Weekend break: The InterContinental, Dublin 4

YOU just can’t help yourself. There’s no escaping the slightest sense of intimidation as you walk through the entrance of the five-star InterContinental, opened (naturally) by the doorman, complete with top hat.
My experiences of the Four Seasons (the hotel changed ownership just this year) were Celtic Tiger-driven press launches and parties, semi-celebs posing for the social pages in the Ice Bar.