British Isles
Where to spend the next Bank Holiday week? In a lively resort, above a quiet
beach, or in the depths of the countryside? Everything's still feasible.
Superbreak has a great deal for three nights from Bank Holiday Monday in Blackpool:
dinner, B&B at the three-star Norbreck Castle for £99. The hotel has an
indoor pool, sauna, gym and dance studio, offers nightly entertainment and
is a short tram ride from the town's attractions. The same deal is also
available from this Monday. 0871 2214444
A modern flat for four in a smart development 100m from the beach at
Thurlestone, south Devon, is on offer for a week from May 24 with
Toad Hall Cottages. Brightly decorated in New England style, it looks out to
Burgh Island, has shared use of a big outdoor pool and costs £710 - or £566
in the following two weeks. 01548 853089
A 15-minute drive from the north Norfolk coast and within easy reach of
stately homes and gardens, Ducktails is a traditional brick and flint
cottage in South Creake. It sleeps four and costs £420 for a week from May
24 with Perfect Getaways. 0845 0212211
Country properties available for the Bank Holiday week with Mackay's Agency
include Garden Cottage in the grounds of Inveraray Castle, Argyll,
which sleeps four and costs £493. An apartment in a converted church on the
edge of Braemar, Aberdeenshire, is £325 for two, or £425 if four
guests stay. 0131-550 1180
The Hotel de France, an elderly four-star hotel with a superb new pool and spa
complex in St Helier, Jersey, is available for three-night breaks
with 3XTravel.com. With B&B, fast ferry travel from Poole or Weymouth
and travel insurance, the price is £286. Take the car from £79 return. 0871
4341410
Two distinctive four-star hotels are on offer at discounted rates next month
with Irish Ferries Holidays. Choose from the Carlton Abbey Hotel, converted
from a convent in the heritage town of Athy, Co Kildare, or the
Carlton Millrace in the market town of Bunclody, Co Wexford. B&B
for three nights and a sea crossing with car from Holyhead or Pembroke
midweek costs £366. 0870 5171717
Short haul
Self-catering packages to the Med for the Bank Holiday are available with
Cosmos - with a week from May 23 in Cala d'Or, Majorca, at £165, for
four sharing, and a week from May 27 in the Crete resort of Malia for
£209, based on three sharing. Both deals include flights from Gatwick. 0871
4238560
Travel in the middle of the holiday week and Venue Holidays has a mobile home
break for all the family for £245. That includes a Dover-Calais crossing and
a week for two adults and up to four children at Camping Village Les
Mouettes, which has a thrilling water complex, at Carantec, north Brittany.
01233 629950
Two impressive villas with pools are on offer at half-price with James Villa
Holidays, although savings will be offset by the cost of flights. Villa Sol
at Cala en Bosch, Minorca, sleeps six and costs £365 from May 23 for
a week; and Poggio Etrusco in the heart of Tuscany at Sinalunga sleeps five
and is £515 for a week from May 24. The firm can arrange flights, putting
the price per person for the holiday up to £450. 0800 0740177
Trip the light fantastic on a “dance and movement” break on the Greek island
of Lefkas. A week of lessons in modern dance, salsa, Greek dancing
and t'ai chi at a beachfront hotel from June 1 or 8 costs £569 with Healthy
Options, including a flight from Gatwick. 0844 4992909
A restored 14th-century farmhouse for five in the Dordogne is available
in June with VFB Holidays for £662 a week. The price includes a Channel
crossing with car. 01452 716840
Long haul
Spend the holiday week in the Caribbean for less than £500. Best At Travel has
a flight from Gatwick on May 25 and week in a hillside room at Grenadian by
Rex Resorts in Grenada from £499 for adults and £349 for children. 020-7849
4136
A week's all-inclusive beach break in Kenya from May 26 is on offer for
£475 with Cosmos. Fly from Gatwick and stay at the three-star Travellers
Beach, 12km (7.5 miles) north of Mombasa. 0871 4238560
June deals with Bon Voyage include a week in a three-star hotel in Key Largo
in the Florida Keys for £625, with a flight from Manchester or
Gatwick and fully insured car hire. Book by Tuesday. 0800 3160194
All prices are per person and based on two travelling together and sharing
a room, unless stated otherwise.
