Hello,

​I am Joan Scales journalist and broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. I have been writing and talking about travel and tourism for many years. Join me as I share some news, views, interviews, experiences and special offers each week.
 
5,000 Year Old Tombs

Last weekend I was in the Cooley Peninsula, in County Louth. I visited the lovely medieval coastal village of Carlingford on the lough shore. It was a busy weekend with lots of visitors from Northern Ireland where it was August bank holiday weekend. The highlight of my trip to the Cooley area was to see the Megalithic Proleek Dolmen Portal Tomb and passage grave at Ballymacscanlon. 

Though these 5,000-year-old structures are on the  private lands of the Ballymacscanlon Hotel and golf course, people are welcome to come and visit. The Dolmen is well signposted and about a 10 minute walk from the car park. If you manage to throw a stone on top of the Dolmen, it is said it will bring you luck.  I managed to get one stone on the top. See Instagram video here.
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​Monday 29 August  

The week began with a story on Newstalk Radio where the subject of noise pollution from the newly opened Runway 2 at Dublin airport.  Residents in the area near the new runway are complaining that there is a lot more noise than they had expected. 

I was on Newstalk Radio with Adrian Kennedy, to explain the importance of Dublin airport to the financial well-being of Ireland as a whole. The runway has been planned since 1968 and many hundreds of meetings were held with the local community.  Hundreds of houses in the area have been sound-proofed. Listen back here. 

Park City – Utah visits Dublin 

The Pubilc Relations team from Park City, Utah paid a vist to Dublin to meet with a group of Irish journalists to promote this friendly city. It is a very relaxed place and popular not just for winter skiing but also for events like the Sundance Film festival and other year-round events.  

Park City is a great place to begin your journey to discover the national parks of the United States. They  include Bryce, Canyonlands, Zion and of course, the Grand Canyon which we are all familiar with. Access to Utah from Ireland to Salt Lake City is easy with daily flights to San Francisco. For more details about Park City see here.

We had dinner in The Ivy restuarant on Dawson St, (theivydublin.com) it was my first time there and it was beautiful restaurant, the food was fantastic and the service is great. I loved the tropical feel of the décor. ​

The Biggest Hotel Sale this year in Ireland - Staycity City Centre Opens

The bigget hotel sale, not just for this year but for a number of years. Bain Capital, an American private equity fund has sold the newly-opened (5 September) 340-unit Staycity Aparthotel off Mary Street for €100 million to Song Capital Partners Investment Firm. The acquisition is London-based Song Capital’s first purchase in the Irish market, see story here.

Staycity Dublin City Centre is on Little Mary Street in the former Markets area of the city and now the up and coming food hub of Capel Streeet is on the doorstep. The urban chic hotel has a large open courtyard and suites can sleep three - four guests and all are self sufficient with stylish kitchenettes. See my Instagram story here.

Stunning Profits for Dalata Hotel Group

On Wednesday30 August,  I woke to the news that the Dalata Hotel Group had reported stunning first half year profits after some very tough years €46.7 million after tax for the first six months.  I had been talking to some of the senior people in Dalata Hotels at the opening of the Samuel Hotel at the end of April in Dublin's IFSC, and they did hint that this year they were looking at exceptional trading.   

Dalata say that their average room rate is €166 per night but we have seen some unbelievable rates in Dublin this year.  Recently they opened the new hotel in Merrion Road in Dublin on the site of the former Tara Towers Hotel. 

 It is a soft opening at present, but watch this space. I am looking forward to a visit. The Dalata Group operates 49 hotels across the UK and Ireland with an incredible 7,000 plus rooms in Ireland the main brands are Clayton and Maldron. 

Beyond the Trees - Amazing Treetop Adventure in Avondale

Ireland’s biggest outdoor activity Beyond the Trees opened at the Avondale Estate in County Wicklow on Midsummer Day, 21 June and I went to explore it when the crowds eased off.  This extraordinary new venture has already grabbed attention and visits have exceeded their original expectations. 

This adventure is a 1.4km wooden walkway up through the trees and then ascending a tower 38m (125 feet) high. This estate is Ireland’s home of forestry and is managed by Coillte, the national forestry organisation.  

