Can you imagine how nervous chef David Hayes of the Maigue Restaurant at the Dunraven Arms Hotel, was when he cooked for internationally famous chef Michel Roux. Chef Roux was on a visit to Ireland and stayed in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in the pretty Limerick village of Adare, this week.
   
Pictured outside the Dunraven Arms Hotel are Hugh Murphy, Michel Roux OBE and Head Chef David Hayes

Here's a great idea from Thomas Cook to show how smokers can pay for a holiday.Get the holiday habit with Thomas Cook by cutting down on the smokes

Smoking is an expensive habit, and a tough one to kick, but reducing the amount you smoke can have a massive impact on your holiday as well as your health. Thomas Cook is highlighting that cutting down as little as 10 a day over a five month period could save you the equivalent of your summer holiday.

Giving up just 10 cigarettes a day for four months would result in a saving equivalent to 7 nights at the 4-star Parque Cristobal in Gran Canaria with flights from Cork on 11th May, based on two persons sharing on a self-catering basis (€506 per person). Minutes from the beach and the Veronicas entertainment centre, this resort is perfect for both families and couples wanting a break to the sun on the back of their stopping smoking success.

By foregoing 20 a day, in just over 3 months you could stay 7 nights at the Parque Cristobal on an all-inclusive basis (€772 per person sharing). Departing 18th May, you could relax in the sun while continuing your health kick by taking part in the wide variety of sports activities on offer, from tennis and volleyball to aerobics.

If you want to cut down from 30 a day, the results are greater again. In five months a family holiday for two adults and one child to Gran Canaria could be the fruits of your hard efforts.  For €1,624, departing Dublin on the 28th September, you could stay at the Parque Cristobal, with a familyWORLD fun-packed activity programme and Kids Clubs making this resort the perfect location for a family holiday.

To book call the Thomas Cook team in Dublin on (01) 514 0328, log onto www.thomascook.ie  or visit your travel agent.