Novel ski packages

TOPFLIGHT, which has been voted Ireland’s Best Ski tour operator for the 14th successive year, has a new winter ski brochure.

As usual, the company has come up with some novel sales pitches: this year there are free lift passes for all under-14’s in Andorra and other kids special deals, such as free ski school and free ski and boot hire in specified resorts.

The company suggests that the best value to be will be in Bulgaria with prices pitched at €449 for a week on March 14.

There are new resorts in Austria and France, and the company will once again use Killington in the US after a lapse of a couple of years.

Wellness hotels are all the rage these days and Topflight are offering five four and five star properties in Andorra, Italy and Austria.

Contact any travel agent or Topflight direct on 01 240 1700 or www.topflight.ie

IF it’s golfing holidays you’re after one of the top Irish companies offering overseas holidays is Killester Travel under the guise of “Sean Skehan’s World of Golf.”

Sean Skehan has been running golf tours to many overseas destinations for decades and this year’s brochure includes South Africa, South America, Malaysia, Thailand, Dubai, China, Barbados, the USA and Canada and Europe.

Killester Travel is based in the Howth Road, Dublin, telephone [phone] or check out the web at www.killestertravel.com for full details of what is available.

ESCAPE2 include special discounts for couples booking early in the 2009 worldwide brochure. Book before October 31 and save €150 per couple on any of a huge array of top-of-the-range holidays.

Escape2 has introduced a new selection of safari options in Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania for 2009, six new resorts for the Maldives and a new resort and tour in Madagascar. It also features new luxury resorts in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and French Polynesia.

Check out www.escape2 or call 01 808 5464.

SAS could be described as one of the most proactive airlines. It has now decided to scrap the age limit for EuroBonus (air miles) membership.

More than a million kids fly with the airline each year and they can now earn frequent flyer points as long as they have permission from a parent or guardian.

For information visit www.flysas.ie.

I hate to point it out — but Christmas is coming. I know, because I’m reminded every week, several times a week, by travel companies who seek to turn a buck by introducing special packages for the festive season.

Ebookers.ie features 10 cities for special weekend Christmas market specials where the shopping is good and snow is expected to fall. Flights and two nights accommodation in Budapest start from €267, but check out the other available cities and deals on www.ebookers.ie