Cracking Easter Breaks
Tuesday 08 April 2014
FOR the next couple of weeks it is all about fluffy yellow chicks, Easter bunnies and lots of chocolate.
Hotels around the country are getting ready to welcome guests over the Easter holidays with various packages. Please note that when referring to family packages, 2+2 means two adults and two children under 12 sharing their parents' bedroom.
Starting out in Dublin, the Gibson Hotel beside the O2 has a 'We Are Family' package at €129. This includes 1BB for 2+2 including return Luas tickets (stops at the hotel's door); kids' movies and goodies pack. This offer runs for all of April. The Gibson also has a 'Splishin and a Splashin' Viking splash tour and a 'We're going to the Zoo' package both at €165 per night to include a family pass for either activity. www.thegibsonhotel.ie
Camden Street is Dublin's Fast Food Corridor with inexpensive hip food joints serving excellent food from all over the world. The Camden Court Hotel has double/twin and family rooms at €89 per room per night. Parking and access to the leisure centre included. www.camdencourthotel.com
The five-star Dylan Hotel has 1BB, chocolate martini cocktails and luxury chocs at €189 per room. An afternoon tea special at €35pp runs from April 12-27. www.dylan.ie
Ariel House on Lansdowne Road, in Dublin's D4, is an utterly charming place with superior doubles and twin rooms at €130 per night. A fabulous home-baked Afternoon Tea awaits you on arrival and breakfast is served until 12 noon. www.ariel-house.net
The Radisson Blu St Helen's has wonderful gardens and is close to town and Dundrum Town Centre. A one-night family package on April 19 from €115 pps includes an Easter Sunday bunny hunt and Sunday lunch buffet. Alternatively, enjoy Easter Sunday lunch and an overnight stay for 2+2 at €245. Easter week offers an excellent Dine & Stay for two at €89pps. www.radissonblu.ie/sthelenshotel-dublin
Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel in Killiney, Co Dublin, has 2BB1D Easter family packages for 2+2 from €189 per adult. www.fitzpatrickscastle.com
Bellinter House in Co Meath has a great chill-out package of 1BB with dinner in Eden Restaurant and a spa treatment from only €99 pps. www.bellinterhouse.com
At the Druids Glen Resort, in the Garden of Ireland, its Easter package from €164 per room per night includes 2BB plus dinner on one evening. Children's supplement for dinner is €5 per child. For the children, there is a welcome activity pack, playground and playroom, DVDs, resort bikes, leisure club, junior golf camp and sports fun also available. www.druidsglenresort.com
The Garryvoe Hotel, with its wonderful views out over Ballycotton Bay in East Cork, has a great 'Easter Bunny' three-night BB family stay over the Easter weekend from €237.50 pps. The rate includes dinner on one evening, kiddies splash time, pottery fun, cinema nights and Easter eggs. www.garryvoehotel.com
The fabulous Fota Island Resort has a 2BB break with one dinner at €241 per night with children in adjoining room at an additional charge of €140 per night. A special dinner buffet is available at €9 per child. Kids' camp included in rates. www.fotaisland.ie
The delicious five-star Hayfield Manor in Cork city has three Easter packages, so something to suit everyone. The Easter Family Break is from €348 per night for 2+2; a 2BB1D Easter Break Chocs & Bubbles is from €240 pps and a 2BB1D Racing Home for the Easter Festival is from €329 to include premium tickets for Cork Racecourse. Tally Ho! www.hayfieldmanor.ie
Nearby, the River Lee Hotel provides one of the best breakfasts in the country. It has a two-night Easter break at €165 per night for 2+2. The package includes Sunday brunch with great activities for the kids, full leisure facilities, plus 20 per cent off all spa treatments. www.riverleehotelcork.com
Moving out further west to Bantry, the Maritime Hotel in Bantry offers 2BB1D for 2+2 in a one-bedroom suite, overlooking Bantry Bay, from €298. www.themaritime.ie
In Killarney, the Malton has extensive family fun programmes for the Easter weekend and the mid term. Each day lists activities from nature walks to painting, movies, and so on. The rates start from €165 per adult sharing and from €70 per child for two nights. www.themalton.com
Also in Killarney, the Muckross Park Hotel offers a 2BB break to include a complimentary chocolate afternoon tea. www.muckrosspark.com
Parknasilla resort and spa at Sneem, Co Kerry, is one of the jewels in the crown of Irish tourism. Here you can discover the Parknasilla 'Fairy Trail' or take a kayak trip to see the local seals. Packages of 3BB for 2+2 plus two dinners for adults costs €858. www.parknasillaresort.com
