The Ice House with the Warm Welcome!

My daughter, Nicole, is making her confirmation soon so we decided to mark the occasion by doing something really special together and take a mini trip to the West. The Wild Atlantic Way has been a buzz word for Irish Tourism over the last couple of years and The Ice House in Ballina is the perfect hotel to stop off at while travelling the route from Sligo to Galway.

In Ireland most hotels have strict rules and only allow over 16's in the hot tubs or treatment rooms but we found a warm welcome for a mum and daughter at Chill Spa. In fact the small and cosy steam room and outdoor sauna were the perfect introduction to spa life for my daughter before we plunged into the main event, The Hot Tub.

The view from the Hot Tub is stunning and of course it didn't matter if the sky clouded over because we were toasty in the warm bubbles.
The Ice House hugs the River Moy and is a clever blend of the old and the new with innovative architecture design. The original building has a great story from the 1800's when it was used as storage for the ice to keep the salmon cold that was caught on the River. The massive vaults are now stylish ultra modern rooms and in a really nice touch the boutique bedrooms have names instead of numbers. Our room was called Bartra and overlooked the river. In fact every other room in the hotel enjoys a view of the water including the relaxation room in the spa and the restaurant and bar.
In the corner of our ensuite was a massive wooden bath and we had the option of a seaweed bath to relax in before going to bed for €25.

The Chill Spa use natural local ingredients made from seaweed in the treatment of guests. The range of skincare and creams is called Voya and is available in many of the world's top resorts, spas and airlines. I opted for a facial and enjoyed ninety minutes of complete pampering. When I joined my daughter in the relaxation room for my cup of herbal tea, she was already sipping hers with her perfectly painted toes in the air.

We spent in all about three hours in the spa and it went too quickly. We floated up to our room and dressed for dinner. I had heard that the food is delicious and we were not disappointed, in fact the bread was too delicious and if I have one piece of advice, make sure that you leave room for dessert because the chocolate medley is perfect for two and includes a unusual mixture of yummy textures and even a chocolate cone!

Our bed was high and we sank into the feathered under-down with intentions of watching a movie but I found myself asleep in minutes. I wasn't prepared for the spectacular view next morning as I woke early and caught the light shimmering over the water. It was then that I really appreciated how special our little night away will be in years to come.

Elizabeth, my daughter's teddy, has seen plenty of travels over the years and suffered the trauma of being almost left behind in Belfast and actually left behind for a few days in Athlone after one of our trips, But while she was in my daughter's sleepy clutch I realised that Elizabeth won't be brought along for much longer as spas become more important and teddy's less important.

We went for breakfast and Nicole was in her element scouring the buffet and comparing it to others. She has high standards but could not fault this one. The home made scones were a massive hit and she even took one for the car journey home.

But I wasn't allowed to mention home because Nicole had a plan to revisit the hot tub and relaxation room before our return to Dublin, which we did.
The Ice House is close to beautiful Belleek Castle and grounds which is a lovely spot for a walk in nature and Afternoon Tea. The drive home was a leisurely three hours and we stopped off for McDonalds on the way making it the perfect weekend. Elizabeth agreed it was perfect too.
I look forward to returning to the Ice House soon!

The Ice House is part of Ireland's Blue Book. www,icehousehotel.ie www.irelands-blue-book.ie

Special offers from The Ice House

CHILL SPA ESCAPE - OVERNIGHT & SPA TREATMENT

Description: Enjoy full use of the Thermal Suite including Steam Room and two Outdoor Hot Tubs, plus a 50 minute signature massage each from our Voya Organic Range. If a bath is not available on booking a complimentary file & paint will be offered.

Valid From: 01.01.2015 To: 31.03.2017

From: €115 Per Person

STAY & CHILL - 2 NIGHT SPA BREAK

Description: Enjoy full use of the Thermal Suite , plus a 50 minute Chill Spa signature massage each. Also included is Table d'Hote dinner on one evening as well as breakfast each morning. Voted Ireland's best boutique spa, and What's more we're proud to have Ireland's best spa therapist Alicija on our team, as voted at the 2014 Tatler Spa Awards.

Valid To: 31.03.2017

From: €215 Per Person

The Novel Traveller has some great news!

I'm chuffed and excited with the news that The Novel Traveller has been nominated for Best New Irish Travel Blog at the (click here) Travel Media Awards which will be held on 20th May 2016. 

I hope that you find my news and articles entertaining and please tweet me with any travel questions that I can help you with.

Lot's more to come over the next few weeks!

