Go West, life is peaceful there

Things to like about autumn: comfort food, great telly, the gorgeous leaves. Things not to like about autumn: dark evenings, the imminent arrival of winter and how summer holidays feel like a lifetime ago. To stop the minuses outweighing the plusses, think about a September getaway package like the one Delphi Mountain Resort, Connemara, is offering. For €199pp sharing, you can enjoy two nights' accommodation in a double room, loft suite or double suite, a three-course meal and a seaweed bath in Delphi's award-winning Escape spa. Available 4-27 September, tel: 095 42208, or visit www.delphimountainresort.com.

It's Guinness Time

Ireland's most famous brew celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, and Ashford Castle celebrates its 70th birthday as a hotel. Given the fact that Ashford was once the country estate of the Guinness family, a joint celebration is more than fitting. On 15 October, the castle is hosting a special Black and White night where a bespoke cocktail, 'Arthur's Bellini' will be launched and a 'Black and White' birthday menu will be served in the Castle's Connaught room. Guests are required to follow the black-and-white dress code and the head brewer at Guinness will explain the history of Guinness and point out the links to Ashford Castle. Also included in the package, which costs €195 per person sharing, is a full Irish breakfast. Visit www.ashford.ie or tel: 094 9546003.

Staying Mumm

It can be difficult to find reasons to be cheerful at the beginning of the week, which is why we applaud Mumm Mondays at Dublin's Westin Hotel. From now until the end of November imbibers at the Mint Bar can enjoy 50% off all bottles and glasses of Mumm NV Champagne, which means €50 a bottle and €10 for a glass of bubbly. They've also introduced a new cocktail menu based around Mumm with interesting variations like the Strawberry & Basil Sorbetto and the Royale Cherry Moijto. Whether your Mumm Monday turns into a Terrible Tuesday might depend on how many glasses you succumb to.

Sloping Off

If you're thinking of a skiing/snowboarding holiday this year or early next, Bulgaria is an inexpensive and under-rated option, not least because it offers more hours of tuition and better prices than most other European ski destinations. Concorde Travel has a number of options in three of Bulgaria's top resorts, which include direct return flights from Dublin to Plovdiv, transfers and accommodation; €435 (plus €65 tax) based on six people sharing will get you a week in a two-bedroom apartment in the four-star Royal Lodge Apartments in Pamporova on a self-catering basis. One week's accommodation based on two people sharing a standard twin/double room in the three-star Hotel Evridika in Pamporovo on a half-board basis is from €469 per person, again with tax of €65. The offers are subject to availability and apply to certain dates. Visit www.concordetravel.ie or phone 01 775 9300.

Follow The Rainbow

South Africa continues to entice Irish tourists, and recent figures for Irish visitors to the country show an increase of 44.5%. Gohop.ie's packages here run the whole gamut from safari to wine tours. The Cape Town & Eastern Cape Safari package for seven nights is from €1,110 per person sharing and includes return flights from Dublin or Cork to Cape Town; four nights' accommodation in the four-star Fairways Boutique Hotel in Camps Bay, Cape Town; three nights' accommodation in the four-star Devon Valley Hotel, Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands and Group B Car hire for four days and airline taxes. Call gohop.ie on 01 2412389 or visit www.gohop.ie.

Malta teasers

Irish sun seekers don't have to travel too far or indeed splash too much cash this autumn. Malta, with current temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees and a three-and-a-half-hour flight away, is looking very tempting, especially as Ryanair's direct Dublin flights, three times a week, start at €169 return in September. Right in the heart of the Med, the island is restful and picturesque and in terms of activities, now is an especially good time to go. Malta's International Air Show, which attracts ten of thousands of visitors, takes place over the weekend of 26-27 September with exciting flying displays over St Paul's Bay. In October, there's the Malta Historic Cities Festival (which takes in the capital Valletta, right), an 11-day celebration of music and dance, while the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which runs 17-24 October, is an internationally renowned offshore classic. Go to www.visitmalta.com for more information and accommodation offers.