The Manor West Hotel in Tralee has a 2BB1EM Easter Break for 2+2 from €119 per person. On Easter Saturday, it will run a 'Manor Fitkids' camp in association with the Tir Na nOg Festival in Tralee which costs €15 per child including lunch. www.manorwesthotel.ie
In Dingle, you can have B&B and afternoon tea for €46 per person per night at the fabulous Heaton's Guesthouse overlooking Dingle Bay. www.heatonsdingle.com
Dingle Benners Hotel has two to three night B&B Activity Breaks from €119 to €165 to include a choice of activities such as a visit to Dingle Oceanworld, a Dingle Harbour cruise, tickets to the Blasket Heritage Centre or a boat trip to see Fungi the Dolphin. www.dinglebenners.com
Limerick 'City of Culture 2014' has lots to see and do and is the perfect place to explore the Shannon region. The Limerick Strand Hotel has a number of packages including the Eggciting Easter Family Fun package from €115pps, 2BB for 2+2. Also included is a Family Day Pass to Bunratty Castle Folk Park. Alternatively, take your better half and enjoy the Gourmet Break for two where executive chef Tom Flavin promises to delight you with seasonal dishes: 2BB1D from €129 pps. www.strandlimerick.ie
Ennis's Old Ground Hotel will have lots of Easter fun and games for adults and children alike: 2BB1D is from €119pps. www.flynnhotels.com
In magical Doolin, Co Clare, at the excellent Hotel Doolin, €139pps gets you 2BB for 2+2 and one four-course dinner. Kids meals extra. www.hoteldoolin.ie
Moving further up the Wild Atlantic way to Galway, the five-star G Hotel has a 2BB package from €180 pps. This includes dinner in Restaurant Gigi's. You also get a complimentary visit to the Thermal Suite in ESPA at the G. Check out the fabulous Easter-themed Afternoon Tea at €42 for two. www.theghotel.ie
Lougrea is known as the 'town of the grey lake' and at the four-star Lough Rea Hotel & Spa you can enjoy a 1BB special for 2+2 at €114 per night with an Easter treat for the children and a visit to the Fun Shack play centre. www. loughreahotelandspa.com
In the Midlands, at the Wineport Lodge, its 2BB1D Easter Indulgence package runs from €213 per room per night and includes a soothing body treatment in their treatment suite. www.wineport.ie
The romantic Kilronan Castle at Ballyfarnon, Co Roscommon has 2BB1EM breaks from €159pps. Walk the 42-acre estate abounding with lakes and woodland, and follow up with dinner in their historic Douglas Hyde restaurant. www.kilronancastle.ie
In Claremorris, Co Mayo, the four-star McWilliam Park Hotel has a great Easter midweek offer at €59 room only, including a family room to suit 2+2. Enjoy full use of the leisure centre plus the Bizzie Bees kids' club for children is available at €5 per night. www.mcwilliam park.ie
At the delightfully welcoming Mill Times Hotel in Westport town centre, you can have 2BB for 2+2 for €238, available from April 21-24. One evening meal for adults is included. www.milltimeshotel.ie
Also in Westport, the Westport Coast Hotel (formerly Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel) and the Castlecourt Hotel offer 2BB1D at €145 to €159pps respectively. Midweek 3BB2D packages for families of 2+2 can be had at €335/€345. www.westporthotelresorts.ie
At the fabulous 100-acre Mount Falcon Estate in Ballina, you can have a 2BB1D Easter Gourmet Getaway from €199 pps. You also enjoy clay pigeon shooting, archery and a driving range. You can also do three nights' self-catering from €590 in one of the luxurious lodges and bring Fido. www.mountfalcon.com
Ashford Castle has just reopened following refurbishment by its new owners, the Red Carnation Group. Its Easter package at €810 per couple includes 2BB, dinner for two in the George V dining room on one evening, and dinner for two in Cullen's at the Dungeon on the other evening. www.ashfordcastle.com
The ever delightful Castle Leslie Estate is an amazing place. You can have a three-night family break for 2+2 in its luxurious Village Cottages for €795. On arrival you will find a welcome family basket, beer and wine, and ice cream and chocolate for the kids. Also included is a family dinner at Conor's Bar. Or check out the Fun in the Woods break in the Old Stable Mews for €725. www.castleleslie.com
Wherever you go, have a scrumptious time.
*******
If you fancy chowing down on chowder, then head for Kinsale next weekend for the All Ireland Chowder Cook Off 2014 at 2pm on Sunday April 13 in Acton's Hotel.
The event will feature 32 professional chefs, fishermen and makers of commercial chowders, each selected to represent their county for the title of All-Ireland Chowder Champion. It's the highlight of a two-day family festival that will take over the streets of Kinsale next weekend. Tickets are €10 and you get a voting card on entry, which entitles you to sample all the chowders before casting your vote. www.kinsalerestaurants.com
First Published in the Sunday Independent