News From Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus invites you to ‘step inside’ its new Business Class

Take a virtual seat on airline’s new Boeing 757 Business Class with Google Maps

Aer Lingus is giving you the opportunity to experience Business Class as if you were sitting on the actual aircraft via a Google Maps virtual tour. This marks the launch of the airline’s new and improved Business Class Experience that is being rolled out across its Boeing 757 fleet.

The introduction of fully lie flat seats across Aer Lingus’ Boeing 757 aircraft provides Business Class guests with similar levels of comfort, storage and space to that available on the A330 fleet since last year.

The inaugural flight of the newly-fitted 757 was made in February from Shannon to Boston and a total of their additional aircraft will be fitted with the new business class cabins by mid-May.

To capture the unique 360 degree experience, thousands of high-resolution digital images were taken using a specially rigged DSLR camera and carefully stitched together to create a seamless virtual experience.

Online users can experience walking up to the plane, climbing the steps and walking through the aisle of the B757 Business Class Cabin.

The virtual tour also features ‘The Revival Lounge’ at Dublin airport which offers Business Class guests arriving into Dublin from North America the opportunity to refresh before departing the airport. The lounge offers a range of facilities upon arrival including premium changing and shower facilities, steam pressing of shirts on request, Wi-Fi, refreshments and a waiting area with TV and newspapers.

Declan Kearney, Director of Communications, Aer Lingus said: “We’re delighted to extend our Business Class experience to our Boeing 757 fleet that will cross the Atlantic from both Dublin and Shannon. Using Google maps to create a virtual tour gives everyone a chance to really see inside an Aer Lingus Business Class cabin and get a taste of what it’s like to fly Business Class with Aer Lingus.”

To take your own virtual tour, simply click on the link:

Aer Lingus Business Class Cabin - https://goo.gl/YjXiP4

Step on board Aer Lingus - https://goo.gl/f9t1Fv -

Aer Lingus Revival Lounge - https://goo.gl/mSoev0

Aer Lingus partnered with photographer Oliver Murray to create the virtual tour using Google images. Oliver is also the only Irish recipient of the Annual Google European Awards for trusted partners.

Northern Ireland Brewing and Distilling Month

RAISE A GLASS TO BREWING AND DISTILLING MONTH

Northern Ireland is proud to be home to a number of excellent breweries and distilleries, all busy handcrafting some of the Ireland’s finest beverages. 

This year is the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016 and April is dedicated to brewing and distilling.  We are fortunate in Northern Ireland to have such a super collection of distilleries and breweries producing everything from the finest cider and whiskey to craft beers and gin.

Not only that, but there are many exciting drink themed events and happenings taking place all over the country including the not-to-be-missed Hilden Beer & Music Festival which takes place between August 26-28 in Hilden, Co. Antrim.

Tourism Northern Ireland has created a refreshing list of tours, events and happenings for you to enjoy on a short break so check their website for updates.

Raise a glass to the tour

Bushmills Distillery

Positioned on the beautiful North Coast, Bushmills Distillery is Ireland’s oldest working distillery. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour where they will learn about the 400 year history whilst taking in all the associated sights and smells, enjoy tutored whiskey tastings whilst being able to browse the gift shop. After enjoying a tour of this fascinating distillery visitors can explore all that the stunning North Coast has to offer including the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

Hilden Brewery

Hilden Brewery is Ireland’s oldest independent brewery and is located near Lisburn in the 19^th century courtyard of Hilden House.  Many visitors flock to the Brewery each year to discover its interesting history and heritage and to sample the award-winning cuisine. Hilden Brewery Beers are available at various bars and restaurants throughout Northern Ireland including Molly’s Yard Belfast, The John Hewitt, Belfast and the Dirty Duck in Holywood.

Rademon Estate Distillery

Rademon Estate Distillery in Crossgar Co. Down is the home of the recently launched Shortcross Gin. Gin lovers should keep an eye out for the estate’s new visitor experience centre which is set to open this year and will take guests on a fascinating journey of how this hand bottled award winning gin came to be.  Whilst in the area make sure to visit the Irish Linen Centre where you can take an audio visual tour and see the weaving centre and hand looms.

Hughes Craft Distillery

Hughes Craft Distillery in Lisburn is the brain child of Stuart and Barbara Hughes who manage everything first-hand in their small batch spirits business producing a wide range of award-winning RubyBlue Spirits in a variety of flavours. RubyBlue Liqueurs are made with real fruit from quintuple distilled Irish grain spirit and infused with blackcurrants, wild blueberries, cranberries and chilli peppers.  The distillery has gained many coveted awards including Global Vodka Master Gold, New York World Wine and Spirits Sliver and have won stars in the Great Taste Awards. Tours can be arranged which take visitors on the journey behind this interesting range of drinks.

