HOTEL BREAKS NEW YEAR
Tuesday 30 December 2014
There's still time for you to treat yourself, or your beloved, and the family to a New Year's Eve break away. Just think of the bliss of having everything served up to you and no washing up to do. So, let me give you the ultimate rundown of packages out there - get your finger out quickly because this year bookings are heavy, with some hotels already full. I have not included children's rates as they vary greatly with each hotel so, if applicable, please check directly with the hotel.
At Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel, Killiney, from €390pps, guests can enjoy a two-night Christmas Eve and Christmas Day stay, with dinner on Christmas Eve and a Festive Lunch on Christmas Day. On New Year's Eve they have a one-/two-night stay, including a Gala Ball, from €180/€225pps. See fitzpatrickcastle.com.
In the city centre, the fab five-star Westbury Hotel, in the heart of the Grafton Street area, have 1BB midweek shopping breaks this month from €190 for one or two people sharing. See doylecollection.com. The Gibson Hotel have Shopping Packages from €120 on selected dates, to include a double, twin or family room (two children under 12 years), so handy also for 'Panto' visits. On New Year's Eve, their Christmas-style food market with live entertainment will be in full swing, and an overnight stay in a superior double or twin room, including breakfast, and Prosecco in their Hemi bar, is from €199 for two people. See thegibsonhotel.ie.
In Hotel Kilkenny, in Kilkenny city, they have one-three night packages from Christmas Eve through to St. Stephen's Day from €109pps. You can arrive on Christmas Eve to a mulled-wine reception, and on Christmas Day enjoy Christmas lunch and special visit by Mr Claus. Their 2BB1D New Year's Eve package runs from €185 pps. See.hotelkilkenny.ie.
In Wexford, the Ferrycarrig Hotel, overlooking the River Slaney estuary, have two-/three-day Christmas packages from €349/€499pps, with all the bells and whistles of a visit from Santa Claus and resident entertainer 'Giggles the Clown' to entertain the young folk. They also have a two-night New Year's Eve package from €229pps including a spectacular firework display. See ferrycarrighotel.ie. If you want to get away from it all after the Christmas fuss, Monart Destination Spa, on 100 acres in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, offers the ultimate adult-only escape with a two-night package and sumptuous gala dinner on New Year's from €395 pps. See monart.ie. In Ballymoney, Co. Wexford, at the Seafield Hotel & Oceo Spa, they have one-/two-night packages to include a Gala Dinner on NYE from €179/€269 pps. See seafieldhotel.com.
In Co. Waterford, Faithlegg House Hotel have a two-night NYE package from €199, to include a six-course Gala Dinner. See faithlegg.com.
Halfway between Dublin and Cork, in the lush, green fields of Tipperary, the four-star family-owned Horse & Jockey Hotel have a great two-night NYE package with one dinner in Silks Restaurant from €135 pps, followed by music with the Moycarkey Piper in the Enclosure Bar. They also have a one-night BBD package at €85 pps. See horseandjockeyhotel.com.
In East Cork, the fabulous Castlemartyr Resort has a two-night Christmas package on December 24 and 25 at €710 pps, to include a cocktail reception on Christmas Eve, followed by dinner and carol singing. On the big day, you will be spoiled with a Champagne breakfast, Christmas dinner, after-dinner entertainment in Knights Bar and an evening buffet supper. See castlemartyr.ie.
In nearby Garryvoe-on-sea, the brilliant Garryvoe Hotel has a St. Stephen's Day Getaway package starting from €85 pps, including breakfast and dinner in the Lighthouse Bistro. See garryvoehotel.com.
In Cork city, at the wonderful Hayfield Manor with their bespoke package starting at €995 pps, you will be pampered and spoiled, with even your own Christmas tree in your room. On Christmas Eve you will have afternoon tea on arrival, and a mulled-wine celebration and dinner. Next day, there will be a traditional Christmas lunch, a visit from Santa Claus, and supper on Christmas night. Their one-/two-night New Year's Eve packages starting from €297 pps are equally lavish, including a Bollinger Champagne reception followed by an exquisite seven-course gourmet feast before you dance the night away. See hayfieldmanor.ie.
The River Lee Hotel have a 2BB plus Gala Dinner on NYE at €189 pps, but also have a great Panto package at €180 per night for two adults and two children to include 1BB in a family room with dinner for all and a family ticket to see Sleeping Beauty at the Cork Opera House. This offer runs from December 12-January 4. See doyle collection.com/riverlee.
