Last minute Easter deals

Irish Ferries Holidays has extended its early booking offer which gives substantial savings for families to a selection of self-catering holiday villages throughout Ireland for the Easter and summer school holidays.

For travel-inclusive bookings now made by 31 March, there's a reduction of £50 for Easter and £100 for summer on the cost of the accommodation.

For example, for Easter the £50 saving applies at 15 holiday villages across Ireland. For arrivals on site at, for example, Glenbeg Point, between 4-11 April, a week's holiday for two adults and up to three children is £397, saving a total of £94 and inclusive of self-catering accommodation and return cruise ferry crossing - either Holyhead/Dublin or Pembroke/Rosslare - for car and passengers, see irishferries.com.

For a relaxing Easter break, specialist operator, Vintage Travel suggests Casa Verity - a four bedroom house sleeping six which is within walking distance of the sandy horseshoe-shaped bay at Tamariu in Catalunya, Spain.

It has a private heated pool, part terraced grounds with lawns and central heating is available throughout. A 10-night rental - starting 8 April - costs £930 (shorter duration available). Flights and car hire extra.

This picturesque stretch of coastline boasts many sandy beaches and coves and stone medieval hilltop towns - such as nearby Begur - and is within easy reach of Girona where the 'Procession of the Holy Burial' - a tradition documented since 1566 - takes place on Good Friday. For more details, see vintagetravel.co.uk.

A Mediterranean cruise for £149! That's the special offer from Louis Cruise Lines for its four-night 'Jewels of the Aegean' cruises from Athens on the Aquamarine. Easter holiday sailing dates are 6 and 13 April, and the offer includes full board on the ship, on-board entertainment and all port taxes.

It's a great 'taster' for first-time cruisers, and a chance to island-hop in comfort, calling at Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and Patmos as well as Kusadasi on the Turkish coast.

The £149 lead in price is per person, based on two sharing an Inside Standard Stateroom. Other cabin types available at a supplement. Price does not include flights: find a good deal with Easyjet, Aegean Airlines or Olympic Airlines. See louiscruises.com.