Best Travel Deals

The Travel Expert’s Best Travel Deals – 23rd May 2023

best travel deals

I’ve searched the web so you don’t have to! My best travel deals from Ireland include last minute holidays, short breaks, summer holidays, cruise deals, and super staycations.

 
This week’s Best Travel Deals include last minute holidays in Turkey, summer holidays in Tuscany and Salou, weekend breaks in Carcassonne and Sardinia, a Royal Caribbean cruise, an amazing trip to India and an early booking offer to Orlando for Easter. 

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Best last minute: Turkey

all inclusive holiday deals in May and June

If you are looking for a last minute holiday that won’t break the bank, Turkey is hard to beat. With direct flights to Izmir, Dalaman and Antalya, you can take your pick of holiday resorts.
 
The 4-star Orka Village offers great value in the pretty village of Hisaronu. This highly rated aparthotel is priced at just €435 for a seven-night stay with breakfast on the 12th of June, including flights, transfers and checked baggage too!

The 4-Star Golden Day Wings is another firm favourite with Irish holidaymakers, this is €498 per person on the 10th of June including flights, transfers, checked baggage and breakfast.
 

 

 
If you prefer an All Inclusive resort, the highly rated Club Julian in Marmaris is a great choice. Priced at €634 on the 12th of June for seven nights, including flights, transfers, baggage, meals and drinks

Orka Village
 
Golden Day
 
All Inclusive 
 

 

 

Best summer holiday: Tuscany

holiday deals to Tuscany

Explore the stunning region of Tuscany this summer. Airfares are terrific value in July and hotel prices are reasonable too! I found return flights from Dublin to Pisa for €177 on the 19th of July and Cork to Pisa from €229 on the 18th of July. A seven-night stay in the highly rated Da Vinci Hotel in Montecatini Terme is just €329 per person.
 

 

 
I stayed in this pretty town many years ago and it is ideally located to explore the nearby town of Lucca and the cities of Florence and Sienna. There is a train service from Pisa airport, or you can pre-book transfers, but I recommend car hire if you want to explore Tuscany fully.

P.S Airfares are low throughout the year to Pisa so if the dates don’t suit below, simply edit the search to suit your requirements.

Search flights 19th – 26th July €177

View hotel here €329pp

Check transfers
 
Check car hire
 

 

 

Best Irish escape: Mayo

Mulranny Park Hotel

The Mulranny Park Hotel has some last minute availability in their spacious 2-bedroom apartments, and are offering 20% off rates. Priced at €236 per night in June including breakfast, isn’t this the perfect place to capitalise on this fabulous weather we are having?
 
View offer here
 
If you prefer a romantic break during July or August, check out their Endless Summer Romance package. Enjoy a two-night stay with full Irish breakfast, dinner on the night of your choice, a complementary bottle of Prosecco and departure treats of locally made chocolates from €215 per person.
 

 

 
You can also enjoy the complimentary access to the Leisure Centre with pool, jacuzzi, sauna and gym, and live music on Friday evening. The Great Western Greenway is on your doorstep, so why not cycle to Westport or Achill Sound, and treat yourself to one of their famous Seaweed Baths on your return.

Note price for the Endless Summer Romance Package includes a saving of 10% by quoting code TExpert10 by calling 353 (0)98 36 000

Read: Top 10 things to do in Mayo

See more here
 

 

 

Best family holiday: Salou

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sarah Slattery – Travel Expert (@the_travel_expert)

The Costa Dorada is one of this summer’s most popular family holiday destinations. With family friendly resorts, one of Europe’s best theme parks – PortAventura, and the stunning city of Barcelona on your doorstep, it’s not difficult to see why. Sunway have a range of accommodation options available including campsites, self catering apartments and luxury hotels. 
 

 

 
I found a good deal to the 4-Star Camping La Siesta in Salou in July. Price for flights and a seven-night stay in a mobile home for a family of four is €2432. We stayed at Camping La Siesta many years ago and the kids loved it. You can read about our stay here:

Read: Family holiday in Salou

The Dorada Palace Hotel is another great choice and price is only €2460 including breakfast and evening meal. If you have 3 or 4 children, a 2bedroom apartment in the  4-star Pineda Park is the best choice.

Flights are available from Shannon and Cork too, the best value from Shannon is departing on the 20th of July, and Cork on the 31st of July. All of these holidays can be searched here:

View offers here
 
Three day park tickets to PortAventura, Ferrari Land and Caribe Waterpark are €70 per adult and €61 per child.

Read: Top 10 reasons to visit PortAventura 

Check park tickets
 

 

 

Best family staycation: Fota Island Resort

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sarah Slattery – Travel Expert (@the_travel_expert)

I recall many great family breaks at Fota Island Resort. Staying in one of their super self catering lodges with the benefits of five-star hotel facilities on your doorstep makes for a great combination.

