www.cassidytravel.ie Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Last-minute summer holidays

2nd April 20252nd April 2025 funtime65

Every summer the scene played out in our household as others with my Dear Old Dad badgered about last-minute summer holidays.

If only Mum had our online travel providers like Cassidy Travel at the tap of a button.

With the clocks going forward we’re now in Summertime so the need is urgent.

And CT have responded without the need for Dads and Mums to go hunting them down.

At increased costs as happened back in the day.

Fun for all the family

What Dad and Mum could have done too if they’d had access to AI (All-Inclusive) too.

Although it would have denied me the very-grown up responsibility on holidays.

Of being sent to the beach bar and ordering due cuba libre and an Orangina.

Because, of course, they were encouraging me even then to learn new languages.

And mug up on la lingua

You’ll get a full seven days as a family with Cassidy to mug up on la lingua in family favourite Mallorca.

Travelling on August 6, Cassidy is offering a seven-night package at the AI 3* Vista Park.

Just minutes walk from the beach with swimming pool, sun terrace and evening entertainment.

You’ll get flights, luggage and accommodation with prices from €2,025., based on two adults and a child.

Our very family dynamic when my folks had empty nested my elder brothers.

Flat rate

Or if you prefer your own apartment, and yes Mum brought her own teabags and later in life her Black Heart rum.

You’ll stay for seven nights at the 4* Vistamar Hotel Apartmentos from August 27.

With flights, luggage and accommodation from €769pp for your nuclear family.

And only a short stroll from a sandy beach

With a swimming pool and plenty of local amenities nearby.

And all at the tap of a button with Cassidy Travel for your last-minute summer holidays.

Or the option of going into any one of CT’s stores.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Love this island Mallorca

24th August 202124th August 2021 funtime65

Now that it’s cleansing itself from those fame-hungry reality TV stars it’s time again to love this island Mallorca.

The largest of the Balearic Islands offers much more than sun, sea, sand, stripping off and something else beginning with ‘s’.

And that ‘s’ is style as Soller.

Sun, sand and Soller

Soller in the north is less charted course for most British and Irish who tend towards Magaluf on the west coast.

And you’ll hear more Guten Tags and God Dag than Awrite mate or Howiya.

The best way to reach the town is by tram which comes down from the hills.

And in two years’ time it will celebrate its centenary.

And also instead of salmon pink bodies you’ll see more tanned Teutonic and voluptuous Viking.

Drift away

The beauty of Mallorca though is that wherever you go on the island you can easily avoid the tourist traps.

And so on our stop-off from our Western Med cruise we stayed a few hundred metres away from Magaluf.

And a world away.

With a dinner cabaret night with The Drifters… Saturday night obvs.

Classy Cassidy

Our friends at Cassidy Travel are offering the type of Mallorca villa we all love.

Without the Stepford (or should that be Southend?) Wives and Husbands.

Stay in one of their luxury villas for seven nights from €295pp.

Their four bedrooms can accommodate eight people

And best of all the Irish Travel Agents holiday are putting it on for next month.

And that means all those Love Islanders will be gone.

So you can love this island Mallorca.

Asia, Countries, Deals, Europe, Ireland

Cassidy’s Sundance Kids

19th August 202119th August 2021 funtime65

My Dear Old Mum would visit the same Travel Agent every year to book our family holiday and I’m sure it’s the same for Cassidy’s Sundance Kids.

Cassidy, as all in Ireland know, is the country’s biggest independent Travel Agent.

And it has made generations of holidaymakers dreams come true.

Which is why families continue to go back to them again and again to book their holidays.

Now there have been many heroes over this Covid year and a half and our health workers, teachers…

And heck, all of us should take a bow.

But I’d like to give a shout-out to our Travel Providers who have often worked without pay and in their own time.

And all to make sure customers get away or are refunded or have their holidays rescheduled.

Now there are those who say that getting away is not a matter of life and death.

But if self-isolation (and the Son and Heir is facing that just now) has taught us anything it is that humans do not belong caged up.

And so we are delighted to report that Cassidy Travel’s doors are open and filling our inboxes with their offers.

And so without further ado…

On trend

Last year’s blond: ‘The Donald’ in New York

Here’s where they want to take us and I’m indebted to the awesome Aileen who has taken over babysitting us Travel professionals.

Here are the trends (as the kids say):

The late Autumn deals, New York and Las Vegas shopping breaks, Christmas markets, Lapland, Christmas and New Year Sun.

