Holiday World Show Magazine 2018

YOUR OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE! INSIDE:

The experts’ top holiday destinations Celebrity travel secrets Meet the youngest Irish man to climb Mount Everest

2018

YOUR LIDAY O !

H M A E DR INS HERE periences BEG ture ex ks

Adven s • City brea • s y a w n Sun geta -wide excursio Honeymoon • World uise holidays • ry holidays • • Cr ions • Luxu milydestinat e holidays • Fa Hom iendly trips fr

Friday, 26th Jan, 1pm - 6pm Saturday, 27th Jan, 11am - 5.30pm Sunday, 28th Jan, 11am - 5.30pm www.holidayworldshow.com

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

WELCOME TO HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW DUBLIN 2018

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n behalf of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), we invite you to visit Holiday World Show 2018 at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin from the 26th to 29th of January. This is the only event in Ireland where you can meet more than 2,000 travel professionals from 55 countries, while at the same time book real bargain, show-only deals.

This year’s show will be much expanded from previous years, with over 600 exhibitors representing a buoyant Irish market. Our members in the ITAA are urging the public to book holidays early for 2018 because there will be pressure on flights, and accommodation in the more popular European resorts.

Holiday World Show 2018 will see all the regions of the world represented under one roof – Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, US, Canada, South America, as well as an expanded Home Holidays pavilion.

The Japan National Tourist Organisation is celebrating their 50th anniversary at the show. Visit USA are returning with their biggest-ever pavilion with 20 states represented. Irish Ferries will be promoting their brand new ferry, which will travel from Dublin to France. Portugal and Italy will have bigger stands with extra regions represented. Spain, which is Ireland’s number one holiday destination with over two million visitors in 2017, will have their

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biggest participation at the show.

Free travel and tourism seminars titled ‘Let’s Talk Travel’, will be hosted by international award-winning travel journalist Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra. He will facilitate sessions, where leading international and Irish travel professionals will share their expertise, and answer your questions on such topics as Cruises, Ski and Snow Holidays, Solo Holidays, Adventure Holidays, Passports and Home Holidays.

Other special features are free family entertainment, children’s art competitions, hundreds of free-to-enter holiday competitions, and special show only deals which you will not get anywhere else.

For three days, Holiday World Show will transform the RDS Simmonscourt into a hub of exotic, vibrant, multi cultural activity. Visitors can literally experience the locations that are on offer, and get firsthand advice which is not available on the internet. Whether you are seeking that once in a lifetime trip, planning a well deserved holiday, family break or honeymoon, Holiday World Show is the must attend event of the year.

We look forward to meeting you at the show.

Pat Dawson CEO Irish Travel Agents Association

4Shauna TopMcCrudden travel trends 15 Holiday at home 26 Ski heaven! speaks to Cormac Meehan, More than nine million overseas visitors travelled Kevin Flanagan enjoys a dream pre-Christmas President of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), to learn about the latest travel trends

6Some Celebrity hotspots well-known Irish faces talk about the trip that changed their lives

Europe’s best-kept secrets A BeCreative Editorial Production 8Experience the glories of offbeat Europe. www.becreative.ie

Clodagh Dooley speaks to three top travel professionals about some alternative destinations to visit in Italy, Spain and Portugal

EDITOR: Kevin Flanagan, kevin@becreative.ie ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Clodagh Dooley Shauna McCrudden ADVERTISING MANAGER: Paul Muldoon, (01) 7055 412

to Ireland in 2017, which is reason enough to plan your own holiday at home this year! Here, some of the leaders in Irish tourism share their recommendations

16 Carry on camping We find out why camping trips are in demand and why they could be right for you

trip to the Austrian alps where he meets Topflight Chairman Tony Collins

28 Cultural getaways What to see, eat and do in Lithuania and the

Czech Republic

29 My dream break

17 Holiday World Show floorplan 30 On top of the world PLUS For Limerick man Rob Mortell, climbing Mount ‘Let’s Talk Travel with Eoghan Corry’ timetable Travel editor Kevin Flanagan recalls a dream Croatian break last summer in Cavtat and Dubrovnik

10 City break – Saint Everest was a dream four years in the making.

Shauna McCrudden speaks to Rob about his Petersburg 18 Exhibitors list personal adventure and the achievement of Kevin Flanagan visits Saint Petersburg, the city being the youngest Irish person to climb the that nurtured his life-long hero Rudolf Nureyev, iconic peak the towering genius of ballet 21 Guide to getting away the family 32 Out of Africa 11 Journey into the unknown with Unsure about where to bring the kids on holiday? Richard Pearson visited the little-known country Clodagh Dooley on stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing a new culture in Tunisia

12 A whole new world

ADVERTISING: Orla Mooney, (01) 7055 371

From Taiwan to Sri Lanka, the experts tell us how to make the most of your trip to Asia

DESIGN: Robert Armstrong INM Design Studio, Belfast

14 Cruising through the world Both the ocean cruising and river cruising

REPRO: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Limited, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1

Pat Dawson, CEO of ITAA

markets keep on growing year-on-year. Two top industry professionals share advice on what to know before setting sail in 2018

Two families share their travel experiences at two very different locations, Bangkok in Thailand and Fuengirola in Spain

23 ‘Be Our Guest’ Clodagh Dooley recommends a trip to

Disneyland Paris

24 Widen your horizons The travel professionals share the best long-haul destinations in 2018

of Eritrea to find out more about African life and culture

33 Five reasons to book with a travel agent We speak to John Spollen from Cassidy Travel

about the advantages of booking a holiday with a travel agent

34 Travel news

All the latest in holiday news

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Sunday Independent January 21 2018

DISCOVER SHOW EXCLUSIVES Not only will you find dozens of great showonly deals and discounts at the Holiday World Show, but there is also the chance to win holidays! You could win a trip for two people to Iceland with WOW Air, CenterHotels and Reykjavik Excursions, or a holiday for two to the Camino De Santiago for seven days. All competitions are free to enter, so what have you got to lose? Log on to www.holidayworldshow.com for a full list of show-only deals.

Showtime for your holiday of a lifetime

Wherever your next journey takes you, make sure it starts at the Holiday World Show 2018. Here are five reasons to visit...

THE WORLD AT YOUR FEET Last year’s Holiday World Show saw over 40,000 people make their way to the RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin, and this year that figure is set to increase. With over 2,000 travel professionals exhibiting, Holiday World Show is a one-stop shop for advice and inspiration about more than 55 destinations across the world as well as holiday spots at home.

Choosing a place to visit is never easy and can be overwhelming. So if you’re torn between a European location or going further afield to the USA, the Holiday World Show is an opportunity to move from exhibitor to exhibitor to find out more about many different destinations. It is also a good chance to discover less wellknown destinations you might not have thought about visiting. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday or a

perfect honeymoon location, exhibitors have a variety of categories covered. These include Africa and the Middle East, the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, cruise lines and ferries, camping and motorhomes, and adventure travel.

MAKING AN INFORMED PLAN It may be your first trip or your 28th, but the same factors will always need to be considered. These include your budget, your interests, the time of the year you want to travel, who is going with you, if there will be hidden costs and if you need a visa and travel insurance.

The experts at the Holiday World Show can advise on everything from booking flights and accommodation to finding the best deals — as well as the activities and attractions to visit during your trip.

EVERY QUESTION ANSWERED Compile a list of questions you would like answered and take them with you to the Holiday World Show. Some questions might be a little less obvious. What are the airport transfer options?

Do I need any vaccinations for long-haul trips? Or what emergency numbers can I call at my destination?

If something doesn’t go to plan on your holiday, such as a cancelled flight, one of the advantages of booking with a travel agent is that they will be able to help find a solution.

To find out more benefits of booking with a travel agent, turn to page 30.

TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL! If you are somehow still not sure if you will travel in 2018, perhaps scientific research can convince you!

Studies have shown most people tend to be happier when they’re travelling and a university study found people also experience a direct increase in happiness from just planning a trip.

The study found that the anticipation of taking a holiday is far greater than the anticipation of acquiring a physical possession.

So the benefits of travelling abroad begin well before the actual trip!

Based on your personality, interests and budget, the travel professionals at the Holiday World Show will be able to share advice on what is best suited for you and yours. Throughout this supplement, you will find some of the best tips and advice on planning your dream holiday and making it one to remember.

For more information on the show, visit www.holidayworldshow.com. For the show floorplan and full exhibitor listing, turn to page 17. The Holiday World Show is in the RDS, Simmonscourt, Dublin: Friday, January 26 (1pm–6pm), and Saturday & Sunday, January 27 and 28 (11am–5pm).

Get FREE expert advice at ‘Let’s Talk Travel with Eoghan Corry’ Ireland’s leading travel journalist meets top industry experts on stage at Holiday World Show

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nternational award-winning travel journalist Eoghan Corry will take to the stage once again at Holiday World Show, Ireland’s largest travel consumer event, which returns to RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin for three days (26-28 January, 2018). This year’s show will feature the newly formatted ‘Let’s Talk Travel with Eoghan Corry in association with TravelExtra’ to give visitors insider tips and advice on all aspects of travel and tourism at home and abroad from a panel of industry experts.

The ‘Let’s Talk Travel’ sessions will see Eoghan leading international and Irish travel professionals in an ‘on the couch’ discussion before opening up the floor for questions. This is your chance to pick the brains of industry experts before booking your next big trip!

HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS Kathryn Thomas, television presenter and former Irish Travel Journalist of the Year, will open ‘Let’s Talk Travel’ on Friday at 2.30pm, to swap her top travel stories with Eoghan. Busy with the current RTÉ 1 TV season of ‘Operation Transformation’,

Kathryn will be present at Holiday World Show promoting Pure Results Bootcamp, her weight-loss and fitness retreat.

Next up is ‘What’s new in the USA’ (3.30pm on Friday) where experts from American Holidays, Visit USA, Las Vegas, New York and Atlantic City will discuss the hotspots for 2018, from the top theme parks in Orlando, to the new airline routes and city break destinations. Thinking of booking a cruise this year?! Don’t miss ‘How to get the best cruise deals’ (4.15pm on Friday),

Kathryn Thomas

where you can get recommendations on the best offerings from the experts at Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, MSC, Cruisescapes and Silverseas.

TRAVEL GURUS On Saturday, Today FM DJ Phil Cawley, who has led a number of groups on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, will appear as part of the panel called ‘European Calling’ alongside experts from Sunway Travel, the Portuguese Tourism board and the Spanish

Eoghan Corry Tourist Office.

Asia features strongly at this year’s Holiday World Show with exhibitors from Thailand, Japan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and more. The ‘Let’s Talk Travel’ session on Asia (2.45pm on Saturday) will see Eoghan discuss the new areas of interest in the Far East with representatives from Wendy Wu and Turkish Airlines. In ‘Holiday Trends’ (2.15pm on Sunday), Eoghan and his panel of experts will look at the new trends in the travel market such as luxury holidays, adventure experiences, multi-centre trips and ecotourism.

Other ‘Let’s Talk Travel’ sessions over the weekend will cover Africa, Solo Holidays, Visas and Passports, Europe, Irish Attractions and Adventure Holidays.

Eoghan Corry commented, “‘Let’s Talk Travel’ gives visitors the opportunity to get a sneak peek into some of the hottest trends, learn about new travel destinations, and put their questions to the most influential people in the industry. This year’s sessions will see a huge range of travel topics being covered across the three days of the show, with contributions from travel’s top gurus.”

The FREE to attend ‘Let’s Talk Travel with Eoghan Corry in Association with TravelExtra’ takes place at Holiday World Show, RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin for three days 26-28 January, 2018. For further information, see www.holidayworldshow.com

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

TOP TRAVEL TRENDS

From solo getaways to long-haul family flights, the Irish are travel enthusiasts, and that will only increase in 2018. Shauna McCrudden speaks to Cormac Meehan, President of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), to learn about the latest travel trends

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rish people are travelling more than ever before. According to the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), travel bookings have had an estimated year-onyear increase of 10pc in 2017, compared to 2016. The number of people going through Dublin Airport has increased with over 27.4 million passengers passing through, making a 6pc increase over last year. But why are the Irish taking more trips?

“Consumer confidence is very high and there is more awareness of the increase in the choices of destinations out of Irish airports,” says Cormac Meehan, President of the ITAA. “There is also a greater interest in the new type of holiday offerings, such as cruises, which have become exceptionally popular and will continue to be popular in the next year. People want to try holidays they have never experienced before.”

There has been an increase in the number of people booking with travel agents online. The ITAA quarterly survey revealed that over 60pc of agents had an increase in turnover between July and September 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

Cormac explains: “It is far easier for busy people to hand over the planning to a travel agent who has expertise in sourcing the best flights and accommodation. As they are spending a lot of money on their trips, consumers know it’s much more safe and secure to book with a professional and make sure everything is the best it can be.”

TOP DESTINATIONS The most popular 2017 destinations for Irish people in terms of bookings made were Spain, Portugal and the United States.

