Last minute travel deals

This week we’re looking at some last minute sun, football trips, cruises, packages around the US and a range of new ski holiday offers.

Last minute sun

The various incarnations of Thomas Cook have come up with a fresh range of late deals to some winter hot-spots. It’s not raining everywhere:

Panorama Holidays

Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia. €579 per person. Price based on two sharing for seven nights in the three-star + El Mouradi Club Kantaoui Hotel in a twin room on a half-board basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 23 December 2010 from Dublin.

Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria. €369 per person. Price based on four sharing for seven nights in the three-star Sunsuites Terraza Mar Apartments in a one bedroom apartment on a self-catering basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 11 December 2010 from Dublin.

Contact Panorama Holidays on 0818 20 20 20 or click here for more details.

Sunworld Holidays

Funchal , Madeira. €529 per person. Price based on two sharing for seven nights in the three-star Raga Hotel in one twin room on a B&B basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 19 December  from Dublin.

Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote. €609 per person. Price based on three sharing for seven nights in the three-star Lomo Blanco  Apartments in a one bedroom apartment on a self catering basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 22 December 2010 from Dublin.

Nabq Bay, Egypt. €629 per person. Price based on two sharing for seven nights in the four-star Oriental Resort in one twin room on an All Inclusive basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 9  December from Dublin.

Call Sunworld Holidays on 0818 200 400 or click here for more information.

Direct Holidays

Hadaba, Egypt. €479 per person. Price based on two sharing for seven nights in the three-star St George Tree Corners Hotel in a Twin room on a All Inclusive basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 16 December from Dublin.

Hammamet, Tunisia. €649 per person. Price based on two sharing for seven nights in the three-star Les Orangers Beach Resort Hotel in a Twin room on an All Inclusive basis. Includes flights, accommodation, transfers, baggage allowance and all taxes and charges. Departing 23 December  from Dublin.

Call Direct Holidays on 0818 200 110 or click here for more information.

All holidays above based on  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 trips

Thomas Cook Sport Ireland is running deals on trips to Liverpool for the up-coming post-Christmas Everton vs Birmingham clash. Priced at just €95 per person, you get your match ticket and one overnight stay on B&B basis. Departing 26 December 2010.

If you don’t fancy waiting that long for a chance to see the blue side of Liverpool in action, you can nip over for the Everton vs Arsenal match break from €105 per person. Includes match ticket and overnight hotel, departing 14 November. Flights not included. Call the Thomas Cook Sport Dublin office on 0818 200 112 for more information.

Onoffer.ie, meanwhile, has tipped us off to an offer from Aer Arann which might sort you out with the flight end of things. They are running offers on day return flights from Dublin for the both Premier League & Champions League Matches starting from €142. Offer has been open since 29 September 2010 and runs to 04 January 2011.

Click here for more information.

Winter cruise

Five night Western Mediterranean (cruise only) for €249 per person. Departs 23 November. Price is based on interior stateroom (tax and charges included). Upgrade from €100 per person for an Ocean view Stateroom and you also get a further upgrade to a deluxe Ocean view stateroom with a balcony for free. Cabin, gratuities, onboard meals, entertainment & port taxes all included. Flights and transfers can be added at a cost of €375 extra per person.

Offer subject to availability. For more information, contact Thomas Cook Cruises on 0818 200 101.

If the idea of a cruise appeals but you're in the dark about what they involve or what sort of offers are out there, you could do worse than popping along to the Free Cruise Expo, which takes place this Sunday (7 November) in the Clarion Hotel in Liffey Valley from 12 to 5 pm. Click here for more information.

Ski deals

It’s that time of year when people (with jobs) start swapping their sun holidays for trips to the slopes. Hotels.com has come up with a list of cheap accommodation options for those of you who have no concept of how painful a broken leg can be. It’s not as expensive as you might think, the web-based firm is featuring stays in Tignes, Meribel and Andorra from €69.

Tignes, France

Located in Espace Killy, one of the world’s best ski areas, Tignes offers a number of top class slopes for every level and shares the space with Val D’Isere. The area is home to over 300kms of pistes as well as an abundance of bars and restaurants. Tignes has a reliable snow record which, after recent seasons of reduced snowfall, has encouraged people to choose higher mountain resorts such as this one.

Where to stay: Odalys Residence la Hameau du Borsat three-star six person cabin

Located at the foot of the Grande Motte Glacier, the Residence la Hameau du Borsat is 200m from the resort centre of Tignes and 50m from the slopes. The cabins feature private bathrooms and kitchens with cooking facilities. Televisions and balconies are available on request for an additional fee. Prices start from €69 per room per night from 11-18 December.

Soldeu, Andorra

Soldeu and its next door neighbour, El Tarter, are lively ski resorts offering visitors value for money with great ski and snowboarding facilities. Most of the pistes in the area are good for beginner and intermediate skiers. Advanced skiers can head to Pic d’Encampadana for some Grade A slopes.

Where to stay: Hotel Himalaia Soldeu four-star

The Himalaia Soldeu is housed in a traditional chalet style hotel located just a short distance from the Gran Valira ski area. All guestrooms are decorated in Tibetan style furnishings with open balconies and ensuite bathrooms. Guests can enjoy a game of snooker in the games room or take some time out to unwind in the sauna, steam room or massage centre.  Prices from €68 per room per night from 11-18 December.

Méribel, France

Located in the Tarantaise Valley of the French Alps, Méribel refers to three neighbouring villages known as Méribel Centre, Méribel Mottart and Méribel Village.  The ski area of the Three Valleys comprises over 200 lifts, 293 marked runs and 130m of cross country tracks. The town comes alive at night-time with live stand-up comedy, music and DJs from around the world.

Where to stay: Latitudes Hotel Le Savoy two-star

Housed in a beautiful traditional wooden style property in the Alpine ski village of Meribel in Val D’Isere, the Latitudes Hotel Le Savoy offers panoramic views of the surrounding valleys whilst benefitting from a great location in the village. Prices start from €143 per room per night from 11-18 December.

Trips to the US

Offers.ie has also turned us onto a string of packages to various parts of the US from Tour America. Here’s a couple which might catch your attention:

New York from €529 per person

This offer has just opened today, and runs until 20 January 2011. Price includes return flights to New York, all taxes and airport charges, three nights in the Days Hotel or Broadway Hotel. Based on four adults sharing. Departs 20 January 2011.

Orlando from €465 per person

This is one is open until 31 January 2011. Price includes return flights to Orlando with British Airways, all taxes and airport charges and seven nights’ accommodation at the International Palms Resort. Based on two adults and two kids. Departs May 2011.

Las Vegas from €559 per person

Offer runs until 19 January 2011. Price includes return flights to Las Vegas, all taxes and airport charges and four nights’ accommodation at the Flamingo Bay Hotel. Based on four adults sharing. Date of departure is 19 January 2011.

Click here for more information.