Take a breath…

New Year and January Ski, Cruising, Florida 2022 and Villa Holidays.

And, yes please to them all.

But we’ll pare some of them down to these Three Cheers.

Ola Barcelona

To the Lord: At Gaudi’s centrepiece La Sagrada

We all know Barcelona in the summer where it’s hot, hot, hot.

And I’m sure I’m still the subject of the proud, brusque Catalan waitress who I managed to draw a smile from when I asked for a hot chocolate on the hottest day of the hottest heatwave.

Thankfully we got to take to the water for a cruise stop.

flights and 3 nights accommodation at the 3*Hotel Leo for the incredible price of €149pp (based on two people sharing)!

Flight departs Dublin 13^th and returning 16^th October 2021.

Call Cassidy Travel on 01 8901000 or book in one of their 10 stores across Dublin.

You’re a Celebrity too

And Celebrity Edge is the ultimate in cruising with its floating tender… and yes, love me tender.

Cassidy will get you on board for a scoot around Italy and Greece aboard next summer 2022.

Get on this deal for seven nights in an interior cabin including full board.

Plus Always Included Promotion Classic Drinks package, internet package and tips for only €1929pp.

Setting sail from Rome and visiting Naples and the stunning Greek islands of Santorini, Rhodes & Mykonos,

And phinally Phuket

Phuket, we’ll finish with a land, Thailand, and resort, Phuket, where I sent many a young adventurer and page designer and scuba diver Podge in my time as a commissioning editor.

Cassidy has 50% savings included for a ten-night stay in the 4* Old Phuket Karon Beach Resort from only €998pp for next May.

Stay in a Deluxe Sino Wing room, beautiful period accommodation influenced by Sino-Portuguese architecture.

And enjoy the magnificent pool, mountain views and beach side bars.

Prices are based on two sharing and include flights, taxes, private transfers and hotel accommodation.

Book by September 30 to avail of this amazing deal!

And aren’t these all good reasons to pitch Cassidy’s Sundance Kids.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Ireland, UK

Holiday Snaps – Coronavirus

7th March 20207th March 2020 funtime65

If you’re like me, firstly, you have my sympathies, secondly flight changes will be nothing new to you… so you will be prepared for the Coronavirus.

Thankfully we also have the good services of our airline friends…

Among them these carriers who are offering free of charge changes:

American Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Air France, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, AirCanada and WestJet.

Each airline has slightly different rules, but most offer changes valid for ticketed/issued bookings from the month of March.

Lie back and think of Barbados

Not to diminish the health scare but while being vigilant and trusting the authorities (and now I’m just depressing myself) we can’t stop living.

Which seems to be TUI’s www.tuiholidays.ie mantra too.

They are teasing us with the Caribbean. And I need little tickling.

Eleven nights self-catering (just buy a bottle of rum and pineapple juice) at the 3*+ Divi Southwards Beach Resort. Flights from Dublin, From €1599pps.

And you all know what I think of Barbados… Let’s rumba in Barbados and My kiss with Rihanna.

Or try Mexico… I’ve been trying to get there for 30 years since immersing myself in Mexicana working as a bus boy in GuadalaHarry’s in Boston.

Go all-inclusive for for ten nights at the 3* Riu Lupita Playacar from €1599pps.

Canaries update

Just swimmingly: In Tenerife

Now perhaps it was because my Dear Old Dad was a doctor, and my Mum a sister – she still tells ‘the orderlies’ in her nursing home what to do…

But it’s given me utter faith in the medics to make sure everything goes OK.

The Canarians have been all over their coronavirus outbreak and are at pains to welcome us back over to their shores.

And I’d be there in a flash… to carry on the good work from A walk through the ages… Tenerife with Canaria Ways… www.CanariaWays.com

And you should also visit https://www.webtenerife.co.uk/what-to-do/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlpam_bmG6AIVBLDtCh1hZwB4EAAYAiAAEgKqyfD_BwE.

Cape crusaders

The perfect host: Rachel, in South Africa

The twin challenges in Travel just now are facing down the Coronavirus and sustainability.

Who would bet against it being those clever South Africans at finding an antidote to the disease?

Particularly as they already have a handle on climate change with their magic plant, the spekboom, the answer to flight shame, flygskam, This plant can save the world.

Which is why I’m flagging up Cassidy Travel’s www.cassidytravel.ie six-night Cape Town escape from €819pps including flights from Dublin.

Explore the Winelands, the Garden Route and take in a Big Five Safari Tour.