Spain had 60pc of the summer market while Portugal and the US had 40pc each. Spain rose to 82pc of bookings in winter 2017.

These areas are predicted to remain just as strong in 2018, but there are other places rising in popularity.

are becoming much more accessible due to new routes flying direct from Ireland launching in 2018, so we will definitely see a bigger increase in traffic to these areas.

“We also see Morocco becoming more popular, particularly Marrakesh. That is making a major break back into the market this year. Countries in the Far East such as China, or Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam for example, will become hot spots to visit and because of flights through Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, they are all very accessible destinations. There is really no place that’s inaccessible to Irish people now, and I think bookings will increase as long as airlines continue to base themselves in Ireland or Dublin as an international hub.”

Cormac Meehan, President of the ITAA “The number of Irish people going to Spain is phenomenal,” says Cormac. “There are over 40 viable destinations there outside of the well-known Canary Islands, so there are an incredible amount of places to visit.

Spain and Portugal are very close to Ireland geographically, and they are accessible for people as there are so many flights available.

They will always do well with Irish people due to the good value, the sun and sand, the culture, the accommodation and the fact that it is seen as an easy holiday.”

The US has always been popular with the Irish, with places such as New York, Orlando and San Francisco being firm favourites.

But, there are other areas there opening up to Irish people, according to Cormac.

“The northeast of America such as Virginia, Boston and Philadelphia, along with northwest states, such as Seattle, will be big tourist spots through the year. These

TYPES OF HOLIDAYS Relaxing and de-stressing on a sunny beach is the biggest holiday motivation, with over 73pc ranking the sun and beach as the experience most desired, but what else are Irish people doing during their big trips away?

“We are increasingly seeing more independent travellers. A few years ago, if I was travelling on my own, I would have to pay a supplement for accommodation, but tour operators are much more equipped and amenable to deal with single travellers now. It’s not as expensive or prohibitive for people to travel by themselves anymore, so that type of holiday is much more popular.

“There is also an incredible amount of movement in the activity holiday market, which can include everything from city breaks to safaris. You can visit Rome and Pompeii on an escorted tour or go snowboarding in France. Some of the most popular activity holidays are the Camino de Santiago walk in Spain and the Machu Picchu trail in Peru. There is a real sense of adventure in Irish people and it’s now very easy to go on these exciting trips and have memories you can treasure for the rest of your life.”

2018’s top five travel trends BOOKING EARLY: Irish people are planning holidays in advance far more than in previous years.

“There were people booking trips for summer 2018 at the end of 2017, which is a very positive trend and that will continue,” says Cormac. “This means that people will definitely be spending more and going on more breaks in 2018.”

ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS: “Adventure holidays are so popular, particularly escorted adventures with small groups. Escorted tours are perfect for groups of daring travellers where you travel with 10 or 12 like-minded individuals to the most exciting places.”

ECOTOURISM: Visiting natural areas such as the North and South Pole and South Pacific islands, without harming the environment, will see an increase in 2018.

CYCLING HOLIDAYS: Cycling trips have become a very big market,” says Cormac.

“The holidays are not that expensive and can take people across multiple countries on cycle routes.”

CRUISES: The cruise sector will increase in 2018 with river cruises around Europe and Asia continuing to be very popular.

“You can visit 10 destinations on one trip going to different countries, eating different food, and enjoying different climates and cultures every other day.”

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Hilary Rose

Celebrity hotspots

Shauna McCrudden talks to some well-known Irish faces about the trip that changed their lives

JAMES PATRICE, SOCIAL INFLUENCER AND THE ‘GLITTER GURU’ ON RTÉ’S ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’

LIFE-CHANGING MOMENTS “My most memorable holiday was my summer in France when I was 20. I had to spend time there as part of my college degree. I went to Paris, and had the absolute time of my life. The part that changed me was that sense of freedom that the city brought out in me, which resulted in me coming out to my friends and family. So I really owe Paris a lot! I’ve been back since, and it’s always an absolute dream.

FAVOURITE DESTINATIONS “I love a good city break, and two of my pals and I make it our mission to go to as many spots as we can throughout the year. I’m heading to Lisbon in April which I’m very excited about. I’ve never been before, and I’m also hoping to get to New York in the autumn.”

James will be reporting backstage on RTÉ One’s social media for ‘Dancing with the Stars’

James Patrice. Photo credit: Brian McEvoy

AMANDA BYRAM, TV PRESENTER

TALENT SPOT “The most life-changing trip for me was probably my trip to LA, back in 2003. I had just finished the ‘Big Breakfast’ show in London and I was not doing very much. I was introduced to a producer who told me he was a fan. He asked if I would attend a meeting with the head of FOX studios that week for a show he was producing. I went and before I left the room, the head of FOX told me that I had the job! I was filming ‘Paradise Hotel’ within a few weeks, so that was life changing.”

Debbie O’Donnell trips with a two-year-old, but not us! I have always wanted to go to Indonesia, it was on my bucket list, so when the opportunity arose I jumped at it. Also, when I worked on Ireland AM I went on a trip to South Africa with the World Wildlife Fund. They were releasing a black rhino into the wild. I was lucky enough to get to see some of the remote parts of South Africa and one of the most endangered animals on earth. That was a real life-changing trip.”

GETTING AWAY “Japan is high on my hit list. I have never been and have heard so many great things, from skiing, bullet trains and the Onsens (Japanese bath houses). I also want to go to Bali, as I believe it’s very zen and calming.”

The new series of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is on RTÉ now

HILARY ROSE, IRISH ACTRESS

CARIBBEAN RELAXATION “One trip that I will always remember was when I went to Barbados a few years ago for

Amanda Byram. Photo credit: Sarah Dunn a friend’s wedding. I had a lot of reflective time there, as it takes you away from all your stress and makes you re-evaluate your life. Since that trip, I have kept up with my physical training and getting healthier. It really was a catalyst for change in my life.”

FUTURE PLANS “I have a baby now so it’s tough to plan holidays even though I was very adventurous before. We might take the baby on adventures with us when he’s older. But, at the top of my list is Japan. I’d love to see Tokyo and watch the cherry blossoms fall. I hope to get there in the next couple of years.”

Hilary’s new series, ‘The Young Offenders’, will air on BBC Three in spring 2018

MARTY WHELAN, TELEVISION AND RADIO PERSONALITY

Marty Whelan. Photo credit: Justin Mac Innes

STYLISH TRAVEL “I usually travel to New York twice a year for New York Fashion Week, which I love.

There’s so much to see and do in New York.

I went to New York in September to meet Heidi Klum for Fashion Week and, needless to say, she was charming and the experience was surreal. I will be going back there in February.”

MUSIC APPRECIATION “My wife Maria and I had fallen in love with opera. As a surprise for a significant birthday for Maria, I took her to Verona in Italy to hear Puccini in the most beautiful setting, open air in the Arena Di Verona.

Our hearts suddenly melted as we listened

Gary O’Hanlon. Photo credit: Shane O’Neill to the most wonderful music of Puccini and Madame Butterfly. Our love affair with opera truly began that day and it changed my life for the better.”

SUMMER DAYS “I love Verona and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts in the United States. Both are linked to music which is a passion of mine, Verona with Italian opera and Martha’s Vineyard with James Taylor and Carly Simon’s music who I have loved for years.

Anniversaries are celebrated in Menemsha on the Vineyard and it’s always so much fun.”

DEBBIE O’DONNELL, EXECUTIVE EDITOR FOR XPOSÉ

FAMILY TRIPS “One of the most life-changing holidays that I’ve been on has to be our family trip to Bali last year. Most people avoid long-haul

GARY O’HANLON, CELEBRITY CHEF ON TV3’S ‘THE RESTAURANT’ AND CONTESTANT ON RTÉ’S 2017 ‘CELEBRITY OPERATION TRANSFORMATION’

FOODIE HEAVEN “One of the most memorable trips is when I went with one my best friends, who is also a chef, to Lisbon for a foodie trip. We spent four days eating around Lisbon. There was more old-style and classical food. I put what I learned there into my cooking in my own restaurant at home so it actually changed the way I cook and the way I think about food, which is my life.”

TRIPS PLANNED “I’ve never been to Japan or Hong Kong, which is somewhere I’d love to go. I would also like to go back to Lisbon with my wife because whenever I eat at a new restaurant or try something new, she’s always there with me, so I’d like her to be with me there too.”

Gary will be appearing on TV3’s ‘The Restaurant’ in early 2018 as well as RTÉ’s ‘Healthy Appetites’

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Europe’s best-kept secrets

Experience the glories of offbeat Europe. Clodagh Dooley speaks to three top travel professionals about some alternative destinations to visit in Italy, Spain and Portugal FLAVOUR OF SPAIN

Teresa Gancedo, Managing Director of the Spanish Tourism Office (www. spain.info), says Andalucia (Malaga, Costa del Sol, Cadiz, Seville), Canary Islands, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca) were the most popular Spanish regions for Irish holidaymakers last year.

This year, she predicts Seville to grow and recommends Madrid and Castille and León, the central area around Madrid, as an exciting region to visit. Here are Teresa’s top picks of attractions.

SEVILLE n Santa Maria de la Sede “Seville’s cathedral, Santa Maria de la Sede, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and is recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage site. It has alternately been a mosque, synagogue and church. One of the main attractions for visitors here is the tomb of the great explorer, Christopher Columbus.” n Santa Cruz “Wander around the pedestrianised Santa Cruz, situated near the cathedral. Formerly the Jewish quarter, it has many shops, secret squares, narrow cobbled streets, and beautiful old palaces, such as the Alcazar.

Visit Casa de las Dueñas, approximately a 20-minute drive away from Santa Cruz. This is a traditional estate house which shows how wealthy families lived in the city (and some still do).”

MAGICAL PORTUGAL

Royal Palace, Madrid.

Image courtesy of Spanish Tourism Office

n El Rinconcillo “Seville’s oldest tapas bar and restaurant, El Rinconcillo, is normally thronged with locals, so it is a good opportunity to get a true taste of Spanish culture. Signature dishes are spinach and chickpeas, codfish in batter and two classical Spanish cold soups for the summer, Gazpacho and Salmorejo.

Visit the Lonja Del Barranco food market, approximately a 12-minute drive away to try out different food dishes, including fresh prawns, wine, crepes, omelettes and

Cruzcampo beer.” n Museo del Flamenco “Seville is famous for its flamenco, so finish off a trip with a visit to the Museo del Flamenco, to see a show and visit the museum. Book the visit and flamenco show in advance (www.museoflamenco.com/).”

“The Dublin to Seville airline route is in operation throughout the year, but during the winter is a good time to visit Seville, as it can be too hot in the summer,” advises Teresa.

Porto

MADRID “Madrid is a city which a lot of Irish people have yet to visit,” says Teresa. “However, Irish visitor numbers doubled in 2017. There are, on average, four flights a day between Dublin and Cork to Madrid all year, so it’s easy to get to.” Here are some of the highlights: n Royal Palace “The Royal Palace is where the Royal family’s state ceremonies and official banquets take place. Visitors can wander through the rooms and halls, but even just walking around the outside of the Royal Palace is impressive.” n Plaza Mayor “The Plaza Mayor is Madrid’s main square.

You’ll find many traditional shops and old restaurants and bars, such as Casa Botin and Meson del Champiñon, here.” n Mercado de San Miguel “This is the most popular food hall in Madrid and it is within walking distance of Plaza Mayor. It offers a gourmet tapas market, with a variety of vendors selling freshly prepared tapas, olives, hams and other foods and drink.” n Casa de Campo “Casa de Campo not only contains one of the largest zoos in Spain, The Zoo Aquarium, but also a cable car over the park, as well as the Veneta de Batan. The Veneta is the traditional place to hold bulls before bullfights at the Las Venta Bullring.”

Teresa also recommends visiting the central area around Madrid, Castille and León. “Castille and León is relatively unknown and has much history and hearty food and wine to discover, such as Tempranillo wine. I would recommend trying roast suckling pig or lamb with a simple green salad and plenty of red wine!

“The train network in Spain is secondto-none and if you fly in to Madrid, you can quickly get to Salamanca, Toledo, El Escorial, Segovia and Burgos, to explore authentic Spain.”

Lello Porto bookshop

In summer 2017, Portugal came a close second to Spain as one of the top destinations for Irish tourists, with 40pc booking a holiday there. And, although Celina Tavares of the Portuguese National Tourist Office (www.visitportugal.com) says Algarve, Lisbon Coast and Madeira are favourites of Irish holidaymakers, Porto and Lisbon are becoming popular city-break destinations.

