Your guide to some great Christmas breaks-aways
There is something really lovely about being close to the warmth of a roaring fire while outside the temperature slips to below freezing point. There is also something beyond comfortable relaxing in a hotel (and a chic five-star one, at that) during the busiest time of the year.
Where else, to be honest? Located minutes away from Kenmare town, Sheen Falls is a class act. If you can, try to book a room (all rooms, by the way, boast smart and clean contemporary design) overlooking the impressive rapid streams of water that give the hotel its name.
There are two-night and three-night Christmas packages available at the hotel itself, as well as at the on-site cottages. www.sheenfallslodge.ie
A castle at Christmas? A real castle? You kidding me? There is something about Ashford Castle that warms the cockles of the heart, especially when it’s freezing outside. The august establishment has a doozie of a special offer right now – if you book a two-night B&B stay between now (that’s, like, right now!) and the end of this month, you get a third night free.
Earlier this year, Ashford Castle completed the second phase of its extensive refurbishment programme. Result? Newly renovated rooms, featuring an opulent blend of furnishings, original artwork, antique furniture, fabrics, bespoke carpets and marble bathrooms. In a word? Wow.
Runs until end of December. www.ashfordcastle.com
We don’t want to wreck your seasonal buzz, but for some people the forthcoming holiday period isn’t all about getting it on with strangers under the mistletoe. For many, it’s also a time to breathe deeply for a few days before frantic goes into overdrive. Under the serene guidance of Cliff House resident yoga instructor Sarah Coleman, the pre-Christmas yoga detox package includes a two night stay with a three-day yoga programme (hatha yoga each morning, yoga nidra each evening), two lunches and two dinners in the bar restaurant, herbal teas/fruits, and use of spa facilities. Better hurry up, though – it starts tomorrow!
A sea-view room, sir/madam? You’re welcome!
Runs December 7/8, é455pp sharing. www.cliffhousehotel.com
It is, we admit, a brilliant name for a Christmas bolthole. We also admit that we hadn’t heard of this Co Fermanagh island before, so it’s no surprise (or should that be ‘snow surprise’?) to discover that this rather swish 75-acre exclusive resort is pitched as Ireland’s best kept secret. Well, until now.
Noted for its breathtaking natural beauty, food, spa, and as much Christmas cheer as you can handle in its home-from-home Thatch Bar, Lusty Beg (God, we LOVE the name!) is ideal for group bookings.
The Christmas party package includes four-course meal, live music, one night’s accommodation, Irish breakfast. From £40 pp sharing (£50, single occupancy). www.lustybegisland.com
Admit it – you’ve always had a hankering to spend the three core days of Christmas in a city centre hotel, where you’re calm, sipping a cocktail, tucked up and looked after, while outside there’s a bunch of human beings frantically rushing from one shop to the next, and then trying to get back home via their car (which they sense will be clamped) or public transport (which they know will be imbued with hints of stale sweat). Just think – Christmas without the preparation (before) and the washing up (after). Sounds good, doesn’t it?
From December 24-26. Three-night package, including B&B for two adults sharing, é399 in total. Four-course Christmas Day lunch at Cleaver east restaurant, é100 pp (includes glass of champagne and half bottle wine each).
Amsterdam is pretty enough at the best of time, but if you’re looking for a wonderful stay in a beautiful city, then around Christmas is the time to do it. One of the reasons to base yourself here is the city’s globally praised Light & Water Festival, which presents a sparkling backdrop to the usual visitor attractions. Decorated with customized installations, visual projections and light sculptures by leading Dutch and international artists, the event is, dare we say it, a sight for sore eyes.
City Hotel Amsterdam is a family-run three-star 18th-century property located in the city centre. It is less than ten minutes walking distance from the city’s Central Station. www.cityhotelamsterdam.com
Runs until January 18, 2015. www.amsterdamlightfestival.com
Fancy a short ski break to put you in the mood for snow? Here you go, then: one hour from Geneva Airport, Morzine is a singular Winter Wonderland town that boasts superb ski facilities surrounded by snow-covered slopes. Irish-based ski company Highlife takes care of everything – scheduled flights, brisk transfers from airport to town, pre-ordered ski equipment and lift passes.
Highlife also looks after your chalet accommodation, so you know exactly where you’re going to stay (and what it’s going to be like) before you set off. Each chalet also has something you rarely get in package breaks: your very own chalet chef who is on-hand throughout your stay to, well, spoil you rotten with food and wine. We know, we know – it shouldn’t be allowed, etc.
www.highlife.ie
Imagine spending even part of your Christmas on an island that experiences the best climate in the world? Seriously! Of the seven Canary Islands, we’re choosing Gran Canaria, which definitely won’t be seeing snow this or any other year. Perfect for couples wanting to get away from the fuss and/or families that just want something completely different, there’s enough on Gran Canaria to keep you calm and relaxed for as long as you want to be calm and relaxed for.
There is a broad range of accommodation on the island, from five-star hotels to apartments. One of our favourite places to rest the head is H10 Playa Meloneras Palace – five-star luxury at three-star prices.
www.hellocanaryislands.com ; www.hotelh10playameloneraspalace.com
Cornwall in the chilly season might seem like a contradiction in terms, but when you see the region in all its wintry glory you’ll understand why people visit here during the colder months for tranquility as they do during the warmer months for sand, surf, sea and whatever you’re having yourself.
One of the prettiest places to stay (in arguably the prettiest place in England) is The Vean, a sumptuous Georgian country house on Caerhays Estate, in Porthluney Valley. Surrounded by gardens, woodland walks, unspoiled beaches – and a short drive away from the picturesque towns of Falmouth and Truro – The Vean has eight en-suite double bedrooms (sleeping 16), and a remarkable dining room that can seat up to 20.
Available from December 21-28. www.thevean.co.uk
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