From touring historic Egypt to West End shows,
JOAN SCALESrounds up the week's best offers
HOMES DEALS
Harry Potter offer in Clare
The country is going Harry Potter mad, especially as some scenes from the latest film were shot in Co Clare. Visit Clare and see where it all happened. The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis has a family deal that includes tickets to the film, two nights’ accommodation and dinner one night for €159 for adults and €79 for children sharing. 065-6828127, www.flynnhotels.com.
IKEA hotel rates: from €39
IKEA is coming to Dublin on Monday and you can make a day and night of your visit with the “flat-pack rate” at the Travelodge in Ballymum. To welcome IKEA to the area it is selling rooms for €39 per night. 01-8422000, www.travelodge.ie.
Two-city stays: from €250pps
Explore Ireland on a two cities, four nights, two dinners, two attractions deal. That is what’s on offer from the Limerick Strand Hotel, the Harbour Hotel in Galway and the Hilton Kilmainham, Dublin. The four-night break costs €250pps. Discounts for children. Book by email on sales@harbour.ie.
Nore cottage: from €850pw
Spend a week on the banks of the Nore, Kilkenny. River Cottage has three bedrooms and is beautifully fitted out. The rate for August has been cut from €1,050 to €850 per week. 087-2885557, www.vrbo.com/228508.
Dinner and BB: from €290
Experience a real Italian farmers market on August 2nd at Brooklodge Hotel in Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow. The mayor and villagers from Armento, southern Italy, will bring their produce to the market. Make a day and night of it and stay over and have dinner in the Strawberry Tree restaurant from €290 for dinner and BB for two. 0402-36444, www.brooklodge.com.
Kerry houses: from €420pw
The bargains are getting better now that August is approaching and, while most coastal properties are gone for the first two weeks, there are bargains inland. Trident Holiday Homes has discounts on houses that sleep eight in Killarney, down from €990 to €594, and houses for five, down from €700 to €420. 01-2018440, www.tridentholidayhomes.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS
West End show: from €113pps
The king of pop may have passed away but the music still goes on. The show, Thriller Live, celebrates his music and has been taking the West End by storm. Show tickets and overnight accommodation are available from Keith Prowse from €113pps. 01-8783500, www.keithprowse.com.
Tour Scotland: from €895pps
Explore the highlights of Scotland on a tour. Starting in Edinburgh, the trip visits Loch Lomond, Fort William, Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Iona and the Isle of Skye. From €895pps for a seven-day tour with flights from Dublin or Cork. 01-8783116, www.maptravel.ie.
Historic Egypt: from €696
A trip to Egypt from The Classic Traveller includes a four-night cruise on the River Nile visiting historic sites and two nights in Cairo to see the pyramids. It costs from £599 (€693) per person, including most meals, travelling on August 17th or 24th from London Gatwick. 00-44-1293-789215, www.theclassictraveller.co.uk.
NY hotels: third night free
Explore New York city and state with third-night-free deals in 250 hotels, until September 7th. Check www.iloveny.com.
Paris break: from €334pps
City breaks are great value this summer with Lastminute.com. Visit Paris for three nights midweek, staying in well located hotels, including Le Chat Noir, Grand Hotel Dore, the Pullman Tour Eiffel and Pavillon de Paris. From €334 to €410pps. www.lastminute.com.
Thailand offer: from €999pps
Two weeks for the price of one at the five-star Dusit Resort in Pattaya, Thailand, costs from €999pps on selected dates in September with Tropical Sky. 01-5262566, www.tropicalsky.ie.
Portugal wine tour: from €1,099
Tour the wine regions of Portugal in style by staying in historic Pousadas. A seven- night self-drive tour will include four visits to wineries. Trip includes Evora, Santarem, Beja, Obidos, Lisbon and the Algarve. Prices from €1,099 include flights, car hire and accommodation. 1890-240170, www.topflight.ie.
Malev flight sale: from €99
Malev Hungarian Airline’s four-day sale from July 30th has flights to Budapest from €99, Larnaca and Prague from €149 for travel between August 30th and October 24th.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Short stays in the US: from less than €500
November and December are the key times to visit America, fares are low, hotels love your business and there are bargains in shopping. Trailfinders has deals to five American cities for under €500, including taxes, for either three or four nights including flights. Stay at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Holiday Inn Gateway in San Francisco, Courtyard by Marriott in Boston, Essex Inn in Chicago (above) and Courtyard by Marriott in Orlando. Book by August 17th for travel between November 1st and December 14th. 01-8814994, 021-4648860, www.trailfinders.ie
Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability