Dallas for shopping, JFK and JR!

There was a time when the Irish flooded across the Atlantic grabbing bargains in malls like Woodbury Common but the strong dollar has seen a slowdown in travel shopping. However, with the Euro making a slow comeback I arrived in to Dallas FW Airport with an empty suitcase to see if I could make up my fare like we used in the halcyon days. I booked my flight in the January sales for €498 − good value to the United States despite travelling to Heathrow to get a direct connection. I stayed at The Fairmont Hotel, located conveniently Downtown, close to the arts district and buzzing McKinney Avenue where the best restaurants can be found. The views from our hotel room were on par with JRs office! Great coffee making facilities and a huge bathroom are another bonus.

My travelling companion is an avid shopper and accountant, great help when working out conversion rates. We set off on our first excursion to the highly recommended Stampede 66 Texas restaurant. The decor is very cool with wire sculpted horses protruding from the ceiling. Dallas is buzzing and it's no surprise as the state of Texas has the 13th richest economies in the world, on par with Saudi Arabia.

After dinner, the Fairmont Hotel sent its courtesy car to collect us FOC and brings us to Reunion Tower. It's just one of the nice luxuries included in our room rate in a hotel and ten minutes later we are on the Geodeck, observation point on the 68th floor. With spectacular views of the Dallas skyline it's well worth a visit day or night and helped us to get our bearings. For an outlay of $44 the Dallas CityPass booklet covers the entrance charge. The CityPass is good value and covers admission into four major attractions, good value for a weekend sightseeing.

We took a cab to Deep Ellum next, the trendy music district for the rest of the evening. Most of the bars have live bands with no cover charge. We choose The Free Man, a Cajun bar and lounge, where the beer is reasonably priced and the band exceptionally good.

Next morning, thirty minutes by car took us to The Grand Prairie Premium Outlets, which opens at 10am and where designer and name brands are at savings of 25% to 65% everyday. We found great shops and excellent value at Columbia and Aeropostale. I brought a cardboard cut out of my daughter's foot to help find a pair of runners in the Nike store. I picked up a pink pair of trainers for just over $30. The Vans store also offered savings. For my tween daughter, Justice is perfect and one of the last stores that can't be found in Ireland. Everything in the shop had 30% off on the new season range. Reasonably priced trendy gear and different to all that will be seen on the streets of Dublin. The Converse store was another with great offers - two Tshirts for $25 working out at just over €10 each.

A brand purchase like a Micheal Kors handbag is where real savings can be made and a big purchase like an engagement ring from Jared Vault could save the price of flights or hotel or both. It's worth noting that US gold carat measurements can be different to those commonly used in Europe. The exchange rate doesn't mean that all items are as cheap as they used to be but they are definitely about 30% overall cheaper than at home. Shoes are up to 50% cheaper in some cases. The food hall was great for lunch with a choice of Asian or local food and before we maxed out our credit cards we decided it was best to return to the Fairmont and offload our bags.

The hotel courtesy car brought us to the Sixth Floor Museum and Book depository, saving on taxi fare. The sixth floor museum is a must do. It takes visitors through the final hours of JFKs life and I left with more questions than answers about who actually killed him. The Grassy Knoll is marked with a bright yellow banner and the actual spot where the president was shot is marked in the middle of the road by a white x.

With spring in the air the Dallas arboretum is a wonderful attraction and including the admission to the Sixth floor museum we have already more than made up the price of our CityPass. Art isn't the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Dallas but any city that is booming and prosperous has funds to support the arts. The Dallas Museum of Art is currently showing an exhibition of Dutch masters including Vermeers. The space and interactive information areas makes this one of the most impressive galleries that I have been to in a while.

The city that gave us hours of viewing in the 80s, and where the much beloved JFK came to a sad end proved to be a wonderful destination for a fun filled weekend.

Factbox

For more information visit www.visitdallas.com

Fights to Dallas with www.United.com start from €600 

Shopping information see

www.simon.com or www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/grand-prairie

Register online to download coupons and make savings

Dallas City Pass is $44

For Fairmont Hotel details see the www.fairmont.com/dallas

Rates start for a double room from $255pn

Thailand Travelling with the Kids!

