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Travel – destinations

Our pick of the best places in the world to visit

<p>Essense Spa, Iniala House, Malta</p>

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Departure Lounge: Cast your holiday longings toward Valletta, and the Maltese sunlight

The dramatic harbour setting is stacked with handsome buildings that shimmer golden in the Maltese sunlight and you can stay in the middle of it all at the glamorous Iniala Harbour House.

<p>When the invitation comes to revisit Chicago to check out its arts and culture scene, I’m curious</p>

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I spent five days in downtown Chicago — here's why I found it hard to leave

<p>Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco.</p>

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The magic of Morocco: How the Northwest of Africa shimmers with lifelong memory

Departure Lounge: Head for Botswana for a safari escape

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Departure Lounge: Head for Botswana for a safari escape

I spent the night in a haunted castle in Tipperary, here's what happened

S travel

I spent the night in a haunted castle in Tipperary, here's what happened

Florence cityscape and Duomo Santa Maria Del Fiore, Italy

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Bottled memories: Grief, scent and healing in Florence

Departure Lounge: Budapest is a winner for an autumn getaway

Departure Lounge: Budapest is a winner for an autumn getaway

Elegant and imperial, Budapest is calmer than Prague, easier than Berlin, and cheaper than Vienna, making it a winning choice for an autumn escape.

Sat, 25 Oct, 2025

Departure Lounge: Get 2026 off to a sailing start to the Maldives

Departure Lounge: Get 2026 off to a sailing start to the Maldives

"...sipping champagne with oysters at sunset, dining on a menu by Michelin-starred Tom Aikens and enjoying a guided stargazing session in absolute luxury..."

Sat, 18 Oct, 2025

91568

Ernest Shackleton's footsteps: Antarctic hero's cabin is restored and open to visitors

Explorer's cabin had been used as a shed in Norway for most of a century — but now it's been brought back to his Irish birthplace and meticulously restored

Sun, 12 Oct, 2025

Departure Lounge: Make the best of those new Dublin-Marrakech flights

Departure Lounge: Make the best of those new Dublin-Marrakech flights

"...why not factor in a brunch to remember at the lavish five-star palace hotel, Selman Marrakech?"

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Departure Lounge: Tee up for a sunny Spanish golfing escape

Departure Lounge: Tee up for a sunny Spanish golfing escape

"If sunny fairways are calling you, why not avail of Royal Marbella Golf Resort’s deal on the Costa del Sol?"

Sat, 04 Oct, 2025

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign zoom

Viva Las Vegas: Secret thrills, spills, and bumps in America's entertainment capital

From hidden speakeasies to F1-inspired karting, boredom isn’t an option in Nevada’s neon city, writes Darren Norris

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Departure Lounge: Prepare for autumn with a trip to Edinburgh's Witchery Hotel

Departure Lounge: Prepare for autumn with a trip to Edinburgh's Witchery Hotel

"Quirky, glamorous, and luxurious, the atmospheric five-star hotel sits on the Royal Mile in the gothic heart of the city."

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Departure Lounge: Five travel deals to book this week, including Las Vegas, Bali, West Cork

Departure Lounge: Five travel deals to book this week, including Las Vegas, Bali, West Cork

Plus save up to €1,190 and enjoy a free all-inclusive service in the Maldives

Sat, 20 Sep, 2025

Departure Lounge: Five travel deals to book this week, including cruises and skiing

Departure Lounge: Five travel deals to book this week, including cruises and skiing

Or maybe some island hopping in Southeast Asia?

Sat, 13 Sep, 2025

Agistri island

I solo-travelled to an almost-empty Greek island in winter — here's what I learned

What does one do on an almost-empty Greek island in winter? Unlike Leonard Cohen, Liv Monaghan did not find a muse, but become enveloped in nature

Sat, 06 Sep, 2025

Colorful northern lights

Departure Lounge: Five deals to book, including a Northern Lights city break sale

"Return flights from Dublin to Reykjavik start at €179 while a three-night Northern Lights city break from €419 includes a guided tour to chase the Aurora Borealis."

