TRAVEL
Home and Away ANOTHER new survey has shown that holidays are almost the last thing most people will give up in the current difficult financial climate. More than half (59 per cent) said that even if they had to cut back on spending , their main annual holiday would be the last thing they would give up. Eighty-eight per cent of those surveyed would not choose holidays as a primary area to cut spending. I would suggest opting for 10 or 11 night breaks as opposed to 14 which will save on the wallet but still give you enough time to relax. It’s also worth remembering that some companies may be at risk of going bust, so make sure your travel agent is fully bonded and consider paying on a credit card as this can offer extra protection for your finances if something goes wrong. Bookings to Egypt and Tur-
key are up by nearly a third for this summer, bucking an overall market decline of 11 per cent. The summer performance of the two destinations mirrors their results this winter, when Turkey was up 44 per cent and Egypt 30 per cent, against an overall decline of 7 per cent, according to latest figures Together Egypt and Turkey accounted for 12 per cent of winter 2008/09 holidays and 16 per cent of summer.
Holiday Hotspot Holidaymakers across the island of Ireland can take advantage of some fantastic offers as part of VisitScotlands White campaign, which runs until the end of March.
The promotion which includes accommodation offers of three night stays for £99 per person. Scotland is famed for its incredible sights, great outdoors, history, heritage, wildlife and fantastic shopping. Dublin, Belfast, Knock and City of Derry airports are all serving Scotland with daily flights or if you prefer the comforts of your own car, ports at Dublin, Larne and Belfast city facilitate numerous daily crossings. See www.visitscotland.com
Shannon Region hotels is offering a fantastic deal of three nights for the price of two from as little as €79pps. ■ Lillehammer Sk You can book iing. direct on www. ShortBreaksIreland.ie or you can contact the Limerick Tourist Information such as France, Office Arthur’s Quay, Limer- Italy, Spain, Denmark, Belick on 061 317522 for fur- gium, Croatia, and Germany ther information. Offer ends to name but a few. French Holiday Centre has someMarch 30. thing to suit the whole famVisit www.vansoleil.ie for Home and Away Extra ily. more details or to book your The French Holiday Cen- camping holiday today. tre, in conjunction with VaRobert Walshe is a freecanSoleil, offer a huge range lance contributor / broadof choice with campsites in caster to travel publications over 319 parks across 15 dif- and radio programmes ferent European countries across Ireland and the UK.
■ Shannon Cruising.
Weekly Best Buy
■ Shannon beaches
Living
wicklownews 45
TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2009
Belfast Fashion Week kicks off this month and The Culloden Estate and Spa or The Europa Hotel are offering “Diva “ specials from £60 and £47.50 pps sharing. See www. hastingshotels.com Shannon Development together with a number of
■ Ice Hotel Lillehammer.
with Robert Walshe
Weekend Hotspot
Scandinavia’s “Ice Hotel” is the attraction of early 2009 at Lillehammer’s Hunderfossen Winter Park. More than 100 trucks loaded with snow and about 50 tonnes of ice have been used to build and decorate the Ice Hotel, which is situated in the middle of the Hunderfossen Winterpark, just North of Lillehammer town. The Ice Hotel has 7 rooms made completely out of ice (22 beds). The hotel also has an Ice Bar and an Ice Cathedral seating 100 people. This can be used for weddings, concerts and exhibitions. Room temperature varies from -3 to -7 degrees Celsius. We were given thermal sleeping bags on top of animal skin rugs to keep us warm throughout the night. The Ice Hotel is managed by the Quality Hotel & Resort and a ski holiday to the nearby Hafjell resort is the perfect combination. Scandinavian Airlines fly four times a week direct from Dublin to Oslo from as little as €90 one way including taxes and charges. Train transfers run daily from Oslo airport to Lillehammer town and take two hours.