Get on the water in Ireland or Europe!

Things to do on the water Travel Tuesday 16th August 2016

As the temperature heats up for our Irish sailors at the Olympics in Rio, there's still time to enjoy the water at home or on a European city break this autumn. I'm looking at top things to do in Venice, Paris and at home in Ireland. whether you want to take a day trip or are staying near the water and want to try something different there are lots of ways to enjoy the water at home. I've listed a few below.

A word of caution if you are swimming in the sea in the south or east of the country.

Lions Mane Jellyfish

There has been an increase in sightings of Lions Mane jelly fish in the waters around Ireland. If you see large brown shapes in the water with long tendrils then stay well clear. Their sting can cause symptoms such as vomiting nausea and respiratory distress. seventeen were removed from waters in Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove last week. I saw one in Howth Harbour this morning and apparently they are all over Skerries and Portmarnock.

Some victims can suffer an anaphylactic shock from the sting so please keep away if you see the long brown hair-like tendrils. The weever fish is also present in waters one hour either side of low tide so be on the look out for this creature that can also cause shock and excruciating stings.
for more information see the Irish Water Safety board on  www.iws.ie

Lough Erne

County Fermanagh is a beautiful rural county and unspoilt due to its unique geography. With so many lakes and waterways it hasn't been over commercialised or changed by agriculture. Enjoying wonderful views on the water, I recently stayed at the lovely Killyhevlin Hotel which is only two miles from Enniskillen. A water taxi takes visitors into the town and Erne Tours offers a cruise of Lough Erne under cover of glass. For more information see www.ernetours.com
Enjoy a Saturday evening ruise for £28 per adult and £16 per child. Or take a two hour trip to Devenish Island and see some monastic wonders dating back to the sixth century including a round tower and high cross.
If you prefer to follow a food trail then www.ernewatertaxi.com will bring you on a three hour tour of tasting the best food in the area on Saturday Mornings at 10am for £50 pp. If you would rather a picnic then for £35 they offer a picnic hamper of local produce in one of the many beautiful locations on the lough where you can enjoy the food in a peaceful setting.
 Lough Erne is made up of two lakes, Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne and the best way to see them is to be on them.

A little over two hours drive from Dublin brought us to the Killyhevlin Hotel where we checked in and got straight down to enjoying the leisure facilities. The Kids loved the pool while my friend Catherine and I hopped into the outdoor hot tub to enjoy the view of the lakes. The treatment rooms are tucked away in the leisure centre and I enjoyed a speciality Killyhevlin massage which included a head massage and cleansing facial.

The hotel is bright and modern and we enjoyed cocktails before dinner in Kove restaurant while the girls lapped up their mocktails! Being the year of food and drink is just another excuse to travel up North. But the food was mouthwatering and we enjoyed, duck, sea bass and my daughter sampled the children's menu and devoured her chicken fritters. The staff were so friendly and went out of their way to make us feel at home.

The rooms were large and enjoyed views of the lake and a settee which doubled as an extra bed making it great for families. We really enjoyed our meal and went for a little trip on the water after dinner into the town of Enniskillen by Water taxi. Fermanagh turned out to be quite a nice surprise and I look forward to going back and exploring other parts of Lough Erne another time.

Midweek escape

2 x nights bed and breakfast available Sunday to Thursday, one four course dinner in Kove restaurant, with breakfast each morning.  Guests can also enjoy comp use of the Killyhevlin health club, complete with indoor swimming pool and outdoor hot tub.

From only £99 per person sharing. Subject to availability. http://www.killyhevlin.com/

We enjoyed some of the areas local attractions from boating on the water and exploring the Marble Arch Caves. 

The caves have been open over thirty years and have all the features enjoyed at the Ailwee Caves with similar flora above ground to the Burren in County Clare. It was one of the worlds first Global Geoparks making it a must do for geography teachers and great for school trips.

The caves tour includes a boat trip through the caverns but isn't always open if the water level is high. For more details visit www.marblearchcavesgeopark.com
A guided tour is £9.50 for adults and £6.50 for kids. family tickets are £23 for 2adults and 2 children.

To find out more about things to do in Northern Ireland visit http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/information/aboutNI.aspx

Athlone

I took the kids on a Viking Tour from Athlone Castle on a replica Viking ship. Our captain and navigator gave a running commentary which was informative and enjoyable with stories of folklore and natural history. It proved great fun for all ages and an interesting 45 minute trip along the river to Hodson Bay. At €10 per adult and €5 for kids it was good value too. Running from Easter to the end of October you can find more details here http://www.vikingtoursireland.ie/

We were left off on the jetty at Hodson Bay and home to Baysports Boat and Water Sports Centre. This is Ireland's largest inflatable waterpark and will rival any found on the continent. There was plenty to entice my teens and tweens who were given wet suits on arrival and after debriefing were brought out to the floating pontoon by rib.

The hour spent on the slides, trampolines and other delights slipped by but even after all that exertion they wanted to try kayaking. The waterpark is excellent value at €10 per hour for children up to 14 years old. http://www.baysports.ie/

There are lots of things to do at Baysports so why not fill a day on your way to or from your holiday destination around Ireland. We stayed at the Radisson Blu Athlone and enjoyed great location with the kids to see the town and get to Hodson Bay to enjoy the water sports.

Whether it’s a family break or a trip for the cycling enthusiasts there is something for everyone at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone this summer.

A family of two adults and two children can enjoy two nights’ accommodation, breakfast each morning to set you up for the day ahead, a delicious dinner on the evening of your choice in Element’s Bistro with bike hire to explore Athlone and beyond in the fresh summer air. The Get Your Greenway On package is available from €445 per family, so trade in the daily grind for some leisure time at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone this summer.

Couples can enjoy a two-night stay with a freshly prepared breakfast on both mornings and an evening meal in Elements Bistro on a night of your choice. Complete the experience with a scenic cycling tour to explore Athlone and beyond in the fresh summer air. The Get Your Greenway On package is available from €145 per person sharing.

Paris

You  can get on the water even on a city break. It's a great way to get a new perspective of a city.

I've a great deal for a trip to Paris next spring and if you do decide to go to the capital of romance then make time to dine on the Bateau Parisienne.

The Bateaux Parisiens is the most upmarket way to take in views on the River Seine. We sat at cloth covered tables and our hostess greeted us with glasses of wine with kir and warm nuts. We browsed the menu as our barge gently pulled away from the gaze of the Eiffel Tower. The kids devoured the roast chicken and gravy while the adults ate salmon and pork belly. Desserts were more-ish and all this while we were serenaded by a live rendition of La Vie en Rose. 

My daughter Nicole enjoying lunch on Bateaux Parisiens

                                       

Expedia.ie offer Return flights and a three night stay in 5-star Juliana Paris on the Left Bank in Paris start from €381 per person sharing, including taxes and fees; saving €157 altogether when you book this flight and hotel together with Expedia.ie For this deal fly directly from Dublin to Paris with Ryanair on Thursday, March 9th 2017 returning Sunday, March  12^th  2017.

For details of the bateaux Parisiens see http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/ prices start from €59 including three course meal wine and cruise.

Venice

Venice has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Built on water it has some of the best collections of art from the Guggenheim to St Marks Basilica. In fact every building is a unique piece of art in this city of warm ochres, siennas and pretty painted facades.

Taking a gondola is a must and water taxis will allow you to haggle.

It's a popular destination for departing cruise ships and a stopover at the begining or end is a great opportunity to experience the city.

If you are tempted to get some Late Deals to Italy Topflight have a great deal to Lido de Jesolo

The Hotel Portofino is a 3* hotel offered on a half board basis.