You’ll be staying at the 4* The Hyde Hotel in the cosmopolitan Sea Point area.

MEET YOU ON THE ROAD

Countries, Cruising, Culture, Europe

Cruiseday Tuesday – Santorini

3rd March 20203rd March 2020 funtime65

It’s the Swap Shop (ask your Dad) question which cruise captains are invariably most often asked: ‘Where is your favourite port!’ And invariably the answer is Santorini.

The Greek island with its classic azure blue domed rooftops does stand out on the sea (I’m told). Hint!

Cassidy Travel agree. They are running a seven-night cruise Greek Odyssey from €817pps including flights from Dublin.

Aboard the Norwegian Spirit you’ll leave from Athens (Piraeus) en route to Rhodes, Kusadasi in Turkey, Patmos, Mykanos, the sights of Agostoli, Corfu.

And onto Santorini. Flights depart April 26. Visit www.cassidytravel.ie.

And here’s a Greek Odyssey of my own… www.athensattica.com and https://visitkythera.com. And My Greek odyssey.

Where’s your favourite port? Let me know.

Sail out of Majorca

Most holidaymakers leave Majorca by air but for the best experience come in by ship.

Our friends at TUI www.tuiholidays.ie have Majorca from three Irish airports.

Save €300 by using the code MAY300.

Cork to Majorca: 2 May on Marella Discovery – Highlights of the Mediterranean, inside cabin, AI, seven nights from €939pps.

Dublin to Majorca: 19 May, Marella Dream: – Spanish Delights, inside cabin, AI, seven nights, from €979pps.

Shannon to Majorca: 16 May, Marella Discovery – Cosmopolitan Classics, inside cabin, AI, seven nights from €1149pps.

A prince and Princess

And because I’ve seen first hand how hard and how genuinely caring Princess Cruises ate about their guests.

Here picked up from the old Twittersphere a tribute from a First Officer to his captain.

They are few and far between and I’m still looking… a good boss.

Captain Arma was last to leave #DiamondPrincess. He is a hero in our eyes.

You want to know where they’re sailing?…

How about up to €450pp flight discount on select America-based sailings departing in 2020 and 2021. The deal runs from today – April 30, 2020.

The flight discount is available on over 120 voyages, ranging in length from seven – 28 days.

The sailings cover destinations across northern and central America including, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Panama Canal and South America.

Several sailings on the 3,660-guest Sky Princess, feature as part of the offer, as well as the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess, which will be christened in Southampton at the end of June this year.

Voyages include:
· A 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise onboard Royal Princess, departing October 10, 2020. Sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles, ports of call are Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Prices from €1495pp

MEET YOU ON THE SEAS

Countries, Culture, Deals, Europe, Food, Food & Wine

Hungary and Thursday – Goulash

29th February 202029th February 2020 funtime65

Well, I had to do it eventually didn’t I? But my interest in Hungarian goulash is prompted by the Czech variety.

Goulash is popular throughout Central Europe… well, all these countries border each other so it probably shouldn’t be surprising.

But the Hungarians claim it as their own, their national dish.

My question here though, and I grant you that I have an untrained palate, is not who ‘owns’ goulash.

But what is the difference between goulash and stew?

Right, so after some extensive research, and some sampling, let me lay down what I’ve discovered:

Stew is a main dish containing meat and vegetables and thick broth made from the stewing juices.

And the Strahov Monastery Brewery serves the best goulash

While goulash is also a stew (fancy?) but here’s the big difference… it has paprika.

Now you know I’ve been eating goulash in the Czech Republic last week (and drinking) and more inducements later…

And by the way the Strahov Monastery Brewery www.klasterni.pivovar.cz is where they serve the best goulash.

But for now Hungary and some goulash (what do you mean you can get paprika in the supermarket?)

Our friends at Click&Go www.clickandgo.com are offering us a St Patrick’s Day three-night break for two in March in Budapest from €199.

With return flights between Dublin and Budapest.

For the 4* Hotel Novam Golden Park Hotel.

And because I’m as good as my word then let me tell you about Cassidy Travel’s www.cassidytravel.ie deal to Prague.

Two nights in Prague for €99 for March 9.

I’ll share more of my latest Czech adventures in Ireland’s The Herald newspaper with you and on this site.

But to whet your appetite… Hungry and Thursday – Czech please and a review I prepared earlier Hope springs eternal.

America, Countries, Cruising, Culture, Deals, Europe

Cruiseday Tuesday – Hawaii alive-o

28th January 202028th January 2020 funtime65

It’s a useful tool when hello and goodbye are the same word in a language… it means that you can get rid of unwanted people without being rude.

