FANCY an invigorating week in Austria (the place to be this year due to Amadeus and his 250 birthday candles) that's also helping a good cause? DEBRA Ireland (of 'butterfly' children connections) have scheduled a charity trek for 8/15 July, based in the lovely Alpine village of Ehrwald, an hour or so north of Innsbruck. Featuring challenging walks through dramatic mountains and picturesque valleys, you'll also be able to tackle the 9,715-feet-high Zugspitze mountain. If you're up for it, call 01 6785044 or see www. debraireland. org

Teeing off and on course for the Med this spring

TWO escorted tours are planned for late next month by the Spanish Parador people with the first one (26/30 March) having a golfing emphasis. Based at the lovely Aiguablava parador in Catalunya and with golf competitions (led by golfing aficionado and ex Bachelor, Con Cluskey) part and parcel of the deal, the 1,075 cost for flights, transfers, accommodation etc also includes three dinners . . . and there's a lower price tag for non-golfers. In fact, if you're not a golfer then the nine-night tour (30 March to 8 April) might have more appeal. This has a Mediterranean flavour and incorporates stop-offs in Spain, on the Cote d'Azur in France and on the Italian Riviera. Contact Lorna Roberts on 095 23511 for availability and further details.

Tours de France event with food and wine sampling

IF you're something of a committed (or aspiring) Francophile then you should check out Tours de France, an event scheduled for 17 and 18 February and something of a francais-fest, it appears, incorporating holiday info, and lots of sampling of food and wine. With some 50 different stalls, and run under the joint auspices of the French tourist office and Sopexa, the French food and wine people, it's on in 6 Kildare Street, Dublin (close to the Alliance Francaise) from 2pm to 8pm on Friday 17 February and from 9.30am to 6pm on the Saturday. Admission is 5 with the usual concessions. Check out

SideStep launch their travel service here

JUST launched in Ireland a few days ago, SideStep, the established and awardwinning US travel website now offers another alternative to the Irish traveller.

Operating as a search engine and covering travel agencies, hotels, airlines, car rental and the like, it will scan more than 100 travel sites in search of the best deals. Once you've found what you want with SideStep you then transfer to that particular site at the click of a switch in order to make your booking. Check it out at www. sidestep. com

Panorama has great offers for group bookings

GOOD news from Panorama Holidays if you're planning a 'girly' holiday or maybe a group golfing trip is that group bookings are likely to benefit, with one out of nine travelling for free. Also, if you're young, free and single, then it's worth having a look at their 'Young and Lively' properties, highlighted throughout their Summer 2006 brochure. In the Hotel Brisa in Ibiza, for example, a group of nine can enjoy a week here for 227 per person. Call 0818 204060, www. panoramaholidays. ie