Hideaways for after Santa’s visit and before the new year resolutions kick in
Well, Twixtmas is fast becoming more than just a makey-uppey buzzword in the travel industry. It’s now a recognised part of the travel calendar, that period of time after Christmas and before the New Year (typically December 27-30), when people prefer to stay at home for the day itself but have no problem heading off for a recuperative time prior to the big bash on New Year’s Eve.
Below, here’s a choice of home and abroad destinations in which to spend the most wonderful time of the year.
Say a post-Xmas hello to the West of Ireland. If you want a market town buzz, then Clifden is less than a 30-minute drive away.
If you prefer arts and crafts village life, then Roundstone is less than ten miles away. And we haven’t even mentioned the proximity of the Aran Islands. (Oh, we just have, haven’t we?)
Cashel House Hotel, a classic 19th century country house retreat (with the emphasis on the second), is situated in the heart of Connemara on 50 acres of gardens and woodland walks. Word to the wise: this elegant place is one of the founding members of Ireland’s Blue Book, so there’s always a welcome for Blue Book Voucher holders.
December 27-29; from €150 pp (inclusive of dinner and B&B); www.ashelhouse.ie
Right, so here’s the deal: Christmas isn’t over, but the bustling nature of it is. You have a bit of free time, a bit of spare cash and you think to yourself— why not go somewhere chic and luxurious and do something different? Look no further than an overnighter in one of the capital’s best hotels and its offer of a post-Christmas Racing Break.
The Merrion Hotel, bang in the city centre, minutes away from Grafton Street and St Stephen’s Green. The hotel’s Cellar Restaurant is a gorgeous, vaulted room that has to be experienced to be believed.
December 26-29; €200 pps (one night, with two top level tickets for the Leopardstown Race Festival; €300pps for private transfer to/from Leopardstown); www.merrionhotel.com
Kerry is God’s own country, and Killarney is visitor-attraction heaven, so you know you’ve travelled to the right place to get your mind, soul and head together before the New Year kicks right back in.
Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney. Seriously, you can’t go wrong here, as this multiple award-winning 5-star luxury resort hotel is blessed not only with awe-inspiring natural surroundings but also the most decorously-appointed hotel rooms anywhere in the world. And can we make it crystal clear that the spa is divine? God’s own country? Visitor attraction heaven? Divine spa? You’re guessing a theme, aren’t you?
December 27-29; €260pps (two nights in a Lakeside room with dinner on one evening, in the Lake Room restaurant, and breakfast each morning). www.aghadoeheights.com
The Royal County is where we are, and if you’re looking for an old-world place to rest your weary bones after a frantic few days of wrapping and then unwrapping Christmas presents, then here’s a good, safe and impressive bet.
And don’t forget that the Boyne Valley is, literally, on your doorstep, so if you want to broaden your horizons there are some beautiful sights to see, including Tara, Newgrange, Slane, and so on.
Bellinter House, Navan, is an 18th century Palladian-style Georgian mansion that was formerly a religious retreat and conference centre. For the past ten years it has been operating as one of the must-see/go-to boutique hotels in Leinster.
December 28-January 8; from €135pps (one night, including a three-course dinner in Eden Restaurant, a 2AA Rosette Award winner); www.bellinterhouse.com
Despite what you may you have read in Wuthering Heights, Yorkshire is a particularly beautiful part of England, and if you fancy a few days that will not only blow away the cobwebs but set you up for the advance of yet another year, then you’d be hard pressed to find a better market town than Otley, which is in the midst of unspoiled woodlands and right beside Chevin Forest Park.
And if you fancy a bit of shopping (oh, go on, spoil yourself!) then Leeds and York are very close by.
Chevin Country Park Hotel, Otley; accommodation includes suites and executive rooms at the hotel, and on-site woodland lodges.
