Departure Lounge: Enjoy Sicily in style at beautiful resort

Plus open-water swimming holidays to over 50 destinations

Explore some of this week's best getaway opportunities

All-inclusive Sicilian chic

Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo in Sicily

Sicily has a beautiful new all-inclusive resort. Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo takes its name and design cues from the traditional Sicilian borgo, a small and close-knit village built around a central piazza.

Overlooking the quieter south-east coast of Sicily, the five-star resort offers direct access to a private sandy beach and multiple swimming pools. Surrounded by Baroque towns, guests will enjoy dining in a selection of Italian and Sicilian restaurants, both buffet and à la carte.

Families are well catered for, with a crèche, kids and teen clubs. Facilities include tennis courts, padel, pickleball, beach volleyball, and water sports, alongside The Longevity Spa. All-inclusive doubles from €366.

• costaragusaborgo.mangias.com

Historic Limerick No 1 Pery Square

No 1 Pery Square is inviting you to slow down and step back in time with a three-night Georgian Quarter Getaway.

To celebrate its recent membership of Historic Houses of Ireland — an organisation celebrating and representing the country’s privately owned historic homes — No 1 Pery Square is inviting you to slow down and step back in time with a three-night Georgian Quarter Getaway.

Enjoy three nights bed and breakfast at the chic town house, and on an evening of your choice, relax in the candle-lit long room, with a €50 dining credit per person and a complimentary drink for €855 for two. Overlooking the leafy People’s Park, No 1 Pery Square was recently awarded 1 Key by the Michelin Guide.

• oneperysquare.com

An Indian family safari

Mahlatini Luxury Travel is offering a safari package featuring tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, and other thrilling wildlife

Mahlatini Luxury Travel, celebrated for its expertise in African safaris for nearly 25 years, now offers bespoke luxury journeys across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Sample itineraries include an eight-night Wildlife Family Adventures staying in two of central India’s most prolific wildlife parks — Kanha and Pench.

Home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, and other thrilling wildlife, you’ll experience an unforgettable Indian adventure with the kids that begins in Delhi and ends in Mumbai. €3,300pp, flying from Dublin.

• mahlatini.com

Deal of the week

Universal Endless Summer Resort — Surfside Inn and Suites.

Take the kids to Orlando this winter with Sunway, for a week of thrills and smiles. Enoy seven nights at the three-star Universal Endless Summer Resort — Surfside Inn and Suites.

Part of Universal Orlando Resort, guests can take advantage of complimentary transport to Universal’s theme parks and early park admission to selected attractions with valid theme park admission.

Seven nights, departing November 14, from €909pp, based on two adults and two children under 12.

• sunway.ie

Open water swimming with hiking

Swim Trek's 2026 locations include Ithaca, Greece, Norway, and Sicily.

Pioneers of the open-water swimming holiday to over 50 destinations, SwimTrek also launched YogaSwims, pairing open-water swimming with yoga.

This year, new SwimTrek locations include the island of Ithaca, Greece; Norway’s remote Solund archipelago; and Marettimo in Sicily.

Located off the western coast of Sicily, within the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area, guests will swim in one of the Mediterranean’s largest marine reserves, enjoying offshore adventures where dolphins and eagle rays breach the surface. On land, you’ll follow coastal trails and historic paths towards highlights including Punta Troia and Punta Libeccio Lighthouse. From €1,641, book now for 2027.

• swimtrek.com