New route to sun in Murcia Holiday snaps
THE best way of avoiding tourist traps is to do like the locals and go where they go. Among the Spaniards’ favourite destinations is Murcia in south-east Spain. It has 315 days of sunshine a year with average temperatures of 19C and Aer Lingus has opened up a new route to Murcia from March 27-October 29 so more Irish can enjoy its mixture of quaint towns, culture, food, wine, golf and diving. Oh... and the world’s first submarine.
ABOVE the water Royal Caribbean International has released its 2017 preview brochure. It’s key itineraries are •Jewel of the Seas – new Western Mediterranean sailings from Rome, •Vision of the Seas – new sailings from Amsterdam plus new Western Europe sailings •Independence of the Seas – new Northern Europe sailings including new port Rotterdam •Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas – new seven-night adventures that bring the awe-inspiring Alaskan seascape to life. Savings include: €240 per stateroom for Interior & Oceanview staterooms on 69 night itineraries, €360 per stateroom for Interior & Oceanview staterooms on 10+ night itineraries, €360 per stateroom for balcony staterooms on 6-9 night itineraries, €600 per stateroom for balcony staterooms on 10+ night itineraries, €720 per stateroom for suite category staterooms on 6-9 night itineraries, €1,200 per stateroom for suite category staterooms on 10+ night itineraries. Book before May 2. Contact www.royalcaribbean.ie.
DON’T put all your eggs in one basket this Easter... Snaps found these offers. J Barter Travel’s city break in Rome for seven nights, March 31 from €344 pps or €1448 per family, staying in a 4* hotel with return flights. Or a couples deal at the 4* Mercure Roma West Hotel, ex Dublin from €344 pp. There is a family deal (two adults and two kids) at the 4* Park Hotel Dei Massimi, ex Dublin from €1448 per family. Visit: http://itaa. ie/2016/03/02/easter-rome/. Castle-hop along the Rhine through France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, with Uniworld who are offering eight days, March 20, discount price of €1930pps down from €3148. The trip includes visits to historic Cologne and Strasbourg. It ends in Basle where you can take a bike trip of the city. Visit The Travel Corporation http://itaa.ie/2016/03/01/castles-therhine/. Talking of the water. See Budapest and the Danube. Take four nights from €229pp. Inc: Return flights ex. Dublin, four nights’ accommodation on a room-only basis. Travel: 21st March or five nights in Vilamoura from €114pp. Price includes: Return flights ex. Dublin, five nights’ accommodation on a self-catering basis. Travel: 27th March. Visit GoHop.ie or call GoHop.ie on (01) 2412389.
OF course, this Easter is all about Dublin and the Shelbourne Hotel has come up trumps with this overnight package. If you’re stomping the streets taking in everything 1916 you might be glad of a bit of R&R in the Shelbourne spa which includes swimming pool, gym, fitness suite, steam room and sauna. An overnight package from €260.00 per room, room only is available midweek from March 20-March 31. For bookings and enquires call (01) 6634500 or book online at www. TheShelbourne.ie.
THERE’S still snow on the mountains to be had... so get your skis on. Crystal Ski Holidays is offering these last-minute offers. Italy – Depart 13th March. Spend 7 nights at the 3* Planibel Apartments, La Thuile, on a self-catering basis, from €316pp (based on four sharing). Andorra – Depart 13th March. Spend seven nights at the 2* Manzano Apartments, Pas de la Casa, on a self-catering basis, from €335pp (based on four sharing). France - Depart 12th March. Spend seven nights at the 3* Plagne Lauze Apartments, Plagne, on a self-catering basis, from €381pp (based on four sharing). Call (01) 4331080 or visit www. crystalski.ie.
SO we’ve established you’re an adventurous type... but maybe just want a family hiking holiday with tobogganing and a cable car ride. Topflight is offering seven nights pps for €779 at the Hotel Sonnenburg in Ehrwald, Austria. Rooms sleep 2-5. Inc. return flights from Dublin, return transfers by luxury coach, seven nights half-board, seven days’ ZTicket, guided family friendly hikes Monday-to Friday, unlimited use of the postbus and summerbus and 20kg bag allowance on flight. Phew, let’s take a breather here. The Z-Ticket includes a cable car ride to the top of Germany and the Zugspitze Glacier, use of the main gondolas/chairlifts in Ehrwald, Lermoos, Biberwier, Berwang & Bichlbach, a boat trip on Lake Heiterwang, use of the outdoor swimming pools, indoor centre and swimming lake, summer toboggan run in Biberwier once a day, an hour per day use of the indoor tennis court, 1 x round of minigolf each day and a 1 x mountain scooter run. If that’s not enough Topflight is also offering an optional excursion to Legoland on the Wednesday. Topflight has a 50% child discount for the dates available, July 3, 17 and 31. So it’s only €365 for kids under 15, based on sharing a room with two fullpaying adults. Call Topflight on (01) 2401753 or visit topflight.ie.
BACK to thrill- seeking, ever wanted to put your head in a cobra’s mouth? Busch Gardens Tampa Bay completed construction on the two highest points of Cobra’s Curse this week and it opens this summer. It weighs more than 13,000 kgs and has a 70ft vertical lift that will take riders within inches of its 4ft-long fangs. The 3-Park SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens Ticket offers 14 days unlimited entry to three parks for the price of two – SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando AND Busch Gardens Tampa – when guests book and visit before December 31. Prices start from €123 per adult and €119 per child. Customers with a three-Park SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens also get free parking at all parks for 14 consecutive days, meaning they can come and go as they please. See SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in Florida or book tickets at www.seaworldparks.ie.