Why isn't Thailand a popular destination for Irish families? Much maligned in the press, this beautiful country has been tarnished by the barrage of western men who descend upon the country seeking seedy sex. So, I set off to investigate with my lifelong friend Catherine, her daughter Alice and my daughter Nicole, to see what Thailand can offer us girls. The first thing we find is that if you don't go looking for the unsavoury side of Thai life, you won't find it.

Our holiday starts on Phuket, Thailand's largest island. Serviced by an international airport, it can be reached from Dublin with just one stopover. A transfer by taxi takes one hour to The Cape Panwa Hotel and Spa, where the lobby has no doors or walls but instead wonderful woven fish hanging from the ceiling. A blanket of warm air envelops us as the receptionist distributes cold hand towels and a refreshing juice to drink. Thailand has two seasons, hot and hotter, an almost perfect climate.

Overlooking the private beach and tropical palm trees, our huge rooms are a hit with our daughters who can't wait to try the Jacuzzi bath on the veranda. First port of call when travelling with the girls is to the infinity pool down by the hotel's private beach. The hotel's other pool boasts cabanas and comfortable padded loungers for sunbathers. That night we eat in one of the hotel restaurants and although it is five star service the prices certainly are not. The bill comes to €30 for four people. Thai food is spectacular and you can eat very well for less than €5 per day if you chose to dine at one of the many street stalls, a bonus when feeding a hungry teen and tween.

The next day we are met at 11.30am by a bus that takes us to the north of the island and the John Gray Sea Kayak Excursion. The Hong by Starlight Tour starts in the afternoon and we bring a change of clothes on instruction. We are taken by traditional Thai boat to explore the caves of the Ko Hongs. Brought to the world by James Bond, on the big screen, these tiny islands sprout out of the crystal blue waters of Phang nga Bay and hold a host of treasures within. But first we get into the sea kayaks with our guide, Upsy, who is appointed to us for the duration of the day. Upsy paddles our canoe through caves covered in stalagmites and home to hundreds of fruit bats. This adventure is not for the claustrophobic because it is a tight squeeze through the caves to get to the centre of the Hong. But the journey takes us out the other side to an oasis of calm and tranquillity among the mangroves. This fragile eco system has been in existence for thousands of years and the girls excitedly lookout for monkeys while they wade through the waters inspecting the fish and wildlife.

It's dinner time and the colourful food on offer in the buffet is as delicious as it looks − the girls especially love the healthy rice dishes. After a swim Upsy shows us how to make a kratong (a floral offering made from banana leaves and Singapore orchids). As darkness descends we take our final excursion through the hongs, we light the incense and candles of our kratong and make a wish as we send the Buddhist offering out to sea. Thousands of tiny lights from bioluminescent plankton light up the caves, like tiny fireflies in the water. When we reach the centre of the Hong, the monkeys appear, swinging through the mangrove trees. It's a transcendental experience from start to finish and one that we will never forget sharing with our daughters.

We spend next day exploring the massage and beauty salons that line the steep road to our hotel and choose one with comfortable air-conditioning and WIFI. Girly heaven costs a little over twelve Euros for a coconut oil massage that lasts well over an hour. I'm careful to ask for a gentle massage because these ladies have extra strong fingers. A pedicure is only €10 and a manicure even less and as there aren't the usual stipulations for the girls to be over 16 our daughters get the full benefit of our spa day. Catherine is completely hooked and sneaks off for another quick massage after dinner.

Cape Panwa is the perfect resort for families with great choice of restaurants and stalls selling trinkets along the beach front but Thailand is a big country and we have another island to explore. So, next day we take a speedboat to Koh Yao Noi in Phang nga Bay. We share our speedboat transfer with a Danish family who tell us this is their second time going to the same resort. Scandinavian, French and Germans families seem to have earmarked the most desirable unspoilt islands to visit and it makes me wonder why the Irish haven't also done so.