Like with Ciao in Italian and Aloha in Hawaiian.

Of course rudeness doesn’t come into the Hawaiian vocabulary.

See Hawaii for yourself on Cassidy Travel’s 15-day cruise with flight to Los Angeles and an overnight stay in the city this November 5 from €1829pps.

You’ll sail on the Star Princess full-board and visit Hilo, Honolulu, Maui and Kauai before returning to LA via Ensenada in Mexico.

Herself could dig out her Pacific shell necklace from when she sailed back from living in Australia as a child… she doesn’t mention it much!

Me? I’ve always got my sarong from my own exotic island holiday in the Maldives. Check out https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/12/atoll-tale-the-maldives/. And visit www.cassidytravel.ie.

Majorca Jocka

My early Spring Clean dug up a copy of my first cruise, to Majorca, and I posted it up on the site.

But, of course, you keep something back just for yourself.

I had taken my full dress kiltie out on cruise… and yes, it took up a fair bit of my suitcase.

My international colleagues were too polite to point out that I’d forgotten my sporran.

And of course a Scotty man never reveals what’s under the skirtie.

This is how it all worked out for me when I was but a cruising tyro…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2020/01/21/smooth-sailing-around-the-western-med/

My old friends at TUI have Mediterranean Medley, Dublin- Majorca on the Marella Dream for May 5.

For seven nights all-inclusive inside cabin. From €928pps.

Or Cork-Majorca for May 16. Marella Discovery – Cosmopolitan Classics. Inside Cabin, all-inclusive. From. €1159pps.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Holiday Snaps – Prague for under €100

10th January 202011th January 2020 funtime65

It’s my own fault for not keeping a lock on my drinks cabinet… my Becherovka gets drained by the Son and Heir and his Daft Pals.

Of course when I rumbled him he had the answer. Not the answer but an answer.

He would buy me another bottle.

The only problem being the spiced liqueur that was invented in a pharmacy as a medicine is only made in the Czech Republic.

https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/24/czech-it-out-2/

Miracle water too… and beer and Becherovka

Lucky then that I’ve got pals in Czechland and that Cassidy Travel www.cassidytravel.ie have this super-duper short deal.

For two nights from March 9, and they also have Amsterdam Pictures of Amsterdam and www.iamsterdam.com from March 10 for the same price.

And to give you a taster of the Czechs Hope springs eternal and check out (I know) www.visitczech.com.

I’d like to say that he learned his lesson.

But the bottle of Croatian wine given to me by my friends at Croatia Tours www.croatia.ie for Christmas is testament to the fact that I can’t.

So that’s another trip I have to make… it’s one that I was on and off the bus for.

Maybe he’s really doing me a favour.

Chairman de la board

Long before gamers there were board gamers, of which I am one.

But I confess that I’d never heard of the ones Francophiles will be playing at Soiree Jeux at the French Library Dublin on Thursday (free from 6.30pm).

Now this is all French to me but mes amis at Alliance Francaise Dublin www.webmaster@alliance-francaise.ie are tempting me with Carcassone, Star Realms, Les adventuriers du rail and many others.

Now I’ve had my own adventuriers du rail on my post-school trip down to the French Riviera.

We slept on the platform in Paris St Lazare station.

And were awoken by the gendarmes kicking our sleeping bags and brandishing their guns.

It would not be the last time that the gendarmes had cause to pull their guns on us.

After we (or let’s say I) stopped the traffic in Frejus.

While my adventuriers du rail were not finished there.

With me missing la traine because I was off trying to buy du biere.

The last I saw of my old pal Adam was 37 years ago.

When he was waving out the window of the train at me.

Although I just missed out on the class reunion last month. I’d have had words to say.

I expect there will be board games in the restored chateau that Brittany Ferries http://www.brttanyferries.co.uk is pitching.

As part of its 20% off 2020 holidays in France.

You’ll be staying in Le Domaine de la Baie, not far from the centre of Audierne.

Book now and you can stay for just €177pp.

There are sand beaches, a surf and sailing school and a picturesque fishing harbour and marina.

Which to me means seafood. And Brittany too is well known for its cidre. Tres bien.

And for more on France, visit http://www.atoutfrance.fr.

And I know that you’re dying to know that I never did grow up and got into similar high jinks.

When I returned to the French Riviera 35 years later…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-boat-dazur/

One foot in Algarve

Two point two children is the average but our two point three didn’t mean we were above average.

