Bavarian Passion play

JOHN GALLIGAN Travel has teamed up with British over 50s operator SAGA Holidays to create a 14-night tour of Europe, which will incorporate a visit to the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria.

The play, which dates back to 1634, is performed once a decade in Oberammergau, with about 2,000 villagers taking part.

The tour, priced at €2,199, departs Dublin on August 3 and the group will visit Belgium, France, Austria, Germany and Italy. Highlights include tours of Brussels, Strasbourg and Heidelberg, the Austrian Alps, the Italian Dolomites and Innsbruck, a Rhine cruise and the best category of tickets to the Passion Play.

Details can be found on www.jgt.ie or by calling 01-2076555.

WITH the awards season in full swing, James Cameron fans might be able to discover hidden talents at Canvas Holidays’ movie-maker sessions.

Aimed at teens, this programme forms part of the travel company’s family extra programme. It covers everything from filming, story boards, editing, creating special effects, importing titles, transitions and music tracks — the sessions are a chance for budding directors, advertising executives or creative types to discover a hidden flair.

Children will be supplied with a video camera, laptop, microphone, music and story board to allow them create a short film, music video, advert or TV show.

This Easter and throughout the summer, the company offers such facilities at Camping La Croix du Vieux Pont, Berny Rivière, near Paris from €299 per family. The price is based on two adults and up to four children with arrival onsite on April 4, 2010.

For more information see www.canvasholidays.ie or call 01 6569301.

NEW tour operator TravelMood says it will offer a choice of worldwide holidays to Irish consumers and will specifically feature a collection of long-haul holidays to the Caribbean, Africa, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, North America, South America, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Travelmood will have a retail presence at 19, Duke Street, Dublin 2. The company is fully licensed and IATA and ATOL bonded. Further information from 01-4331000 or www.travelmood.ie.

ETIHAD Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has increased its Dublin to Abu Dhabi route to 10 flights a week from March 28, and is offering a special promotion of 10 selected destinations a week. Etihad has a network of 60 destinations worldwide.

The promotion means that Irish customers can fly with Etihad to such destinations as Australia, South Africa, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Bangkok.

The offers are available to travellers who book tickets from now until March 21. Details are available through any travel agent, by calling 1800-384423 or online at www.etihadairways.com.