Christmas escapes and affordable party night stays …
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without presents, as Jo March so rightly declared in Little Women. For gift inspiration, try the boutique at Cashel Palace Hotel, where you’ll find Westman Atelier make-up, LL Bean totes and Memo Paris perfumes. Visit the annual fair at Marlfield House, Co Wexford, a good excuse to book an overnight stay in one of the swish Pond Suites or dinner in The Duck Restaurant.
On overnight stays, Fitzwilliam Dublin’s special Christmas concierge, Fabian, will wrap the gifts you have bought and deliver them to your room.
If swapping gifts with friends over afternoon tea, one of the nicest we have tried is College Green Hotel Dublin’s fireside Festive Afternoon tea, in the Atrium lounge.
Tempted by a Christmas market? In Prague, Wenceslas Square delivers ambiance and seasonal fare (try medovina, a hot honey wine). TUI has tempting offers to Prague, and the dapper Hotel Maximilian or art deco-inspired Emblem hotel also tick the right boxes for a weekend getaway, both close to Parížská street, known for its fashion boutiques.
For those dreaming of Christmas in a castle, the glamorous three-night escape at Dromoland Castle includes cocktail parties, elegant dinners and outdoor pursuits galore. Less of a sartorial challenge, maybe, is a mini castle experience in the quirky Gothic marvel of Annes Grove, Co Cork, an idyllic place to spend a couple of midwinter nights.
For the last few years, I’ve broken the habit of wallowing in romantic movies on New Year’s Eve. Options this year include dinner with friends in The Great Room of The Merchant, Belfast or at the Station House Hotel, Co Meath. Both ace fun and fabulous dining, guaranteed to override any seasonal mood swings. If you are staying in Dublin to party but need an affordable base, the Moxy Dublin Docklands or Travelodge PLUS get my vote.