Beyond the Trees is a joint venture with Coillte, Fáilte Ireland and EAK the German designers of this amazing adventure, the first in the British Isles. It is a great day out for everyone, and the beautiful Avondale Estate has lovely walks to explore. See a video here.

The Donegal Camino - Walk for Cancer Care West

On Sunday, 4 September, a huge group of people began walking the Donegal Camino from Inishowen to Slieve League over this week. This is a charity event to raise funds for Cancer Care West and was the idea of Donegalwoman Peggy Skinner.  

It you are anywhere near Donegal; you can sign up to join the walk for a day or two as it progresses through the county. The aim is to raise €50,000 for the cancer charity. Expect some appearances from famous Donegal musicians, singers and artists. Donatios are very welcome on at Idonate.ie.

Special Offers 

In keeping with the theme of the Donegal Camino, I have found this great way to combine an Irish Camino and the traditional Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. Uwalk.ie have organised a trip in October that will include doing the first 25km of your Camino in Ireland and the other 75km in Spain. 

The Celtic Camino Group will begin their walk from 14 October from A Coruna to Santiago de Compostela. You will walk 75km in four days averaging about 15-25km per day. The route takes you through villages, towns, fields and beautiful landscapes until you arrive at Santiago De Compostela. The last night will be spent in Santiago De Compostela. 

I travelled some of this route in July and there was beautiful scenery and amazing food everywhere we stopped.  The price is from €660 for five nights' accommodation, meals, guided walks and baggage transfers. Contact Uwalk.ie and 0818 333990. 

Autumn Short Breaks 

There are dozens of flights from Ireland to Spain and a long weekend is a great way to explore some very interesting cities.  This year I visited some new destinations in Spain and highly recommend them. They are Valencia, Santandar, Oviedo and Santiago de Compostela. All were different but each city was welcoming, interesting and had reasonable prices. Eating out was great value and it was fun to try local delicacies. 

Or if you are looking for a week in the sun Cassidytravel.ie has great offers for September and October, with Majorca from €305pp, Costa Del Sol from €199p, Tenerife from €209pps, Gran Canaria from €249pps, Costa Dorada from €179pps, Fuerteventura from €325pps, and Lanzarote from €249pp, Cassidy Travel 0818 332500. 

If you have any questions about travel at home or abroad or would like me to write about specific areas, do drop me line on joanscalestravel@gmail.com.   

Advertising and sponsorship opportunities are also available, just Ask Joan. 

Happy travels,

 Joan

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Lots of good news for pets lately.  Brittany Ferries from Ireland have carried 65% more pets from 2011 to last year up from 772 to 1,188.  Brittany Ferries Pont Aven on the seasonal Cork to Roscoff route has 42 small and 24 large kennels and an open-air exercise area.  You can see your pet during the journey.
Brittany have a big range of accommodation that are pet-friendly including hotels, campsites, gites, cottages and villas.  The Brittany Ferries website has a dedicated area for pet owners planning on bringing their pet on holiday, http://www.brittanyferries.ie/
In Edinburgh, Scotland the G&V Royal Mile Hotel has launched a new Pet Package for four legged friends.  Enjoy a break in the heart of historic Edinburgh knowing that your dog will be looked after as well as you. G&V is well located between Princes Street Gardens and The Meadows, ideal for walking your dog. 
The package will include a dog bowl, bed and snacks by Harry’s and a soft toy.  Bed and Breakfast is from £209 and the pet packae is $50 per stay.
https://www.quorvuscollection.com/en/gandv-hotel-edinburgh
Space Hotels in Italy have been promoting pet-friendly accommodation for the past 10 years and now have a whole host of hotels who will welcome your pets including one with a pet spa, a swimming pool, agility training, wellness centre and a dog restaurant in Rome.  Here are suggestions for a holiday for all the family.
 
It offers a world of services reserved specifically for four-legged friends.
For example, the city of Como has Dogland, an amusement park for dogs and their owners, which has a swimming pool, lounge chairs and umbrellas, as well as an agility area with a large selection of games. There is also a Dogland in Padua and one coming soon to Brescia.
 
In the city of Milan, there is the "For Pets Only Beauty & Spa", a luxury beauty salon with modern equipment and staff that are highly specialised in the grooming a variety of breeds. The salon is located in the mono-brand "For Pets Only" store, which sells a wide selection of products for animals.
 