Price includes flights, return transfers, accommodation for 7 nights, all taxes and services of the Topflight respresentative in resort. Go to 

http://www.topflight.ie/summer-sun/italy/venetian_riviera/lido_di_jesolo/hotel_portofino
for flight details and prices - 7 nights September 3rd from €668 pps

Venice with the Kids

There are few cities more perfect for a romantic breakaway than Venice. But does it have the X Factor for families? I recently took my husband, ten year old daughter Nicole and teenage son Mark, to find out.

If you are coming from the airport then your taxi or bus will more than likely stop at the Piazzale Roma. It can be a bit of a maze if you don't know where you are going as the usual modes of transport are not an option. The Vaporetti (water busses) are fun and easy to use once you've found your bearings. We decided to go for the decadent option of a water taxi to take us to our hotel. It wasn't cheap at €60 as there were four of us, but it could take up to ten passengers, which makes it a reasonable option for a group. The taxis are limited to travel on the main canals only which made the journey longer and an adventure in itself. Sitting under the cloudless Italian sky, on plush cream leather seats, we understood why George Clooney chose this city for his wedding!  

We felt like rockstars on arrival at the Boscolo Venezia hotel. The brightly striped red and white mooring posts, mark the entrance of this fine hotel which was once the French Palace. Boscolo Venezia is housed in the beautiful old mansion Palazzo Rizzo-Patarol in the residential Cannaregio district. When Venice was at the height of its power, this was the only area planted with small crops, which is why Boscolo Venezia is the only luxury hotel in Venice to have a private garden overlooking the lagoon.

Our suite was perfect for families and decorated with oriental carpets and 18th century cabinets: some of the rooms overlook the lush garden but we had a perfect view of the canal to watch the gondolas glide by. Rich in marble, Venetian stucco and chandeliers our hotel was a cultural experience in itself.

The Boscolo Venezia provides a free water taxi to take guests to St Marks Square several times a day - it also offers a tour of the Murano glass factories across the lagoon on Murano Island and all free of charge. This made a fascinating excursion for the children who got to see firsthand how the famous glass is blown and shaped.

While the usual draw of St Marks Square is a must for visitors to Venice, after we peeked in to see the awesome interior of St Mark's Cathedral and Nicole had her photograph taken on one of the famous lions outside, the kids asked to go back to the quieter district where our hotel was situated. We battled our way past the crowds at the Rialto Bridge and a sense of calm settled on us in the windier streets.

Prices fell considerably in the bars and restaurants the further we travelled from St Marks. Once we were settled back in the residential quarter, we took time to wander through the Jewish Ghetto which had an interesting range of shops and low budget eateries. Getting lost in Venice is a wonderful way to put in the afternoon and there is always the attraction of finding new Gelaterias along the way to savour wonderful Italian ice-cream.

A water fountain providing free drinking water from a sculpted cast-iron-spout proved a great novelty and was only a few steps away from our hotel. The city promotes drinking tap water rather than using plastic bottles because of waste disposal issues.

We only had to stroll a few metres away from our hotel to find the church of Madonna del Orto which houses an original Tintoretto and allowed me to indulge in a little bit of culture without queuing or expensive entrance charges. A good alternative to churches is the natural history museum and it's only a twenty minute walk from St Marks. For kids that are agreeable to visiting art galleries the Peggy Guggenheim museum is filled with modern masterpieces that my crew loved.

There is a beauty about Venice at night that is special and we truly felt like cognescenti as we sat in a small Trattoria on the Rio Tera Lista di Spagna and ate pasta. We were provided with free wifi which is always a big hit with my kids, but watching the locals buy from the colourful fruit and vegetable stalls was more interesting for the adults.

If your kids are still in strollers then Venice may not be a good city break for you, as crowds, steps and bridges can make it difficult to get around. But if you can keep up with your kids, it's a great city to explore with a camera and give them a visual feast for their eyes that will stay with them forever.

Published in the Herald newspaper December 2014

Fact box
For more information see http://venezia.boscolohotels.com/  

Prices start at 182 Euros per night. Boscolo Venezia is part of Marriott International Autograph Collection.

Buy your ticket for the guggenheim museum at this site http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/