Get into winter mode

PRIMERA Escorted Tours, in association with Budget Travel, has launched a new series of luxury autumn/winter tours.

To facilitate die-hard Christmas shoppers who like to be organised in advance, the brochure details a festive season city break to the Christmas markets in Budapest.

Other opportunities include city breaks to Madrid, including a full day excursion to the old Spanish capital of Toledo, with prices starting at €499 for travel and four nights B&B.

All prices include taxes, charges, excursion and entrance fees. For further information check out www.primeratours.ie, click on Primera Escorted Tours on www.budgettravel.ie or tel [phone].

XL.com, Ireland’s new holiday sun charter airline and holiday company, has have added Mykonos to its summer 2008 Holiday programme.

Mykonos has been a favourite with Irish holiday-makers since the 1980’s and is famous for being the backdrop in the classic ‘Shirley Valentine’ film.

One of the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands, Mykonos is suitable for all ages. XL.com, which who carried more than 65,000 holiday passengers from Ireland last year, has also reported a surge in demand for holidays to the Greek islands of Santorini and Skiathos. Prices to Mykonos start from €299.

Book online at www.xl.com, tel the XL call centre on 0818 220 220 or see your local travel agent.

FAMILIES are being offered special savings by Stena Line on holidays up to July 21, but the offers end on Monday.

Highlights include self-catering breaks offered in co-operation with Haven Abroad. Included in the price packages are return travel on the Stena Superferry by car from Dublin to Holyhead or Rosslare to Fishguard and accommodation in a luxury mobile home.

For further information or to book, tel Stena Line on 01-2047733, log on to www.stenaline.ie/greenacres or www.stenaline.ie/quaywest or visit any local travel agent.

SUNWORLD Holidays has deals to Turkey from €239. The company also offers free child places, free kids’ club, free group places and the availability of two-bedroom apartments.

Prices include flights, transfers, seven nights’ accommodation and all taxes. A €15 per person charge applies 14 days prior to departure. To book any holiday, see a local travel agent, tel [phone] or see www.sunworld.ie.

EVERYBODY has their own opinion of what makes a perfect hotel visit — www.hotelreviewsireland.com promotes the best experiences and to celebrate its third birthday it has one-night breaks in some of its top choices. The Shelbourne Renaissance Hotel, Fitzpatrick’s Castle and the Ballsbridge Court (formally Berkeley Court) are just some of Dublin’s top hotels at which you could win a night for two, including breakfast.

The promotion runs to October.

Just log on to the website and detail your dream hotel visit.