Holidays

Ireland

Galway, on Ireland's wild west coast, is limbering up for its annual Arts Festival beginning 18 July. Acts range from traditional music concerts to Steppenwolf. Prices for four-night stays at the nearby Connemara Gateway Hotel with Cresta Holidays (0870 161 0910) start at £310 per person for the festival period and include Seacat crossings from Liverpool to Dublin. For a festival schedule, check www.galwayartsfestival.com.

Corfu

Thomas Cook (0870 751 9927) is offering a seven-night self catering holiday on the island that inspired Gerald and Lawrence Durrell for £259 per person, a saving of £150. Departures are from Luton Airport on 17July.

Hotels

Le Meridien Hotels is offering savings of up to 50 per cent off room rates at more than 125 city and resort hotels until 31 August in its Le Passport summer promotion. Reservations can be made on 0800 028 2840.

France

Save 15 per cent on a selection of cottages and villas during July and August with French Life (0113 239 0077). One week at Poulidore, a restored farmhouse with swimming pool in the Aquitaine region, sleeping nine, is £1,176 (a saving of £200). The price includes return ferry crossings with a car. Bowhills is also offering a range of last-minute deals on French properties, including one week at a Provençal villa near Montpellier for £225 per person. Call 01489 872727 for details.

Peru and Bolivia

Encounter (020 7370 6845) has reduced the cost of its 26-day Incas and Andes trip through Peru and Bolivia by £100. The new price of £1,170 includes land transport, meals, accommodation and guides, but flights are extra. The tour departs on 21 August and takes in Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.

Italy

Although the Italian Renaissance cruise starts and ends in Palma, as the name suggests, the itinerary mainly features Italian destinations, including Rome, Naples and Sicily. Malta and Sardinia are also ports of call. The cruise now costs £499 (a saving of £260 per person) and includes flights from Gatwick. Call Airtours on 08701 577775 for details.

Flights

Johannesburg

Book before 31 July with Trailfinders (020 7938 3939) for return flights to Johannes-burg for just £300, including pre-paid taxes.The flights are with Swissair and depart from either Heathrow or Manchester. All travel must be completed by 31 August and there is a minimum stay of seven days.