As we step off the speed boat we are greeted by a sign welcoming us to 'Paradise'. "I wonder how much is a massage?" Catherine asks. A massage on the beach is €12 so that will do her nicely. Built into the mountainside, the rooms are best described as luxurious eco dwellings, a plunge pool Jacuzzi beckons from the deck against the backdrop of turquoise waters and palm trees. We get to eat our dinner that night with sand tickling our toes at the beachfront restaurant. Batik painting is our first call after breakfast and for only €2.50 each our patient teacher helps us to make a silk masterpiece that we can bring home as a memento.

Only 8km long, Koh Yao Noi is easily explored in half a day and we hire a taxi for less than €40. To get to the other side of the mountain we first have to cross dense forest and the girls are agog at the tiny pots of white goo hanging from the rubber trees. Our driver stops and lets us see the process and touch the latex in its natural state. The main village is surrounded by rice fields and cows while the fishermen's houses are built on stilts at the water's edge to accommodate the rising tide. Our daughters, being part of the selfie generation, are snap-happy with so many photo opportunities in this exotic and different land.

When we return to our hotel we decide to make use of our complimentary Yoga class, on offer to all hotel guests, and we ask instructor Kaylin if the girls can come too. We are told providing they can concentrate they will be fine. Catherine and I struggle with some positions, while our daughters stretch across their mats like a couple of elastic bands. As I fumble with the belts and blocks, Catherine and I get a fit of the giggles − our daughters aren't the ones to disturb the class after all. But in this perfect setting with the waves lapping in the background Kaylin is very cool and relaxed and helps me focus on my poses. At night we are entertained on the beach by some traditional dancers and a Thai Boxing routine and we really don't want to leave this paradise.

Next morning, we take a short one hour flight from Phuket to Bangkok and check-in at the Cape House, a sister of our hotel in Cape Panwa. The two-bed apartment is perfect for families and the rooftop pool sets us far from the madness of Bangkok's busy streets. We have a reservation for a very special dinner on the Loy Nava Cruiser on the Chao Phraya River. The Loy Nava was tastefully converted from an antique rice boat into a river cruiser in 1970 and we are greeted on boarding with garlands of flowers for good luck. Traditional musicians and dancers entertain while dishes of exquisite seafood are brought out at regular intervals. Cocktails for the mums and mocktails for the girls, with the lights of Bangkok and the warm breeze providing natural air-con, we are brought to a different dimension. The same shuttle bus that collected us takes us back to our hotel and a good night's sleep because we have a busy day ahead.

Bangkok like any other capital city has its must see sites and The Grand Palace, home to the Royal Family, is one of them. Unlike its south-east neighbours, Thailand was never colonised by the British or French hence the name Free Land, Thai meaning free. We get to see the Emerald Buddha and partake in the Buddhist ceremony of offering candles, incense and flowers. The kids love the adorned temples and unusual architecture quite unlike anything they have seen before.

The Wat Pho Temple, home to the largest reclining Buddha in Thailand, is close by so we pay a visit before heading off on an adventure through the cities Khlongs (canals) on a long tail boat. As we speed up the Chao Phraya we get to feel like James Bond Girls. Our guide pulls over to the side of the river where an old woman sells bread, he gets the girls to throw it into the water as hundreds of huge carp jump up to eat it, much to the girls squeals of delight. We don't have time to see the floating markets but we have to leave something for next time.

We finish the day shopping in Chinatown but the department store MBK is the must do for shopaholics, we pick up bargains, especially in shoes and dread the thought of going home. Thailand shouldn't just be a bucket list destination, for a higher outlay on flights a family can make up the difference with top class hotels and food and make massive savings on pedicures and massages!

