France, with a little extra

CANVAS Holidays say credit crunched families can still afford holiday breaks in France this year.

The camping operator is throwing in free activities and day trips as well as launching its FamilyExtra campsites. Families can take advantage of subsidised activities across France, such as horse riding and indoor climbing, free wine tasting tours in the Loire Valley, canoeing adventures, half price entry to Parc Astérix and free entry to Planète Sauvage.

Canvas offer seven nights at Camping de l’Atlantique, Fouesnant, Brittany, in late June from €451 per family, with accommodation only, for two adults and all children in a fully equipped maxi-tent. Flexible travel options, flights or ferry, can also be arranged through the company. Check out the offers on www.canvasholidays.ie, or call 01 656930.

* GIVEN the hard times that are in it, the publishers of the summer edition of Holiday Magazine, Ireland’s longest-running consumer travel title, has reduced its cover price to €2 and increased its coverage of holidays — particularly family holidays — and travel on tighter budgets.

Highlights of the summer issue — at newsagents now — include a guide to value family holidays at home, away and around the world; an extensive section on cruising holidays (among the best bargains around); city breaks with direct flights from Ireland and an extensive faraway holiday section including a special guide to Australia for beginners.

There’s also a Flight Finder listing all the routes and airlines out of all the main Irish airports and free competitions for holiday breaks at home and abroad.

* SUNWAY Holidays predict Turkey will be a key destination this year, given the value for money offered in resorts.

With many thousands shopping around for good deals, the price structures already available for Turkish holidays allows Sunway to offer ready-made good value deals with the promise that they will be no compromise on quality.

Direct flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports from about €320 per person in April to €400 in June. Prices do jump significantly in the peak, but often very hot, months of July and August.

Check the company out at www.sunway.ie or phone Sunway on 01 2886828

* TOPFLIGHT has launched the summer 2009 brochure with cut price offers for those booking early. In a difficult market environment, Topflight has been careful not to over-supply this year. That hasn’t stopped the company offering couples €100 off each holiday and providing further cuts of €25 for each child.

The catch? Bookings must be made before February 28.

An example of what’s on offer this year is a €489 tarriff per person at the family friendly Montechoro Club 99 in Portugal. Further information is available on www.topflight.ie or by phoning LoCall 1890-240170