Three-night Twixtmas break (to arrive either December 27 or December 28) £189 pp. www.crerarhotels.com/chevin
The centre of Paris is minutes away by taxi or public transport, but this particular area of Malmasion is also historically rich and significant due to its connection with Napoleon Bonaparte, and culturally relevant due to fine landscape painting by Renoir, Manet and Monet.
Also, architectural wonders such as the Castle of Malmaison and exhibition venue, L’Atalier Grognard, are very close by and the Palace of Versailles, is half an hour away.
Quality Le Cardinal Hotel in Rueil Malmaison, 1 place Richelieu, 92500 Rueil Malmaison; this is a very cool-looking three-star hotel that is located less than 30 minutes from both city airports (Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly).
December 27-December 30; superior rooms from €75, family rooms from €105; www.hotel-rueil-centre.com
Ah, look, it’s New York, so you know what to expect, don’t you? We say this knowing NYC is also a city that continually surprises, so what you expect and what you get might not coincide.
For this particular Twixtmas break, we’re in Greenwich Village, which has a rich and vibrant history that sets it apart from other neighbourhoods in Manhattan.
The Jade Hotel, 52 W 13th St, is a charmer of a boutique hotel, with an elegant interior design (by Andres Escobar & Associates) that references the singular ‘Village’ vibe. The rooms are also quite special— think 1920s Paris taking decorative hints from the art-deco era.
December 27-December 30; rooms from $375 per night www.thejadenyc.com
Wild? Yes. Windy? Yes. Wonderful? Yes, that, too. Welcome to Crianlarich, a Scottish village that is within easy reach of Glencoe, Loch Lomond, Loch Tay, Oban, and the Western Isles. Fancy spending time driving around such beautiful countryside?
Good thing, then, that you’re within two hours of 90 per cent of Scotland’s most visited tourist attractions. Or maybe you’d prefer walking? Grand, so — up to 30 peaks can be climbed direct from the village.
The Crianlarich Hotel, Crianlarich, Perthshire, is a family-owned, 36-room, three-star Best Western property with an AA Rosette-awarded restaurant.
Oh — it also boasts a distant view of snow-capped mountains and a close-up view of blazing log fires. One hour’s drive from Glasgow.
December 27-29; £125pp (three-day package includes dinner, and B&B) www.crianlarich-hotel.co.uk
Appealing to business and leisure guests who appreciate a prime location in the Thai capital, a passion for design and a relaxing stay, the new contemporary and simple AVANI Atrium Bangkok is the first upscale hotel under the AVANI brand to open in Thailand.
The hotel blends style and an upbeat vibe, Thai hospitality with professional and welcoming services, plus AVANI’s signature hallmark service to complement the Anantari brand.
Details on www.avanihotels.com/atrium-bangkok/
Visitors to Limerick have an opportunity to ring in the New Year in one of the country’s most characterful independent hotels, No. 1 Pery Square, overlooking the tree-lined People’s Park in the city’s historic Georgian Quarter.
A two night package is available with prices starting from €269 in the comfortable small hotel.
www.oneperysquare.com or telephone 061 402402
Country living can be more enjoyable than city living.
At least that’s the view of those hosting New Year’s Eve at the Twelve Hotel in Barna, Galway, who hope to round off 2014 and start off 2015 with a bang.
The hotel has priced a two-night break with one promised great party night from €235 per person sharing. Find the details on Tel: 091 597000 or Fax: 091 597003
The Sunway Christmas sale to the USA continues — albeit for travel between March and May.
A St Patrick’s Day three-night break in New York comes in from €689, while a seven night stay at the Rosen Inn at Pointe, Orlando, in Florida, is priced from €519, and this particular offer is especially geared for families.
Check out the details on www.sunway.ie
Flynn Hotels will be holding their annual room sale once again in January with the promise of bargains to be had in four destinations.
The company has four hotels in the group, the Imperial in Cork, the Newpark in Kilkenny, the Old Ground, Ennis, Co Clare, and the Park in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
www.flynnhotels.com
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