PORTO n Vila Nova de Gaia “Porto, a World Heritage and culturally diverse city, is known for Port wine, which is shipped all over the world. Cross the majestic River Douro on the Ponte Luis I Bridge from Ribeira in Porto and you will arrive in Vila Nova de Gaia. This is home to dozens of historic port wine lodges and warehouses, which offer tours and tastings.” n Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) “This pompous 19th-century building with a Neoclassical façade is the former stock exchange that was built to impress and earn the credibility of European investors. Inside it could be mistaken for a royal palace, especially the ornate Arab Room. It is now “the grand reception room” of the city, where heads of state and other luminaries are received on a visit to Porto.” n São Bento Railway Station “The huge entrance hall here is well worth a visit. It’s covered with some twenty thousand pictorial tiles by Jorge Colaço, which feature historical and ethnographic images. The coloured frieze running around the entire atrium details various forms of transport in chronological order, from the earliest times through to the appearance of the train.” n Livraria Lello Porto bookshop “This local bookstore, which has amazing architecture, inspired the ‘Harry Potter

library in Hogwarts. JK Rowling, in fact, lived in Porto teaching English in the early 1990s. Photos are forbidden in the library, so you’ll have to take it all in when you’re there! However, you can take impressive pictures of the Clérigos Tower nearby, which is the tallest structure in Portugal. It’s not one for the faint-hearted, but climb the Tower for panoramic views of Porto – it’s truly spectacular!”

LISBON “Lisbon is a safe and friendly city, relatively small, but with so much to see,” says Celina.

“It’s an ideal place to spend a few days or as a starting point for touring Portugal. It’s old. It’s modern. It is, without doubt, always surprising.” n Belém “Belém is the quarter with the largest number of heritage sites connected with the

Portuguese voyages of discovery. Start with a visit to the Jerónimos Monastery, a World Heritage Monument historically associated with the early sailors, followed by a coffee break at Pastéis de Belém. It’s a five-minute walk from the Monastery and a must-try!” n Terreiro do Paço “Situated near the Tagus river, approximately a 20-minute drive away from the Monument, is the square in Downtown Lisbon. This is commonly known as Terreiro do Paço, because it was the location of the Paços da Ribeira (Royal Ribeira Palace), until it was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. After the earthquake, the square was completely remodelled.

Find out more about Lisbon and the 1755 earthquake at Lisboa Story Centre.” n Castle of São Jorge “Wander through the steep, narrow cobblestoned streets of Alfama for a more traditional view of Lisbon, and climb to

the Castle of São Jorge. The castle stands majestically above central Lisbon on a hilltop and was the ancient seat of Lisbon for over 400 years.” n MAAT: Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology “Get to know modern Lisbon with a visit to this museum, which opened in 2017.

Presenting itself as a new cultural centre in the city of Lisbon, the MAAT hosts national and international exhibitions with contributions by contemporary artists, architects and thinkers.”

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CLASSIC ITALY EXPERIENCE

Flavio Zappacosta, Italian National Tourist Board (www.italia.it), says popular destinations in Italy for Irish holidaymakers are Rome, Venice, the Italian Lakes and the Amalfi Coast. Turin and Bologna are predicted to grow in 2018, “Turin has an amazing Egyptian museum, the Royal Palace, and unrivalled offers of food and wine in its many restaurants. As a bonus, in winter, you can easily reach the Alps for skiing.

“On the other hand, Bologna is gaining popularity among the Irish holidaymakers for its mix of art, culture and lifestyle. FICO (Italian Farming Factory), which opened in November 2017, is a huge Agri-Food theme park located near Bologna, offering a unique experience to its foodie visitors.” However, Flavio says for those who want to travel off the beaten track, Cremona in Lombardy and Castelli Romani in Lazio are two very special locations.

CREMONA Just an hour’s drive from Milan in Lombardy, is Cremona, a city widely regarded as the world’s capital of violinmaking. This is the city which brought musical geniuses, such as Andrea Amati, Nicolo Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari, to the world. Where does Flavio recommend to make the most of Cremona? n Museo del Violino “The craft of Cremona’s luthiery has been recognised on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Cremona harbours the one-of-a-kind Violin Museum or ‘Museo del Violino’, where a variety of prestigious instruments are showcased. Among them are those made by Stradivari. Not only a treat for classical music lovers, the museum is also an architectural gem.” n Stradivari’s House “While at the museum, visit the luthiers’ (makers of string instruments) workshops, where master artisans still work using

Castel Gandolfo, Italy

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES Here are three top beach destinations, chosen by the experts Cala Mariolu in Sardinia, Italy “With its white and pink pebble-mixed sand and a sea which looks like it has been painted, Cala Mariolu is an ideal beach for families and those who want to experience snorkeling or scuba diving.”

- Flavio Zappacosta, Italian National Tourist Board

classic methods, and Stradivari’s House.

The House is privately owned today, but you can contact the owners to schedule a visit or wait until the event organised during the ‘Liuteria in Festival’ in October, when doors open to the public.” n Ponchielli Theatre “A musical adventure in Cremona is not complete without visiting the Ponchielli Theatre, named after Cremona’s greatest composer Amilcare Ponchielli. Events are divided by season: opera from October to December, concerts and prose from December to April.” n Duomo of Cremona “Cremona has much more to offer holidaymakers than just the beautiful sound of music. Visit the Cathedral of Cremona (Duomo of Cremona) for its art.

The Romanesque church embellished to include a Gothic structure is one of the most outstanding examples of religious architecture in Northern Italy, and many impressive paintings are inside.”

CASTEILLI ROMANI Encompassing 13 villages south of Rome,

Castelli Romani will give visitors a true flavour of Italian culture. n Papal Palace in Castel Gandolfo “A historic and picturesque hill town perched high above Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo is the summer residence of the Pope. Now, you can visit some of the rooms inside the Papal Palace here and wander through the Pope’s spectacular gardens.” n Piazza della Repubblica in Ariccia “The town of Ariccia is known for the great work of the 17th century that changed its architectural aspect. Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini carried out the extraordinary urban complex of Piazza della Repubblica. Here, you’ll find Palazzo Chigi (where Visconti’s movie ‘The Leopard’ was filmed) and the Chiesa dell’Assunta (Church of Assumption).” n Patrician Villas in Frascati “The village of Frascati is famous for its patrician villas, such as Villa Aldobrandini and Villa Mondragone. Frascati is also well-known for its white wine. You can get special tours of its beautiful vineyards, visit a historic family-run winery, or learn how

Playa de las Catedrales in Galicia, Spain “The Playa de las Catedrales beach (Cathedral Beach) is a natural monument with a supernatural dimension. As the waters recede, a vista of natural arches, cliffs, and sea caves are revealed. Just wait for the ebb tide, take off your shoes and start walking. You will feel in seventh heaven.”

- Teresa Gancedo, Spanish Tourism Office Praia dos Galapinhos in Arrábida, Portugal “This beach, located near Lisbon, was nominated the Best Beach in Europe 2017

by European Best Destination. Clear waters, clean sand and beautiful coves makes Praia dos Galapinhos a paradise beach. Portugal has 850km of coastline, so there are so many beaches to choose from.”

- Celina Tavares, Portuguese National Tourist Office

to make pizza while you enjoy a selection of Frascati wines!”

Flavio advises booking a trip to Italy as early as possible, “Italy has become very popular in the last two years with tourists, especially seaside resorts which tend to be booked up early with locals too.”

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg

FIVE THINGS TO SEE IN SAINT PETERSBURG Nevsky Prospekt This three-mile stretch of Saint Petersburg is the main artery and worth a stroll. Stop off at the Eliseyev Emporium Coffeeshop at 56 Nevsky Prospekt, my favourite place to sip excellent espresso and enjoy a rich slice of Russian chocolate cake, while watching wellheeled locals shop and chat. (www.kupetzeliseevs.ru) The Hermitage Museum Take a guided tour early in the day to avoid queues and you will be surprised just how much culture you can cram into three hours. Don’t miss the amazing robotic Peacock, once owned

by Catherine the Great. (www.hermitagemueseum.org) Peter and Paul Fortress An oasis of calm (apart from the live cannon blast marking noon!). Here you will see the tombs of the Czars, stray cats and the sombre burial room containing the remains of the Romanov family, murdered, apparently, at Lenin’s direct command in 1916. (www.spbmuseum.ru/peterpaul)

City break – Saint Petersburg

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Kevin Flanagan visits Saint Petersburg, the city that nurtured his life-long hero Rudolf Nureyev, the towering genius of ballet

ot many people know that I was a professional ballet dancer in my youth. It can be a conversation stopper. I fell in love with ballet after falling in love with my first sweetheart aged just 13. I knew Caroline loved ballet, so I somehow managed to wrangle two tickets to see Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House in London. The year was 1967 and tickets were like gold-dust.

I had no idea what ballet was but felt convinced it would impress the girl of my dreams. It didn’t and that was our one and only date. But what I saw on stage that night mesmerized me, especially the performance of the young superstar Rudolf Nureyev.

JUMP TO FREEDOM Nureyev had captured world headlines a couple of years earlier when he defected from the Soviet Union by jumping a barrier at Paris airport. It was the heart of the Cold War, and Nureyev, a star of the touring Kirov Ballet, was the toast of the ballet world. But Soviet artists were kept on a tight leash and the firebrand, Nureyev, rebelled and literally jumped ship, claiming political asylum in France.

Back home, the Soviets ordered his assassination as a traitor but Nureyev survived and went on to change ballet in the West.

He also changed the course of my life.

I became determined to follow in his footsteps and become a dancer at the advanced age of 22.

Somehow, I achieved this impossible dream (another story) and became a fulltime, professional dancer. In time, I would meet and dance with Rudolf Nureyev himself. And years later, I would make a pilgrimage to Saint Petersburg, with a group of ballet fans and take in a performance at the legendary Mariinsky Theatre. It was one of the highlights of my life.

A CITY FOR EVERYONE But, Saint Petersburg is not just a city for those interested in ballet. It is one of the great historical cities of the world. Here, you will see the unimaginable wealth of the Czars, who governed Russia until the communist revolution of 1917.

You will also see vestiges of the brutal Soviet system that replaced it, and monuments to the battle that defined Saint Petersburg, the terrible siege during WWII. This lasted 872 days and cost the lives of 1.5 million inhabitants.

Rudolf Nureyev and Kevin Flanagan in Dublin

ENDURING SIGHTS But Saint Petersburg endured. The city

is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list with 36 historical architectural complexes and over 4000 outstanding individual monuments of architecture, history and culture. It has a staggering 221 museums, 2,000 libraries, more than 80 theaters, 100 concert organizations, 45 galleries and exhibition halls, 62 cinemas and around 80 other cultural establishments!

So, if you are interested in culture and ballet, you are in for a treat. On the ballet front, Tchaikovsky created Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty for the Mariinsky Ballet. This complemented the exquisite choreography of Marius Petipa.

The Mariinsky also produced such dance legends as Nijinsky, Pavlova, Balanchine, Baryshnikov and, of course, Rudolf Nureyev.

Nowadays, you can see ballets in the original Mariinsky Theatre and the brand new Mariinsky 11. (To book log onto www.mariinsky.ru) HOW TO VISIT SAINT PETERSBURG For me, Saint Petersburg is a city that has something for everyone looking for a city break. It is five hours away by plane so plan Mariinsky Theatre

Peterhof The amazing fountains and grand palaces of Peterhof, just 20 miles from Saint Petersburg, were inspired by Peter the Great’s love of all things Versailles. You can spy the gazebo where Catherine the Great “entertained” her many young lovers. The gold fountains are amazing!

To travel to Peterhof, take a hydrofoil from the jetty in front of the Hermitage. (www.peterhofmuseum.ru) Yusupov Palace My favourite, as it houses the site of Grigori Rasputin’s murder in 1916. It is the most opulent of palaces (the Yusupov’s were the foremost billionaire oligarchs of their day). But the little cellar where Rasputin was shot, complete with waxwork figures, is eerie! (www.yusupov-palace.ru/en)

a long weekend. Four or five days will result in a trip of a lifetime.

If you are visiting the city I suggest taking a guided, all-inclusive tour. It is great value for money and you will need a guide as most people do not speak English and many signs are in Cyrillic. My favourite hotel is the Grand Hotel Europe, just off Nevsky Prospekt, with refined elegance and the city’s top gourmet restaurant, L’Euro. (www.belmond.com). But there are many hotels to suit all budgets.

My friends at The Travel Department run escorted tours to Saint Petersburg (www.traveldepartment.ie). Or, consult your local travel agent for advice.

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Sunday Independent January 21 2018

Journey into the unknown

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Travel writer Clodagh Dooley on stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing a new culture while on a trip to Tunisia

any of us are scared of diving into the unknown, of uncertainty, of unfamiliarity, of not knowing what is going to happen. This fear attached itself to me for the past couple of years and I couldn’t break away from it. Whether it was moving to a new city by myself, starting a new job or booking my first driving test, it all boiled down to one thing – I was out of my comfort zone.

When the opportunity to travel to Tunisia arose last May, immediately the devastating terrorist incidents which the North African country had faced came to mind. Not to mention, it was advised against travelling to Tunisia by the Department of Foreign Affairs at the time, unless absolutely necessary (this has now changed). I had never been to Tunisia before, I didn’t know much about the area and it wasn’t a destination I ever thought about visiting.

But, after seeing some pictures and reading more about the area, I decided to take a chance.

