Xmas shopping breaks in Jersey, Berlin & Dublin

Xmas shopping breaks

Here’s some good deals for Xmas shopping breaks in Jersey, Berlin and Dublin.

Jersey: November 30 sees the start of Jersey’s La Fete de Noue (above), a 15-day Christmas festival – now in its 14th year – when the island will be hosting a wealth of festive events and its capital of St Helier will be ablaze with twinkling lights and decorations.

Highlights include traditional markets – offering a wealth of unusual gift ideas – street theatre, Christmas parades, carols by candlelight, festive parades, music and dancing. There’s also fun to be had on the festive ice rink situated at Fort Regent.

Modern Hotels has four-night breaks – includes one free night – throughout the festival costing from £255 per person. This twin share price includes return Gatwick flights, transfers and accommodation with breakfast at the three-star Mayfair Hotel in St Helier. Liverpool departures cost from £249 per person. As a bonus all drinks (excluding bottled beer/lager/cider and branded spirits and champagne) cost 99p per glass. See www.modernhotels.com

Berlin: For singles who fancy a city break and Xmas shopping, Friendship Travel’s package to Berlin should fit the bill. Not only can guests take in ‘must sees’ such as the new Reichstag and the old Brandenburg Gate, but can also soak up the festive atmosphere at more than 50 Christmas markets situated throughout the city. These include the Charlottenburg Castle, Kaiser Wilhelm and Potsdamer Platz markets, the latter having an ice rink and a huge mobile toboggan run.

The cost of £360 per person includes return Gatwick flights, transfers, three nights’ B&B – with sole occupancy of a twin room – at the three-star Ibis Berlin Mitte and services of a Friendship Travel host. Regional departures are also available, supplements may apply.

See www.friendshiptravel.com

Dublin: Irish Ferries Holidays has a self-drive Dublin break from £168 per person for any three nights’ bed and breakfast before December 23. That’s a perfect excuse to visit Dublin’s official Christmas Market at George’s Dock behind Custom House Quay in the heart of the city.

And on a self-drive break, no matter how many gifts you buy, there’s no charge for bringing them back in the car boot. Every day between December 12 and 23, from 12 noon to 8pm (open at 10am at weekends) you’ll find dozens of stalls offering everything from Christmas decorations and Irish crafts to hot food and drinks served from a 1950s airstream trailer. There’s also a Victorian carousel ride, carol singing and live music every night.

The £168 per person package is based on a three-night stay (with one free night saving £40 per person) at the three-star Sandymount Hotel, which has free car parking and easy access to the city centre (two kilometres away) by DART light rail. The package includes cruise ferry crossings for a car from Holyhead to Dublin.

See www.irishferries.com/holidays