Factbox

For more information see http://uk.tourismthailand.org/

Pricing from Irish tour operator, Tropical Sky is as follows:

3 nights at Paradise@ Ko Yao and 7 nights at Cape Panwa including flights from Dublin departing May & September 2016, per person based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability at €1,499

John Gray’s sea canoe excursion bookable at €115pp

Call Tropical Sky 01 664 9999 or visit www.tropicalsky.ie

Dinner on Loy Nava river cruise including hotel pick up and drop off starts circa €40

book on www.loynava.com

Published in the Irish Mail on Sunday 13th March 2016

Mother's Day, Afternoon Tea ideas and more...

Mother's Day is coming up and I've been searching for some nice ideas around the country to take the Mum in your life for a special treat. I will be chatting about these on the Midday Show on TV3 next Tuesday 1st March. There will also be a special prize of spa and afternoon tea on the show so don't miss out!
Afternoon Tea is favourite treat of mine and Mother's Day it is also a good excuse to spend with your beloved Aunt, Granny, God-mother, daughter or Sister. So, maybe take the special lady in your life to one of these lovely venues suggested below.

DELECTABLE AFTERNOON TEA

TANKARDSTOWN HOUSE, CO.MEATH

I took my mum to the royal county of Meath to check out the Restaurants at Tankardstown House. Tucked in behind the main house, the courtyard houses two restaurants and a tea room. We choose a sparkling afternoon tea with glass of prosecco and open finger sandwiches. The desserts were delicious with the usual favourites of macaroons and chocolate brownies. We drank endless cups of tea in the cosy atmospheric stone buildings which have been tastefully decorated with old-world charm.

It is advisable to book if you want to visit any of the restaurants or to have afternoon tea.

Afternoon Tea is €40 for two and make it sparkling with prosecco for €50

special offer of Bed and Breakfast with Afternoon tea €110pp

www.tankardstown.ie 

Mother’s Day in Northern Ireland 2016

 Why not take your Mammy or all the special ladies in your life to Belfast for the day! With Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink 2016 now in full swing, this is the year for all food and drink loving mums, from indulgent afternoon teas to top quality eateries, there are plenty of options to spoil your mum. Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016 is a year long celebration of everything delicious about this place. The epic landscapes, traditions and people that make our food heritage so unique. With 366 days of foodie experiences, there’s no better time to visit and enjoy a true taste of Northern Ireland. Some nice ideas below...

Surely one of the best ways to spoil someone special is with a relaxing break at one of Northern Ireland’s top hotels. In the mood to squeeze the maximum amount into your break? Come to Belfast. This compact capital city is buzzing with musical, cultural and foodie goings – on. It has it all – shopping, award-winning, restaurants, countless hotels, bars, museums and more. Best of all, belfast is a cultural melting pot with phenomenal theatres and galleries, quirky events around the clock. Don’t miss the icons; the epic Titanic Belfast, Crumlin Road Gaol, St George’s Market, take a black taxi tour and spend the evening in the cobbled Cathedral Quarter.

Europa Hotel, Belfast

Located in the heart of Belfast’s business and shopping district and beautifully restored, this popular international hotel offers spacious elegance and has been the choice of ex US President Bill Clinton. The Europa’s March Madness offer includes luxurious overnight accommodation, … read more complimentary cocktail on arrival, Full Irish breakfast in the morning  and complimentary WIFI from £95 per room per night.

Culloden Estate & Spa, Co. Down 

Perfectly located in the Hollywood Hills overlooking Belfast Lough, is the 5* Culloden Estate & Spa. With luxury bedrooms, sumptuous soft furnishings, quality dining, and not forgetting the fantastic spa facilities and treatments on offer, this hotel is the perfect retreat. Relax on a spa break with overnight accommodation, full Irish breakfast and your choice of a 55 minute Spa treatment from £155 per person sharing.

Ramda Encore Belfast
This modern city centre hotel is in close proximity to Victoria Square Shopping Centre and the vibrant Cathedra Quarter with a great selection of restaurants and bars on the doorstep. Winter Warmer offer including overnight accommodation, full Irish breakfast, VIP hamper, £20 food/drinks voucher for SQ Bar & Grill from £44.50 per person sharing.