The cities of Pessano and Bornago in the province of Milan each have a dog spa, called "Terme di Fido"; these are the first wellness centres for dogs in Italy. Here a team of experts offers dog training on agility courses and help for pets with behavioural or trauma-related problems.
 
The Hotel Excelsior San Marco in Bergamo accepts small dogs free of charge at time of reservation and offers them a soft bed, food and water bowls and a balcony if needed.
 
The Hotel Palazzo Lovera in Cuneo accepts animals of all sizes and offers them a complimentary bed, toy and tasty treats. The hotel also offers freshly prepared, steamed unsalted pet food on request.
 
The Hotel Metropole & Suisse au Lac in Como and the Hotel Ambasciatori in Mestre both accept guests travelling with pets and offer them comfortable rooms adapted to their needs.
 
The Hotel dei Cavalieri Milano Duomo in Milan happily accepts small dogs in rooms with parquet floors
for a small additional rate of 25.00 euros and treats them as VIPs, offering a bowl, bed, waste bags and tasty
treats. As well as a complimentary dog toy.
 
The Petit Palais Hotel de Charme in Milan is happy to have dogs stay with their owners for a small additional rate of 15.00 euros per night. This includes a water bowl and information on fun dog-walking routes. Dog-sitting is also available on request.
 
Small and medium-sized pets are truly welcome at the Hotel Metropole & S. Margherita in Santa Margherita Ligure. The hotel offers a complimentary water bowl and soft mat, along with a gift basket containing a toy, waste bags and tasty treats. Of course, pets cannot stay in their room all day long! Our dog
guests are welcome to run in the park and free to move around all the hotel's spaces except the beach andswimming pool area. They are also welcome in the hotel's restaurant, although not more than two at a time, where the manager will be happy to reserve a special table with advance notice. To make sure that your pet eats a healthy diet while on holiday, daily rates include food that can be tailored to their needs, including pasta, chicken, seared meat threads, vegetables and much more.
 
For a small supplement of 15.00 euros, the Hotel Ambasciatori in Rimini offers dogs a bed, tasty treats and waste bags. Depending on availability, clients travelling with pets are given rooms with no carpeting.
 
For over ten years, the Albergo Al Cappello Rosso in Bologna has been welcoming clients with their four legged friends. Guests are requested to ask for pet services when making their reservations. The hotel will then provide a room with appropriate flooring, a complimentary pet bed and two metal bowls for food and water. The hotel also offers pet walking, sitting and grooming services.
 
The HC3 Hotel in Bologna is happy to receive pets of all sizes and offers a kit that includes food and water bowls and toys. Rooms for travellers with pets are located on the ground floor and have ceramic tile floors for better cleanliness.
 
Although it is primarily a business hotel, the Hotel Ovest in Piacenza pays special attention to four-legged guests and allows owners to stay with one or two small dogs per room at no extra charge. Pet-friendly rooms,
which must be requested specifically, have direct outside access to allow for independence and guarantee quietness for everyone.
 
The Hotel Federico II in Jesi requests that clients ask for pet services when making their reservations. The hotel will then provide a special kit designed specifically for animal guests. Pet-friendly rooms have direct access to the garden for dog walking, while the pet kit offers a soft sleeping mat, food and water bowls, dog and cat wipes and a special "Do not disturb" sign for when your pet remains in the room. As well, the hotel's friendly staff that are happy to provide information regarding pet stores, groomers, etc.
 
The Hotel Carlton in Ferrara has pet-friendly rooms with a balcony or terrace, so animals can spend time outside. The hotel's friendly staff can advise owners on where to walk their dogs, in particular along the ancient fortified walls of the city.
The city of Ferrara has a green space dedicated to dogs, called "Giardino del Duca", which offers a wide selection of services for pets and their owners. The two-hectare park has a lake, swimming pool, boarding kennel, grooming space and much more.
 
Tuscany is famous for its beautiful beaches. Luckily, many of them are now dog-friendly! The most
popular are Bau Beach, near Cecina, Dog Beach in Livorno and Bagno Marechiaro in Viareggio.
 
The Hotel Athena in Siena accepts all pets free of charge and regardless of size, offering them a comfortable bed and water dish. As well, guests with pets can order room service for breakfast and dinner at no extra charge.
 
