NEWS
Love and light
The world’s oldest intact working lighthouse, Hook Head in Co Wexford, is open this weekend for a special €10 tour. From Saturday, February 11th until Tuesday, February 14th, visitors are invited to step back in time and climb the 115 steps of the 13th-century tower where the monks of Hook Head lit fires to warn ships off the rocks.To book a tour, telephone 051-397055; see hookheritage.ie.
Top of the tours
This year's Irish Travel Industry Awards have crowned Grenham Travel, Athlone, and Shandon Travel, Cork, ITAA Travel Agencies of Year 2017. The winning agencies were singled out for their customer service, expertise, and range of travel options available to customers. Other winners included Liam Keller, founder of Keller Travel in Ballinasloe, who was awarded the Special Contribution to the Irish Travel Industry award. See irishtravelindustryawards.com.
Glenlo and behold
Galway five-star, Glenlo Abbey Hotel, has announced a €5 million development project. The hotel will increase its bedroom count from 50 to 65 rooms, with an extension of both the existing golf club house and banqueting facilities in the Corrib Suite, plus the launch of a new spa with leisure and pool facilities, due to open in 2018. See glenloabbeyhotel.ie.
NEW OPENINGS
Paris: A carefully restored 1886 building, nestled between the Seine and Les Halles, has been unveiled as the Maison Albar Hotel Paris Celine, and it is every bit the elegant Parisian five-star you'd dream of. maison-albar-hotel-paris-celine.com.
New York: The Whitby is the second Firmdale hotel to open in Manhattan, joining sister property, Crosby Street. There will be 86 individually designed rooms across 16 floors. It is about time Midtown upped its boutique offering. See firmdalehotels.com.
Chicago: Ace Hotels make the move to Chi-town with the opening of their Fulton Market District property. Expect all of the signature laid back, too cool for school flourishes. See acehotel.com.
GET APPY
PlanChat:
Take the pain out of planning a trip with a group with this messaging app that allows you to build and share itineraries. Download it free at the App Store.
MID-TERM SAVIOUR
The Limerick Strand hotel has come to the rescue for midterm with its family package. Stay for two nights in a family room with breakfast both mornings, free kid's main course with every adult main course ordered in the River Restaurant, access to Energize health club and kids' pool, plus a family day pass to the nearby King John's Castle, from €129pps, with kids under 12 staying for free. Telephone 061-421800, strandlimerick.ie.
DEALS
Dirty Dancing is 30:
Celebrate at Mountain Lake Lodge, the Kellerman Resort. Selected summer breaks offer two nights DBB, dance parties, lessons and tours, from $350/€324 pps. See mtnlakelodge.com
Italy:
Spend Easter together as a family of four at Lake Garda. Fly to Verona and spend seven nights in a self-catering bungalow. Telephone 01-6111047, italy.ie
Kerala and Goa:
Explore the Indian provinces in depth with an escorted traveldepartment.ie tour in November, with 15 nights, half board, from €2,199 pps. Telephone 01- 6371650.