Clayton Hotel, Belfast
The Clayton Hotel is a stylish and contemporary hotel within walking distance of shopping, restaurants and nightlife with a current special offer of two nights bed and full Irish breakfast and dinner on one evening from £99 per person sharing.

Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast
Situated near the cosmopolitan shopping haven of the Lisburn Road, the Wellington Park Hotel puts you in the heart of one of Belfast’s finest areas. Current special offer for a Spring mini-break for a two nights accommodation with breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening from £79 per person sharing.

  

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at Titanic Belfast

Treat your Mum to a special Afternoon Tea at Titanic Belfast in the opulent surroundings of the Titanic Suite featuring the stunning replica staircase!

Step back in time to a period of luxury, elegance and 5-star service as you enjoy our luxurious menu featuring a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, classic scones with Cornish clotted cream, mouth-watering cakes and exquisite éclairs and French Fancies!

Children can choose from a special Afternoon Tea menu for those aged 2-11.

No Afternoon Tea would be complete without the tea itself and our guests can choose from a selection of blends, including our luxury loose leaf Thompson's Tea, served in replica White Star Line crockery.

Alternatively why not add a little fizz to your day by including a glass of Prosecco or Champagne as you take in the atmosphere of our live jazz band!

• Afternoon Tea - £25pp
• Afternoon Tea including a glass of Prosecco - £30pp
• Afternoon Tea including a glass of Champagne - £35pp
• Children's Afternoon Tea - £10ppEvery Mother attending will receive a special Gift from Titanic Belfast, so please advise how many Mother's will be dining in each party at the time of booking.

For more information, or to book, visit www.titanicbelfast.comTreat your Mum to a special Afternoon Tea at Titanic Belfast in the opulent surroundings of the Titanic Suite featuring the stunning replica staircase!  Step back in time to a period of luxury, elegance and 5-star service as you enjoy our luxurious menu featuring a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, classic scones with Cornish clotted cream, mouth-watering cakes and exquisite éclairs and French Fancies!

No Afternoon Tea would be complete without the tea itself and our guests can choose from a selection of blends, including our luxury loose leaf Thompson's Tea, served in replica White Star Line crockery. Alternatively why not add a little fizz to your day by including a glass of Prosecco or Champagne as you take in the atmosphere of our live jazz band!

Afternoon Tea from £25 per person and every Mother attending will receive a special Gift from Titanic Belfast, so please advise how many Mother's will be dining in each party at the time of booking.  For more information, or to book, visit www.titanicbelfast.com

The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour – Rembrandt’s Self Potraits at the Ulster Museum, Belfast

Rembrandt (1606–1669) is perhaps the best-loved and most admired painter of the seventeenth century.  Rembrandt produced some 80 self-portraits – paintings, drawings and prints- over the course of his 40-year career. No artist before Rembrandt, and only a very few since, have made self-portraiture such a significant part of their life’s work. Self Portrait at the Age of 63, painted in the final year of the artist’s life, is among the very last works he finished. This magnificent late Rembrandt self-portrait is hung with a small group of seventeenth-century Dutch paintings from the Ulster Museum collection. Rarely on display, these paintings are by artists whose work Rembrandt would have known and so, when viewed together, there is sense of entering Rembrandt’s world. Rembrandt (1606–1669) is perhaps the best-loved and most admired painter of the seventeenth century. Born in Leiden, he spent most of his life in Amsterdam, where he worked for a wide circle of wealthy and influential patrons. Rembrandt’s reputation was built on his skill in producing ambitious and dazzling biblical scenes, history paintings and portraits, yet it is through a remarkable series of self-portraits that we feel closest to the painter’s inner thoughts and character.

Rembrandt produced some 80 self-portraits – paintings, drawings and prints- over the course of his 40-year career. No artist before Rembrandt, and only a very few since, have made self-portraiture such a significant part of their life’s work. Self Portrait at the Age of 63, painted in the final year of the artist’s life, is among the very last works he finished. This magnificent late Rembrandt self-portrait is hung with a small group of seventeenth-century Dutch paintings from the Ulster Museum collection. Rarely on display, these paintings are by artists whose work Rembrandt would have known and so, when viewed together, there is sense of entering Rembrandt’s world.

