Escape to autumn sunshine: last minute holiday deals

This week we're looking mega-cheap holiday stays world-wide, trips to Liverpool for Lennon's birthday and a rake of autumn sun deals.

By Robert Carry

Ultra cheap hotel deals – expires tonight

Hotels.com is slashing up to 50 per cent off rooms in cities across the world as part of its 48 hour October sale. It kicked off the night before last at 23.01 and will run until 23.01 tonight (6 October) - so you have a matter of hours to save yourself a small fortune.

The offer includes hotels both in Ireland and abroad. Those who book before the final deadline can stay at the likes of four-star Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, for massively discounted rates. Nightly rates at the Royal Marine have been slashed by 50 per cent to €39 per night.

Rooms at the four-star Croke Park Hotel are down from €75 to €49 while the three-star Bewleys Hotel in Ballsbridge is down from €70 to €49. There are also massive price reductions in destinations such as Lisbon, San Francisco, Bali, Beijing, Cannes and Copenhagen.

Click here for more offers and booking information.

Lennon Birthday trips to Liverpool

This coming 9 October would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday and in celebration of his life a two month long cultural programme of events has been scheduled in Liverpool from October to December. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s a good time to visit the land of the liver bird.

Tours will take in Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields the infamous Cavern Club where the band was discovered and the ‘Beatles Story’ museum. Tribute shows will be on across the city and a “Lennon Remembered” concert has been penciled in for 9 December  in the Echo Arena.

Hotels.com has a range of deals on accommodation around the city during the course of the celebrations. Here are some of their top picks:

• Four-star Atlantic Tower. Prices was €103, now €68 from 10-17 October per room per night.

• Four-star Hope Street Hote. Prices was €138, now €104 from 10-17 October per room per night.

• Four-star Hard Day’s Night Hotel. Prices from €115 per night.

Super cheap autumn sun

Holidaymakers looking to exploit the gap between the summer and winter sun seasons can avail of great bargains with Direct Holidays ‘long-stay’ offers. These include 55 nights in Tenerife from just €44 per day or Tunisia all-inclusive for 54 nights, for €38 per day.

Long-stays are based on guests taking the last flights into a resort before the close of the summer season, and the first flight back home with the start of the winter sun period. Flights to Tunisia depart 30 October, returning 23 December, while those to Tenerife depart the same day but return a day later, on Christmas Eve.

Offers to Tunisia include the Moorish-style Abou Sofaine at Port el Kantaoui all-inclusive for €1,999 basic. The Marhaba Palace in Sousse is on offer for €1,159, including breakfast. The 5-star Hotel El Mouradi Palm Marina at Port El Kantaoui features for €2399 all-inclusive, while the 3-star-plus Diar Lemdina is available on a self-catering basis for €999. All prices are per person based on two sharing and are subject to €10 tax.

Tenerife is on offer from as little as €915 based on 4 sharing on a self-catering basis at Los Floritas Apartments. The luxurious 5-star Hotel Bahia Principe at Playa Paraiso is available all-inclusive for €4079, with the 4-star Hotel Volcano (halfboard) at Playa de las Americas for €3369, both based on two sharing. Prices are per person and are subject to €10 tax. To book call Direct Holidays on 0818 200 110.

There are a range of other options for those looking for some ultra-late summer sun. Here are some picks from Thomas Cook:

Panorama Holidays

Seven nights in Tunisia from €419 per person. Staying in the 3* Hotel Golf Residence in Port El Kantaoui, half board basis, departing 9 October 2010 from Dublin.

Seven nights in Gran Canaria from €419 per person. Staying in the 3* Vistaflor Bungalows in Maspalomas, self catering basis, departing 16 October 2010 from Dublin .

To book call 0818 20 20 20 or visit www.panoramaholidays.ie.

Sunworld Holidays

Seven nights in Fuerteventura from €429 per person. Staying at the 3* Brisamar Apartments in Corroalejo, self catering basis, departing 17 October 2010 from Dublin.

Seven nights in Tenerife from €529 per person. Staying at the 3* Paraiso Del Sol Apartments in Playa Del Las Americas, self catering basis, departing 9 October 2010 from Dublin.

Seven nights in Eqypt from €794 per person. Staying at the 4* Marriot Beach Resort in Naama Bay, bed and breakfast basis, departing 4 November 2010 from Dublin.

To book call 0818 200 400 or visit www.sunworld.ie.

Direct Holidays

Seven nights in Cyprus from €519 per person. Staying at the 3* Melini Apartments in Protaras, self catering basis, departing 10th October 2010 from Dublin.

Seven nights in Gran Canaria from €449 per person. Staying at the 3* Corona Blanca Apartments in Playa Del Ingles based on three sharing, self catering basis, departing 30 October 2010 from Dublin.

To book call 0818 200 110 or log on to www.directholidays.ie

All of the above Thomas Cooke holidays mentioned above are inclusive of flights, transfers, accommodation as specified, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges.

Football trips

There also happens to be a range of offers on games across the small water. Here are some picks of the bunch from Thomas Cook Sport Ireland:

• Spurs v Sunderland, 9 November 2010, €155 per person.

• Celtic v St Mirren, 18 December 2010, €116 per person.

• Newcastle v West Ham, 5 January 2011, €110 per person.

• Chelsea v Wigan, 9 April 2011, €128 per person.

• Rangers v Dundee, 2 April 2011, €116 per person.

There’s also an offer on a European clash – Chelsea v Spartak Moscow match break from €116 per person. Includes match ticket, hotel, stadium tour and match day programme. Departing 7 November 2010. Flights to London not included.

To book or for more details call Thomas Cook Sports on 0818 200 112.

Secret Hotels

www.lastminute.ie is running their famous ‘Secret Hotels’ offer again this week. The deal is they will hook you up with a stay in a four or five star hotel in Dublin or in any number of UK cities for a knock-down price.

The catch is, the hotels don’t want it known that they are practically giving some rooms away while charging others top dollar. But although you don’t get to know the name of the hotel you will be staying in until you’ve booked, you can rest assured it will be a swanky little number. Click here for more information.