Walled City Brewery, Derry~Londonderry

The Walled City Brewery is a brew house and restaurant in one making it a unique destination for sampling tasty craft beers and enjoying the delicious tapas style menu. Visitors to the brewery can discover the fascinating stories as to why the brewery’s craft beers are named Boom, Stitch and Kick. Be sure and visit the City Walls which are 1.5km in circumference and provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance Style street plan to this day.

Armagh Cider Company

Armagh is renowned around the world for its Bramley Apples and the Troughton family behind the Armagh Cider Company have been at the centre of the apple growing tradition for generations. All of their products are artisan and handcrafted so they are completely natural and contain no artificial ingredients or flavours. Those interested in finding out more can contact the Armagh Cider Company and arrange a tour.  Be sure to visit the Navan Centre which offers a unique appreciation of the history of the area through a stimulating exhibition packed full of information, artefacts and hands on activities for all the family.

McComb’s Grub Crawl Tour

Those looking for a tasty way to spend the day with friends should look no further than McComb’s Coach Travel’s new tour, Grub Crawl, which will visit some of the country’s most innovative food and drink producers, in a luxury coach. Tours operate on a Fridayand Saturday and these will take in renowned food places such as Abernethy Butter, Kilmegan Cider, Mourne Seafood Bar and The Poachers Pocket.

Raise a glass to the event

The Belfast Craft Beer Festival takes place in Custom House Square, Belfast, from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 April and is a four day celebration of the renaissance happening in NI artisan food, craft beer, cider and distilling sectors. The event will host a gathering of over 50 vendors and attendees will enjoy a truly authentic experience as they interact with passionate, local producers and discover the tastes of the region. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample various food and drink whilst enjoying live music.

Newry Craft Beer Festival on April 30- 1 May has ten craft breweries exhibiting over 30 craft products to try including Mourne Mountain Brewery, Armagh Cider Company, Bullhouse Brewing, Whitewater Brewery and more. It will be a fun filled action packed weekend with the best of local craft products accompanied by a top notch entertainment line-up including Chris Keys, The Third Wheel, Michael Kerr and more.

Armagh Apple Blossom Fair delves into the rich apple growing heritage this May Bank Holiday weekend (April 30- May 2) with events centred at Ardress House, Loughgall Country Park and fascinating orchard tours around the county.

For further information check out this video on Brewing & Distilling https://youtu.be/HI8Y9U5BjSg  or log on to www.discovernorthernireland.com

Travel Department is 20 years old!

Travel Department celebrated its 20^th year in business in style on April 13^that Fiorentina Restaurant on Parliament St, Dublin. In keeping with the theme of one of Travel Department’s most popular destinations, we were treated to an authentic evening of Italian food, wine and hospitality. Founder Bob Haugh entertained guests with tales from the early days and friend of Travel Department, broadcaster Marty Whelan, reminisced about his many Italian opera trips to Italy, Berlin and Prague with the company.

Bob and Marty.

Julie Anne, Zara and Me!

Guitarist Alan Byrne provided ambient background music while we chatted over starters of Polpete, wild boar meatballs and crispy gorgonzola salad, and mouth-watering mains of Bistecca 35 dry-aged steak and sea bass. The dolci were especially delicious – diners had a tough choice between decadent chocolate and olive oil tart, sumptuous lemon and passionfruit tart and comforting brioche bread and butter pudding.

Twink and Nuala looking fab!

It was great to catch up with RTE’s Nuala Carey who I hadn't seen since Edward Smith's fabulous 30th Birthday Party on a barge!  Nuala has travelled to several locations in France and Italy on the company’s escorted holidays. Twink was there too with her good pal Andrea Smith and she wooed us all with photos of her amazing cakes. She is a multi talented lady! Model and DJ Daniella Moyles was also in attendance as she prepares to launch her new travel website in the coming months. 

We all went home with goodie bags filled with exclusive 20^thanniversary Travel Department red wine, hot-air balloon shaped handmade cookies, a voucher for founder Bob Haugh’s new beauty salon, Oslo, and one lucky person even went home with a trip in Travel Department’s own hot-air balloon.

Happy 20^th birthday Travel Department – and here’s to 20 more!