And we didn’t redeem ourselves to our Portuguese host when we broke her skylight in the Seventies.

Two point one is what Click & Go ate pitching… with seven nights in the 4* Estrela do Vau Hotel, Praia do Vau.

From €669 per family for Travel in May. Visit www.clickandgo.com.

And why Portugal is the perfect destination for fun and families…

https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/12/sportugal/ Secret Portugal.

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Cruiseday Tuesday – Disney on water

26th November 201926th November 2019 funtime65

What’s the difference between Walt Disney and Bing Crosby? Bing sings but Walt Disney.

That’s just one of the jokes you’ll hopefully not hear on this Disney cruise.

Forgive me for trotting out a Dad Joke but it’s just that Daddy’s Little Girl gave me a box of them for my birthday… and some of them aren’t even mine.

Being the big kid I am I’m one of those who still believes that Disney is the Happiest Place on Earth…. http://www.disneyparks.disney.go.com, http://www.disneyworld.disney.go.com, http://www.disneyland.disney.go.com.

Both when I visited Disneyworld and Disneyland https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/stair-wars-3/.

So what better match-up than my favourite holiday hosts and my favourite form of travel… a Disney cruise?

Cassidy Travel http://www.cassidytravel.ie is offering a seven-night cruise on Disney Fantasy from €7661 for a family of four of the Western Caribbean.

Visiting Mexico, Grand Cayman and Jamaica from Cape Canaveral.

There will be daily shows and activities, dress-up themed nights, fireworks display and kids’ clubs.

There is even a private island, Castaway Cay, with water sports and sandy beaches.

And, of course, you’ll be sharing the ship with these guys…

Corphew

That water looks so still you could walk on it… the Aegean Sea that is.

So I tried, in Corfu, and ended up swallowing half of it, adding water skiing to a list of water sport calamities.

Which can only grow next week out in Tobago.

But I won’t have the Scary One to burp me like a new-born baby or like Jerry does to Tom.

Corfu is best admired from aboard a cruise ship with a stop-off.

And luckily enough TUI http://www.tuiie has just the thing.

They have a seven-night Marella all-inclusive cruise from €1339pps on June 26.

You’ll be staying in an inside cabin on the Marella Explorer as part of an Idyllic Italy tour. Buon Vacanza. Visit http://www.tuiholidays.ie

And for more couples’ frolics on the high seas here’s when I stopped the Scary One from ‘falling overboard!!! http://The Call of the fjords.

MEET YOU ON THE SEAS

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Holiday Snaps – Snappy dressing in New York

6th October 20196th October 2019 funtime65

Now Macy’s is many people’s shopping dream and indeed for many women fashion is a key part of their New York trip…

Heck in this, the last rock in the Atlantic before Ireland which we like to call Ireland, weekend shopping breaks across to the Big Apple are a must-do.

For those who can afford it…

And for those who can’t.

I wouldn’t put my own Dear Old Mum in that category though very fashionable she is, even at 91.

Which reminds me of the last time we were in New York together, for my cousin’s wedding… here’s our extended clan above.

We had been assigned a very specific task by my brother to get chinos.

And having lived in North America he knew the exact American sizes.

When I asked my cousin where the nearest mall to him on Long Island was he said the black mall was nearer than the white mall.

I was aghast but he wasn’t being racist it’s just the way it is.

And another thing: the shoppers were super-super-sized.

Probably because they were tanking into the fast food.

It’s an economic thing where the poorer you are the more fast food you eat.

I’d had this reaffirmed to me in Mississippi, one of America’s poorest estate and home to the most popular drive-through burger joint. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-story-of-the-blues/

But back to the other end of the spectrum to Macy’s and the woman I call Mum because that’s her name.

Browsing through the Guess coats in Macy’s http://www.macys.com for my Scary One Mum scoffed at my choice of a green coat.

And that she wanted me to tell her she had no part in its selection…

And Guess what, she’s still wearing it ten years later!

All of which nonsense is s roundabout way of flagging up Cassidy Travel’s Shop till you drop offer from €579pps.

That’ll be a three-night break with flights from Dublin.

Stay at the 3* the Manhattan at Times Square Hotel.

Flight departs December 9. http://www.cassidytravel.ie.

Start spreading the news

And here’s a different twist on NY… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/21/old-new-york-hamilton/

And while you’re there, or before you go, check out https://www.nycvb.com and the excellent New York City Pass http://www.citypass.com.