The Hotel Plaza & De Russie in Viareggio is a dream destination for pets. When they get to their room,they will find two elegant bowls, a soft sleeping cushion and a small surprise gift. All pet-friendly rooms have a balcony and the hotel offers lots of information on pet-friendly restaurants, veterinarians, groomers and dog-friendly beaches. As well, the hotel offers pet kits for only 9.00 euros each!
 
When you arrive at the Hotel Londra in Florence with your pet, you will receive a brochure with information regarding public and leash-free parks, groomers, veterinarians and pet stores. Your pet will receive a bed, food bowl, toys and waste bags.
 
The Hotel Galilei in Pisa, which often participates in dog and cat shows, has rooms that meet all the needs of pet-owners. As well, the hotel's staff can offer information on pet-friendly beaches and natural parks.
 
A brand new dog restaurant called "QIBO" has recently opened in the Prati district of Rome. It is a pet delicatessen created for owners who want to learn how to make their own dog food.
 
 Just a few kilometres from Rome is "La Vecchia Fattoria", a dog-boarding kennel that is loved by Italian VIPs and their pets. Here dogs are not just boarded in big, comfortable cages but can also enjoy beauty treatments fit for film stars.
 
The Hotel Royal Court in Rome and the Grand Hotel Oriente in Naples both accept guests travelling with pets and offer them comfortable rooms adapted to their needs!
 
About Space Hotels
Space Hotels, a hospitality group founded in 1974, has a unique collection of over 60 three to five star hotels in 35 business and leisure destinations throughout Italy. The Space Hotels offer includes: business or leisure
stays; organisation of meetings and conferences; fine cuisine by some of the best Italian chefs; relaxation, massages and saunas in elegant spas and wellness centres. Room rates always include complimentary Wi-Fi,
breakfast and a bottle of water. Reservations can be made through a toll-free number 800.813.013, the GDS (code SX) or the website http://www.spacehotels.it/
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​The Stella returns

Joan Scales
Cinema lovers of all ages  will be  happy to hear the Stella in Rathmines is coming back and soon, probably this summer.  The Dublin-based Pressup Entertainment Group have purchased the 94 year old cinema and are well on the way to returning it to its former glory.  The cinema will revert to its original style of one large venue distinguished by its newly restored  decorative ceiling.   
The plan is to screen blockbuster films and art house movies.  The interior will be highly comfortable with bespoke furniture and stylish interiors, evoking a burlesque-luxe ambiance. Uniquely, the  building will also house a cocktail bar with its own entrance.  
The next year will be a busy time for directors Paddy McKillen, junior, and Matt Ryan  of the Pressup Group with two hotels and two new restaurant/bars,  already  in the pipeline and perhaps more to come.  The one theme running  across  all the new businesses is that they will  have rooftop bars and restaurants  following the latest trend in New York.   
The newest bar and restaurant,   Dollard & Co, will open this summer beside the  Clarence Hotel.  The crowds are expected to flock to the new city venue with its outdoor views over the Liffey.  Another attraction will be an upmarket  food outlet on the ground floor as well as a number of other attractions due to be unveiled later this year. .
On the corner of Aungier Street and Digges Lane Upper, the former Aungier House bar has just been added to the Pressub portfolio  and will open as a bar later in the year after being closed for the best part of  20  years.   The  red brick building, sold on behalf of  the City Council for around €800,000,  will require susbantial refurbishment. 
The two hotels in the pipeline  will  encourage use by  local communities  by offering lobby cafes and free “full fat” (super fast) wifi to everyone and sockets to keep t hem up to speed.  The 41-bed hotel in Ranelagh will have a small in-house cinema as well as meeting rooms. The  village centre will also feature a  and will be a rock up and roll venue. Unusually, it will have  no parking but easy access to Luas and bus services.
The other hotel at the junction of the North Wall and Castleforbes Road  will be a conversion of an old redbrick  warehouse which will find new life as a independent 60-bed boutique hotel.  Deep in the docklands the hotel will  be located close to the Central Bank and is expected to become the local food and watering venue for the many corporate entities in this area.  It too will have a rooftop bar with great views up and down the river.
The Pressup Entertainment Group was founded in 2010 and the first bar was the exclusive Vintage Cocktail Club on Crown Alley.  Also in the group are the Workmans Bar, Bison Bar, The Liquor Room, Captain America’s, the Clarence Hotel, the Dean Hotel, Angelina’s , and Wowburger to name just some. 

