For the best in seafood, live music and alcoholic beverages, the Galway International Oyster Festival is hard to beat…just ask some of the thousands of visitors from around the world who flock to the event each year.

Accommodation in Galway itself is always booked up well in advance, but for those still keen to make the trip, Irish Ferries Holidays has availability in self-catering cottages at Renville Village at Oranmore, ten minutes’ drive away.

A week’s rental starting 26 September – the Festival starts on 27th – is £576 which also includes return Holyhead/Dublin cruise ferry crossing for car and two adults. 08705 17 17 17, www.irishferriesholidays.com

Irish Ferries - where you go, your luggage goes too

A recent report by a major insurance company confirms that claims for lost airline baggage – from scheduled and no frills airlines - has almost doubled in the first half of 2007.

Another reason why, says Irish Ferries, to ensure that you and your luggage arrive at the same holiday destination at the same time, it’s safer to pop it all in the car and take the ferry.

“This is just further proof that, in many cases, airlines are failing their passengers,” said head of passenger sales, Declan Mescall.

“It’s bad enough having to endure the hassle of long check-ins and endless queues, but then to arrive on holiday and spend further pointless hours waiting in vain at the carousel is guaranteed to drive stress levels off the scale…the very opposite of what a holiday is supposed to do.”

“Self-drive holidays by ferry are yet again growing in popularity as holidaymakers realise the benefits of competitive pricing, short check-in times, space to relax and enjoy the journey and, as now reported, arriving at their destination with personal belongings and holiday essentials intact.”

Irish Ferries’ lead-in fare to Ireland for the period 26 September – 20 December 2007 is just £59 one-way for a car and driver, plus as much luggage as the car will hold, when booking at least 28 days before travel. Lead-in up to 25 September is £69.