Enjoy an afternoon at a Cookery School

No ‘foodie’ should leave without exercising their culinary skills and using our local produce at one of Northern Ireland’s cookery schools. Spread across the region the cookery schools all have their individual specialities from seafood caught metres away from where it will be prepared to classes in traditional home baking. The Belfast Cookery School is open to all levels of experience and is designed to reawaken, enliven or revitalise a passion for cooking with fresh ingredients and the best quality produce. The Cookery School at James Street South (also in Belfast) is another ideal location to participate in practical cookery classes or demonstrations.

If you are in the South of the country Hayfield Manor in Cork has some ideas for mother's Day.

My favourite place to visit in Cork is the English Market but you could always take your mum to this lovely hotel and spoil her rotten for the entire weekend.

Mum-Time at Hayfield Manor

 

This Mother’s Day, give the gift of that most elusive of treasures…time! Shared experiences are the theme for Mother’s Day at Hayfield Manor this year. With busy lives and full calendars, we’re encouraging some decadent down time to create some special memories.

There are many gift options ranging from luxury overnight stays, Mother’s Day Lunch and Spa packages to choose from.

Mother’s Day Luxury Break

What better way to show you’re appreciation than treating your mother to a wonderful weekend at Hayfield Manor. This package is designed for two people to share the experience, perhaps she may be kind enough to invite you too!

We will ensure that she is utterly pampered with 2 nights of luxury accommodation including full Irish Breakfast each morning and a 4 course dinner on one evening in either Orchids, Hayfield Manor’s signature restaurant, or Perrotts Garden Bistro.

This package is specific to Mother’s Day dates.

Price: From €248.00 per person sharing.

For more information on this unique package, please click here.

To Book:

Phone: +353 21 4845900

Email:               enquiries@hayfieldmanor.ie

Mother’s Day Lunch

Celebrate this Mother’s Day with all the family and enjoy Hayfield Manor’s traditional Mother’s Day Lunch, served in the contemporary glass walled Perrotts Garden Bistro. Indulge her with a delicious four course menu for €42.00 per person. To view the Mother’s Day lunch menu, please click here.

To Book:

Phone: +353 21 4845900

Email:               enquiries@hayfieldmanor.ie

Gift Ideas

The Beautique Spa Signature Package

Treat your mum to a day of ultimate relaxation & temptation at Hayfield Manor with a combination of The Beautique Spa’s Signature Package and delightful Afternoon Tea. This offer commences with an Aroma Foot Ritual, followed by a Back of the Body Massage and an Anti-Aging Booster Facial, preceded or followed by Afternoon Tea in the beautiful surrounds of Orchids Restaurant.

Price: €149.00

To Book:

Phone: 021 484 5900

Email: beautiquespa@hayfieldmanor.ie

HUNTER'S HOTEL, CO.WICKLOW

Hunter's Hotel is Ireland's oldest coaching inn located in County Wicklow. With a long-standing tradition of friendliness, hospitality and good food, its picturesque gardens along the banks of the River Vartry are a delightful setting for a delicious Afternoon Tea.

Make Mother’s Day extra special this year at The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Overlooking Lisloughrey Quay, with enchanting views of Lough Corrib, The Lodge at Ashford Castle is the perfect location for a relaxing afternoon of pampering and spoiling the special lady in your life. 

Take some time out with your mum, enjoy an overnight stay and indulge in all the little extras included in the fabulous Lounge at the Lodge package. Check in to the luxurious surroundings and kick-start the relaxation as you and your mum will enjoy a Mini Dermalogica Facial or Deluxe Manicure in the capable hands of resident beauty specialist Debbie Murphy. From the relaxing experience in The Beauty Rooms at The Lodge, continue your time out with a delightful Prosecco Afternoon Tea overlooking the stunning views across Lough Corrib.

