Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_05_25/GA_2505_E1_032.pdf 

Extracted text

32 F E A T U R E S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

May 25 2006

HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Crete deals
Mayo Travel has availability on a number of great value trips to Crete at the minute. Spend seven nights in a three star hotel all included, for 570 per person; seven nights in a three star hotel on a B&B basis for 499 per person; or seven nights in a self catering apartment for 399 per person. Departures for these packages are from Ireland West Airport Knock on June 7, 14, 21, and 28. All taxes are included in these prices, just insurance is extra. Accommodation descriptions and pictures are available on www.mayotravel.ie. For more information contact Mayo Travel at (094) 9253657.

BREAK-AWAY
TRAVEL WITH SINEAD MCGOVERN

Fly Faro-way to Portugal
Fly to the capital of the Algarve from Ireland West Airport Knock.
Summer holidays are firmly on our minds these days, and with June only around the corner now, it's long past time to get a holiday plan together. Something easy and hassle free is what most of us want, with a little adventure, culture, and fine weather thrown in for good measure. We want to be able to get there easily enough, have a few nice things to look at when we get there, and have the option of a range of activities to partake in if the beach gets a little much for us. The Algarve offers all these things and more, and with flights available to its cultural capital, Faro, from Ireland West Airport Knock, it has never been easier to get there. If you haven't already visited Portugal it is a great summer destination with plenty to offer all the family. Good weather is almost guaranteed, the beaches are amazing, and Spain is only over the road if you get itchy feet and decide to hire a car for a few days. region of mainland Portugal, with cities Faro, Lagos, Olhao, Tavira, and Portimao in fairly close proximity to each other. It is a long-time favourite with holiday makers, with almost 600,000 flocking to the region every summer for its clean, warm, water beaches. It is famous for its water-life, and with hundreds of kilometres of beach to explore, there is a quiet corner, or an activity crazy stretch, for all tastes. The Costa Vicentina beaches are considered to be among the best by anglers, surfers, and body boarders, and on the south facing coast at Praia de Luz or Praia de Faro, the sea is calmer and is more suitable for diving, windsurfing, sailing, and kite surfing.

European concert fever
Why not combine a short European city break with a concert by your favourite artist. Eblana Travel has availability for a number of summer concerts. Spend two nights in Budapest in June and catch Sting in concert for 319; see Robbie Williams in concert in Budapest in July as part of a three nights' stay for 469; experience Eric Clapton in concert in Prague and make a three night stay out of it in July for 469; or catch Madonna in concert in Rome in August as part of a two night stay for from 496. Cost shown is per person and includes accommodation and concert tickets. Flights are from Cork or Dublin, and tax and insurance are extra. To book contact Eblana Travel at (091) 766802 or visit www.eblanatravel.ie

Faro

Faro is the provincial capital of the Algarve and is the entry point of the area for thousands of tourists each summer. But the city itself has a lot of The Algarve is awash with golden beaches to relax on or to make the most of with offer, and is well worth a stopover before water sports of all kinds. The Algarve making your way out to your ultimate It is 192 miles southeast of Lisbon, and region. It sits half way along the lagoon is home to 30,000 permanent residents. It at the mouth of the Gilao river estuary The Algarve is the southernmost destination. is a pretty city, especially the old part and a couple of kilometres inland from which is still surrounded by Roman the Ilha da Tavira, a vast expanse of walls. Plenty of the most beautiful golden sandy beach fronting the Atlantic attractions are free as well, including the Ocean. The only way to reach the island Church of Sao Francisco with some of is by fishing boat, and the island has its the finest gilt wood carvings in the own well equipped camp site. Algarve; Largo de Sa, a peaceful square flanked by orange trees ; and the Palacse Getting there of Estoi, one of the best examples of Romantic architecture in the country. You can fly to Faro with a number of One of the city's greatest attractions tour operators from Ireland West however is the Rio Formosa Lagoon, a Airport Knock including Falcon JWT nature reserve of more than 170sq km, Travel, Stein Travel, Sunword, and which is a regular stopping place for Slatterys - depending on what kind of hundreds of different birds. It formed holiday you want. Flight duration is behind the islands of sand over a period three hours. For more information of thousands of years. Because of the contact Ireland West Airport direct on park's importance, development in the 1850 67 22 22 or see Plan your trip beforehand and you can get a lot out of a stay in the Algarve. It's area is limited, but the town of Tavira is www.irelandwestairport.ie. also close to Spain, so a trip across to Seville wouldn't be out of the question on ideally located as a base to discover the a two week break.

WEATHER
THURSDAY
After a bright start, it will become cloudy and wet with outbreaks of heavy rain. Fresh south-westerly winds. Still cloudy with rain during the evening. Max temp 13-15C (5559F).

SATURDAY
Sunny spells and light showers.

High Tide in Galway
14

15
Tuam
14

SUNDAY
Some sunshine, but also heavy showers.

Clifden
14

MONDAY

FRIDAY
Friday will be wet with outbreaks of rain. It will become drier through the afternoon. Westerly winds. Showers are possible during the evening. Max temp 1416C (57-61F).
Information supplied by PA Weather Centre

Sunny spells and light showers.

GALWAY
14

15

Thursday May 25 Friday May 26 Saturday May 27 Sunday May 28 Monday May 29 Tuesday May 30 Wednesday May 31

04.09 04.56 05.42 06.27 07.12 07.58 08.45

16.37 17.21 18.03 18.45 19.27 20.11 20.57

Ballinasloe

Phases of the Moon
Saturday May 27 -- New Moon

TUESDAY
There will be a lot of cloud and showers. s.

WEDNESDAY
It will be dull with light rain or drizzle.

15

Noon Thursday

12