It’s not a scam. It’s not a competition. We’ve actually found a sun holiday to Malta with flights and four-star hotel for €63. You leave next month. The financial crisis can kiss our sun-tanned arses.
Malta
The tiny Mediterranean island of Malta is offering some meltdown accommodation prices at the moment and, teamed with rock bottom fares from Ryanair and accommodation through JOE’s buddies at ClickandGo.com, you could be out of here for less than it costs to buy the turkey and ham.
If you need to use up some leave before Christmas then this could be a way of doing something other than freezing your balls off in the local.
The flights:
Flights run from Dublin to Malta every Monday and Friday, and some dates are cheaper than others. However, if you head out on Monday 13 December and return Friday 17 December, the flight prices come in at an implausibly cheap €26 per person including all taxes and charges and €10 credit card fee.
Log on to www.ryanair.com
The accommodation:
The four-star Baystreet Hotel in Sliema /St Julian’s is €37 per person for 4 nights (room only basis). Check it out with www.ClickandGo.com and log into their tab ‘Build your Own Holiday’ for accommodation only. Coupled with the flights detailed above, your bill sir, comes in at €63.
Alternatively, you can try a weekend break for €95 per person travelling Friday 10 December and returning Monday 13 December (same details as above).
Malta is a renowned spot for diving (loads of certified PADI centres) and rock bathing as the waters are clear and clean. Valletta, the capital city, is something of an historical marvel as it was once a base for the Knights of St John. The lively nightlife and romantic restaurants in the resorts of Sliema and St Julians are another draw. A tan could be on the cards for Christmas.
Log on to ClickandGo.com
Malta quick guide:
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: Ireland + 1 hour
Typical December temperature: 20c/68f
Flight Time: Four hours
Who flies: Ryanair from Dublin every Monday and Friday
Cost of Dinner for Two: €60 approx
Cost of a Pint: €2.35
Morocco
If for whatever reason you don’t fancy Malta, you could, instead, hit North African hotspot Morocco. Agadir is the big beach chill out spot. The resort of Essaouira is a surfer’s paradise while Marrakech is like waking up in biblical times – think fakirs, snake charmers, street dentists and acrobats.
Aer Lingus operates direct flights from Dublin every Wednesday and Saturday into Agadir while ClickandGo.com has brilliant accommodation deals in high standard four and five-star hotels.
Beat the pre-Christmas frenzy and take a quick break for four nights for €352 per person. Depart 18 December to 22 December with a four-star hotel stay in Agadir on B/B basis. You’ll even be home in time for Christmas.
If you’re just not feeling the whole Santa Claus/presents/irritating relatives thing, then you could flee the country altogether. Depart 22 December for a week (back on 29 December), stay in four-star Anezi Hotel in Agadir on a B/B basis.
Morocco quick guide:
Currency: Dirham
Time zone: Ireland + 1 hour
Flight time: three hours
Who flies: Aer Lingus every Wednesday and Saturday
Typical December temperature: 22c/72f
Most famous Landmark: Rick’s Cafe, Casablanca
Cost of dinner for two: €50 approx
Cost of a Pint: €2.30
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