Lounge that little bit further in the Quay Bar with a complimentary cocktail and enjoy dinner by the fireside - the perfect space in which to sit back and admire the sweeping views of the Ashford Estate and to enjoy some hearty Irish cooking prepared with the finest local produce. Take some time the following morning and relax with a complimentary late check out. The Lodge at Ashford Castle is the ideal destination for those seeking to enjoy some quality time this Mother’s Day.

The Lounge at the Lodge package is available for €305 and includes an overnight stay with breakfast, Prosecco Afternoon Tea, a treatment per person at The Beauty Rooms and dinner with a complimentary cocktail in The Quay Bar - the perfect treat for your Mum this Mother's Day.

www.thelodgeac.com  

T: 094 954 5400 

Sugar and spice and all things nice at The Twelve Hotel for your Mum

Famed for its fabulous food and wine offering, this year The Twelve Hotel have won numerous awards for their wonderful food and wine in West Restaurant. So if superb food and wine are your Mum’s top loves, there couldn't be a better boutique bolt-hole for a Mother’s Daybreak with your Mum than The Twelve Hotel in Bearna, County Galway.

Start your two-night Pampering break with something sweet – freshly-baked cupcakes from the homely hotel’s on-site bakery, which will be in your Splendid Guest Room on arrival along with a bottle of Prosecco and delectable chocolates. Next enjoy a back, neck and shoulder massage, or submerge yourself in a Seaweed Bath using the award-winning Voya range of seaweed products, all in the comfort of your own room. Also included is a three-course dinner on the evening of your choice in Upstairs@West. After a lovely sleep each night, awake to a cooked to order breakfast the following morning and, before you head home feeling relaxed and pampered!

From €165 per person sharing on Sunday 6th March and Monday 7th March (higher rates will apply for Friday and Saturday nights). 

www.thetwelvehotel.ie 

Tel: 091 597000 

The Intercontinental Hotel Dublin is tops for Valentine's Day!

If you are planning on spoiling your loved one this Valentine's Day or if you are hoping your loved one has plans for you but needs a little help, then look no further. I've been busy researching three top romantic venues with pampering being a priority for this Valentine's Day. If you don't have plans to go away this weekend then keep these hotels in mind for your next escape in Ireland!

Top of the list is...

#1 The Intercontinental Hotel Dublin

A ten minute drive will bring you from Stephen's Green to Dublin's most desirable suburb, Ballsbridge, where the intercontinental hotel is nestled conveniently beside the RDS , the Aviva Stadium and a host of desirable bars and restaurants. Location is perfect for a weekend getaway and with Valentine's weekend around the corner I decided to check out this main stay of luxury accommodation which morphed out of the Four Seasons Hotel over a year ago. I was met by the courteous reception that you would expect from this Five Star establishment and many of the hotel's best features like the Ice Bar remain the same. But the building has been given a generous facelift and after a quick peek into Season's restaurant I couldn't wait for my lunch!

The Italian chef, Alberto Rossi, offered a wonderful a la carte menu with seasonal produce. I was very impressed by the different flavours he added to the menu and it was nice to see Teelings Whiskey being used so creatively in a starter. Even if you have a special lunch in mind for a friends or parents birthday it is incredible value at €34 for two courses and a meal that will stay in the memory for years.

The spa at the Intercontinental is possibly one of the best kept secrets in Dublin. Offering the complete range of ESPA treatments I opted for a facial and was treated with essential oils of my own choosing. The ESPA range is carried in the best hotels around Ireland and a guarantee of quality. I was offered a head or arm massage to accompany the facial and my experienced Philipino therapist was kind and attentive throughout. There are four treatment rooms which means that although the facility is small it doesn't get crowded. The lap pool in the spa is accompanied by a generous Jacuzzi which can fit a multitude and looks out onto a pleasant courtyard. It is easy to forget that I am only a few minutes from Dublin City centre.

The newly refurbished bedrooms are generously sized with a bath that filled up in a couple of minutes. With all the usual mod cons in the room and unlimited WIFI this hotel had everything needed for a good night's sleep. Breakfast was a complete treat. Choice of buffet style or service the menu included smoothies and pancakes and the usual high standards of an Intercontinental Hotel but my favourite was the natural honeycomb on offer beside the porridge. It's one of the yard sticks I use to judge a perfect breakfast buffet.

