News
Top hotspots
The home rental site Airbnb has revealed 17 of its favourite neighbourhoods from around the world to visit in 2017, after tracking and rating their growing popularity. Top of the list is Milneburg in New Orleans, Louisiana: Kampung Bayu in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Fitzroy in Melbourne, Australia. Dublin's own Phoenix Park is on the list at number 15, while Usera in Madrid, Spain, made the cut at number 10. For more top-rated locations and bookings, see airbnb.com.
Site specifics
Google has revealed its most searched-for travel queries and destinations of 2016. The most popular questions asked of Google included “where is Bali?”, “what to do in Vegas?” and “where is Corfu?”, while top destination searches included Reykjavik, Havana, Toronto, Mexico City and Tokyo.
Flynn first
The Flynn Hotels group, which includes the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, the Newpark in Kilkenny, the Park in Dungarvan and the Imperial in Cork, has begun its January room sale, offering guests the opportunity to book a break for excellent value. Nightly rates start from €69 per room, including full Irish breakfast, free wifi and early check-in or late checkout. See flynnhotels.com for reservations.
Winter wellness
Wicklow
Liz Richards guides a weekend of yoga, meditation, healthy food, exercise and deep relaxation at the Courtyard retreat, Coolattin Lodge, Shillelagh, taking place on January 13th-15th. See thecourtyardyogaretreats.ie for details.
Morocco
Take an eight-day break on Morocco's Atlantic beachfront, complete with deep meditation, yoga and surfing, plus the best of local food, from January 28th to February 4th. See nosade.com for prices and booking.
Canary Islands
Retreat Place offers year-round wellness escapes in a variety of formats. Its yoga retreat on Fuerteventura includes vinyasa flow, ashtanga, rocket yoga and yin yoga, combined with delicious vegetarian cuisine in a beautiful setting. See retreatplace.com.
Cliff cooking
Cliff at Lyons hotel, in Celbridge, Co Kildare, launches a series of cookery workshops this month, beginning with a masterclass from the Michelin-starred Martijn Kajuiter, executive chef at Ardmore’s Cliff House Hotel, on January 21st. The Taste of Cliff cooking workshop will explore Kajuiter’s unique cooking philosophy and help students create their own Michelin-worthy three-course meal. The workshop starts from €60 per person, with residential packages available for an additional €170. Refreshments are available for the duration of the workshop and a glass of wine is offered with each cooked course.
See cliffatlyons.ie for booking and a full list of this and other upcoming workshops.
Travel appy
Luxury brand Louis Vuitton is offering its renowned city guides in an app form, with off-kilter expedition ideas and food and drink suggestions. They are available at the app store, or see louisvuitton.com.
Deals
Cruises: Royal Caribbean family cruise special offers for 2017 include a buy one/get one half-price package for bookings made up to March 6th. For details of this and other offers, see royalcaribbean.ie or your local agent.
Skiing: Try fun skiing on green slopes over St Patrick's weekend in Andorra (from €429 per person sharing), Italy (from €465 pps), France (from €555 pps) or Austria (from €599 pps). For details, see crystalski.ie.
Dubrovnik: Early booking discounts of up to €190 are available on holidays to the Dubrovnik riviera and islands if paid by the end of January. Prices start from €469pps in June. See concordetravel.ie.