More than one million women worldwide are hosts on AirBnB in 190 countries.  What might seem like a way to make extra money to spoil yourself in one country can, in other countries be the difference between sending your children to school, putting food on the table or keeping a roof over your head.

In India for example money made by women hosting guests can represent 31 per cent of the household income, whereas in Germany it only represents three per cent.  Women in Japan are the best earners of AirBnB income at $10,000 per year, 15 percent of annual household income.
There are almost 7,000 women hosts in Ireland, which is more than 60 per cent overall. Typical income for women hosts is €3,489, and for some supplements part time earnings.  From that income Irish women spend around 23 per cent on regular household expenses like bills and groceries.
 
Women face high barriers to entry in particular occupations, especially as major technological forces reshape the global labour market.  Hosting is not a blanket solution to global problems of economic inequality, but it can provide an important, independent stream of income for women hosts.
 
The 2017 World Economic Forum noted that “the rise of automation and artificial intelligence is projected to be far more destructive globally to jobs currently favoured by women than to jobs favoured by men.” The International Labour Office (ILO) studies show that when factors are equal education, occupations, hours worked, women are still paid less than men for similar work. 
 
In Europe and the United States the pay gap is about 20 percent less in other countries the gap is higher. In the US, new data from Pew Research Center show that “while the percentage of women in the workforce has risen dramatically in recent decades, the growth is expected to stagnate and reverse over the next 40 years.” A sobering thought.
 
The Global Fund for Women was set up in 1988 and provides grants to women’s groups around the world to help fund women-led organisations who are fighting for justice in their own communities.  Women leaders and activists of the Global Fund are being supported in travel requirements by AirBnB to attend training, meetings and speaking engagements.  
 
On a day devoted to women let us look at how a small idea of sharing a home has been instrumental in giving one million women financial empowerment. The World Bank says that increasing the share of household income controlled by women boosts spending in ways that benefit children, strengthens economic growth and intergenerational mobility.
 
This report from Airbnb “Women hosts and Airbnb: Building a Global Community” is available here https://www.airbnbcitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/WomensReport_print_3-2-17_v1-2.pdf
 
 
 

​Why hotels provide the best sleep
Joan Scales
What is it about a hotel bed that makes us feel relaxed and sure that we are going to get a great sleep?  Is it the crisp white linens, the fluffy duvets, bouncy pillows or just knowing that someone else is making the bed? Hotels go out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible.

When the Dean Hotel opened during the recession on Harcourt Street, Dublin’s clubbing zone, they knew that bedrooms had to be special to tempt people to stay.  They bought the best Irish made mattresses, the King Koil 7th Heaven, for the bespoke bed-frames and teamed them with soft linens and fluffy pillows. 

Power showers, Marshall sound systems and a selection of vinyl, Nespresso machines, fully stocked mini Smeg fridges and lots of Irish snacks completed the treats.
“People often comment about the beds,” said Brian Davern, General Manager of the Dean. “They ask where to buy them and also the lamps, toiletries, pillows, turntables, records, people love our rooms,” he said.

Westin Hotels felt so strongly about the importance of a good bed that they designed their own, the Heavenly Bed. Months of testing hundreds of mattresses, sheets, pillows, and at one stage getting staff to sleep in a ballroom on a variety of beds, the Heavenly Bed was developed.  It is so successful that Westin have sold thousands to customers since.

The most expensive makeover of a hotel happened at Ashford Castle when Red Carnation Hotels’ President Beatrice Tollman spared no expense in transforming it.  With her famed attention to detail, Mrs Tollman kept many of the original bespoke four-poster beds and Victorian hand-carved mahogany frames.  The mattresses were custom made for Ashford by Respa of Oldcastle. The embroidered linens are exclusively made for Ashford by Exclusive Linens in the UK and are 300-thread count.