A TASTE OF TUNISIAN CULTURE I flew over to London Gatwick, and from there, I travelled on a five-hour flight to Tunis-Carthage International Airport with Tunisair. After a 20-minute drive from the airport, I arrived in the 5-Star Ramada Plaza Tunis Hotel in Gammarth, a town along the Mediterranean Sea about 20km north of the city of Tunis. Not only was I greeted by beautiful panoramic views of the Tunisian coastline from my room, but also by a very appetising buffet in the dining area – my first experience of traditional Tunisian dishes! I became very accustomed to each dish over my five days spent in Tunisia, with brik (a crispy pastry shell with an egg filling, parsley and sometimes meat) and Tunisian couscous being firm favourites.

But, my true taste of Tunisia didn’t just come from the cuisine, it was by involving myself in the country’s customs. Meeting the people, discovering the traditional way of living and learning about the history.

Tunisia has a very rich past and a strong sense of identity, even with many different people having dominated the country over the centuries. From the Berber tribe to the Phoenicians to the Romans, to the Ottomans and the French, their influence stands out in the country’s architecture and ruins today. A visit to the Bardo Museum in Tunis brings ancient Tunisia to life. Housed in an old Beylic palace dating back to the XIXth, Bardo Museum holds a unique collection of Roman artefacts and mosaics displaying mythological scenes – the detail is extraordinary! It did feel surreal to stand in the exact area the museum was attacked in 2015 and 21 people were tragically killed.

But, I felt no fear while there.

Tunisia is renowned for its Medinas (the ancient quarters of cities or towns such as Hammamet, Tunis and Nabuel). The medina is typically walled with narrow streets and souks (Arab marketplaces), where you can buy fabrics, crafts and ceramics, traditional pastries and much more. Tunisia is the leading producer of orange blossom floral water, which can be used as an ingredient in cooking or to rub on your skin as a body moisturiser. I took a small bottle home with me, but more than half of it was used before I left. Turns out, it works as a very effective cooling solution in the 30-degree heat!

SUSTAINABLE TRAVELS During my trip, I also visited the first eco-friendly farmhouse in Tunisia, Dar

Dar Zaghouan Bardo Museum

Detailed doors and windows in Tunisia

Sidi Bou Said

didn’t know existed! It was inspiring to see how owner Skander Zribi gives back to his community. Not just in terms of the efficient management of waste, water and energy, but also by creating jobs for local men and women and supporting a children’s charity by hosting a gastronomic event (which we were right on time to see and taste!).

FEELING INSPIRED However, the reality of my surroundings didn’t fully hit me until it came to the end of my trip, during my last excursion to Sidi Bou Said. Approximately a 25-minute drive from Tunis, Sidi Bou Said is a tourism jewel.

Located on a steep cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the bohemian town is Local makes pastries at Dar Zaghouan

Zaghouan, approximately a one-hour drive from Tunis city. ‘Dars’ are discreet, boutique hotels which have usually been converted from traditional family homes.

Located in front of the mountain of Zaghouan, Dar Zaghouan makes for an ideal restorative retreat, with a wellness spa opening soon. Traditional, eco-friendly agricultural techniques are used on the bed and breakfast farm, where much of the restaurant’s food is grown and harvested. I met with some of the local employees, who were working among the farm’s vegetable gardens and fruit trees, busy making pastries, or sharing various types of cheeses with guests to taste!

The contrast to my everyday life back in Ireland was striking, my eyes were opened to an entirely different world I

said to have inspired artists such as Michael Foucault and writer Simone de Beauvoir. As I walked through the narrow streets filled with white-washed walls, vibrant blue doors and elaborate latticework window screens (moucharabiehs), I arrived upon an isolated cliff face.

With just the clear blue sea ahead of me, I was away from the hustle and bustle on the streets, just me and my thoughts.

In that moment, I reflected on how many opportunities can slide through your fingertips when a fear of the unknown gets in the way, and how far I had come. I made a pact with myself then that I won’t let any doubts ever hold me back from trying something new, because exactly like this situation, it could potentially be lifechanging.

Needless to say, I ended my trip on a high note, and with a very sunburnt nose! I met with Zakaria Fathallah, Director for UK and Ireland Tunisair, back at the airport, who then told me he expected the travel warning to be lifted soon. I can now report that this is the case after speaking with Zakaria recently. He said, “According to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland, today the only travel restrictions to Tunisia is to avoid Chaambi Mountain National Park, and within 30km of the Algeria and Libya border.

“Irish people are very welcome to Tunisia, for business or leisure, and they can reach the country via London, or via any continental airport such as Rome, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt with Aer Lingus and Tunisair or any other airline.

“A return ticket starts from €230 and the trip duration is approximately five hours.”

INFORMATION Things to do – www.discovertunisia.com Flights – www.tunisair.com Hotel – www.ramadaplaza-tunis.com Dar Zaghouan – www.darzaghouane.com Impressive views in Sidi Bou Said Images taken by Clodagh Dooley

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

The majestic Jade Mountain. Image courtesy of Taipei Representative Office in Ireland

Taiwan’s Lantern Festival. Image courtesy of Taipei Representative Office in Ireland

A whole new world

Taiwan’s aboriginal tribe women

The Far East has become a must-see area for adventure holidays, family breaks and sun experiences. Here, the experts tell us how to make the most of your trips to Taiwan and Sri Lanka TAIWAN

“Taiwan has a truly unique culture,” says Simon Tu, Representative of Taipei Representative Office in Ireland. “It has a mix between traditional and modern life, like an open-minded society valuing cultural traditions which are friendly to any kind of visitor.”

The small nation of Taiwan is an island for outdoor-lovers. With diverse landscapes and endless outdoor activities, from cycling around the whole island, to perfect surfing spots on the east coast as well as trekking possibilities, there is something for everyone. Simon says now is the perfect time to travel there.

“People are looking for new destinations to discover and Taiwan offers that. It has the buzz of vibrant cities; a fascinating fusion of Asian and Aboriginal cultures; and stunning natural landscapes ranging from lofty mountain peaks to tropical beaches and magnificent marble gorges.

“Taipei is the spot to visit in Taiwan. It feels less busy than other Asian cities, and yet has all the features for a perfect holiday.

The outskirts of Taipei are very green and offer possibilities to either be active when going for a hike or to relax, for example in the hot springs in Beitou.”

Taipei is a modern metropolis with all convenient features, but, if you are on the lookout for a more cultural trip, there are many temples you can visit too.

For example, The Longshan Temple or Bishanyan Temple.

“People are still practicing their traditions, which can be experienced in temples during the praying sessions. But, there are also modern experiences. One of the most iconic attractions is the 508-metre high Taipei 101, a bamboo-shaped skyscraper which offers amazing views of the city. However, the most extraordinary part of the city is Taipei’s atmosphere. There is a vibrant nightlife and several quirky bars such as a bar which serves both beer and cheese! The range of food is incredible and gives visitors the possibility to try everything, from specialties such as oyster omelettes and dumplings, to the more famous bubble tea.”

“The city is easy to travel around by bike, metro or bus. You can combine different

activities, such as visiting a tea plantation in Maokong, which can be reached easily with the metro, or strolling around the Dihua Street, which is a shopping street selling traditional Chinese goods.”

While the city has some of the most beautiful locations on offer, visiting the Far East is really an opportunity for an adventure. There are plenty of activities for thrillseekers on the island.

“It is possible to cycle around the whole island in 10 days. The cycling paths are welldeveloped and there is a route which takes you along the coastline around the whole island. Thanks to the diverse landscapes and high mountains, there are endless outdoor possibilities in Taiwan.”

For those hoping to travel to Taiwan soon, Simon has some advice to make sure they get the most out of their travels.

“Try the rail system and cycle at least once in one of the regions in Taiwan. Get to know the people and take time to discover the country in its whole beauty.”

For more information on the beauty of Taiwan, visit www.roc-taiwan.org/ie/

SRI LANKA

Known as ‘the pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the tropical paradise of Sri Lanka offers everything a dream holiday should offer: endless sandy beaches, a rich ancient history and culture, and unique wildlife.

“Sri Lanka is unlike any other country,” says Aleem Raheem, Co-Founder of The Earth Trip. “It’s so small, which means you Galle Fort Lighthouse, Sri Lanka

The 508-metre Taipei 101

can do a lot in a short amount of time there.

The 30-year war is over and now it has good infrastructure and can cater for all types of tourists.”

Famed for its adventurous and tropical honeymoon destinations, Aleem says Irish holidaymakers should try to visit many different places in Sri Lanka.

“Honestly, if you spend 10 or 14 days in Sri Lanka, you can see most of the country.

It’s a very affordable destination with great Watch the gathering of elephants in the Minneriya National Park

hotels. And, although there are no direct flights out of Ireland, there are a number of indirect flights so it’s become very accessible.”

The first area to visit is Galle, a fortified city built by Europeans. With its vast history and fascinating architectural heritage, Galle is a must see. The Galle Fort is a 16th century fort which is one of the great modern wonders of the world, and an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by Europeans.

“For such a small country, Sri Lanka has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and 14 national parks, which is just amazing.

Travellers love the ancient history of the island, with its rich culture and beautiful buildings. Sri Lanka has ruins dating back more than 2,000 years, so the history lovers will adore this island.”

Aleem refers to the diverse wildlife of the island as being a major part of the attraction. One of the most famous visitor experiences in Sri Lanka is elephant watching. You can watch the gathering of elephants in the Minneriya National Park, and safari at Wilpattu National Park to spot the largest concentration of leopards in the world.

“We have elephants, sloths, blue whales, leopards, water buffaloes and various other animals and birds. Holidaymakers always mention the wildlife of the island as a reason why they visit, and why they want to go back.

“Sri Lanka gets lots of honeymooners, families and even older people. If they spend a month there, they can really dive into the culture and attractions. Lots of people love the sandy beaches, such as the coastal resort town of Pasikudha, but the adventure and cultural attractions have become incredibly popular. I would recommend travelling to the north and east of the country, as they were least visited during the war and have so many areas waiting to be explored.”

For more information on visiting Sri Lanka, see www.theearthtrip.co.uk

Sunday Independent January 21 2018

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Cruising through the world

January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Yangtze River, China

Both the ocean cruising and river cruising markets keep on growing year-on-year. Here, two top industry professionals share advice on what to know before setting sail in 2018

are small. Each ship in our European fleet has an average capacity of 130 guests and has been designed to perfect scale. They can dock in the most central locations in the heart of each destination, and this allows guests to disembark and immediately begin exploring.”

MUCH TO SEA

Jennifer Callister, Head of Royal Caribbean in Ireland (www. royalcaribbean.ie), speaks about the diverse destinations to explore and activities available on a sea cruise.

Why should Irish holidaymakers consider an ocean cruise this year?

“There are many reasons – the main one being that few other holiday options offer the all-in-one experience like a cruise.

Guests are able to visit several destinations during one holiday; enjoy an incredible array of onboard entertainment and activities, like skydiving at sea and West End-style shows; delve into numerous onboard dining options, and much more.

“The cruise industry is thriving and the new-to-cruise (NTC) audience continues to be a focus for us. For example, last year, nearly 50pc of our Irish guests were NTC. Destination remains key, so fresh itineraries and personalised and unique shore experiences continue to help meet guests’ needs.”

What are the top cruise destinations for 2018?

“We recently carried out research on the most popular destinations. This showed that the top pre-booked 2017 itinerary was the 14-night Mediterranean highlights cruise onboard ‘Independence of the Seas’ or ‘Navigator of the Seas’. Ports of call include Marseille in France and Lisbon in Portugal.

“Meanwhile, the top pre-booked tours and activities in 2017 centred around St Petersburg, Russia and the hottest port to visit in 2017 was Phuket, Thailand.

“The destinations are obviously a huge factor in choosing your cruise. We sail to 249 destinations in over 77 countries and six continents and are committed to giving our customers what they want from their holiday. For example, on ‘Anthem of the Seas’, you can sail to destinations such as New York to Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Or, you can enjoy the glamorous French Riviera or explore the stunning architecture of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel on a Mediterranean cruise.

“There’s a world of destinations to choose from this year to suit everyone’s

Set sail on Royal Caribbean

Family suite on-board Royal Caribbean

taste: from the sunny Mediterranean all the way to majestic Alaska, the world truly is your oyster.”

Is there enough time to get a true sense of each destination visited – can people explore locations independently?

“There is a wealth of culture, history, fun and adventure to be experienced at every destination, and the Royal Caribbean shore excursions allow guests to explore famous landmarks and renowned attractions in a different way. Guests can go on expert guided tours, get up-close and personal wildlife experiences, or even try parasailing and scuba diving if they’re feeling adventurous!

“A lot of our guests do like to manage and book their stop-offs independently. We accommodate this via transfers to and from the ships and by providing information about the city or resort, its attractions and customs. This way, guests can have the best destination experience possible, no matter how they choose to do it.”

Experience luxury inside a Uniworld ship

their habitual patterns. Speak to a cruise specialist to identify a cruise that suits you or research the options online. An extraordinary cruise holiday is waiting for you.”

