Last Minute Travel Deals

This week we’re looking at trips to Europe's top Christmas markets, super cheap four and five-star hotel stays around Ireland, budget last minute sun, football trips and a cruise offer.

By Robert Carry

Christmas shopping trips

As usual, there will be a ton of Christmas markets on the go around Ireland (click here for our list of favourites) this year. However, lastminute.com has come up with a range of cheap hotel stays in European cities set to feature their own Christmas markets for those of us who feel like travelling that bit further afield. Here are some of the offers:

• Berlin Christmas market – stay in a four-star hotel from €176. Click here for more info.

• Bruges Christmas market – stay in a four-star hotel from €159. Click here for more info.

• Budapest Christmas market – stay in a four-star hotel from €195. Click here for more info.

• Copenhagen market – stay in a four-star hotel from €277. Click here for more info.

• Prague Christmas market from €189. Click here for more info.

Flexible sun holidays at super cheap prices

ClickandGo.com was set up in May this year with the aim of offering holidaymakers a way of building their own holidays. You choose the destination, airline, departure date, duration and accommodation but their system means you get flight prices through the ClickandGo.com site that are exactly the same as Ryanair and Aer Lingus along with super cheap accommodation that is purchased direct. Here is how some of their deals break down.

Malta

The best value accommodation in the Med is in Malta – one week in December from €135 per person including flights and accommodation. There are twice weekly flights with Ryanair every Friday and Monday with return fares from as low as €75 including taxes and charges (Dublin Malta on 06 December for 1 week). Clickandgo.com accommodation prices in Malta run from less than €9 per person per night.

Canary Islands

You can also get yourself a dose of winter sun in the Canary Islands with flights with either Ryanair or Aer Lingus from €306 per person including flights and accommodation. Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus fly to all four islands and flight prices are low if you can go from now to before Christmas. At present, you get a week away for between €300 to €350 per person. Go to ClickandGo.com and click on the ‘Build Your Own Holidays’ tab.

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura may be budget but it also offers great beaches that are ideal for surfing and low key night life. Aer Lingus flights, private transfer and seven nights’ accommodation is from €306 when you depart on 11 December.

Tenerife

If you want something with more action at night, try Tenerife from €320 departing on 07 December (Aer Lingus flights, private transfers and seven nights’ accommodation). If nearby Gran Canaria is more appealing, you can get the same package from €337 departing on 14 December.

Madeira

If you want to wait until the new year, a trip to Madeira might be an option. One week in January comes in at €399 per person with price including return direct flights from Dublin to Funchal on any Sunday in January, transfers to the accommodation, seven nights B&B in a four-star hotel, taxes and charges and checked in bag.

All ClickandGo.com trip prices above are per person, based on two sharing.

More sun holidays

The various incarnations of Thomas Cook have also been in touch to give us the first look at their late deals to various winter hot-spots. It’s not raining everywhere:

Panorama Holidays

• Seven nights in Tunisia from €559 per person. Staying in the three-star El Mouradi Club Kantaoui Hotel in Port El Kantaoui, half-board basis, departing 23 December 2010 from Dublin.

• Seven nights in Egypt from €499 per person. Staying in the three-star St George three corners in Hadaba, All inclusive basis, departing 16 December 2010 from Dublin.

To book call 0818 20 20 20 or click here.

Sunworld Holidays

• Seven nights in Madeira from €539 per person. Staying at the three-star Raga Hotel in Funchal, bed and breakfast basis, departing 19 December 2010 from Dublin.

• 10 nights in Lanzarote from €559 per person. Staying at the three-star Lomo Blanco Apartments in Puerto Del Carmen based on three sharing, self-catering basis, departing 30 December 2010 from Cork.

• Seven nights in Egypt from €569 per person. Staying at the four-star Tropitel Naama Bay Hotel in Naama Bay, All Inclusive basis, departing 9 December 2010 from Dublin.

To book call 0818 200 400 or click here.

Direct Holidays

• Seven nights in Lanzarote from €459 per person. Staying at the two-star Los Hibiscos Apartments in Puerto del Carmen, self-catering basis, departing 23 December 2010 from Cork.

• Seven nights in Tunisia from €629 per person. Staying at the three-star Les Orangers Beach Resort Hotel in Hammamet, All Inclusive basis, departing 23 December 2010 from Dublin.

To book call 0818 200 110 or click here.

All of the above Thomas Cook holidays based on two adults sharing, unless otherwise stated and inclusive of flights, transfers, accommodation as specified, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Optional supplements may be applicable at time of booking.  Offers are subject to availability, correct at time of issue.

Football trip

Thomas Cook Sport Ireland is this week touting the Liverpool v Bolton game with an overnight stay on 1 January 2011. It comes in at €140 per person and includes match ticket and  hotel. Flights not included.

To book call the Thomas Cook Sport Dublin Office 0818 200 112.

Cruise option

Thomas Cook Cruise, meanwhile, is offering a seven-night Dubai Cruise from €1069 per person which includes flights. The cruise will take in Fujairah, Muscat, Oman (Overnight), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dubai (Overnight) - Departing 24 January.

Cruise including flights, price is based on interior stateroom (tax and charges included). There is an upgrade option to an Ocean view room which comes in at €1169 per person. (Included: Cabin, gratuities, onboard meals, entertainment and port taxes. Offer subject to availability).

To book call Thomas Cook Cruise on 0818 200 101 or visit your nearest travel agent.

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.

Got a holiday, hotel or flight offer you want us to help publicise? Feel free to drop us an emaill.