Down in beautiful Kinsale, at the Blue Haven Hotel from December 26-30, you might fancy a post-Christmas 2BB1D break from €130 pps. There is always activity here, with live music every evening and plenty of dining options. On NYE itself they have a 1BB with a Gala Dinner at €85 pps and live music with Ronnie 'Sinatra' Costly. See bluehavenkinsale.com.
Killarney is fantastic at Christmas, and at the legendary Malton Hotel, right beside the railway station, their three-day Christmas package at €760 pps includes dinner on Christmas Eve, lunch or dinner on Christmas Day, dinner on St. Stephen's day, a local tour, drinks receptions, Santa's visit and lots of sparkle and excitement. See themalton.com. The Brehon Hotel have two-/three-night Christmas packages starting on December 24 from €429/€549 pps including dinner on Christmas Eve, a six-course Christmas lunch, a Champagne buffet later that evening followed by live entertainment in the bar. See thebrehon.com.
At the Muckross Park Hotel they have an 'in-between' Christmas and New Year 2BB1D break at €200 pps. See muckrosspark.com.
The Killarney Royal have two-/three-night breaks from €359/€528 per room, including a bottle of Prosecco and dinner for two on New Year's Eve in The Candle Room. See killarneyroyal.ie.
At the magical Parknasilla Resort at Sneem, they have two-/three-night Christmas packages from €545 pps and a two-night NYE package from €329 pps. See parknasillaresort.com.
A lovely place to spend New Year would be Dingle, where, at Brian and Helen Heaton's fabulous Castlewood House, they have rooms from €75pps per night - not to mention one of the best breakfasts in the country. See castlewooddingle.com. Also in Dingle, you can take an 'in-between' break and brush up on your cookery skills. Dingle Benners have teamed up with Dingle Cookery School running half-day courses from the December 28-30 from €119/€179pps. See dinglebenners.com.
In Limerick's No. 1 Pery Square, their two-night NYE break, at €269 pps, includes a pre-dinner glass of bubbles plus a four-course dinner on New Year's Eve. See oneperysquare.com.
Out in Ennis, at the Old Ground Hotel, they have a 2-night NYE special from €160 pps, including a five-course dinner before dancing and ringing in the New Year. See flynnhotels.com.
In Galway, The Meyrick have post-Christmas 3BB1D breaks from December 26, €289 pps. See hotelmeyrick.ie. At the Radisson Blu in Galway, two-night Christmas breaks start at €255 pps. See radissonhotelgalway.com.
The Westport Plaza, the Castlecourt and Westport Coast, have 2BB1D breaks from €169/€145/€99pps respectively between December 28-30. See westporthotelgroup.ie.
In Sligo at the Radisson Blu Hotel they have a two-/three-night Christmas package at €299/€399 pps, including a buffet dinner on Christmas Eve, Christmas lunch followed by a 'light evening buffet' and dinner on St. Stephen's Day with lots of craic in between. See radissonblu.com.
At Beryl and James Kearney's beautiful Georgian Viewmount House in Longford, on December 30 and 31, for €400, you and your beloved can enjoy a two-night break in a stylish suite, plus exceptional food by Head Chef Gary O'Hanlon, who will be delivering a fabulous five-course dinner on New Year's Eve. The gardens here are also wonderful. See viewmounthouse.com.
The very romantic Lough Rynn Castle has a two-day Christmas break at €375pps, to include Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day festive lunch, which also includes wine. See loughrynn.ie.
At the wonderful Castle Leslie in Glaslough, Co. Monaghan, you can have a two-/three-night break over the New Year in either their Old Stable Mews at €250pps based on four people, or the Village Cottages at €230pps based on a minimum of six adults staying. You will receive a welcome basket of goodies including bubbly, snacks and DVDs to celebrate New Year's Eve 'at home'. Rates include breakfast each morning and dinner in Snaffles Restaurant on New Year's Day (the second night of your stay). See castleleslie.com.
Moving down to Co. Meath, the Station House Hotel have a one-night Christmas Eve Escape package for €460 for two people, to include a mulled-wine reception, followed by dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day lunch and supper. Check out their other breaks on stationhousehotel.ie.
First published in the Sunday Independent