Looking for a break in July or August? Check out my top picks for last minute holidays as seen on TV3’s Sunday AM.

Availability to the popular destinations (Spain & Portugal mainly) in July and August is always scarce, and this year is no exception. However, there is increased capacity with Aer Lingus and Ryanair so airfares are quite low. In fact Aer Lingus have a seat sale with up to 25% off European flights during August & September, if booked by midnight on Monday, 25th July. If you are prepared to go off the beaten track and stay somewhere further from the resort centre, you can pick up good deals on last minute holidays. I found that Italy is better value than Spain and Portugal at the moment, here are my top picks.

Italy Deals:

Crystal Holidays are offering a  2* Hotel in Lake Garda, the Miravalli, from €340 per person on the 6^th of August. This is a basic hotel but located in the heart of Garda, so it’s perfect for anyone who just wants to use the hotel as a base. If you want to upgrade your hotel, Topflight have a Summer sale until the 29^th of July with savings of €420 per person. They have Sicily, Lido di Jesolo and Sorrento on sale in August as well as Lanzarote, the Algarve and Madeira.

I like the 3* Astoria Hotel, Sorrento, it’s €789 on the 7^th and 14th of August. It is situated right in the heart of Sorrento, it is great value for such a fantastic location. All of Topflight’s prices include flights, transfers and checked baggage. Click here for more details.

Family Holiday:

Menorca is surprisingly good value for the next few weeks. With short day time flights and very family friendly, it is an ideal choice for a family holiday. Sunway are offering package deals where transfers and checked baggage are included, staying in the popular Binimar apartments. They are a nice low rise complex, close to the town centre and the beach and have a small splash park on site. The price for 2 adults & 2 children on the 31^st of July and 7^th of August is €1876. Click here for more details. 

Mid to late August:

With some kids back in school as early as the 24^th of August, the last week of August is best time to pick up a bargain holiday. The Aer Lingus sale has some great airfares so you should be able to pick up a package deal to Spain or Portugal for less than €400. If you fancy Greece, Falcon Holidays are offering a week package deal to Zakynthos from €399 on the 30^th of August, staying in the popular Katerina Palace Hotel. Click here for more details.

ClickandGo.com have matched the low airfares with some good city breaks too. I like this one in Madrid, it combines sightseeing, sun and shopping all in one! Fly with Aer Lingus and enjoy a three night stay in a four star hotel for only €247 on the 15th of August. Click here for more details.

5 Tips to find a last minute deal:

1. ClickandGo.com have a ‘dealfinder’ on their website where you can select sun holidays or city breaks within 30 days, 60 days etc and it will list all holidays that they have available.

2. Use Ryanair’s ‘fare finder’ and Skyscanner’s ‘everywhere’ searches for any destination under a specific price range. Use hotel aggregators such as Trivago & Tripadvisor to search many accommodation websites for the same hotel.

3. The Irish Travel Agents association’s website combines top travel agents offers so you don’t need to search lots of different websites. And I offer my best last minute deals in my best travel deals post which is published every Tuesday on thetravelexpert.ie 🙂

4. Compare like with like. Remember a package holiday with a Tour Operator such as Falcon Holidays or Sunway includes airport transfers and checked baggage. A 20kg checked bag to the Canary Islands with Ryanair is €100 during July and August, so that ‘cheap deal’ you thought you found, might not be so cheap after all.

5. And finally always check with your local travel agent – they are searching late offers day in, day out and will probably know immediately what is the best value at any given time.

All prices are correct at the time of issue but are subject to change.

Sarah

Still wondering what to do during the Easter holidays? Here are my my top picks for Easter breaks as seen on TV3’s Sunday AM.

Easter holidays are particularly long this year with schools closing for almost three weeks. Many families are taking the opportunity to travel long-haul, either to relatives living abroad or to bucket list family holiday destinations, like Florida. The good news is that because the break is so long there is no peak date for short-haul holidays. Some are travelling over Patrick’s Day and coming home for Easter and therefore the peak Easter week isn’t sold out like previous years. So if you are thinking of a last minute get away, there is still availability and the prices might surprise you . Check out my top pics below.

Algarve 27^th March, 7 Nights €369 per person; 2adults & 2children €1438

If you are looking for a good value break at Easter, it is hard to beat the Algarve. Prices flying on Easter Sunday are low and you can get a week in a popular family run hotel near Albuferia, for €369 per person. The Aguamarinha hotel gets great reviews on tripadvisor and was awarded a certificate of excellence. If you are afraid you wont get the weather, temperatures last year were as high as 27 degrees at that time and average temperatures over the past few years are about 19 degrees. If you want to bring the kids the 4* Paraiso in Albufeira are a good choice, price for 2 adults and 2 children is €1438 including flights. If you can take an extra days holiday and stay for 8 nights, the price is much lower, 2 sharing is €282 and 2 adults & 2 children is €1085 , both departing on the 27th of April and returning Monday the 4^th of April.

Click here for Aguamarinha Hotel, 2 sharing €369

Click here for Paraiso Apartments, 2 adults & 2 children €1438

Lanzarote 26^th March, 7 Nights €519, 2 adults & 2children €1716

If you want to be guaranteed the weather then the Canary Islands are probably your best bet. Topflight still have availability to Lanzarote, flying out on Easter Saturday. A week in a two bedroomed apartment in Puerto del Carmen is €1716, based on 2 adults and 2 children, or €519 based on 2 sharing. This includes Aer Lingus flights, baggage and transfers too. Topflight also have deals to Lake Garda and the ski slopes if you fancy something a little different.

Click here for more details:

Rome 30^th March 2 night city break €384

There are some cheap flights to Rome if you can travel midweek during the Easter holidays. Clickandgo.com are offering a two night stay from the 30^th of March from €384 per person including Aer Lingus flights and breakfast each day. The flight departs from Dublin early in the morning and returns late in the evening so you have three full days there.

Click here for more details:

Uniworld River Cruises – Various Cruises 20^th, 27^th March, 7 nights 50% off.

Uniworld are the ultimate in river cruising. They offer 5* deluxe boutique cruises that include excursions, all meals, drinks (even champagne) in lavish surroundings. The attention to detail, fine dining and authentic holiday experiences are some of the reasons that Uniworld have won best luxury cruise line for the past seven years. They are offering 50% off many of their cruises during Easter holidays. My personal favourite is the Bordeaux, Vineyards & Chateaux cruise which was €3293 and is now €1730 on the 27^th of March for seven nights, you can read more about it here.

Click here for more details:

For the latest Easter offers from Ireland’s leading travel agents click here.  Prices are correct at time of issue but are subject to change.