GET BOOKING THAT VALENTINE BREAK
Tuesday 11 February 2014
WITH St Valentine's Day falling on a Friday this year, it is the perfect opportunity for a spring break and the hotels around the country are gearing up to woo your custom.
Dublin can be heaven, with breakfast at 11... At the Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephen's Green, you can have an overnight stay with breakfast in a deluxe room on February 14, 15 or 16, including Champagne and strawberries on arrival and rose petals strewn on your bed. Don your glad rags and enjoy a three-course dinner in the Saddle Room restaurant before a nightcap in the Horseshoe Bar. Rates range from €349-€499 per night. www.theshelbourne.ie
In Co Meath, the elegantly hip Bellinter House near Navan has a 'Stuck on You' Valentine's package. From €105 pps, you will find a bottle of wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries in your room on arrival. Cosy up together in the outdoor hot tub before dinner in Eden restaurant. www.bellinter house.com
At Tankardstown House at Slane, it's all about the 'Queen of Hearts'. One lucky couple will be presented with 'Jam Tarts' indicating that they will be 'royally' treated to an upgrade to the Library Suite. Dinner, B&B from €140 pps. www.tankardstown.ie
Tankardstown's baby sister, the Conyngham Arms in Slane village, has a great value overnight stay at €99pps including bubbly and choccies, a romantic three-course meal, and breakfast in the parlour with Slane Bake treats. www.conynghamarms.ie
Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa has a Valentine's package from €220 with breakfast and dinner in the Ivy Restaurant.
You can also chill out at the Seoid Spa. www.dun boynecastlehotel.com
In Co Westmeath, the Mullingar Park Hotel has a 2BB1D package at €139 pps to include champagne and chocolates in your room. If you can't stay, the Terrace Restaurant has dinner for two at €70 with a bottle of wine. www.mullingarparkhotel.com
If you want to really push out the boat, you can have 'One Night, My Lovely Valentine' at the splendiferous K Club. The rate is €180 pps for 1BBD with Champagne and chocolates. www.kclub.ie
Kilkenny was voted friendliest city in Europe and here you can extend your Valentine's celebration up to the end of March! The 'Perfect Love Affair' package involves a number of hotels and includes 2BB1D, Champagne and chocolates on arrival, and passes for St Canice's Cathedral Tower, the perfect place to propose. A Bike 'n' Hike tour for two along the River Nore is included with a romantic picnic lunch. Prices from €154 pps to €234 pps. Participating hotels include Springhill Court Hotel, Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel, Pembroke Hotel, Hotel Kilkenny, Newpark Hotel and the Ormonde Hotel. www.vistkilkenny.ie/romance
Also in Co Kilkenny, next Saturday, February 15, a special pop-up fund-raising event, the Town of Food Long Table Dinner, takes place in the Barn, a medieval theatre in the grounds of Camphill Jerpoint near Thomastown. Tickets are €30, wine is extra. www.townoffood.com
In Ballymoney-on-Sea in Co Wexford, at the Seafield Golf & Spa Hotel, from €119pps you can enjoy B&B and a romantic dinner. You will also have access to the thermal suites at the Oceo Spa. www.seafieldhotel.com
At White's of Wexford, you can woo your Valentine with an overnight break and dinner in the Terrace Restaurant plus a toast to love with a glass of bubbly on arrival, all from €89 pps. www.whitesofwexford.ie
Across the Suir estuary, Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Resort in Waterford, has a 2BB break including dinner in the elegant Roseville rooms at €169 pps. www.faithlegg.com
In East Cork, at the Garryvoe Hotel, which is virtually on the water's edge, you can enjoy an overnight stay from €99 pps to include breakfast in bed, a bottle of bubbly and chocolates on arrival, and candlelit dinner with predinner drinks. www.garryvoehotel.com
At the Castlemartyr Resort in Cork, arrive in time for a romantic stroll around the estate. Then enjoy a bottle of Prosecco and chocolate strawberries before dinner in the Bell Tower restaurant. The package runs from February 10-17, from €300 per night. www.castlemartyrresort.ie
In Kerry, the Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa has a one night B&B stay including a five-course dinner in the Lake Room Restaurant from €326 per night. It also includes a jaunting car ride with hot chocolate and cookies. www.aghadoeheights.com
The Brehon Hotel's two-night Valentine's package is from €175 pps and includes Prosecco and strawberries, dinner in Danu restaurant and breakfast. www.thebrehon.com
Nearby at the Muckross Park Hotel in the heart of Killarney National Park, there will be more Prosecco and strawberries. Here you can enjoy a one to two-night break from €139/€219 pps including dinner in the Yew Tree with a bottle of wine. You also have access to the Cloisters Spa. www.muckrosspark.com
Further west, the Dingle Skellig Hotel's Valentine's package offers 2BB1D at €169 pps with the option of adding on the 'Love Actually' package at €35 per person of a bottle of Prosecco, strawberries, chocolate and a red rose on arrival and 2pm check out. www.dingleskellig.com
It's all about 'Love, Love Me Do' at the Limerick Strand Hotel, where the Valentine's package at €115 pps includes B&B and a four-course dinner. The package also includes a treatment at Urban Escape Day Spa. www.strandhotel limerick.ie
Also in Limerick, at the Absolute Hotel from €140 pps it's 'lock in your love'. The idea is you declare your love by writing a personal message on your very own lock. Then enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast, a bottle of Prosecco, a four-course dinner, all-night movies and a late check out. www.absolutehotel.com
In Ennis, from €139 pps at the Old Ground Hotel, treat your loved one to a two-night break in a deluxe king room with dinner in the O'Regan Room, wine and chocolates on arrival and a late check out. www.flynnhotels.com
In Doolin, at the four-star Hotel Doolin, its enterprising Valentine's package is Peace, Love & Breakfast in Bed... for €99 pps. www.hoteldoolin.ie
In Galway, at The House Hotel, from €125 pps you can have 1BB, a bottle of bubbly, a three-course meal in the House Bistro and cocktails in the bar. www.thehousehotel.ie In Oranmore, the Maldron Hotel's Great Escape Break is 1BBD for €109 per couple. www.maldronhotelgalway.com
Moving to Claremorris, Co Mayo, the McWilliam Park Hotel has a 2BB1D Valentine's package at €129 pps. Guests enjoy a glass of bubbly and chocolate-dipped strawberries. www.mcwilliampark.ie
At the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, its 'Loved-Up' package includes bubbly and strawberries, a romantic four-course dinner with an overnight stay complete with breakfast in bedFrom €105 pps. www.thelandmarkhotel.com
In Co Mayo, at Knockranny House Hotel in Westport, its Valentine's package is from €125 pps to include handmade chocolates in your room, one night's BB, and dinner in La Fougere. www.knockranny househotel.ie
At the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo, its Valentine's package at €285 includes two nights in a superior room, dinner in the Classiebawn Restaurant and a bottle of Prosecco and a rose in your room. www.radisson blu.ie/hotel-sligo
Someone's making a packet on Prosecco and chocolate-dipped strawberries next weekend – I hope I get some!
First published in the Sunday Independent