It can be difficult to find parking in Ballsbridge but the Interconintental car park is convenient to all the must see venues in the area. I had a busy day ahead of me at Holiday World checking out new destinations to visit and write about but after such a wonderful stay in my own home town - I won't want to go anywhere else for a while. Even if you live in Dublin the Intercontinental is a perfect choice for a girls spa retreat or a romantic getaway with your loved one.

 L'Amore Valentines at the 5* InterContinental Dublin in Ballsbridge

Indulge and celebrate true love with our Italian themed Luxurious ‘L’Amore’ Valentines Package featuring;

• A luxurious one night stay in a Deluxe Room including sumptuous chocolate tasting plate on arrival
• Full Irish Breakfast served in Seasons Restaurant or why not breakfast in bed!
• Relax in the surroundings of The Spa including access to the pool, thermal suite (steam room, sauna), Jacuzzi or why not treat you and your Amore to a relaxing couples treatment with our expert therapists.
• That evening let your Italian inspired romance flow as InterContinental Dublin’s Executive Chef Alberto Rossi seduces the senses with an Italian inspired Menu in Seasons Restaurant. 

Package price: from €445 per Room/per Night (based on two sharing). Available Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 February, 2016.

For more visit: http: //www.intercontinentaldublin.ie or call 01 665 4000 or email; reservations@icdublin.com

#2 An indulgent Valentine’s Day escape for two at Faithlegg House Hotel and Golf Resort

If you are in the South of the country I highly recommend Faithlegg House for a touch of the Downtown Abbey but with all the cosy familiarity of staying in your favourite aunties! It's close to Dunmore East and Passage East and has a massive whirlpool where you can lose yourself with your loved one... 

Set in the midst of the beautiful Waterford countryside, Faithlegg House Hotel is the picture perfect setting for a loved-up break this Valentine’s Day. Whisk your other half away for a romantic Valentine’s celebration and enjoy a blissful two nights together in the heavenly surrounds of Faithlegg House Hotel.

Relax in to your romantic escape with freshly prepared handmade chocolates and chocolate dipped strawberries awaiting you in your room on arrival. Enjoy some uninterrupted time together with a walk in the picturesque woodlands, afternoon tea or a relaxing couple of hours catching up with your favourite book in the undisturbed company of your loved one.

The indulgent Valentine’s package includes a romantic, specially designed Valentine’s Day meal in the award winning Roseville Rooms restaurant prepared by head chef Jenny Flynn, a two night stay in one of the luxurious bedrooms at Faithlegg House Hotel, handmade chocolates and chocolate dipped strawberries on arrival and a freshly prepared Irish breakfast each morning, prices start at €175 per person sharing.

Faithlegg House Hotel is an ideal location for a romantic getaway for two, for more information visit www.faithlegg.com or call 051 382000. 

#3 Radisson Blu Hotel Galway

I stayed here with the family but I can recommend this hotel as a perfect spot for a romantic getaway, make sure to ask for a room with a view over the bay. The Radisson Blu is in the perfect location close to the train station and Eyre Square. 

The rooms have been refurbished and there are lots of lovely treats in this hotel like the salt grotto in the hotel's spa and the sushi restaurant. I especially loved the nespresso machines in the bedrooms for coffee lovers. So why not get romantic in Galway!

Dinner in Marina’s Grill for €45 euro includes a pre-dinner glass of bubbles with a strawberry and a sweet treat at the end of the meal and is available on the 13^th and 14^th February. 

B&B €159 per room 14th Feb only

Unwind Package Includes a choice of Elemis Full Body Massage 55 mins or Elemis Skin Modern Facial Also Includes 4 Hours Thermal Suite, Pool & Outdoor Hot Tub and a 2 Course Lunch All for just €99.00

For more information of to book visit http://www.radissonhotelgalway.com/