Drive time

If you want proof of what a hot holiday destination Namibia is right now, look to the fact that the Jolie-Pitts spent Christmas there, the birth country of their daughter Shiloh. Gohop.ie has a really interesting 13-day self-drive package here, giving you access to all of the country's highlights, including the Kalahari desert, game viewing in Etosha National Park and the capital, Windhoek. The price is from €1,289, excluding flights, and includes accommodation and meals, a detailed itinerary, 24-hour service and support as well as 13-day vehicle hire with insurance and unlimited mileage.

Excess all areas

There's a lot to be said for an all-inclusive holiday, its only downside being the general inability to exercise restraint when faced with unlimited food and drink. Sunway offers a number of good, all-inclusive deals, which include a stay at the four-star Dreams Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from €1,328, and the five-star Dreams Puerto Aventuras on Mexico's Mayan coast from €1,502. Prices include meals, snacks, drinks, selected entertainment, as well as flights, accommodation and taxes and charges. See sunway.ie.

Cupid calling

Although Christmas is just over, another momentous date lurks on the horizon: Valentine's Day. Brooklodge, in Macreddin, Co Wicklow, is promising an extremely romantic break. On Sunday, 13 February, you can enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast and pampering in the Wells spa. Choose dinner in the Italian taverna here and the cost is €120 pps; opt for dinner in the Strawberry Tree, Ireland's only certified organic restaurant, and the price is €150 pps. At the Wells, you can choose from a Serail mud chamber for two or a 30-minute side-by-side relaxing treatment. Prices are based on a standard room – there's a €15 pps supplement for superior rooms and a €50 pps for a suite. See brooklodge.com.

The kids are alright

Lovely boutique hotel Lisloughrey, near Cong, Co Mayo, might not spring to mind as a place to bring the kids but that's far from the case. It's offering a kids-go-free package in a family suite (made up of a suite and a deluxe room for the children). On one of the nights, the parents will enjoy a six-course meal in Salt restaurant while the children are looked after by a very nice babysitter at the Lodge. A trip for the entire family on Lough Corrib is included. During midterm, the kids' club will be open from 9.30am to 11am and from 4.30pm to 7pm. It costs from €295 pps and an extra night costs €150 per night. Visit lisloughrey.ie.

On the road

Who hasn't dreamed of doing a Jack Kerouac/Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider American road trip? EagleRider, the biggest motorcycle rental company in the States and American Holidays are offering the holiday of a lifetime with a huge range of self-guided trips through America's most iconic landscapes. Your choice of wheels include Harley Davidson, Triumph, Honda and BMW, from €94 a day including taxes, and across locations as varied as Seattle, California and Florida. Options include bike rental only, self-drive tours with a planned itinerary and guided motorcycle tours. A three-day San Diego/Palm Springs motorcycle self-drive tour, for example, costs €564 pps, based on two bikes and two sharing a hotel room. Tel: 01 6733800.

Give it a tri

It's no longer enough just to do a marathon: triathlons are where it's at. Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo, has launched a training weekend for triathlon beginners. The weekend includes swim technique sessions at the hotel's spa; 20k guided bike rides, boot camp and jogs, with seminars on nutrition. It's not all hard work – also included is dinner in the restaurant, La Fougere, and access to the spa's vitality pool. The first training programme takes place on 28 January, and every month after until August. The price is €250, which includes two nights' B&B, with one evening meal, a packed lunch on Sunday, seminars and full guidance from expert trainers. See khh.ie.