metro extralife OutofOfficeToadvertise call(01)6375979 Totally Tropical Destination: Barbados Price: from 345 per person (585 per person including taxes) Details: Seven nights, three-star hotel room only, including return flights and airport transfers Contact: Tropical Places, Tel: (01) 433 1032, www.tropicalplaces.ie Ski please Destination: France, departing January 30 Price: from 249 per person, prices based on max occupancy Details: Three-star Le Grand Chalet, self-catering, Brides Le Bain Contact: Crystal Ski, Tel: (01) 433 1015, www.crystalski.ie New York nights Destination: New York Price: from 622 per person (including flights) for travel in February Details: Four nights in a three- star hotel Contact: Travel Paths, Tel: (01) 514 3070, www.travelpaths.ie Valentine Sunshine Destination: Gran Canaria Price: 609 per person sharing, based on two persons sharing, including flights, tax, transfers, accommodation on a self-catering basis & rep service Details: Seven nights at the three-star Puerto Plata Apartments in Puerto Rico, departing February 13 Contact: Topflight, Tel: (01) 240 1769, www.topflight.ie Bring on the sunshine Destination: Lanzarote Price: from 399 per person Details: Seven nights staying at the three-star Bahia Blanca Rock in Playa Blanca on a self-catering basis, departing February 27 Contact: Sunworld, Tel: 0818 200 400, www.sunworld.ie Excellent Egypt Destination: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt Price: from 554 per person Details: Seven nights staying at the three-star Sharm Inn Amarein on bed and breakfast basis, departing March 4 or 11 Contact: Panorama, Tel: 0818 202 020, www.panoramaholidays.ie They go out of their way for us Great Flight + Hotel Deals to New York, Las Vegas and European Cities visit us at www.travelpaths.ie or call us on 01 514 3070 W e a r e f u l l y b o n d e d a n d l i c e n c e d Check us out now for the cheapest flights to the USA, Thailand, South Africa and more 529pps 659pps 539pps 25392 adults+1 child! 719pps 30th Jan AUSTRIA - St. Johann 3* Gasthof Mauth H/B 6th Feb BULGARIA 4* Hotel Belmont H/B 6th Feb AUSTRIA - St. Johann 3* Hotel Fischer H/B 20th Feb AUSTRIA - Westendorf 3* Hotel Post H/B 14th Feb ANDORRA 2* Residence Daina S/C Ski Specials! Book now on 01 240 1769 Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 10am-5pm Visit topflight.ie or your travel agent Lic. T0074 Family Mid-Term Special! Your 100% Irish owned Ski Company Voted Best Ski Tour Operator 16 YEARS IN A ROW! Offers include: 7 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION RETURN FLIGHTS & AIRPORT TRANSFERS REP SERVICE ALL TAXES! GENEROUS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE! I f theres one thing to cheer you up in the midst of a recession then its the thought of a nice relaxing holiday. And who better to give you advice on the best of the best than the people who know the travel trade? The great and good of the industry donned their glad rags and dancing shoes last Thursday for what could be described as the Oscars of the Irish travel industry, the annual Irish Travel Trade News Awards of Excellence for 2009. The glittering ceremony, which was held at The Burlington Hotel, was attended by close to 500 guests from the travel industry in Ireland. Ostensibly an awards ceremony for the travel industry by the Irish travel industry, the excel- lence awards are voted on by travel agents across the country. Its also a pretty good guide for the Irish holidaymaker or business traveller. Going on insider information, heres whats hot in the travel trade right now... Sun Holiday: If sunshines your thing, then keep Lanzarote in mind it won the best sun destination category, while Sunworld was voted the best sun holiday tour operator. Ski Holiday: If skiings what youre after, then check out Austria it was named the best ski destination, with Topflight the best ski tour operator. Europe: If youre sticking to Europe this year, then flying Aer Lingus to Barcelona, while sussing out the destination with the Spanish tourist board might be a plan. Aer Lingus won an award for the best airline to Europe, with Barcelona being named the best European city destination and Spain scooping the best national tourist office gong. Long Haul: And if a long haul trip is on the horizon, then you could do worse than fly to New York with Continental Airlines or take a Sunway package to the US. New York was named the best North American city destination, while Continental was deemed the best airline to fly with to North America. Sunway won the best North American tour operator category. And if youre thinking even further afield, Dubai or Thailand may be good spots to consider. Dubai was named the best Middle East/Africa destination, while Thailand won the best Asia/Pacific destination award. It was a good night for Etihad Airways. It scooped three of the 26 prizes, picking up the trophies in the best airline to Middle East/Africa, Asia/Pacific and best business class airline categories. Cruise: And if hitting the high seas is your idea of fun, youre on to a winner with Stena Line. It was named the best ferry company. Royal Caribbean International took the prize for the best cruise company, while Silversea was named the best luxury cruise company. Hotels: When it comes to booking accommodation, Holiday Inn is a good bet if youre planning a recession-friendly break it was named the best budget worldwide hotel group. Meanwhile, if theres a bit more money in the bank then check out the Marriott group, it was named the best luxury worldwide hotel group. Business: If youre travelling for business rather than pleasure, you might consider flying with Etihad or hiring a car from Hertz. Etihad was named best business class airline, and Hertz took the prize for best business car rental company. TRAVEL DEALS OF THE WEEK 18 metrolifeextra Tuesday, January 26, 2010 D TRAVEL AWARDS: Proceeds from the night went to Our Ladys Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin and the Irish Travel Agents Association Benevolent Fund. A separate draw on the night raised more than 7,000 for the Irish Red Crosss activity in Haiti. Pictured at the awards were (from top): Jim Vaughan, ITAA president with Aer Linguss Valerie Wood; also pictured with Mr Vaughan is Philip Airey from Sunworld; Beatrice Cosgrove, from best business class airline Etihad. Pictures: Paul Sherwood Irish Travel Trade Awards: The movers and shakers of the travel industry were feted at a recent awards ceremony. We picked their brains as to the best destinations for 2010 by JOANNE AHERN index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html