How accessible are cruises for travellers with a disability?

“Discovering and exploring the world around us is something that everyone should be able to enjoy. We want everyone to have the trip of a lifetime, which is why we’ve always gone the extra mile to make sure our ships have the right facilities.

For example, we’ve designed all public doors and entrances to be accessible to wheelchairs. We also offer wheelchair accessible staterooms that have been adapted with special features, and we’ve included Braille signage around the ships.”

Marissa Beck, Marketing and PR Manager at Uniworld Boutique River Cruises (www.uniworld. com), breaks some of the misconceptions associated with river cruising.

What advice would you give to people planning a cruise?

“I would recommend that holidaymakers identify the right cruise based on what they want to get out of their holiday. Each ship has a myriad of amazing features for foodies, adventurers and fun-seekers, as well those who want to kick back and relax with their friends and family.

“We encourage holidaymakers to reassess their holiday choices and break

What makes river cruises a different experience?

“River cruising is an experience unlike any other in that guests are able to become more acquainted and connected with the destinations that they visit and pass through. Even while the ship is cruising, guests are able to take in the beautiful sights passing beside them on the shore.

“River cruising is an intimate and personalised experience, because the ships

RIVER OF DREAMS

What are some exciting destinations to visit in 2018?

“Asia is a big one and we have four cruises there. On our ‘Highlights of China & the Yangtze’ cruise, during four days in Beijing, you can savour local flavours at one of 60,000 restaurants, visit the Great Wall or walk through a centuries-old hutong neighbourhood. On your first night in Xi’an, you’ll be treated to a traditional dumpling banquet in China’s first capital. The next day, you can visit the site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Terra-cotta Army, where 8,000 of these stone-cold warriors and horses have been excavated.

“But not all of China’s wonders rest on land. You’ll cruise the Yangtze River’s famous Three Gorges, a section known for its surreal rock formations and mountain peaks, and travel past the world’s largest hydroelectric marvel, the Three Gorges Dam. “There are endless destinations to visit in Central Europe, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Russia, India and Egypt.”

One of the common stereotypes is that cruises are for older people – are river cruises for everyone?

“River cruising is becoming popular for all ages. Solo travelling has become increasingly popular over 2017. From 2016 to 2017, we have seen a 25pc increase in solo travellers and we predict this to continue in 2018. More and more guests have found that travelling solo is one of the most enriching and rewarding ways to explore the world.

“This year, we have launched our newest product, U by Uniworld, which is river cruises designed for passionate travellers aged between 21–45 years. It offers fun, immersive and adventurous itineraries, and a seamless way to experience Europe from city-to-city.”

What are some other common myths about cruises?

“The most prevalent myth that I’ve come across is the concern that, ‘I’ll get bored, because they don’t offer all the activities of an ocean-going cruise ship.’ However, a selection of our ships have sundecks with lounging chairs and life-sized chess boards, heated swimming pools, cinemas, spas and fitness centres, libraries, boutiques, wine tastings and much more. Guests can also disembark the ship at each port and join one of our 80 exclusive excursions, or explore the destination at their leisure.”

Many cruise operators will be on hand to answer your questions at the Holiday World Show, RDS, 26th-28th January. Visit the centre pages to browse the exhibitor listing

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Sunday Independent January 21 2018

Westport, Co Mayo

Explore Killarney, Co Kerry by bike. Image courtesy of Castlerosse Hotel & Holiday Homes

Holiday at home

stay three to four nights in the hotel, but will stay a full week if they have booked one of our self-catering Woodland Cottages or Golf Lodges.

“A recurrent trend for home holidaymakers is a last-minute extension to their trip if they find the weather to be particularly good. In 2018, I’d advise booking early, as hotels are getting busier.”

Greenway, connecting Westport to Achill Island, offers an award-winning familyfriendly biking trail.”

For something more low-key, Anna says Mayo is a haven for walkers and anglers, “There’s a myriad of walks and journeys including Croagh Patrick and Cong, as well as the rivers Moy, Furnace and Owenmore, which are internationally renowned for salmon and sea trout angling. The hiker can escape the bustle of urban life by climbing one of many mountain ranges including Mweelrea, the highest peak in Connaught.

“I’d also highly recommend walking in the remote Ceathrú Thaidhg area in Ennis.

Stop by Downpatrick Head, where legend says St. Patrick split the land and banished a pagan druid, and the Céide Fields, the oldest stone walled fields in the world (over 6,000 years old).”

CONNACHT: CO MAYO “There’s no better way to discover Mayo’s charm than taking to the great outdoors,” says Anna Connor, Development Officer Mayo County Council (www.mayo.ie). “Right at the heart of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Mayo embraces the Atlantic Ocean with many of the county’s unforgettable landmarks dotted along its coastline. Must-visits include Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay and Achill’s majestic cliffs. Achill Island is one of Ireland’s most spectacular wild areas, with kayaking, surfing, fishing and kitesurfing facilities and five Blue Flag beaches.

“The Blueway Trails at Old Head, Killary and Achill offer the opportunity to experience world-class snorkelling and ocean kayaking. The Great Western

LEINSTER: CO KILKENNY “Kilkenny is a place where ancient and contemporary mix seamlessly,” says Maura Hickey, Tourism Officer at Kilkenny Tourism (www.visitkilkenny.ie). “It is rich in culture, a fantastic nightlife, food and craft, and outdoor activities. Highlights in Kilkenny City include the brewing and distilling experiences (such as Ballykeefe Distillery, The Smithwick Experience and the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild) and the Medieval Mile Museum.

“Plan your visit around one of the many festivals the city hosts, such as the Cat Laughs festival over the June bank holiday weekend or Tradfest in March, which makes Kilkenny the perfect St Patrick’s Day destination.”

Maura says Kilkenny has much to offer

More than nine million overseas visitors travelled to Ireland in 2017, which is reason enough to plan your own holiday at home this year! Here, some of the leaders in Irish tourism share their recommendations

T

he number of tourists coming to Ireland has risen year-on-year.

Recent statistics from Fáilte Ireland have found that the typical vacationer is a couple (41pc) over 44 years old (44pc), while individual tourists make up 24pc of visitors. While travel is no doubt on the top of the list for Irish couples and empty nesters (those whose kids have flown the nest), typically this sense of adventure can often be associated with travelling abroad. This year, take inspiration from our overseas visitors and open yourself up to the new and unique experiences that are right on your doorstep.

MUNSTER: CO KERRY “The convenience of home holidays is alluring,” says Danny Bowe, General Manager at Castlerosse Hotel & Holiday Homes (www.castlerosse.ie) in Killarney, “especially when Irish holidays can offer visitors a different experience to a traditional trip abroad.

“For many years, Killarney attracted mainly American visitors. More recently, we have seen a surge in Irish people choosing Killarney as their holiday destination. The combination of superb scenery, charming wildlife, such as the Irish Red Deer, and an iconic Irish town are highlights that cannot be undervalued.”

Adjoining the Killarney National Park, guests of the Castlerosse Hotel can cycle and walk trails through the park. They can enjoy the spacious ground on which the hotel resides and take in the uninterrupted view of Killarney lakes.

“The Wild Atlantic Way has also captured the interest of overseas markets,” says Danny. “Ideally located for such an adventure, Castlerosse Hotel and Killarney are just a one-hour drive to the Ring of Kerry and the same to the Dingle Peninsula” Operating for over 50 years, the Castlerosse Hotel & Holiday Homes has witnessed holiday trends alter over the years. What has remained consistent, however, is the typical length of stay.

“Empty nesters, or seniors, like to stay three to four nights. Couples generally come to us for a weekend break. Families typically

Erne Water Taxi, Co Fermanagh. Image courtesy of Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism

Co Kilkenny

outside its vibrant city.

“Kilkenny is a county that is rich in beautiful scenery, with picture perfect towns such as Inistioge and Graiguenamanagh waiting to be explored. To fully immerse yourself in the culture, follow the below route: n “Head out to Bennettsbridge village, situated on the river Nore and home to the renowned Nicolas Mosse pottery. See the potters at work and enjoy some delicious cooked delights in their own café. n “Continue to Thomastown, home of the Mount Juliet estate, where you can stroll the grounds and walking trails. Visit Jerpoint Abbey, just outside Thomastown, then visit the now famous ‘Goatsbridge Trout’ farm. n “For more heritage, stop by Jerpoint Park, home to the lost town and gravestone of St Nicolas. Then, visit Jerpoint Glass studios and gift shop. The Leadbetter family have been in the glass business for many years.

See their new creations or book a glass blowing workshop. n “Head back to Kilkenny City, via Stoneyford village, home to Knockdrinna Cheese Farm. Don’t pass without dropping in for some of their award-winning cheeses!”

ULSTER: CO FERMANAGH “We’ve noticed a huge increase in visitors from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland in 2017,” says Louise Curry, Project Executive at Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism (www.fermanaghlakelands.com). “Local visitor attractions in Fermanagh such as the Marble Arch Caves and National Trust properties, have reported a significant increase in ROI visitors over the past year.

“Visitors travelling to Fermanagh are now looking for short-break destinations, to spend quality time with friends and family, enjoy natural scenic surroundings, value for money and ‘quirky getaways’. With that in mind, the Bubble Domes at Finn Lough have been extremely popular, with visitors travelling from all over the world to experience a night under the stars.”

One of the newest and hugely popular attractions in the Fermanagh Lakelands area is the Cuilcagh Boardwalk, more commonly known as ‘The Stairway to Heaven’.

“Part of the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark, the Cuilcagh Legnagbrocky Trail will appeal to walkers with some experience of walking in the hills. The route is quite isolated and showcases the scenic wilderness of Cuilcagh Mountain. The trail meanders along a quiet farmland track before traversing a wooden boardwalk that consists of a steady climb to the mountain face. Here, a stepped boardwalk climbs through steep terrain and boulder fields, before reaching the summit plateau. On a good day you’ll enjoy 360-degree views of the Sligo Mountains, Upper Lough Erne, The Atlantic Ocean, as well as counties Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal.

For something more leisurely, visitors to the Fermanagh Lakelands can enjoy a cruise on the Erne Water Taxi. Louise says, “The Lough Erne Food Trail is a must for anyone who enjoys great local food, stunning landscapes and story or two along the way.”

16

January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

CARRY ON CAMPING

We find out why camping trips are in demand and why they could be right for you

Stay in comfort in a glamping tent

Bring your own caravan to the site

“T

here are people who believe that camping means having no comfort and being cold sleeping outside,” says Pierre Jaspers, Director of Camping Village de la Guyonniere in Vendée in the west of France.

“This couldn’t be further from the truth.

There is a real ambience and incredible atmosphere when camping.”

For those who can’t stand the thought of sleeping in a tent or mobile home, many camping sites have chalets or glamping tents available to rent.

“We have glamping tents at our campsite for those who are wary of camping. It is a tent, but it has all the comfort you need. You have a real shower, a real bed and kitchen and you don’t even have to set it up. It looks fancy but you still get that camping feeling because you are sleeping in a tent. You get the experience of camping without all the inconvenience.”

Camping holidays combine fun activities for the kids, relaxation by a beach, an outdoor adventure and a tour through the ruins of a castle.

“The best time, and the busiest time, for a camping holiday is from June to August.

People come to camp when the sun shines the brightest and the children are finished school. It’s the perfect time to go camping.”

FUN THINGS TO DO Camping Village de la Guyonniere has been in business for 25 years. In that time, the staff has seen plenty of Irish people return time and again to the site. You can come with your own caravan or tent or you can rent their mobile homes, glamping accommodation or chalets. The campsite has a large swimming pool, a packed fishing lake, pony rides, nature and woodlands and has a beach not too far away. There are arranged activities for both kids and adults at the campsite every single day, so there is always something to do.

“It’s a very family-orientated and comfortable campsite with a friendly atmosphere. We organise dancing programmes and sporting activities like a run or cycle around the lake. The Tour de France will be starting nearby this year and the Puy du Foul theme park is only a 30-minute drive away. This was voted the best theme park in the world, so the whole family is sure to enjoy that.

“The ferry landing in Roscoff is only about a three-hour drive away so it’s an easy enough drive for those arriving there from Ireland.”

Rent a private chalet for your camping holiday at Camping Village de la Guyonniere

Campsites have fun for all the family

REASONS FOR CAMPING France has become an incredibly popular holiday destination for campers, but why do so many Irish people enjoy camping there?

“It’s a family-orientated holiday, they get the outdoor experience and they are free to come and go and do whatever they choose. France is very accessible for Irish people, which is why I think they enjoy this particular campsite a lot. Camping is also far less expensive than other holidays which

is always a draw.

“I think Irish people enjoy camping simply because it’s fun. Adults can get the feeling of being in nature. It revives memories of when they were young themselves, and children have the fun of sleeping in tents while they get to make friends with other children in the site. It’s the full package.”

FERRYING OVER With French campsites seeing a boost in bookings in recent years, travel to these campsites has become big business. While flying to France is the way for some, the best route over, according to Marie McCarthy, Passenger Sales Manager for Irish Ferries, is the fun of a ferry.

