ONCE again we are facing a July with no sign of a heatwave. So naturally, a lot of us are Googling where we still have time to go on holidays this summer. We asked the experts at Sunway, Deirdre Sweeny and Andrea Holmes, for their choices for the best holidays for you this year.
From beach breaks to kid-friendly trips to having a bit of a laugh, there are options here for everyone. And if you can’t afford it this year, why not get ahead of yourself and have something to look forward to by booking 2025? It’s never too early! Here, Travel Editor Nicola Bardon goes through some options for Irish Sun readers. DOES a five-night cruise in September with no kids onboard sound up your street? The Virgin Cruises leaves Portsmouth in the UK and takes in cities like Amsterdam and Bruges during the day, and has onboard entertainment at night.
There’s no dress codes, no fixed dining times, and it is hosting a comedy festival all without leaving the boat, with names like Russell Howard . You can work off the food by taking part in the fitness classes provided, all for €999pp. IF YOU are wondering where the sun is, it’s in the Costa Del Sol.
They have 300 days of sunshine every year, so pack up the kids and head to discover all their gorgeous beaches. To entertain the kids, there is the bio park zoo in Fuengirola, the Dolphinarium in Benalmadena, the crocodile park in Torremolinos and two water parks - Aqualand Torremolinos and Aquamijas in Mijas Costa. Head off on September 3 for a week to the 2* Betania Hotel B&B from €499pp or 4* Aluasun Costa Park B&B from €615pp, with all prices including flights and your stay.
IF YOU are worried about costs but still want a break away, what about heading to Costa Brava? The Blue Flag beaches are perfect for a chilled holiday, or you can try kayaking and paddle boarding. It is close to Barcelona and Girona for day trips and they have affordable food on offer. Leaving for seven nights on August 28, you can go to the 3* Merce Hotel from €309pp or 4* Acapulco Hotel from €479pp, including flights and accommodation.
IF MONEY isn’t a problem, or you’ve been saving up, there’s nowhere more elite than Dubai’ s Atlantis hotel. With 795 rooms and suites, 17 restaurants and bars, 17 boutiques, 90 pools and an expansive 32,300 square foot wellness space, the resort is truly a destination in itself. When you are finished dining in their Gordon Ramsey restaurant, you can go to their spa for their salt cave, or charcoal sauna.
It is so fancy, Beyonce , Kendall Jenner and Liam Payne attended their opening last year. A king room for four nights from September 6, with flights on Emirates is €2,614pp sharing. THERE'S something thrilling about an all inclusive stay, knowing that you don’t need to worry about the price of food or drinks - even better then when it’s in the lap of luxury.
So why not try Meeru Island Resort in the Maldives , which is the only resort found on the island of Meerufenfushi and accessible by speed boat. If you want to relax this is the place for you, and if you want water activities, no better place. Their Hot Rocks Restaurant is a unique experience, where your meal is cooked on hot volcanic rocks in front of you.
For seven nights with return Qatar Airline flights and all inclusive in your own villa, it’s from €2,456 pp sharing. IF YOU haven’t been to the Algarve yet, you must be one of the few Irish people who hasn’t. The area in Portugal is renowned for its stunning beaches, which are among the best in Europe , with over 150 to choose from.
It has a mild sunny climate that the Irish love and you can do everything there from a boat cruise through the caves, surf, kayak or head to their theme parks with the kids. 7 nights from September 11 in the 4* Aquashow Park Hotel can be had from €499pp with flights included..
