, from €150. Or how about Fermanagh and the Triumphal Arch Gatelodge from £125 (about €145). Tel: 01-6704733 or e-mail bookings@irishlandmark.com.
TAKE TO the bed in the Shelbourne Hotel for €99pps with breakfast. Children under 12 stay with breakfast free, until January 2nd. Tel: 01-6634500 or theshelbourne.ie.
RACING STARTS early for the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and if you stay over you can walk or take the shuttle to the racecourse. Hotels.com has deals in Bewleys Leopardstown from €61 per room per night and in the Stillorgan Park Hotel from €77 per room per night. Tel: 1800 553338.
THE CONNEMARA Coast Hotel is celebrating 25 years in business next year with a number of rooms each night at €25pps for BB during January – May and October to December. Tel: 091-592108 or connemaracoast.ie.