 At Castlewood House, Dingle, awarded the best hotel for romance this year by Tripadvisor, it is Irish all the way for owners Helen and Brian Heaton.  The 12 rooms have King Koil beds and this year they have replaced all the mattress toppers with even thicker and more luxurious ones from Lissadell, now Lissadell Liddell Ltd.  Expect to pay from €100 – €300 for mattress toppers, depending on filling,
“We always order our Egyptian cotton sheets from Murrays in Charleville, and our towels and bathrobes from Lissadell,” said Helen.  Murray’s Textiles of Charleville has been supplying the Irish hospitality industry with linens from around the world for over 100 years.

In Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, Ruth McCarthy said “we are definitely aware of the importance and value of a good night’s sleep - We buy our beds from RESPA (who are based in Meath) and we hire the linen from Kings Laundry which is also an Irish company. We use 300 thread count linen, and duvets rather than blankets. We chose feather over microfibre. 
Inchydoney supply Elemis Quiet Mind Pillow Mist and an Elemis Quiet Mind Temple Balm among the toiletries in bedrooms. Guests also benefit from the fresh sea air at Inchydoney.

Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa believes in the saying that “Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together”, so they try to ensure all guests receive the best night’s sleep possible during their stay. 
Beds are custom made with Sealy mattresses that are 200cm x 200cm in size, bigger than usual. Bed toppers are custom made by the German Hanse Company as well as the 300-thread count linens.
A “Good night’s sleep” turndown service is available on request and this includes a lavender pillow mist along with creamy lip balm. The pillow menu offers a wide range of pillows from foam to feather to down Feather.

When Frank and Mary Slattery proprietors of Carrig Country House in Killorglin were travelling in Kerala, India some years ago, they found the perfect bed for their presidential suite.
Their host in Kerala, Bibi Baskin took them to an extraordinary furniture warehouse in Fort Kochi where they found a beautifully carved four-poster Maharaja’s bed.  Several months later the bed turned up in Kerry.  “It cost as much to ship the bed as we paid for it,” said Frank, “but well worth it”.

They were able to get a King Koil six foot mattress to fit it exactly and designed the canopy drapes in an Indian style.  It must be the only hotel in Ireland with a Maharaja’s bed and “everyone who sleeps in it loves it,” said Frank.

The ultimate sleep experience has not yet come to Ireland but the nine square metre all white cabins in the Yotel Air Hotels are all about luxury sleep comfort. The newest to open is airside in Terminal 2E at Paris CDG airport. 

The Signature Serta gel mattresses are specially made and convert from a sofa to a bed at the touch of a button. Just as well as the rooms have no chairs as the bed is your relaxation zone.
Linens are luxury cotton with big plump microfibre pillows and duvets; mood lighting creates the atmosphere to enjoy the smart TV.  The rooms are very quiet and dark for a good sleep. Rates are from €75 for four hours and €115 for overnight, yotel.com.

If you would like your bed to feel like a five-star hotel bed, then buy the beautiful Francis Brennan-designed linens from Dunnes Stores. The proprietor of The Park Hotel Kenmare is an expert in quality bedding.  “I could not believe how quickly the linens sold out.  Two months supply was gone in ten days,” he said.  The 300-thread Egyptian   set of sheets for a king size bed will cost from €200.
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Francis will have two new ranges for spring, a plain white with pin tucks and a grey-bordered range.  King size pillows will also be joining the range, apparently they are hard to get and will be made by Northern Feather in Westport.
 
Panel -Which hotels have what beds and sleep comforts
W Hotels call their mattresses “Do Not Disturb” and also supply cashmere throws and downy pillows.
Marriott have Sleep Number Beds in many of their hotels.  You can adjust the firmness of the mattress by using the dial on the side.
Ritz Carlton provides upscale plush beds with specialist coil technology and feather toppers. Enhance your sleep with 800-thread count sheets.
Four Seasons Hotels has three types of mattress topper to make your stay comfortable.  They are Signature, Plush which is extra soft and Firm.
The Benjamin Hotel, New York takes sleep seriously and has a Sleep Team to help guests settle down.  There is a sleep menu with special bedtime snacks, ten pillows to choose from and on-demand meditation podcasts.
In London Dukes Hotel has launched the “Beditation” Butler, a mindful room service. Get help to sleep with herbal teas, specialised podcasts and playlists, breathing exercises and a Floris candle for £45.