Sat, 06 Sep, 2025

Around the Swiss Alps in a Porsche: following in the footsteps of 007

Around the Swiss Alps in a Porsche: following in the footsteps of 007

Alf Alderson follows James Bond around the Swiss Alps in a classic Porsche on the Grand Tour of Switzerland

Sat, 23 Aug, 2025

Saranda seafront on the Albanian Riviera

Departure Lounge: Take a trip to Albania for a Riviera summer next year

It has been a long time coming but Ryanair has just announced its first direct flights to Albania from Ireland.

Sat, 23 Aug, 2025

sky's Alive!!!

Departure Lounge: See why Canada has become the alternative in North American travel

"...nowhere is the unlikely beneficiary more than Saskatchewan, the remote prairie province which is also reporting a huge surge of tourists on the back of a reference in Chappell Roan’s latest single, The Subway..."

Sun, 17 Aug, 2025

Trieste: Italy's Mediterranean crossroads of history, food and natural beauty

Trieste: Italy's Mediterranean crossroads of history, food and natural beauty

Rich in history and on the doorstop of Slovenia and Croatia, this Italian city is worth more than a brief stopover

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Departure Lounge: How to get 15% off The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Departure Lounge: How to get 15% off The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Included is breakfast and a delicious three-course meal at Wilde’s restaurant, when the booking is paid in advance.

Sat, 09 Aug, 2025

Coast landscape in Murcia Spain

Murcia: 12 reasons to head inland for a Spanish break with a difference

In search of a Spanish break with a difference, away from the busy coast? Look no further than this inland gem, writes Amanda Kavanagh

Sat, 02 Aug, 2025

Departure Lounge: New flight route takes you directly to the best place to see the Northern Lights

Departure Lounge: New flight route takes you directly to the best place to see the Northern Lights

Aer Lingus' brand new direct route will connect Dublin to Tromsø in northern Norway

Sat, 02 Aug, 2025

Indianapolis: Exploring the home of speed, sport and sass

Indianapolis: Exploring the home of speed, sport and sass

Fast cars, Art Deco glamour, eclectic culture and Midwestern charm move edgy Indianapolis into pole position, writes Fionn Davenport

Sat, 26 Jul, 2025

Saadian pavilion, Menara gardens and Atlas in Marrakech, Morocco, Africa

Departure Lounge: Take a solo trip to Morocco's Medinas, mountains and coast

"Solos’ new women-only tours for 2026 offer private rooms with no single supplement, small group sizes, female tour leaders, and women-focused experiences designed for mature, independent travellers."

Sat, 26 Jul, 2025

Departure Lounge: Take a small-ship trip to Antarctica

Departure Lounge: Take a small-ship trip to Antarctica

"AE Expeditions, an award-winning, Certified B Corp and 100% carbon neutral leader in small-ship adventure travel, has an excellent deal on Antarctica voyages, destined to tempt you to book that bucket list trip."

Sat, 19 Jul, 2025

Redon Marina, early mornign

Brittany: Boating in the beauty of France's Celtic heartland

A live-aboard boat voyage is the perfect way to take in some of France’s most beautiful towns and villages, while also disconnecting from life’s many distractions, writes Conor Power

Sat, 12 Jul, 2025

Aerial View of Coastal Road to Town Surrounded by Ocean and Mountains

Departure Lounge: Shannon's new routes take flight with a €150 discount for sun breaks

Shannon Airport’s newest routes offer direct access to Madrid, Lapland and Madeira, and Munster holidaymakers can enjoy €150 off all sun holidays for those flying between June 2025 and December 2025.

Sat, 28 Jun, 2025

Nashville: Ship off to the capital of country music

Nashville: Ship off to the capital of country music

The Tennessee capital is also home to the Grand Ole Opry which, as well as being the world’s longest running radio broadcast, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Departure Lounge: An equestrian escape, new flights to Greenland and a luxurious Greece getaway

Departure Lounge: An equestrian escape, new flights to Greenland and a luxurious Greece getaway

The private equestrian estate is paradise for pony fans, with polo, riding, and starry glamping up for grabs. Best of all, no riding experience is needed, just an appetite for adventure.

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

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