From a lyrical tour of Morocco to chocolate decadence in Co Donegal,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's deals
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Escape to Jersey: from €310
The Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, in Jersey, hopes to entice you with two three-day packages. Its Active Island offer includes rock-climbing, kayaking, abseiling, surfing or windsurfing; its Island Discovery deal includes a walking tour. Both also include BB, a dinner and a Jersey Pass. From £280pps (about €310). Aer Lingus flies from Dublin and Cork. Flybe flies from Dublin and Belfast. 00-44-1534-671100, radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-jersey.
HOME DEALS
Easter at Lough Eske: €400 for 2
If you fancy breaking your Lenten fast in style on Easter Sunday, Solís Lough Eske Castle, in Co Donegal, has what sounds like a pretty decadent chocolate buffet. See how many of the chocolate desserts, cakes, cookies, truffles and ice cream you can eat for €12 for adults and €6 for children. Three-night stays over Easter start at €400 per couple, including breakfast. 074-9725100, solislougheskecastle.ie.
Dublin and the dogs: €109 for 2
Go to the dogs when you stay at the Herbert Park Hotel, in Dublin’s Ballsbridge. Over Easter a night at the hotel, with breakfast in bed until noon and tickets for Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium, about 15 minutes’ walk away, costs €109 for two. 01-6672200, reservations@herbertpark hotel.ie.
Sligo golf base: from €175
If you’re thinking of spending Easter at the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, at County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point, you could stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel Spa in Sligo from €175pps for three nights. 071-9140008, radissonblu.ie/hotel-sligo.
Longueville deal: from €110
Longueville House, near Mallow in Co Cork, reopens for the season this weekend. It has midweek overnight stays with dinner, bed and breakfast from €110pps. It also does Sunday lunch from €39 for three courses. 022-47156, longuevillehouse.ie.
Family Wexford: from €275 for 4
You can go out on the course or just lounge in the leisure centre while the children are entertained by a variety of activities at Seafield Golf Spa Hotel, in Co Wexford, over Easter. Family deals of two nights’ accommodation in a two-bedroom suite cost from
€275, or three-bedroom suites from €350. 053- 9424000, seafieldhotel.com.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Tour Morocco: from €1,050
You can join Rachel Blech, presenter of RTÉ Lyric FM's Magic Carpetprogramme, for a week in Morocco. Departing on April 14th, the group will visit souks, heritage sites, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara. From €1,050pps, including most meals. 01-4407477, zarasplanet.ie.
End of season skiing: from €295
End-of-season ski deals include free lessons and an activity club for children over Easter with Highlife.ie (01-6771100); prices from €945 for adults and €770 for children. Or €300 off half- board ski holidays in Andorra with Directski.com (1890- 201205). Topflight has short ski breaks in Norway from €295pps (1890-240170, top flight.ie). And Crystal has half board in Austria from €569. (01-4331010, crystalski.ie).
All-in Cuba: from €1,086
Travelmood, formerly known as Tropical Places, has seven nights in Cuba in June all-inclusive, at the Iberostar Tainos resort, from €1,086pps. 01-4331040, travelmood.ie, reference 46144.
Student surf and French: €1,199
Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year students can learn how to surf from members of the Irish team, and have one-to-one French tuition, at a summer camp in France in June. Running for 11 or 14 days, it costs from €1,199, plus a €50 discount for Irish Timesreaders. frenchandsurf.com.
Dublin-Budapest by air: €129
Malev Hungarian Airlines restarts its Dublin-Budapest route on March 28th with an introductory fare of €129, including all taxes and a 23kg luggage allowance. malev.com.
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability