From South Africa after the World Cup to a stay-and-dine deal at the Tannery,
JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers
HOME DEALS:
Castle’s Michelin deal: €199
A meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant is a good reason to come to Dublin. Clontarf Castle’s two-night break includes dinner at Fahrenheit, the hotel’s restaurant, and at Oliver Dunne’s one-star Bon Appétit, in Malahide. The price of €199pps includes transfers. 01-8534327, clontarfcastle.ie.
Romantic lodge weekend: €299
The Irish Landmark Trust’s newest property, Batty Langley Lodge, on a quiet country lane in Castletown, Co Kildare, is now taking bookings. Sleeping just two, it could be the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Its opening offer is €299 for weekends. 01-6704733, bookings@irishlandmark.com.
3 nights in Dublin 5-star: €318 for 2
The Conrad Dublin may be 20 years open, but its weekend package is at more like 1990 prices. Three nights’ B&B costs from €318 for two. During the summer the five-star hotel will be holding barbecue nights at Alfies Bar Grill. 01-6028900, conraddublin.com.
Tannery stay and dine: €140
With the Second Helpings offer at the Tannery Townhouse and Restaurant in Dungarvan, every second weekend in May, June and July you can stay two nights and on one evening have a full à la carte dinner, with no menu restrictions, for €140pps. 058-45420, tannery.ie.
Connemara art break: €660 for 2
On the three-day painting break at the Twelve Hotel, in Connemara, local artist Geraldine Folan will help you record your stay in the west. Three nights’ B&B, one dinner, two packed lunches and two days of classes costs €480pp or €660 per couple. 091-597000, thetwelvehotel.ie.
Mayo golfing getaway: €299
Mount Falcon, in Co Mayo, has two nights with one dinner and three rounds of golf at Rosses Point, Carne, Enniscrone or Belmullet. €299pps. 096-74472, mountfalcon.com.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Golf in Cornwall: from €330
Ever thought of golfing in Cornwall? It’s much closer than you think, with flights from Dublin and Cork to Newquay on airsouthwest.com. This month Cornish Horizons has discounts on modern self-catering accommodation near Mawgan Porth Bay, with free golf at Merlin Golf Club. A week’s accommodation for two will cost from £283 (about €330). 00-44-1841-533331, cornishhorizons.co.uk.
South Africa: fares from €651
As soon as the World Cup is over, hotel rates in South Africa will plummet – and Tourafrica has some good deals. Airfares from Dublin start at €651, including taxes; hotels in Cape Town cost from €39pps. 01-8173500, tourafrica.ie.
Surf in Portugal: from €477
If you’re looking for something to do together, how about learning to surf in Portugal? Arrive in Faro and you will be transferred to the four-star Villa Galé Hotel in Lagos for a week’s stay with five days of tuition. From €477pps. 01-4822828, surfholidays.com.
Chelsea stay: rooms from €170
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is on from May 25th to 29th. The Sloane Square Hotel, a short walk away, has rooms from £147 (about €170) per night. 00-44-20-78969988, sloanesquarehotel.co.uk.
Canaries week: from €199
Topflight has a three-day sale from Tuesday. A week in Gran Canaria costs from €199, Lanzarote from €229, Majorca from €279, the Algarve from €289 or half-board in Sorrento from €489. All plus taxes. 1890-240170, topflight.ie.
Lufthansa sale: book by Tuesday
Book by Tuesday for flights next January and February to Mexico from €449 and Sao Paulo from €499, going via Frankfurt. lufthansa.com.
DEAL OF THE WEEK:
5 nights in Prague: down to €399
CSA Czech Airlines, which returns to its Dublin-Prague route this summer, has teamed up with Abbey Travel to offer trips to the Czech Republic’s beautiful capital. A five-night package, with flights, taxes, hotel and half-day city tour, has been reduced from €599 to €399pps. You can leave any Sunday between May 23rd and September 26th. 01-8047100, abbeytravel.ie.
* Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability