Great ESCAPES

SIDEWAYS IN NEW YORK:

As sure as the festive season will be frantic, January will feel dark and desolate. But you can banish those blues long before they start with a five-night stay in the five-star W New York with its inimitable Manhattan kind of cool. You could turn it into an east coast Sideways- style odyssey at the Pinot Days festival ($75, Jan.1718) where you can taste 100 pinot noirs. If you prefer the grain, the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival on Jan. 24 may appeal more. The trip costs €855pps and includes return Aer Lingus flights. See Clickandgo.com.

BE QUICK: If you fancy a week in the sun at cut-price rates, you’re sure to find something to suit in Sunway’s sale. But you had better be quick as it ends at midnight tonight. Included in the sale are seven nights in Morocco from €269, the Canary Islands from €299, Tunisia (in April) from €349 and Turkey (in April) from €399. Prices are per person based on two adults sharing. See sunway.ie for a full list of offers.

WHITE CHRISTMAS: Book now to save up to €300 on a seven-night ski holiday departing on December 20 or 21 with Crystal Ski Holidays. Prices start from €435pp for a self-catering week in Arinsal in Andorra (based on four sharing). Other destinations include Brides les Bains in France and Sestriere in Italy. B&B options are available in Rauris, Austria, and Livigno, Italy from €565pp based on two sharing. See crystalski.ie or call (01) 433 1055.

RHYTHMISADANCER:

Start your mambo/rumba/ salsa lessons now and you’ll take Havana by storm next year on Cuba Travel’s 10 all-inclusive nights offer for €1,489pp. Stay three nights in Havana and seven on the beach in Varadero. See cubatravel.ie or call (01) 241 2340.