Check-in: live in an igloo, a treehouse or Andrew Rudd's house

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPES

Imagine seeing the Northern Lights from your bed. A Kakslauttanen glass igloo, in Saariselkä, Finland, offers just that, complete with outdoor sauna and huskies or reindeer on call. Double occupancy from €336 a night. kakslauttanen.fi

The ultimate in Wild West living, a stay at the Aman Giri, a five-star sanctuary built into the Arizona desert around a vast swimming pool, will entrance. From €1,188 per night. amanresorts.com/amangiri

High above the tree-tops of Seattle's Raging River forest, TreeHouse Point offers a unique vantage point of one of the most beautiful parts of the American Pacific Northwest. There are nearby hiking trails and wine-tastings aplenty. From €309 a night, treehousepoint.com

NEWS: Shore Thing Inchydoney beach, Co Cork, has been named Ireland's number one beach by TripAdvisor, and we can see why. It has long been a family favourites for its immaculate shoreline and sun-trap sandy coves, not to mention its perfect surf and kayaking qualities for those of a more active persuasion. Corcaigh abú!

Shopper's Delight Adored New York superstore Barneys flings open the doors on a brand new store this month, in the downtown Manhattan Chelsea district between 16th and 17th Street. Retail addicts will adore the fine edit in the new property, designed by award-winning New York- based architectural firm Steven Harris Architects, stockpiled with the chicest designers and coolest brands. barneys.com

Host With The Most Nosy parkers will be excited to hear the news that celebrity chef Andrew Rudd has added his ultra-cool Rathmines pad (above) to Airbnb's rental offering. Peek at his abode at airbnb.ie from €80 a night to see how a foodie pioneer lives.

Life's A Beach With an Easter break on the horizon, consider the Maldives for some much needed family time. The newest getaway from The Residence Maldives is the last word in family packages. The team here have thought of everything, from coconut bowling and crab racing to Maldivian folk tales-inspired story time. From €692 a night at cenizaro.com

DEALS: CRUISE Take the Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Sea to France and Belgium, April 17th-22th, out of Southampton, from €979pps with flights from Dublin, 1800 555 604, royalcaribbean.ie; FRANCE If you have tickets for the Euro 16 game v Sweden in Paris, flights, two nights B&B and transfers from €768pps, one-day trips from €548, Abbey Travel Sports, 01-8047102.

TRAVEL 'APPY: Instead of trawling the internet for weeks, let the Hopper app do the work for you, monitoring flights and catching them at their lowest price. Free to download at the iTunes store.

CRUISE Take the Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Sea to France and Belgium, April 17th-22th, out of Southampton, from €979pps with flights from Dublin, 1800 555 604, royalcaribbean.ie; FRANCE If you have tickets for the Euro 16 game v Sweden in Paris, flights, two nights B&B and transfers from €768pps, one-day trips from €548, Abbey Travel Sports, 01-8047102.