From a wine-producing chateau in France to gardening weekends in Connemara, JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's deals
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Indian Ocean week: from €1,269
Sri Lanka’s Jetwing Lighthouse hotel promises top-notch rooms, food and service in a tranquil setting by the southern tip of the island. The grounds include a hammock garden that looks out over the Indian Ocean. Tropicalsky has an offer of seven nights for the price of six, plus an upgrade to half-board and flights via
Abu Dhabi with Etihad, from €1,269 per person sharing. 01-5262566 or 068-56800, tropicalsky.ie.
OVERSEAS DEALS
Chateau break: 10% off nights
France’s Château Soussac winery and hotel, an hour from Bordeaux, is offering guests from Ireland 10 per cent off room rates of €62pps. It has arranged the same discount for dining at the chic Café Opera
at Bordeaux’s Grand-Théâtre. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) resumes its Dublin-Bordeaux flights on March 28th, so
this could be a perfect spring break. 00-33-5-56613154, chateau-soussac.com.
Algarve golf week: from €460
If you like the idea of golfing in the Algarve, Rio Arade manor house has a package this month and next of four rounds of golf and seven nights’ BB from €460pps. 00-351-282-423202, info@rioarade.com.
Ski Méribel: €309 self-catering
Keep meaning to sort out a week’s skiing? Directski has a half-price offer to Méribel, in France, from February 20th. It costs €309pps self-catering, based on four sharing. Book
by 2pm on Thursday. 1890-201205, Directski.com.
Club Med Easter: from €3,938 for 4
Hammamet, in Tunisia, and Agadir, in Morocco, are hosting this year’s Club Med Easter family breaks, which include flights, accommodation, all meals and activities. Two adults and two children from €3,938 for Agadir and €4,526 for Tunisia. 01-2886828, sunway.ie.
Irish Show Cruise: from €999
Booking has opened for the nine-day Irish Show Cruise to Gibraltar in November. Sailing from Dublin on Fred Olsen Line’s Boudicca, it features Philomena Begley, May McFettridge, Robert Mizzell and more. From €999pps. 01-5530100, cruise118.com.
HOME DEALS
Morgan birthday offer: €55
To mark its 10th birthday, the Morgan Hotel in Dublin’s Temple Bar is selling rooms for €55pps, including breakfast and a complimentary Morgan Bubble birthday cocktail, until March 31st. 01-6437000, themorgan.com.
Wicklow stay and play: €75
Tulfarris Hotel and Golf Resort, near Blessington in Co Wicklow, is offering a night’s accommodation for €59pps, including dinner in the Lime Tree restaurant and full breakfast. A two-night deal, with dinner one evening, costs €99pps. Or you can throw in a round of golf, and eat instead in Adrian’s Bar, for €75pps for one night. 045-867600, tulfarris.com.
Faithlegg House Hotel Golf Club, in Co Waterford, is selling two-night breaks with dinner one evening from €85pps.
It also has self-catering accommodation for four nights from €179. 051-382000, faithlegg.com.
Garden in Galway: from €310
Where better to learn the art of gardening, or even improve your existing skills, than in a beautiful garden? Cashel House Hotel, in Connemara, is the venue for a series of gardening weekends from March 5th. The first course is on preparing and planning a vegetable garden, with Ciarán Burke of the Royal Horticultural Society- accredited Garden School. Prices start at €310, including two nights’ full board, seminars and some hands-on experience. 095-31001, cashel-house-hotel.com.
Kinsale painting weekend: €260
Kinsale, in Co Cork, might be just the place to feel inspired to make seascapes on a painting weekend. Local artist Louise McKeon will be teaching the course, from March 5th to 7th at the Trident Hotel. The price of €270pps includes two nights’ accommodation, two dinners, packed lunches and tuition. 021-4779300, info@tridenthotel.com.
Please bear in mind that all deals are subject to availability