GO FOR
LESS: CIE Tours International is offering a 50% travel
agency discount on any of its 25 guaranteed escorted tours
departing between Nov. 1 and Dec. 14. The offer applies to the
land-only price and is applicable to a travel agent and traveling
companion (one room per agency). For travel any other time, the
standard 30% agent discount applies to land-only tour prices. The
discount will be applied on receipt of a 2005 Iatan or CLIA card or
list, and full payment is required at time of booking. For more
information, call (800) CIE-TOUR or visit www.cietours.com.
TOP DIGS: New $122 million luxury hotel The
Heritage at Killenard opened in Killenard, County Laois, with 98
bedrooms, 15 suites, three penthouse Presidential Suites, and
conferencing and banqueting facilities for up to 500. The hotel is
located at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains 40 miles from
Dublin, just off the Dublin-Cork road and minutes from the new M7
highway. The development also includes a championship golf course;
a 37,000-sqare-foot health club and spa with 20 treatment rooms; a
pub and restaurant called The Thatch; and high-end residential
properties. Call (011) 353-5 024-5500 or visit www.theheritage.com.
THE JURYS INN: Jurys Doyle Hotels is offering
rates from about $84 per night at its new 4-star Jurys Croke Park
Hotel, opening in Dublin on Sept. 8. The 232-room property is the
first to showcase the chain's new 4-star concept, which attempts to
address the needs of both business and leisure travelers. Book
online at www.jurysdoyle.com/bnsl.
IRISH WEB FAX: Irish culture Web site
Ireland-Fun-Facts.com launched a premium subscription service
called Irish Crossings for Americans. For an annual fee of $24,
subscribers get access to an archive of travel- and culture-related
articles about Ireland, as well as e-mail updates about new
stories. Articles in August include stories on the island of
Inishbofin; the Bilberry Sunday summer festival; one-day layovers
in Dublin; and classic tourist draws such as Blarney Castle and the
Guinness Brewery. Irish Crossings membership is available at a
discount of $10 through Sept. 15; afterwards, the cost rises to the
full $24 rate. For more information, visit www.ireland-fun-facts.com.