Departure Lounge: Take a trip to Albania for a Riviera summer next year
Saranda seafront on the Albanian Riviera
It has been a long time coming but Ryanair has just announced its first direct flights to Albania from Ireland.
The new route from Dublin to the airline’s new base in capital Tirana will offer an exciting new option for fans of the Balkan region — and an alternative to Irish favourites of Montenegro, Croatia, and Greece.
Return “regular fare” flights (so including a 10kg carry-on) start from €172 return.
Afternoon departures from Dublin will make flights more appealing for regional travellers too.
Here’s to an Albanian Riviera summer for 2026?
Eyeballing a sunny Florida break this winter? Then take a look at the Gulf Coast resort of Fort Myers.
The city is bouncing back following the devastation from hurricanes Ian and Milton, not least thanks to its $20m Estero Island Shoreline Protection Project focused on the restoration of its seven-mile beach.
The city makes for an excellent nature lovers’ destination with its mangroves, beaches and blueways.
Value-seeking road-trippers will luck out too; check out Marriot’s new StudioRes brand in the city which offers residence style stays from less that €100 a night.
New week, a new hotel launch! This time it’s the turn of the Moxy Belfast, which is set to open its doors in two weeks.
The colourful brand is located in the city’s very central Clarence Street (a handy 5 minute walk to City Hall) and will increase their Irish offering to three properties with current offerings already in Dublin and Cork.
Now’s a great time to book your next Belfast break due to the hotel’s attractive lead-in rates; they’re as low as €104 per night as I write, which include the hotel’s signature complimentary breakfast and welcome cocktail upon check-in.
It’s also dog-friendly.
Planning a trip to the States? Next week sees the much-anticipated launch of NextGen Acela, the latest evolution of Amtrak’s high-speed trains.
It’s the first upgrade to the service which was introduced in 2000 and will see increased capacity on the models as well as top speeds increasing from 150mph to 160mph (that’s a 16kmph bump).
The service will run across the DC to Boston Northeast corridor, meaning stops in Philadelphia and New York City along the way.
And rates ain’t so bad either: business seats (there’s no economy options on) start from $75 one way, making them a fine option for those seeking to avoid the hustle and hassle of flights.
If you’re thinking of a luxury getaway to Galway, put the G Hotel & spa on your short-list.
The five star hotel has just announced a flash sale which runs from now until next Sunday (August 30) and is valid for all bookings up until December 31, 2026.
The deal is available to “members” only but that’s essentially achieved by adding your email in a jiffy. B&B rates at the time of print start from the €180 per night.
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