OK, so we haven’t even got to Christmas yet – but hey, let’s talk summer holidays. There’s nothing like imagining sunning yourself on a beach to alleviate the dreariness of an encroaching winter. And there are some pretty exciting new flight routes on the way for summer 2018, whether you’re planning a short hop to Naples or Bordeaux, or a mega-blowout trip to China or Montreal.
Dublin to Bordeaux with Ryanair
Starting April 2019, from €71 return
Distance from Dublin to Bordeaux: 1,032 kilometres/641 miles
Ryanair has oodles of new routes lined up for summer 2019 – we’ve picked out just a few of the highlights. For one, the airline will be running twice-weekly flights to Bordeaux from April, a region famed for its wine and culture. As well as visiting the vineyards to enjoy a glass or two of plonk, make sure to check out the city’s world-class museums and galleries – such as the CAPC Modern Art Museum (open 11am–6pm, €7), which houses around 1,300 artworks.
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Dublin to Cagliari in Sardinia with Ryanair
Starting July 2019, from €171 return
Distance from Dublin to Cagliari: 1,957 kilometres/1,216 miles
Sardinia is a great place to head to for a beach holiday – the beautiful Arutas beach in particular is famed for its aquamarine waters – and we picked it as one of the most romantic island getaways in Europe. But this Italian isle is also a hotbed of history: it’s littered with remnants of the Nuragic civilisation, which flourished on the island for more than a thousand years before the Romans arrived. Nuraghe Su Nuraxi is one of the most popular Nuragic ruins to visit: this World Heritage Site that features a tower dating back to 1500 BC.
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Dublin to Lisbon with TAP
Starting March 31st 2019, from €73 return
Distance from Dublin to Lisbon: 1,640 kilometres/1,019 miles
You might not have heard of TAP: it’s the national airline of Portugal, and next summer TAP is planning twice daily flights from Dublin to Lisbon, providing direct competition to Ryanair planes running the same route. Hopefully this added competition will result in cheaper fares for the route to Portugal’s capital. If you’re eager to keep on top of the best prices, check out these tips on how to save money when booking flights.
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Dublin to Minneapolis with Aer Lingus
Starting July 8th 2019, from €580 return
Distance from Dublin to Minneapolis: 6,013 kilometres/3,736 miles
Aer Lingus is adding to its already formidable North American portfolio with two new transatlantic routes, meaning it now flies to a total of 15 destinations on the continent. Minneapolis is a well-to-do and uber-trendy city not too far from the Great Lakes that has an embarrassment of art galleries and swanky bars. The Walker Art Center (open daily except Mondays, $15) features exhibits by modern art luminaries like Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, while the swanky Surly Brewing beer hall features 26 taps that rotate daily.
View this post on InstagramWet and Vacant Views 💦 Feels surreal when the Stone Bridge is completely empty.
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Dublin to Montreal with Aer Lingus
Starting August 8th 2019, from €561 return
Distance from Dublin to Montreal: 4,776 kilometres/2,968 miles
Another new destination for Aer Lingus, Montreal is the comedy capital of Canada. Every July it plays host to the internationally famous Just For Laughs comedy festival, which attracts talent from across the world. And Montreal has a very quirky downtown – the Underground City is a huge complex of shops and eateries connected by tunnels that thread their way under the streets.
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Shannon to Ibiza with Ryanair
Starting April 3rd 2019, from €80 return
Distance from Shannon to Ibiza: 1,726 kilometres/1,072 miles
Party lovers, rejoice! Ryanair is laying on twice weekly flights to Ibiza from Shannon airport between April and October next year – or a total of 22,000 seats if you’re a statistics fan. We named Ibiza as one of the best places to visit in Spain, not least because of its amazing beaches – including Judge Jules’ favourite, Benirrás beach. But of course, for most holidaymakers it’s all about the music – make sure to check out Ushuaïa, voted by DJ magazine as the second best club in the world in 2017, and Amnesia, which won Best Global Club for three years on the trot.
View this post on Instagram@unitedants CLOSING PARTY TAKE OVER THIS SATURDAY! #unitedANTS #closingparty #ushuaiaibiza #ibiza
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Cork to Naples with Ryanair
Starting July 2019, from €171 return
Distance from Cork to Naples: 2,125 kilometres/1,320 miles
Naples is famous for being the birthplace of the margherita pizza, with the tomato, mozzarella and basil apparently representing the colours of the Italian flag. But it’s also famous for being the shadow of a rather famous volcano, which buried the residents of nearby Pompeii in scalding ash 2000 years ago. A full tour of the huge ruins will take about a day, and tickets cost €15 on the door, although you can also purchase them online in advance if you want to skip the queue. The eerily well-preserved shops and streets are fascinating in themselves, but to get the most out of your tour, you’ll want to hire an audio guide for €8.
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Dublin to Beijing with Hainan Airlines
Starting June 12th 2019, from €601 return
Distance from Dublin to Beijing: 8,302 kilometres/5,159 miles
The enormous Forbidden City (open daily 8.30am to 5pm, entry 60 yuan) is undoubtedly the highlight of any trip to Beijing. This huge palace complex dates from the early fifteenth century, and it was home to Chinese emperors for around 500 years until the early part of the twentieth century. The complex covers around 72 hectares, so you’ll need to put aside at least a day to explore it. But be prepared for crowds – the Palace Museum admits 14 million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum in the world.
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Top tips for savvy travellers:
Ryanair hand luggage allowance and how to avoid the fees
Tired of being stung with baggage charges when flying with Ryanair? Read on for our a full breakdown of Ryanair’s baggage allowances, fees, plus tips on how to maximise your hand luggage and minimise those pesky payments.
7 easy ways to make airport security stress-free
Getting stuck in airport security isn’t just an irritation. If you make a mistake and are pulled aside for additional screening, you might just miss your flight – so take the stress out of the process by preparing thoroughly.
New flight routes of the month: October
Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Laudamotion and Aeroflot are all offering new flight routes from Ireland in October. Take a trip to see the Harry Potter theatre show in London, explore the opulent Moscow Metro or take a tram through the beautiful streets of Lisbon.
Published October 2018. Any prices are lowest estimated prices only at the time of publication and are subject to change and/or availability.