“The best thing about it is that you can fill up your car with everything you need and then just drive off to do whatever you like. It’s the adventure before the adventure.

You can bring a car, campervan or mobile home on the ferry for whatever you plan to do. When flying, you would have to travel there, hire a car and have extra costs for luggage, so a ferry is far more convenient.”

“The ship is so relaxing that you start

your holiday the second you board. You get on in the afternoon, have dinner, enjoy the entertainment, stay in your comfortable cabins and then you’re on your way at 10 the next morning.”

2018 will see Irish Ferries launch its new 55,000 tonnes cruise ferry, the W.B. Yeats, which will be the largest and most luxurious ferry to sail on the Irish Sea when it enters service on the company’s Ireland to France routes this summer. With more sailings from Ireland to France than any other ferry operator, Irish Ferries offers afternoon departure and early morning arrival times into France.

“It is predominately families who travel across. Those with children can relax knowing they are safe on the ship and at the hundreds of different campsites which are only a few hours from where the ferry drops them off. We work very closely with camping operators in Ireland such as Eurocamp, Campotel and Hello France.

They set up the camping packages and add on the ferry so it’s huge business for us at the moment. Places get booked up very fast.”

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Marie says she has personally experienced the campsites, as she took her niece and nephew to Carnac in Brittany a few years ago. She notes how impressive the camping experience was for both adults and children.

“I have never seen two kids have a better holiday. They really have everything in those sites. They are secure with a reception, they have kids clubs every day, they have sports activities for children and they even teach children to speak French!

“For the adults, it’s so relaxing. You can hire a bike and go cycling or visit restaurants and you never have to worry whether the children are safe. We cooked a lot in our mobile home so we didn’t even need to leave the campsite a lot of the time.

I also have friends who went camping in the region with no children. They hadn’t been camping for years and they absolutely loved it. It’s just pure fun and freedom, and I would recommend it to anyone.”

For more information on the Camping Village de la Guyonniere, visit www.camping-guyonniere.com and to book a place on a ferry, visit www.irishferries.com

17

Sunday Independent January 21 2018

Q16

P19

Q15

P18

Q14

Q18 Q19 Q20 Q21

P20

P12 P13 P14 P15

EE

CAFÉ EE

P17

Q13

FLOORPLAN

P11

Q12 Q17

P16

CM19

CM18

CM7

CM16

CM17

CM15

CM1

EE

G8

CM28

CM21

CM8

CM9

A11

H7

H6 H5

K12

L13

M14 M15

J15

K11

J14

K10

H3

CM19 G1

N14

R22

L11a L11

S20a

R18

S19

V14

T15 U16 T14

X14

K8 K7 K7a K6

J9 J8 J7

K5

J6

K4

J3 J4

H1

K1

A4

L8

M6

L5 L4

M4

M3

L3

M2

A3

A2

M1

Q10

P9

R12 R13 S13 R11

N8

S12

R10

N7 P8 P7

N6

M5 N5 N4

L1 L2

J1

A10 A9 A8 A7 A6 A5

R15 R15a S15 R14 S14a S14

P7a

P6

L6

K2

J2

M7

L7

K3

J5

M8

L9

S16

N3

Q9 Q8 Q7

P4 Q6 Q5 Q4 P3

S11 R9 S9 S10

R8

P2

N1

P1

S7

R7 R6

S6

R5 R5a S5

A1

S4

Q3 R3 Q1a

INSPIRE CAFÉ BAR

Q1

X12 X11

V11 W8

X10

V10 W7

X9

T12 U11

DISCOVER: EUROPE AND THE MEDITERREAN HOME HOLIDAYS ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS THE AMERICAS CARIBBEAN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST CRUISING CARAVAN, CAMPING AND MOTORHOMES OVER 55’s HOLIDAYS WEDDINGS AND HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS EE

V9 W6

T11

X8

T10 U8c

V8c W5

T9 U8b

V8b

T8 U8a

V8a W4

T7 U8

V8

T6 U7 U6 T5 U5a T4 U5

V7 W3b

X5b

W3a

X5a

V4 W3

X5

T3 U4

X4

T2 U3

V3b W1b V3a V3 W1a

T1 U2

V2 W1

X2

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND KIDS ZONE

X7

X6

S8

R4 N2

X13

V12 W9

T13

S17

X15

V13 W10

U15

U13

S18

R16

M9 N10

X17 X16

R19

Q11

M10 N11

EE

SEATING

V15

R17 P10

EE

R20

N13

M13 M12 N12 M11

L12

K9

J10

H4

G2

CM20

H9

H8

CM22

CM11

J16

H10 J12 J11

CM23 G3

CM10

M16

L10

CM25 G4 CM24

CM12

L14

J13

H11

G6

CM26 G5

CM2

K13

R21

U12 H13 H12a H12

G9

CM29 G7 CM13

J17

G10

CM30

CM4

CM3

CM33 G13 G12 CM32 G11 CM31

CM5

CM14

H14

G14

EE

CM6

H15

G15

EE

S3 S2

R2

B1

EXIT

B2

X3

EE B5

B3 B4

ORGANISER’S OFFICE

INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAYS HOME HOLIDAYS CARAVAN, CAMPING & MOTORHOME EE

PAVILION RESTAURANT

P21 P22 P23 P24 P25

S20

EE

ENTRANCE

SPEAKER SCHEDULE AND TIMINGS (Schedule timings may change)

FREE with special guests!

FRIDAY 26th JANUARY 2018

SATURDAY 27h JANUARY 2018

SUNDAY 28th JANUARY 2018

1.00pm

1.15pm

12.45pm Africa

Travel Blogs Martin McKenna, Holiday Guru Tara Povey, Where Is Tara

2.30pm

3.30pm

4.15pm

2.00pm

Exciting Year in Cruising Jennifer Callister, Royal Caribbean Michael English, Celebrity Rebecca Kelly, MSC Alan Lynch, Cruisescapes Amanda Middler, Silver Sea

Adventure Holidays Anthony Collins, Topflight Orla Markey, Crystal Ski Holidays Martin Skelly, Travalue.ie & UWalk.ie Ian Langford, Exodus John Grehan, G Adventures

2.45pm

Asia John Warr, Wendy Wu Tours; Hasan Mutlu, Turkish Airlines; Fiona Dobbyn, Classic Resorts

What’s new in the USA Kristin Skinner, American Holidays Claire Doherty, Visit USA Committee Tryphavana Cross, Las Vegas & New York Greg Evans, Altantic City & Philadelphia Jenny Rafter, Aer Lingus

Tony Flynn, Ethiopian Airlines Tolene van der Merwe, South Africa Tourism Siobhan Learat Byrne, Adams & Butler Jackie Herssens, Hayes and Jarvis Ireland

Steve Conlon, Irish Boat Rental Association Sharon Lavin, Waterways Ireland Alex Connolly, Fáilte Ireland Deirdre O'Shea, Lough Derg Region / Clare Co Co

Kathryn Thomas Founder of Pure Results Bootcamp, Television Presenter – Operation Transformation and former presenter of travel programme No Frontiers.

Award winning travel journalist.

Ireland’s new region: The Shannon

3.30pm

2.15pm

Visas, Passports & Vacinations, what you need to know Fiona Penollar, Passport Office Pat Bourne, Department of Foreign Affairs Beth Sunday, US Consular Office Siobhan Grehan, Tropical Medical Bureau

Airlines Q&A session with Eoghan Corry Holiday Trends Catherine Grennell Whyte, ASL Paul Hackett, Click & Go Dominic Burke, Travel Centres

3.00pm

Solo Travel Marissa Beck, The Travel Corporation Jeanette Taylor, Sunway Holidays

Europe Calling Kathryn MacDonnell, Spanish Tourism Board Dublin Mary Denton, Sunway European Holidays Celina Tavares, Portuguese National Tourist Office Phil Cawley, Today FM

4.15pm

1.30pm

3.45pm

Irish Attractions Colette Coughlan, Guinness Storehouse Gerald Heffernan, THE VAULTS® John Rice, Heritage Island Attractions Carol Gleeson, GEO Park, The Burren

HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW RDS Simmonscourt | Dublin 4 www.holidayworldshow.com

EXHIBITORS

18

OPENING TIMES Friday 26th January, 1pm - 6pm Saturday 27th January, 11am - 5.30pm Sunday 28th January, 11am - 5.30pm

ADMISSION CHARGES Adults ¤7 Senior citizens ¤4 Students ¤3 Special family price: 2 adults & up to 4 children ¤14

Camping and motorhomes 2018

Stand No CM11 CM11 CM12 CM12 CM12 CM12 CM13 CM13 CM13 CM13 CM13 CM13 CM13/CM114 CM17 CM18 CM18 CM18 CM18 CM19 CM19 CM19 CM19 CM19 CM19 CM20 CM20 CM20a CM22 CM23 CM26 CM30 CM31 CM32 CM7 CM8/CM9 CM8/CM9 CM8/CM9 CM8/CM9 G14

Stand No P10/Q11 W4/X6 P10/Q11 V12/W9 U6 T11/U11 R17 N1 L12 S10 R11 T1 N4 P6/Q7 P9/Q10 R17 S6 P10/Q11 M4/N3 L10 V8c G3 P9/Q10 P6/Q7 H3/H4 G9 V8a G10 W4/X6 Q8 N8

Exhibitor Co. Name Bailey Caravans Brokers 4 Motorhomes Carado Motorhomes Caravan and Motorhome Club Carthago Motorhomes Charles Camping Cosy Campers Cosy Leisure Company Derek Walsh Camper Centre Dethleffs Motorhomes Donaghey Motorhomes Elddis Motorhomes Elddis Touring Caravans Ford Transit Custom Campervan Freedom Caravans Happy Campers Hymer Motorhomes Ilusion Motorhomes Irish Camping and Caravan Club Knaus Motorhomes Lazy Days VW Camper Hire Nubawax Car Care Opus Camper Outwell Tents & Awnings Pilote Motorhomes Reimo Campervan Renault Master Campervan Renault Trafic CampervanRushin House Caravan Park The Green Guide Thompson Camper Cars Thompson Leisure Transcool Leisure Vango Tents & Awnings Volkswagen Camper Hire Volkswagen Campervans Volkswagen Transporter Campervans VW Leisure Drive Campervans Whiterocks

Website www.happycampers.ie www.happycampers.ie www.charlescamping.ie www.charlescamping.ie www.charlescamping.ie www.charlescamping.ie www.coleco.ie www.coleco.ie www.coleco.ie www.coleco.ie www.coleco.ie www.coleco.ie www.cosycampers.ie www.freedomcaravans.com www.derekwalshcampercentre.com www.derekwalshcampercentre.com www.derekwalshcampercentre.com www.derekwalshcampercentre.com www.donagheymotorhomes.ie www.donagheymotorhomes.ie www.donagheymotorhomes.ie www.donagheymotorhomes.ie www.donagheymotorhomes.ie www.donagheymotorhomes.ie www.camc.com www.lazydays.ie www.rushinhousecaravanpark.com www.lazydays.ie www.whiterocks.me www.brokers4motorhomes.com www.nubawax.com www.iccc.ie www.transcoolgb.com www.opuscamper.com www.thompsonleisure.com www.thompsonleisure.com www.thompsonleisure.com www.thompsonleisure.com www.caravanandcampingireland.com

Holiday World Show 2018

Exhibitor Co. Name 38 Incoming Srl (Italy) Abbey & Central Hotels Donegal Town Abruzzo Region (Italy) Achill Island Tourism Actons Hotel Kinsale Adare Heritage Centre Advantage Austria Aer Lingus Air Arabia Air Canada Air Transat Airfield Estate Alabama Tourism Algarve Tourism Bureau Almeria Tourism Board Alpenland Sporthotels Aluna Vances Sunelia Ambasciatori Place Hotel Fluggi Italy American Holidays An Post An Radhairc (Self Catering) ANA - All Nippon Airways Andalucia Tourist Board AP Hotels & Resorts APG IRELAND Arabella Jewellery Ards and North Down Borough Council Arkay Sales UK Arnolds Hotel Associacao Turismo Porto Associacio de Campings de Girona

Website www.romatoget.com www.centralhoteldonegal.com www.abruzzoturismo.it www.achilltourism.com www.actonhotelkinsale.com www.adareheritagecentre.ie www.advantageaustria.org/ie www.aerlingus.com www.airarabia.com www.aircanada.ca www.airtransat.ie www.airfield.ie www.alabama.travel www.algarvepromotion.pt www.turismoalmeria.com www.alpenland.at www.sunelia.com/aluna www.ambasciatoriplacehotel.com www.americanholidays.com www.post.ie www.rostrevorselfcatering.com www.anaskyweb.com www.andalucia.org www.ap-hotelsresorts.com www.apg-ga.com www.visitardsandnorthdown.com www.arkaysales.co.uk www.arnoldshotel.com www.visitportoandnorth.travel www.campingsingirona.com

