Portugal Travel

Here comes the sun

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 04:06

{mosimage} January 16 2009 It may be a hard cold winter, but don't let that stop you hunting out some summer sun early-bird bargains. While we may forego luxuries such as buying a new car, vaccinating the kids or paying the heating bills, few of us are willing to give up the traditonal break to the sun. The big operators, chasing those elusive euros, have plenty of deals. The big question is when to book. If you’re going with a family, and want to guarantee that fortnight in the sun, you should book well ahead. Most of the big holiday companies are in the midst of sales so you want to get in fast to bag the best deals. If you’re single, and flexible, you can afford to wait — at your own risk. If you want to stretch your money further, the advice is to look at the likes of Turkey — the only downside is that the Brits, having taken a pounding with Sterling, will be flocking there too, so resorts should be busy. All of the majors operators have inducements to get you booking early, so shop around. Here’s my guide to seeing the sun — without it melting your wallet. Spain: Still the nation’s favourite by a long shot, it’ll be quieter this year as the British steer clear of the eurozone. Budget Travel, for instance, recently launched its €5m giveaway in early booking savings, many to the Costas and Balearic Islands. Majorca’s Ola Club Tomir apartments, for instance, come in at €3,319 for two weeks on June 20 — that’s for two adults and four children in a one-bedroom superior apartment, a saving of €430 on the brochure price. In the height of summer, two adults and two kids would get the Buensol Apartments on the Costa Del Sol for €3,219 departing August 18 for a fortnight — a €160 saving. Two adults sharing in the Holiday Hotel Palace on August 8 would get a junior suite package deal there for €1,764 — a €300 saving. The Algarve: A perennial favourite with Irish families, and Budget Travel is offering late summer deals for two adults and two children in Colina Village on September 20 for €1,009 — a €400 saving, or two weeks in Club Amarilis on the same date for €432 for a couple. Falcon has the Oasis Beach Club for a family of four, with seven nights in the first week of May for €1,714, while 14 nights costs €1,917. If you avail of the free child place, the seven-night cost is €1,505. For the first week of July, seven nights costs €2,375, 14 nights is €2,694; while one week, if you get the free child place, is €2,056. The only downside is that surveys have found Portugal to be slightly more expensive than Spain — but the beaches, and the people, are delightful. Turkey: Cheap for eating out, and with plenty of sunshine, it’s a great choice if you don’t mind the longer flight. A fortnight at the La Blanche Hotel (August 7) comes in at €1,639 — all inclusive, for two adults sharing— a €220 saving. Sunworld is offering a week at Kusadasi’s Lion Hotel, departing on June 6, for €250 per person, or the whole family can stay in the Mandarin Apartments in Bitez for €1,299 (based on two adults and two children). Sunway, meanwhile, has exclusive offers to the Irish-owned four-star Palmin Group Hotels, which comprise the Palmin Hotel, the Sea Pearl Hotel and the Palmin Sunset Plaza Hotel, located in the Ladies Beach area of Kusadasi. Summer package prices start from €323 per person for one week self catering. And Direct Holidays is offering family deals to Club Excelsior on June 14, for instance, with a week’s self catering for €1,063, based on two adults and two children. Panorama is also offering deals, and you can enjoy a week at the Hibiscus Apartments (departing June7/14) from €250, with family prices (2+2) on June 7 or 21 from €999. Bulgaria: A great choice for larger families or if you’re strapped for cash. Budget Travel is offering the Majestic Hotel (half board) for €919 per couple for a fortnight on August 24. Falcon Holidays has the Sea Dreams property for the peak first week of July for a family of four. Seven nights is €2,259, 14 nights €2,439; with free child place a week it comes in at €1,824. Falcon also has the Hotel Marvel twin BB family-of-four, off-peak in early May, with seven nights for €1,866, 14 nights €2,216; with free child place it’s €1,487 for a week. In the peak first week of July, seven nights costs €2,476, 14 nights €3,186; and with free child place the seven-night price drops to €2,067. Greece: Again, the British will be staying away this year as Sterling plummets, but while the islands aren’t as cheap as they once were, you can’t put a price on restaurants that don’t rush you and beautiful resorts where children are warmly welcomed. Sunworld has charming Zakynthos on offer, with a week in the luxurious Cavo D’Oro in Kalamaki departing May 9 for a week for €399 per person. Departing September 5, a family package (2+2) costs €1,599, Budget Travel, meanwhile, has Corfu’s Loulas Village for €1,859 for a family of four for a fortnight, departing June 5, or Crete on the same date for two adults sharing at Lyda Beach for €569. Egypt: The heat can be stifling in the summer, but it’s a great off-peak destination too, with the likes of Panorama and Direct offering year-round deals, with prices starting at around the €720 mark in May. Falcon has the Red Sea Riviera’s Tropicana Tivoli Hotel twin B&B (family of four, first week of May) for €2,196 (seven nights), 14 nights €2,396; while the week comes in at €1,737 if you get the free child place. For the first week of July, the prices are €2,596, €2,756 and €2,097. advertisement < Prev   Next >

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 October 2009 06:19