Horse outside
Relaxed vibe, beautiful views, pet friendly and affordable? Wow. Glamping experts Further Space have just opened the latest addition to their portfolio of charmingly cool hot spots, with a site at Co Wexford’s Forth Mountain. Six pods give you views of Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs Mountain. Dogs and cats are welcome, and — should you have one — you can even bring your horse, which is handy because there’s some lovely horse riding trails in this neck of the woods. Got the glamping bug? Find more Further Space sites across Northern Ireland and Scotland too. From €140 per pod, sleeping up to four midweek; further.space
The sweet life
Every summer, Cork’s River Lee hotel transforms its River Club terrace with gorgeous floral decor by Fox Flowers. This year’s theme is La Dolce Vita, so you can get away from it all without setting foot in an airport (major win), and chill to the gentle Italian vibes. Add Italian inspired cocktails, such as my personal favourite, the Dolce Far Niente — which translates as The Sweetness of Doing Nothing, and you’re in for a very relaxing evening indeed. Take the Dolce Dreaming package, and get an overnight plus complimentary Dolce Vita cocktails from €232 for two; doylecollection.com
Street theatre
Another Doyle Collection spot, Dublin’s Westbury Hotel, has teamed up with Ireland’s National Theatre, The Abbey to offer guests guided walking tours, taking in the city’s theatrical history. From iconic sites to hidden gems, tours are complimentary to all guests, with plenty of gossipy stories along the way. Tours run every Friday, leaving at 11am. Or head out to sea, with the Coastal Sights package, including B&B, plus a Dublin Bay Cruise with time to explore Howth, for those of you who haven’t already. From €450 per room; doylecollection.com
Once in a lifetime
There’s an argument for saving up your trips and when you do go, go large. After all, how many “trips of a lifetime” should you actually pack in to one lifetime? Pack up for Japan with Audley’s 18 day self-drive extravaganza, exploring the island of Kyushu. An early centre of Japanese civilisation, you’ll find vibrant cities, volcanic mountains, waterfalls, hot springs and plenty of fabulous food. The price is pretty once-in-a-lifetime too, but the memories? Epic. Includes flights from the UK, transfers, accommodation and car hire, from €8,660 per person; audleytravel.com
