Catherine Shanahan travelled to Val Thorens where, apart from the heart-stopping thrill of skiing, she really didn’t have to lift a finger, with plenty of time to relax

A pair of old friends from Barcelona came to stay with us for a week in August, as they do every summer, welcoming Ireland’s breezy climate as a respite from the 40C heat endured throughout much of Spain.

Travel operator Thomas Cook said it had agreed the main terms of a rescue package that will see Hong Kong’s Fosun Tourism take over its tour operations and creditor banks and bondholders acquire its airline.

From family breaks to adventure trips, Ciara McDonnell rounds up the best packages to book now.

Need inspiration for your holidays in 2018? Ciara McDonnell has the best deals for families, couples, cruise seekers, adventurers, walkers, solo travellers - and everything in between.

The most significant football event of the year may have been a meeting in Shanghai last week.

It isn’t easy to find a holiday to cater for the needs and demands of an eight-year-old, a toddler and a baby — but Vickie Maye found the perfect family break for everyone at Club Med, Sicily.

GDP will grow by 2% this year and 2.4% next year on the back of rising exports and the first increase in consumer spending since the recession began, according to the EY Economic Eye.

“I call it balancing the budget. Everyone else is using this term ‘austerity’. That makes it sound like something truly evil.”

In a recent presentation, Trinity College Dublin’s economics professor Frank Barry said the modern European variation on the age-old question of “what do women really want” is “what do the Germans really want?”

Documents leaked over the past few days show that the Greek government is looking for a two-year extension on the €11.5bn fiscal consolidation programme it agreed with the EU and IMF over 2013 and 2014.

The latest EU summit was billed as a game-changer in tackling the financial crisis but there is a lot of horse trading to be done before a full assessment can be made, writes business correspondent John Walsh

THEY may not admit it, but right now, financial managers in many firms are hedging their bets, and are busy trying to construct scenarios to assess just how the world might look in the event of a break up of the euro zone.

CANARIES CALLING FOR WINTER BREAKS

US BILLIONAIRE investor Wilbur Ross has said he will look at other Irish-based investment opportunities, after his company took a near-10% stake in Bank of Ireland.

PANORAMA has promised to become Funorama for 2011 after the recent launch of next year’s brochure, highlighting an emphasis on activities and entertainment for the kids.

Ministers have approved €24.3bn in budget cuts for 2011-2012 to protect Italy from the market speculation that pushed Greece to the brink of bankruptcy.

CLUB Med has published a tempting offer for a seven day Hallowe’en special in Morocco.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged the disparate and conflicted countries around the Mediterranean Sea today to make peace as European rivals did in the 20th century as he launched an unprecedented Union for the Mediterranean.

SUNWORLD HOLIDAYS are boasting unrivalled value on winter holiday prices to Lanzarote from Cork this winter.

Travel giant Thomas Cook today said it had agreed to buy French firm Jet Tours in a €70m deal forming France’s third largest tour operator.

THE Great Escape Expo is on today and tomorrow at the RDS in Dublin, and it’s aimed at anyone planning to take time out or move abroad for a longer spell.

BRITISH Airways Holidays has launched its annual Prestige Collection brochure, featuring 85 first-class hotels across 40 locations around the world, including the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, India, Middle East, South and North Africa, the Americas and the Far East.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON takes a week off before partnering Paul McGinley in next week’s $4m World Cup in Seville, Darren Clarke sets out for South Africa via Japan for a money-spinning end to his season — and 168 hopefuls make their way to San Roque in Spain for the European Tour’s final qualifying school, simply hoping to be able to rub shoulders with the stars in 2005 (the top 35 and ties will do so).

A journalistic crew member who left the yacht captained by Tony Bullimore at the halfway point of ocean challenge The Race has admitted he was worried about "bickering" on the boat.