There is a leisure centre, adventure course and water sports available, and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to day trips, as Fota Wildlife Park, Spike Island, the Titantic Experience and sandy beaches are all located close by.
 

 

 
Price for a three-night stay in a 2-bedroom lodge is €890, and a three-bedroom lodge is available from €990. These are currently available on Friday the  30th of June, and limited dates throughout July and August. 

Read: 20 family hotel deals in Ireland, 2 Night stays in July & August from €290

View offer here
 

 

 

Best short break: Sardinia

luxury short break in Sardinia

Aer Lingus has started a new service to Olbia in Sardinia, the gateway to the exclusive Costa Smeralda. If you want to see how the other half holiday why not book a short break and check it out for yourself!

I found return flights from Dublin for €172 on various dates throughout the summer but hotels are better value if you avoid July and August.
 

 

 
A three-night stay at the 4-star Hotel Luna Lughente is €237 per person on Saturday the 9th of September, making it the perfect weekend break destination – the total cost including flights, breakfast and 10kg checked baggage is only €409 per person.  

View flights €172pp

View hotel here €237pp
 

 

 

Best Cruise: Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas

cruise deals from Ireland

Cruise the Med on Royal Caribbean’s fabulous ship Symphony of the Seas. I had the pleasure of cruising on her sister ship, and the entertainment and facilities on board were superb. 
 

 

 
Price for a seven-night cruise from Barcelona, visiting Palma, Marseille, La Spezia, Rome and Naples is only €1249 on the 8th of October. This includes flights, checked baggage, meals and entertainment. Upgrade to a balcony cabin for €250 per person.

Read: The Cruise Guide – How to choose the right cruise for you.

View offer here
 

 

 

Best city break: Carcassonne

weekend break in Carcassonne
Image from mike1550, Pixabay

Try somewhere new this year and enjoy a weekend break in the medieval city of Carcassonne. Walking through Carcassonne is like stepping into a fairytale, and it is the perfect location for a romantic getaway.
 

 

 
I found return flights on Friday the 6th of October for three nights for just €65, and a three-night stay in the 4-star Hôtel Le Donjon – Cœur de La Cité Médiévale is €211 per person. This is located right in the heart of the medieval city and offers superb value for such an idyllic location.

Read: 30 city break destinations in Europe for 2023

Search flights 6th – 9th October €65pp

View hotel here €211pp
 

 

 

Best long haul: Guided tour of India 

See the Taj Mahal on an escorted tour from Ireland

Explore the wonders of India on this trip of a lifetime with Travel Department. Watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, discover Delhi on a rickshaw tour, visit the pink city of Jaipur, and take a boat cruise around Udaipur’s Lake Pichola.
 

 

 
This is a fully guided group tour and includes excursions on each day as well as a stays in four and five star hotels with breakfast and evening meals included every day. Escorted tours are the best way to discover India, and this tour will enable you to see most of the highlights on one trip.

Price of €2279 per person includes flights, transfers, checked baggage, ten nights hotel stays on a half-board basis, excursions as per itinerary and a discount of €100 off the listed price when you use code TTE100. Solo traveller trips are available from €2399. 

Read: Top 10 Reasons to Travel More

See more here
 

 

 

Best early booking offer: Orlando for Easter

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sarah Slattery – Travel Expert (@the_travel_expert)

Scratch one off the bucket list and bring the kids to Orlando for Easter 2024! I found flights for 10 nights with just one stop in the US ( so you can still clear immigration in Ireland before you leave),  from €765 including checked baggage.

Direct flights with Aer Lingus to Orlando are also available for €987 per person including checked baggage, and you can secure a booking with a 50% deposit. 
 

 

 
I have chosen Universal’s Endless Summer Resort so you can enjoy early access to Universal Studios when you have purchased park tickets. Price for flights, checked baggage and a 10-night stay over Easter holidays is €5225 based on 2 adults and 2 children, or €6320 for a family of five, sharing a two-bedroom suite in Universal’s Endless Summer Resort. 

See more here
 

 

 
While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, descriptions and prices are taken from third party websites and are subject to change. Please note some of my best travel deals from Ireland include affiliate links where I receive a small commission if a booking is made.

2 Comments

  • Hi Sarah. Love your Instagram and newsletter. I’ve seen your lanzarote posts and myself and dome friends are going to travel there next march for 4 nights. Flights are around 300 at the moment which seems steep so far ahead. Do you know a good time to buy for that time of year? Many thanks
    Deborah

    • Hi Deborah, It is difficult to say, not sure if you are looking around Patricks weekend or late March? Easter holidays are from the 22nd. I would have thought early March would be cheaper than that, but I couldn’t say for sure. Best of luck, Sarah

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