January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Stand No W1a W1a M5 Q4 Q6 V4/V7 M9a W4/X6 T11/U11 M10 P9/Q10

Exhibitor Co. Name Athlone - At the Heart of it Athlone Castle & Luan Gallery Atlantic City & Pennslyvania Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts Attraction Tickets Direct Attractions of Snowdonia Bahamas Tourist Office Ballybofey & Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce Ballyhoura Failte Barbados Tourism Marketing INC Basque Country

G11 V8c V8a T1 P9/Q10 S6 K6 L1 T1 B1 T1 Q12/Q17 N7 T13/U13 T8 T11/U11 V8a R7/S7 P9/Q10 P9/Q10 R13 R4/S4 T4 R5 S5 T4 T4 T5 R7/S7 R7/S7 R7/S7 P9/Q10 Q1a B1 M9 W3 X3 P8 A9 P9/Q10 W4/X6 W7 T7 P6/Q7 P9/Q10 U8 T13/U13 T13/U13 K3 R3 P7a H15/J17 T7 H5 T1 L8 M6/N6 A9 V13/W10 V2 A6 U5 U5 U5 S6 U5 P10/Q11 P10/Q11 M6/N6 B5 R7/S7 A7 L14 L8 A7 J2/J3 A7 M8 J2/J3 T11/U11 H3/H4 S17 V8c

Beauty Glow Bed and Bike Northern Ireland Belfast City Sightseeing Belleek Pottery Visitors Centre Benidorm Tourism Board Berrua Sunelia Bespoke India Travel Bike’N Ride Holidays Birr Castle Gardens and Science Centre Blue Insurance Book of Kells Trinity College Dublin Botswana Tourism Organisation Bradley International Airport Breffni Arms Hotel & Leisure Centre Brian McEniff Bundoran Hotel Broadford Ashford Walking Trails Bullitt Hotel C’ est Si Bon France Cadiz Tourism Board Cambrils Tourism Board Camino Groups CaminoWays.com Camping La Bretonniere***** Camping La Garangeoire Camping Le Bois de Valmarie Camping Camping Le Pin Parasol***** Camping Le Village de la Guyonniere***** Camping Sequoia Parc Campings In France Campissimo Campissimo / ESE Communication Canary Islands Canet-en-Rousilion Tourist Board CarHireExcess Caribbean Tourism Organization Carlow Tourism Carrickcraft Cascais Tourist Board Cassidy Golf Castellon Tourist Board Castle Grove Country House Hotel Castlerosse Hotel & Holiday Homes Castletroy Park Hotel/So Hotels Castro Marim Golfe Catalan Tourist Board Causeway Coastal Route Cavan Canoe Centre Cavan County Museum Celebrity Cruises CenterHotels Centro de Portugal Charles Taylor Trading Charleville Park Hotel/So Hotels China National Tourist Office Christ Church Cathedral City Break USA City Of Warwick RI Classic Resorts Clayton Hotel Sligo Clayton Hotels Click&Go.com Cobh Heritage Centre Cobh Pastimes Cobh The Queenstown Story Col D’ibardin Sunelia Commodore Hotel Cobh Confcommercio Marche Centrali Confindustria marche Nord Connecticut Office of Tourism Cottage Pride Crest Si Bon France CroisiEurope River Cruises Cruise & Maritime Voyages Cruise USA cruisefromireland.ie Cruiseparadise.ie Cruisescapes Cuba Tourist Board Cunard Curraghchase Caravan & Camp Site & Forest Park Cyprus Tourism Organisation Czech Tourism Dan White’s Cottage (Self Catering)

A2 T11/U11 U8a S12

Dawson Travel.ie Deebert House Hotel Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau Destination St John’s

Website www.athlone.ie www.athlonecastle.ie www.atlanticcitynj.com www.atmospherehotelsandresorts.com www.attractionticketsdirect.ie www.attractionsofsnowdonia.com www.bahamas.com www.facebook.com/basicc.twintowns www.ballyhouracountry.com www.visitbarbados.org www.basquecountrytourism.eus www.turismo.euskadi.eus www.beauty-glow.net www.bedandbikenorthernireland.com www.belfastcitysightseeing.com/ www.belleekpottery.ie www.visitbenidorm.es www.sunelia.com/berrua www.bespokeindiatravel.com www.bikenrideholidays.com www.birrcastle.com www.blueinsurance.ie www.bookofkells.ie www.botswanatourism.org.uk www.bradleyairport.com www.breffniarms.com www.bmceniffhotels.com www.walkbroadfordashford.com www.bullitthotel.com www.c-sibon.fr www.cadizturismo.com www.cambrils.cat www.caminogroups.ie www.caminoways.com www.la-bretonniere.com www.camping-la-garangeoire.com www.camping-boisdevalmarie.fr www.campingpinparasol.fr www.camping-guyonniere.com www.sequoiaparc.com www.camping-in.com www.camping-in.com www.camping-in.com www.holaislascanarias.com www.ot-canet.fr/uk/ www.CarHireExcess.com www.caribbean.co.uk www.carlowtourism.com www.cruise-ireland.com www.estoril-portugal.com www.cassidytravel.ie www.turismodecastellon.com www.castlegrove.com www.castlerosse.ie www.castletroypark.ie www.castromarimgolfe.com www.catalunya.com www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.gov.com www.cavancanoeing.com www.cavanmuseum.ie www.celebritycruises.ie www.centerhotels.is www.visitcentro.com www.charlestaylortrading.com www.charlevillparkhotel.com www.travelchina.gov.cn www.christchurchcathedral.ie www.citybreakusa.ie www.discovernewport.org www.classicresorts.ie www.claytonhotelsligo.com www.claytonhotels.com www.clickandgo.com www.cobhheritage.com www.cobhpastimes.ie www.cobhheritage.com www.sunelia.com/colibardin www.commodorehotel.ie www.confcommerciomarchecentrali.it www.confindustriamarchenord.it www.ctvisitit.com www.cottagepride.com www.c-sibon.fr www.cruisescapes.ie www.cruiseandmaritime.com www.cruiseusa.ie www.cruisefromireland.com www.cruiseparadise.ie www.cruisescapes.ie www.travel2cuba.co.uk www.cruiseparadise.ie www.curraghchasecaravanpark.ie www.visitcyprus.com www.czechtourism.com discovernorthernireland.com/Dan-White-s-Cottage-Rostrevor-Newry-P45049/ www.dawsontravel.ie www.deeberthousehotel.com www.derryvisitor.com www.destinationstjohns.com

19

Sunday Independent January 21 2018

Stand No B4 R8 T3 W4/X6 V11/W8 M6/N6 CM27 P6/Q7 P6/Q7 S6 R5 S6 R7/S7 S6 L9 W4/X6 W4/X6 W4/X6 W4/X6 W4/X6 T3 T1 V3b G5/G6 S19 L3 X13 P12/P17 S18 P16 T14 G15 P10/Q11 X12 T1 S13a U5 T11/U11 L8 P12/P17 P12/P17 R2/S2 R17 H10 L8 L7 J11 T1 U8c CM24 M3 X5a S11 L8 M11 G13 K11 P6/Q7 P6/Q7 R20/V15 A7 Q1a P9/Q10 X11 V11/W8 W4/X6 T11/U11 V4/V7 T1 T11/U11 V4/V7 P9/Q10 T1 K8 R17 G7 W4/X6 N2 T1 Outside R14 X15 V8c P6/Q7 V8a

Exhibitor Co. Name Devils Edge Shirt Company Dine in Hotels Discover Boyne Valley Discover Bundoran Discover Galway Discover New England DK Products Ltd Dom José Beach Hotel Dom Pedro Hotels Domaine De Champe Sunelia Domaine de la Breche Domaine De La Dragonniere Sunelia Domaine Du Logis Domaine Les Ranchisses Sunelia Dominican Republic Tourist Office Donegal Camping and Caravan Park Association Donegal East Tourism Donegal International Airport Donegal Self Catering Association Donegal Tourism CLG Donegans Monasterboice Inn Doolin Cave Doolin Ferry Co. with Bill O’Brien Dublin Airport Dubrovnik and Neretva Tourist Board Duchess County NY Eagles Flying/Irish Raptor Research Centre Embassy of Ethiopia, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Embassy of Slovakia Embassy of South Africa Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Energy Wipe ENIT - Italian State Tourist Board Enjoyireland.ie EPIC Ireland Equinox Education Services Escapade Cobh Escape Rooms Escorted Tours USA Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Holidays e-Travel.ie EUROHIKE Exodus Travel Explore Georgia Explore St.Louis Explore Worldwide Feathard Horse Country Experience Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism Fighting Blindness Fitzpatrick Group of Hotels Fitzwilton Hotel Flight Centre Fly Drive USA Follow The Camino Forever Lifestyle Fosters Chocolates Four Seasons Country Club Four Seasons Fairways Frank Keane Group Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines French Mediterranean Pyrenees Fuerteventura Tourism Board Galway Coast Cottages Galway West of Ireland European Region of Gastronomy Gateway to Sliabh Liag Get West Giant Hospitality Glasnevin Cemetery Museum Glenview Lodge B & B Broadford Go North Wales Gran Canaria Tourism Board Great Lighthouses Of Ireland Greek National Tourism Organisation Grimming/Donnersbachtal Tourist Board GTI - The Group Travel Specialists Harvey’s Point Country Hotel Hayes & Jarvis Heritage Island - Ireland’s Premier Attractions Hertz Rent-a-Car HIDDEN IN SPAIN Hillgrove Hotel Leisure & Spa Monaghan Hillside Holiday Home Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa HMS Caroline

W1a S6 P6/Q7 T1 R17 M1 M1 P6/Q7 X4 U3 T11/U11 M16 S5 P9/Q10

Hodson Bay Hotel & Leisure Centre Holiday Green Sunelia Holiday Inn Algarve Hook Lighthouse Hotel Ambassador Hotel Beacon NYC Hotel Metro NYC Hotel Quinta do Lago & Ria Park Hotel Hotel Westport House of Waterford Crystal Hunt Museum Hurtigruten I’Hippocampe Camping Ibiza Tourist Board

Website www.devilsedgeshirts.com www.dineinhotels.ie www.discoverboynevalley.ie www.discoverbundoran.com www.galway.ie www.discovernewengland.org www.ionpowerfulbracelets.com www.hoteldomjose.com www.dompedro.com wwwsunelia.com/champe www.domainedelabreche.com www.sunelia.com/drago www.domainedulogis.com www.sunelia.com/lesranchisses www.godominicanrepublic.com www.govisitdonegal.com/campsites-caravan-parks www.facebook.com/DonegalEastTourism www.donegalairport.ie www.donegalselfcatering.ie www.govisitdonegal.com www.monasterboice-inn.ie www.doolincave.ie www.doolinferry.com www.dublinairport.com www.visitdubrovnik.hr www.dutchess.org www.eaglesflying.com www.ethiopianembassy.ie www.mzv.sk/dublin www.southafrica.net https//ie.mfa.lt/ie/en www.energy-wipe.ie www.italia.it www.enjoyireland.ie www.epicirelandchq.com www.equinoxlearnabroad.com www.escapadecobh.com www.escapelimerick.ie www.escortedtoursusa.ie www.ethiopianairlines.com www.ethiopianairlines.com www.e-travel.ie www.eurohike.at www.exodus.co.uk www.georgia.org www.explorestlouis.com www.explore.co.uk www.fhcexperience.ie www.fermanaghlakelands.com www.fightingblindness.ie www.fitzpatrickhotels.com www.fitzwiltonhotel.ie www.flightcentreireland.ie www.flydriveusa.ie www.followthecamino.com www.foreverliving.com www.fosterschocolates.com www.fsccqdl.com www.fourseasonsfairways.com www.frankkeanevolkswagen.ie www.cruisescapes.ie www.tourisme-pyreneesorientales.com/en www.visitfuerteventura.es www.galwaycoastcottages.com www.galway.ie www.killybegs.ie www.getwest.ie www.gianthospitality.com www.glasnevinmuseum.ie www.glenviewlodge.com www.gonorthwales.co.uk www.grancanaria.com www.greatlighthouses.com www.visitgreece.gr www.schladming-dachstein.at www.gti-ireland.com www.harveyspoint.com www.hayesandjarvis.ie www.heritageisland.com www.hertz.ie www.hiddeninspain.com www.hillgrovehotel.com hillsideholidayhome.co.uk www.hiltonvilamouraresort.com www.nmrn.org.uk/exhibitions-projects/ hms-caroline-belfast-tourist-attraction www.hodsonbayhotel.com www.sunelia.com/holidaygreen www.hialgarve.om www.hookheritage.ie ww.ambassador.at www.beaconhotel.com www.hotelmetronyc.com www.hotelquintadolago.com www.hotelwestport.ie www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com www.huntmuseum.com www.hurtigruten.co.uk www.l-hippocampe.com www.turismo.eivissa.es

