The best family getaways this Halloween

Ciara McDonnell highlights some of the best family-friendly mid-term staycation breaks this Halloween.

1. Westport House

Mayo’s Westport House and Hotel Westport have come together to provide the most immersive family Halloween offering around this year.

Westport House will transform into a Haunted Estate House for Halloween Fest with scary story time, dark and spooky dungeons, and Spooky Spoons Workshops where families can create their very own goblin cakes.

The Pirate Adventure Park will be hosting the Cannonball Run, Pirate Queen Swing Ship, and the Pirate’s Plunge, while the bouncy castle will be the ideal spot to let off steam.

A two-night stay at the nearby four-star Hotel Westport will allow families to make the most of Halloween Fest, and can avail of discounted family passes to the festival.

A two-night Spooky Special, with breakfast each morning, and dinner on one night costs from €299 for a family of four sharing (available on October 19/20/21, November 1/2/3).

Tickets for Westport House Halloween Fest are €57 for a Family Pass for two adults and two kids including all Halloween activities, plus full use of the Pirate Adventure Park.

Visit the website here.

2. The Newpark Hotel Kilkenny

The Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny is coming over all mystical this midterm as it embraces the world of Harry Potter.

Activities for children include wand-making in the Chamber of Arts where mini witches and wizards can hone their artistic skills, and the Forbidden Forest family treasure hunt, which trails through Newpark’s farm with spooky adventures promises along the way.

The hotel has a kids club, an on-site adventure playground with zip line, and a fairy trail, making it one of the most sought-after family hotels in the country.

The Experience Halloween package costs from €229 per night based on a family of two adults and two children and includes bed and breakfast with dinner on one evening.

Visit the website here.

3. The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Every guest is a VIP at The Lodge at Ashford Castle this midterm.

The experience for younger guests begins with hot chocolate and cookies on arrival, and a day spent exploring the estate on some of the hotel’s complimentary bicycles.

Children will be whisked away for a traditional pumpkin hunt, followed by apple bobbing and mummy wrapping, while the adults enjoy an hour or two of relaxation.

A Halloween break at The Lodge At Ashford Castle includes two nights accommodation in a Quay Suite with breakfast each morning, hot chocolate and cookies on arrival, dinner in the Quay Bar & Brasserie on one evening from €490.

Visit the website here.

4. Fota Island Resort

Fota Island Resort, already famous for its Christmas experience, is adding Halloween to its line-up, with the launch of Spooky Town.

In this interactive experience, you make your way through the streets of Spooky Town, passing haunted graveyards and pumpkin patches before arriving at the Spooky Town Hall to meet the local Mayor, Count Derekula. A two-night break for two adults and two children in a Fota Island self-catering lodge with tickets for all to Spooky Town is priced from €590.

Visit the website here.

5. The Park Hotel in Dungarvan

Pack up the bikes and head to The Park Hotel in Dungarvan for an active family break.

After a day spent cycling the brilliantly family-oriented Déise Greenway, head back to the hotel for a dip in the swimming pool.

The onsite kids club runs each evening from 5.30pm to 9.30pm serves children’s dinner before kicking off with lots of spooky activities like arts and crafts workshops, dress-up discos and pumpkin-carving, meaning that parents can enjoy a child-free dinner in the Garden Room Restaurant.

A two or three night Halloween Break at The Park Hotel starts from €109 per night and includes bed and breakfast with dinner on one night for two adults and two children.

Visit the website here.

6. The Limerick Strand Hotel

The Limerick Strand Hotel has a two-night package staying in a spacious family room with B&B (this hotel breakfast includes pancakes, a must for any child getaway).

The offer includes a free family pass to King John’s Castle, which is 800 years old and has all the spooky stories to prove it. Follow your scary tour with a trip to the leisure centre and the playroom, which is unsupervised, but very comfy.

A two–night Halloween break costs €160 per adult sharing, children under 12 stay free, with a 15% discount off food purchases at The Terrace Bar.

The offer is valued from October 29 to November 3.

Visit the website here.

7. The Rose Hotel

The Rose Hotel in Tralee is offering one, two, or three-night family stays this midterm, all with a family pass to the Aquadome, one of the country’s biggest indoor water parks.

The big draw of The Rose is their really generous family rooms and complimentary kids club, which allows parents to have dinner together each evening while the kids indulge in some Halloween-themed activities.

Halloween family packages start from €150 per stay based on a family of two adults and two children.

Visit the website here.

8. The Talbot Hotel Carlow

The Talbot Hotel Carlow is an ideal base to stay if you are thinking of checking out the famous Rathwood Halloween Trail (it really is worth it) this year.

The Talbot has a great Halloween break offer which includes bed and breakfast and dinner on a night of your choice as well as a family pass to The Dome Family Entertainment centre which has enough going on to satisfy even the biggest child in the family.

The Spooktastic Halloween break starts at €270 per family based on two adults and two children sharing.

Visit the website here.

9. Lyrath Estate

For a midterm break with luxury appeal, look no further than Lyrath Estate. They’ll be hosting a Bat Walk on October 30, giving hotel residents the chance to discover how to find bats and all about their habitat.

Children will be given a bat sonar listening device before heading off to find bats on the hotel grounds.

The onsite Reilly’s Fun Club will be running lots of activities through the week, and with a newly-constructed playground as well as a private cinema, there’s something to suit all weathers. Breakfast is included on both mornings.

The Halloween package for two adults and two children is available for just €185 per adult sharing.

Children under the age of 4 are included in that price, while there is a €50 charge per child aged 5-12.

Visit the website here.

10. Lullymore Heritage and Discover Park

Close enough to Dublin and Kildare Village to facilitate a spot of retail therapy, and equally near to kid-friendly days out at Lullymore Heritage and Discover Park and the National Stud, Cliff At Lyons is a fantastic option for a mid-term getaway.

Their Midterm Magic offer includes a two-night stay in an extremely luxurious cottage, with breakfast both mornings and one dinner included.

They have created a special Spooktacular Afternoon Tea (€35 per adult and €20 per child) for the month, which is well worth a try too. Midterm Magic is available to book today from €510 per family, based on two adults and two children under 12.

Visit the website here.

11. Garryvoe Hotel

Garryvoe Hotel offers a fantastic option for families who don’t want to venture far from home this midterm.

The gorgeous hotel overlooking Ballycotton Bay in East Cork has a three-night Halloween package, which includes a spooky movie night and Halloween-themed arts and crafts.

The three-night break includes B&B and dinner in the Samphire Restaurant on the night of your choice and costs from €249 based on two adults and two children under twelve in a family room.

Visit the website here.