Family Camping Holidays
Bringing  your car on holidays is the perfect way  for families.  You can pack all the necessary children’s equipment without worry about luggage and weight and you are also free to explore your destination.  You can even bring the dog too. Campsites are the perfect holiday for families, the range of entertainment is great and there are kids clubs too. Many of them have water parks and extensive outdoor pool area.  It is also a lovely holiday for your children to be out and about in the sunshine, on the beach, climbing trees and making new friends.
Brittany Ferries
The annual sailings for Brittany Ferries begin on the 1st April with the weekly service from Cork to Roscoff.  It is the fastest sailing times to France at 14 hours.  Boarding in the afternoon and arriving in France in the morning after a nice night on board.
Best thing about Brittany Ferries is the choice of accommodation.  They do the traditional family campsites, cottages and villa holidays and hotels, a wide choice for everyone.  Some of the holidays also allow you take your dog. Very busy in June and July, some sailings booked out.
Easter is booked out with Brittany Ferries but we have a special offer for May Bank holidays, travelling on April 29 to May 5 Car and four passengers, ferry and campsite from €528 return for all.
June 10 for a week in Port de Plaisance campsite, €926 for two adults and two children. Just two hours from Roscoff.  Or August 19 for a week at Camping Atlantique from €1647 for four. Both camps in Brittany and a two hour drive from Roscoff.
Brittanyferries.ie
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Kellair Campotel
Have been taking Irish families to France, Spain and Italy for nearly 40 years the Keller family have been making memories for Irish families.  When everyone headed off on holidays with their tents and camping equipment Kelair Campotel were helping them get there and find the right places to stay.
Now no need to bring all your stuff, and erect tents, instead fly or drive to your campsite of choice and everything will be ready and waiting for you. This Easter you could be camping in Playa Montroig or Camping Park Villanova for seven nights from only €357 per family, plus flights to Barcelona.  These are two particularly popular beachside Costa Brava campsites. Book your summer holidays in June for 12 days with ferry and mobile home in France from €1,230 for five, campotel.com.
Campotel.com
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmn003zC2Mk
Eurocamp
Based in Cork Eurocamp have the most extensive range of campsites around Europe and includes Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany and Croatia. Take your time choosing which campsite is right for you.  Most campsite have kids clubs for all different ages.  The website is very helpful for giving you a good idea of what to expect.  They have good discounts right through the season, beginning at Easter with a mobile in a terrific site Bella Italia in Lake Garda from €288 April 18 for two adults and up to four kids. Eurocamp.ie
https://www.youtube.com/user/EurocampHolidays
Alfresco-holidays.ie
These campsites are in great coastal locations in France, Italy and Croatia but also in the Italian lake area, Adriatic and Tuscany. There are campsites close to Paris, Rome and Venice, ideal for doing some city sight-seeing too.  Alfresco Holidays do have tents on a number of sites and if you are looking to keep costs down is an ideal way to have a holiday in the sun.  Stay at the 4* Adriano Resort,  on the Adriatic coast, Italy from 10 June, for 7 nights in a  2 bedroom  mobile which sleeps up to 6 persons, from €533. 
Alfresco-holidays.ie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQCTS_gf_LM&index=1&list=PL1T3TpV8Z-7s5TsR1733VzO2yvk0XXByK
Ferry companies
Irish Ferries and Stena Line operate all year round to France from Rosslare. Irish Ferries have one sailing a week from Dublin to Cherbourg on the Epsilon.  At Easter a return crossing with cabins will cost around €550 for a family of four.
Brittany Ferries operates the Pont Aven ship from Cork and begins from April 1 to November 4. A return trip in summer for four will cost from €800.
 

The United States Department of Transport has finally approved a Foreign Air Carrier permit for low cost airline Norwegian.  The airline had been waiting for almost two years to receive the license.  Services are planned from Cork to Boston and New York in the near future.  Shannon will also be in the running for a Boston route.

Norwegian Air International (NAI) is a registered carrier in Ireland and able to avail of the EU-US Open Skies policy. However, US carriers strongly objected to the granting of a license, as did the Irish Airline Pilots Association.  Fears that Norwegian would undercut existing airlines and that they would employ low cost pilots and crew from Asia were some of the objections put forward.

Services from Cork are expected to begin within months and expected to cost under €200 each way to Boston. Norwegian already operate low cost Transatlantic flights from Europe to New York, Los Angeles and Oakland San Francisco.