Sunny Maldives beach breaks

FOR those dreaming of pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear seas this summer, Tropical Sky is selling seven-night beach breaks to Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives from €1,719 per person (saving €199 per person), based on two sharing. Available on bookings until March 31, for selected departures in August, the price includes return flights from Dublin (via Gatwick), accommodation on a half-board basis, resort speedboat transfers, taxes and surcharges.

Olhuveli is nestled amid tropical vegetation and surrounded by a vast sandy, award-winning beach and a crystal clear lagoon. Facilities include a selection of restaurants and bars, two large pools and a water sports centre with one of the only registered kite-surfing schools in the Maldives.

Check out www.tropicalsky.ie or contact either 01 8077996 or 068 56800)

* SUNWORLD’S position as the busiest Irish tour operator to the Algarve is not under threat this year, based on early interest and bookings on the company’s direct flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock, starting early May.

Part of the Algarve’s appeal is the endless miles of golden sandy beaches, while golfers have made it a home from home, with no fewer than 32 courses.

Sunworld offers a choice of 14 resorts and a week in May in the family-run Verde Pino in ViIlamoura (based on four sharing) from €329, while high season (August) in the Montechoro Clube 99 just outside Albufeira is from €409. Free child places are still available for early bookers, on selected flights.

To book call the reservations team on 0818 200 400, visit any local travel agent or log onto www.Sunworld.ie

* NAMIBIA is the first country in the world to designate its entire coastline as a protected national park.

The newly created Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park covers 26.6 million acres, making it larger than Portugal, and stretches for 976 miles.

The protected coastline now consolidates three national parks: Skeleton Coast, Namib-Naukluft and Sperrgebiet. Wildlife fans can look forward to seeing hyenas, black rhino and desert elephants or African penguins and a vast colony of Cape fur seals, to name a few and Namibia plays host to a variety of unique flora and fauna, not found anywhere else.

GoHop.ie specialises in tours of Namibia and has a number of special deals from €1,289. Check them out at www.GoHop.ie or call 01 2412303.

* AWARD winning County Cork-based Discover Travel has deals currently to the Thailand resort of Hua Hin, with flights from Cork, Dublin or Shannon.

The company offers seven nights in the five star Alila Cha Am Hotel (nearer to Hua Hin) for €1,200 per person sharing, including all taxes and transfers within Thailand. Customers will fly with China Airlines and these prices are valid for travel between April 15 and June 28. Full details on www.Discovertravel.ie or by phoning 021 4635440.