Thrilling trips to Wales

STENA LINE’S day trips to Oakwood theme park in south Wales become are one of the ferry company’s most popular programmes offerings — with more than 35,000 Irish making the trip last year.

The Oakwood trips programme operates on the Rosslare to Fishguard route until September 23. The introduction of a new schedule which includes an early morning fast-ferry sailing from Rosslare and a late return, means that day-trippers can now enjoy an action-packed day at the popular theme park.

Oakwood prices start from 50 per adult and 44 per child and include return sea travel on the Stena Express fast craft, coach transfers to and from Oakwood and entry to theme park where all rides and shows are free excluding Vertigo which carries a supplement. Customers wishing to take their car can do so from 178 return for a car plus two people.

Stena Line is also offering a range of special deals for groups of 11 or more people travelling together. For more information on Oakwood trips or to make a booking, customers should call Stena Line on 01-2047600 or 053-9161560 or click on www.stenaline.ie/oakwood.

THE Finnish Tourist Board has welcomed the news that Aer Lingus will fly direct from Dublin to Helsinki from October 30. The service will operate three days a week and one-way fares start at 55 excluding taxes and charges.

The board hopes Finland will benefit on two fronts; that there will be many more short-term visitors to Helsinki and they also expect to capitalise on the traffic throughput to other destinations.

There is a huge range of onward destinations available to many areas of Europe and even the Far East.

For more information about Helsinki and Finland, visit the Finnish Tourist Board website www.visitfinland.com. Also see WikiTravel.org/en/Helsinki.

FAR from running scared, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) say they can beat off the challenge of Aer Lingus back on the Dublin to Copenhagen route.

SAS believe passengers will continue to fly with them for up to 10 reasons, and in a very cleverly penned press release they’ve slagged off and have criticised Aer Lingus for what they claim are hidden charges customers have to pay.

The Scandinavian company says they don’t go down that route; that there are no they do not have extra or hidden charges such as credit card fees, booking fees or baggage charges. SAS one-way fares start at 67 including all taxes and charges.

The airline says it offers a generous 20kg free baggage allowance for all passengers in economy and economy extra while business passengers are allowed 30kg; that passengers can sit anywhere in economy class at no extra cost — meaning families can sit together. Children up to 15 years of age receive a 33% discount. There was no available information from SAS as to a its treatment of stance on golfers. Aer Lingus have ruffled a few feathers with recently introduced charges (based on weight) aimed at generating more revenue from those bringing their own golf clubs abroad.