LITTLE BIT COUNTRY: Trafalgar Tours crafted a
7-night Real Ireland package that pairs stays in Dublin, Sligo,
Donegal and Waterford with countryside touring, from Nov. 1 to
April 17. Highlights include Kildare's Irish National Stud Farm,
the Blarney Stone, the Ring of Kerry, the picturesque village of
Adare, the Killarney Lake District, the Donegal Coast and Sligo
Bay. Per person, land-only prices start at $699, and land-air
prices from New York start at $1,035, double occupancy; kids'
pricing ranges from $525 to $670 per child. Agent pay is 10%. Rates
include full Irish breakfast daily, four dinners, a local guide in
Dublin, and Dublin airport transfers (on land-air packages). For
more information or to book, call Trafalgar at (800) 854-0103 or
visit www.trafalgar.com.
TOP PUBS: Thirsty clients headed to Belfast
might be directed to pop into one of a dozen area watering holes
operated by Botanic Inns, a local company recently named U.K. Pub
Company of the Year 2003 by pub trade newspaper the Publican. The
firm's award-winning establishments, ranging in ambience from
"stylish" and "premium" to "buzz" and "brash," include its flagship
Botanic Inn, The Fly, Madison's Hotel, Ryan's and The Globe--all
near Queen's University--as well as downtown digs Northern Whig,
the Apartment and McHugh's, housed in Belfast's oldest building.
For more information, visit www.botanicinns.com.
CORK FLIGHTS: Aer Lingus will launch direct
twice-weekly service from Cork Airport to three European
cities--Barcelona and Alicante, Spain, and Milan, Italy--in March,
increasing capacity to the Continent from the airport, Ireland's
third-largest, by 50%. The Irish flag carrier operates direct
flights from Cork to Paris; Amsterdam; Malaga, Spain; and London's
Heathrow. For more, visit www.aerlingus.com.
LOVE, HISTORY, MYSTERY: Sceptre Ireland offers
an 8-night Romance and History package priced from $979 per person
for departures Nov. 1 to Dec. 14. The deal includes roundtrip
airfare; two nights each in the Rockglen Hotel in Co. Galway, the
Sand House Hotel in Co. Donegal, the Everglades Hotel in Co. Derry
and the Hibernian in Co. Dublin; a Zozimus Experience
ghost/theatrical walking tour of Dublin; and a weekly car rental or
chauffeur. Agent pay is 10%. For more information, call (800)
221-0924 or visit www.sceptreireland.com.
CORRECTION: The Kingdoms and Treasures package
from Sceptre Ireland is priced from $770 per person for travel Nov.
1 through March 31. Incorrect validity dates were provided in last
week's e-letter.