Stand No B3 W4/X6 W4/X6 A11 R9 S6 X7 S8 T2 A3 T1 K7 G3 G3 L14 A8 L5 A4 T6 W3b V9 J12 S6 S6 S6 S6 P9/Q10 S6 S6 S5 T5 P9/Q10 L2 P10/Q11 S6 S6 S6 S6 S6 S6 S6 S6 V8c T11/U11 V8a T1 S15 W1 v8c

Exhibitor Co. Name Independent News & Media Inishowen Gateway Hotel Inishowen Tourism Insight Vacations Insight Vacations Interlude Sunelia International Paintball Group Irish Ferries Irish Golf Review Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) Irish Whiskey Museum Israel Government Tourist Office Japan Airlines Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) JMG Travel Kanes Travel Scuba Diving & Adventure Kansas/Oklahoma Travel & Tourism Keith Prowse Travel Keller Travel Kilkenny Tourism Killarney Tourism L.N Treks & Expedition PVT. L’Atlantique Sunelia L’escale St.Giles Sunelia L’Hippocampe Sunelia La Loubine Sunelia La Palma Tourism Board La Pointe Du Medoc Sunelia La Ribeyre Sunelia La Sirene Camping Laguna Lodge Residence Lanzarote Tourism Board Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Lazio Region (Italy) Le Clos Du Rhone Sunelia Le Fief Sunelia Le Ranc Davaine Sunelia Le Soleil Fruite Sunelia Les Logis D’orres Sunelia Les Pins Sunelia Les Trois Vallees Sunelia Les Tropiques Sunelia Life Adventure Centre Limerick City County Council Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Lismore Heritage Living The Camino Longford Tourism Lough Cruises Carlingford Lough

S3 T11/U11 V12/W9 T3 N4 P10/Q11 S20 U8c Q9 H12 M6/N6 P9/Q10 G1 K2 K2 U2 R18 A5 T13/U13 P10/Q11 P6/Q7 L8 M6/N6 V12/W9 V12/W9 W4/X6 K1 V8b U8b X2 N4 Main Floor L8 L12 X5b V8c V8c M14 V10 B1 T12/U12 U15/U16 CM25 Main Hall P6/Q7 M6/N6 L3 S12 V8c L1

Lough Derg Blueway Lough Gur Heritage Centre Lough Lannagh Holiday Village Lough Rea Hotel & Spa/So Hotels Louisiana Office of Tourism Ludomar Travel (Italy) Lumbarda Resorts Lusty Beg Island Madeira Promotion Bureau Magnetic Balance Maine Office of Tourism Malaga City Tourist Office Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board Maldives - Kandolhu Island Maldives - Kuramathi Island Resort Maldron Hotels & Partners Malta Tourism Authority MAP Travel Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark Marche Region (Italy) Marina Club Lagos Resort Maryland Office of Tourism Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Mayo North Mayo The Adventure Capital McGrory’s of Culdaff Mexico Tourism Board Mid & East Antrim Borough Council Mid Ulster District Council Midleton Park Hotel & Spa Mississippi Tourism Mobile Massage Montana Office of Tourism Moroccan National Tourist Office Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa & Golf Resort Mountains of Mourne Country Cottages Ltd Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion MSC Cruises Muckross Park Hotel & Spa Multitrip Municipio da Lourinha Munster Vales My Cooling Towel Naked Penguin NAU Hotels & Resort Algarve New Hampshire Travel and Tourism New York State Division of Tourism Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Newry Mourne and Down District Council North American Representatives

Website www.inm.ie www.inishowengateway.com www.visitinishowen.com www.insightvacations.com www.insightvacations.com www.sunelia.com/interude www.ipgvip.ie www.irishferries.com www.selectmedialtd.com www.itaa.ie www.irishwhiskeymuseum.ie www.thinkisrael.com www.jal.co.jp/en/ www.seejapan.co.uk www.jmgcruise.com www.kanestravel.ie www.travelksok.ie www.keithprowseattractions.com www.campotel.com www.visitkilkenny.ie www.killarney.ie www.Lntreks.com www.sunelia/latlantique www.sunelia.com/stgilles www.l-hippocampe.com www.sunelia.com/laloubine www.visitpalma.es www.sunelia.com/lapointedumedoc www.sunelia.com/laeibeyre www.camping-lasirene.fr www.lagunalodgeresidence.com www.turismolanzarote.com www.lasvegas.com www.visitlazio.com www.sunelia.com/closdurhone www..sunelia.com/lefief www.sunelia.com/ranc www.lesoleilfruite.com www.sunelia.com/logis www.sunelia.com/lespins wwwsuneila.com/les3vallees www.sunelia.com/lestropiques www.onegreatadventure.com www.limerick.ie/council www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk www.lismoreheritagetown.ie www.livingthecamino.com www.longfordtourism.ie discovernorthernireland.com/CarlingfordLough-Cruises-Dromore-Omagh-P10750/ www.clare.ie www.loughgur.com www.loughlannagh.ie www.loughreahotelandspa.com www.deep-south-usa.com www.ludomartravel.com www.lumbradaresort.com www.lustybegisland.com www.visitmadeira.pt www.visitmaine.com www.malagaturismo.com www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my www.kandolhu.com www.kuramathi.com www.maldronhotels.com www.visitmalta.com www.maptravel.ie www.marblearchcavesgeopark.com www.turismo.marche.it www.marinaclub.pt www.visitmaryland.org www.massholiday.ie www.northmayo.ie www.mayo.ie www.mcgrorys.ie www.visitmexico.com www.thegobbinscliffpath.com www.flavouroftyrone.com www.talbothotels.ie www.deep-south-usa.com www.mobilemassageuk.net www.visitmt.com www.visitmorocco.com www.mountwolseley.ie www.mournecountrycottages.com www.visitmournemountains.co.uk www.msccruises.ie www.muckrosspark.com www.Multitrip.com www.cm-lourinha.pt/default.aspx www.munstervales.com www.mycoolingtowel.com www.naked-penguin.com www.nauhotels.com www.visitnh.gov www.iloveny.com www.canadeastcost.com www.visitmournemountains.co.uk www.tttandt.com

20 Stand No L8 V4/V7 L3 L13 J9 M1 W4/X6 R12 M15 T10 X2 L1 P10/Q11 J2/J3 H13 V8a S6 S6 S6 J14 P11 T1 T11/U11 S6 Q1a Q1a M5 K12/K13 P6/Q7 L8 L1 P9/Q10 P6/Q7 T15 W1a R15 J2/J3 V13 J5 T12/U12 T11/U11 V13/W10 W1a T9 V11/W8 S6 R3 S13 V13/W10 W3a Q5 M1 L8 S11 K4/K5 P10/Q11 W1b R2/S2 S6 Q1a V8c P9/Q10 R17 P3 V8c P4 X8 P9/Q10 P9/Q10 T11/U11 W1a CM21 H14/H14a/B6 W5 N13 M2 S5 V13/W10 V13/W10 V13/W10 CM33 P16 L8 P9/Q10 R12 J7 S12 L11a W4/X6 N12 T11/U11 S6 H1/J1 H6 X2 X2 X2 X2 N4 T11/U11

January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Exhibitor Co. Name North Dakota Department of Tourism North Wales Tourism Norwegian Air Norwegian Cruise Line Nuevo Mundo NYC & Company Oakfield Park Oceanbooking.com Oceania Cruises Omagh & Sperrins Region Oriel House Hotel Cork Orlando Attractions.com Outlet Vacenze (Italy) P&O Cruises Paintonce.ie Park Avenue Hotel Partenaire Le Bois Fleuri Sunelia Partenaire Les Rives DU Lac Sunelia Partenaire Mas Des Lavandes Sunelia Partnership Tour Guide) Passport Service Pearl Afric Tour and Travel Pearse Lyons Distillery Pedal Pursuits Bike Hire Perla Di Mare Sunelia Perpignan Airport Perpignan Tourism Board Philadelphia CVB PhoneWatch Pinhl da Marina Platinum Travel Play Florida Golf PortAventura World Portimar DMC Prague Is A Must Prince of Wales Hotel Princesa Yaiza & Fariones Hotels Princess Cruises Pure Results Bootcamp Qatar Airways Quinta Do Molinu - Turismo SA Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Ennis Road Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Sligo Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone Rathlin Island & Cape Clear Island Renvyle House Hotel Residence Lisa Maria Sunelia Reykjavik Excursions Riu Hotels & Resorts Riverside Hotel Sligo Riverside Park Hotel Riviera Travel Rockefeller Centre Rocky Mountain States Rocky Mountaineer Romanian National Authority for Tourism Rona Incomintg (Italy) Roscommon Tourism Royal Caribbean International Rubina Resort Sunelia Saint Cyprien Tourism Board Saint Patrick Centre Salou Tourism Board Salzburg Tourism San Francisco Scenic Carlingford Ferry SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Select Hotels of Ireland Sevilla City Tourist Office Sevilla Tourism Board Shanagarry B & B NCW Sheraton Athlone Hotel Shop4choice Show Promotions Silver Line Cruisers Silversea Cruises Simon Shopping Sirene Holidays Sligo City Hotel Sligo Great Southern Hotel Sligo Park Hotel & Leisure Club Sole-Mates South African Tourism South Dakota Department of Tourism Spanish Tourism Board Spring Hotels Sri Lanka Tourism St John’s International Airport Authority St Vincent and The Grenadines Tourist Office Station House Hotel Letterkenny Stena Line Stonehall Visitor Farm Sunelia Sunway Travel Taipei Representative Office in Ireland Talbot Hotel Carlow Talbot Hotel Stillorgan Talbot Hotel Wexford Talbot Suites at Stonebridge Wexford Tennessee Tourism Terra Nova Gardens & Fairy Trail

Website www.ndtourism.com www.gonorthwales.co.uk www.norwegian.com www.ncl.co.uk www.nuevomundo.ie/ www.nycgo.com www.oakfieldpark.com www.oceanbooking.com www.oceaniacruises.com www.exploreomaghsperrins.com www.talbothotels.ie www.orlandoattractions.com www.outletvacanze.it www.cruiseparadise.ie www.paintonce.ie www.parkavenuehotel.co.uk www.sunelia.com/leboisfleuri www.sunelia.com/rivesdulac www.sunelia.com/masdeslavandes www.passport.ie www.pearlafric.com www.pearselyonsdistillery.com www.pedalpursuitsbikehire.com www.sunelia.com/perla www.aeroport-perpignan.com/en www.perpignantourisme.com/gb www.discoverphl.com www.phonewatch.ie www.pinhaldamarina.com www.platinumtravel.ie www.playfloridagolf.com www.portaventuraworld.com www.portimar.com www.pragueisamust.com www.theprinceofwales.ie www.princesayaiza.com www.cruiseparadise.ie www.pureresultsbootcamp.com www.qatarairways.com www.quintadomolinu.com www.radissonblu.com/hotel-limerick www.radissonblu.com www.radissonblue.com www.rathlinballycastleferry.com www.renvyle.com www.sunelia.com/lisamaria www.re.is www.riu.com www.riversidesligo.ie www.riversideparkhotel.com www.rivieratravel.ie www.rockefellercenter.com www.realamerica.co.uk www.rockymountaineer.com www.turism.gov.ro www.ronaincoming.com www.roscommon.ie www.royalcaribbean.com www.sunelia.com/rubina www.en.tourisme-saint-cyprien.com www.saintpatrickcentre.com www.visitsalou.eu www.salzburg.info www.sanfrancisco.travel carlingfordferry.com www.seaworldparks.co.uk www.selecthotels.ie www.visitasevilla.es www.turismosevilla.org www.shanagarrybnb.com www.sheratonathlonehotel.com www.shop4choice.ie www.showpromotions.com www.silverlinecruisers.com www.silversea.com www.iloveny.com www.camping-lasirene.fr www.sligocityhotel.com www.sligosouthernhotel.ie www.sligopark.com www.sole-mates.eu www.southafrica.net www.travelsouthdakota.com www.spain.info www.springhoteles.com www.srilankatourism.org.uk www.stjohnsairport.com www.discoversvg.com www.stationhouseletterkenny.com www.stenaline.com www.stonehallvisitorfarm.com www.sunelia.com/lemalazeou www.sunway.ie www.eng.taiwan.net.tw www.talbothotels.ie www.talbothotels.ie www.talbothotels.ie www.talbothotels.ie www.deep-south-usa.com www.terranovagarden.com

Stand No V8c N5 W4/X6 J14 H9 K6 U8c V13/W10 V8b G14 V12/W9 T7 U7 P6/Q7 L3 M1 W4/X6 J9 J6 M1 W4/X6 X2 B2 T13/U13 R17 R17 K3 H8 V8 X10 P2/Q3 T11/U11 W6 L1 L8 M13 L1 U6 Q1 R17 K10 P6/Q7 P9/Q10 P10/Q11 P7 R16/S16 R16/S16 P10/Q11 P10/Q11 V8c A1 L4 S13a R10 R17 S6 P6/Q7 P9/Q10 P9/Q10 M6/N6 P9/Q10 S14a W4/X6 S6 L8 V8a P3 W4/X6 N4 K2 L8 M6/N6 V13/W10 P1 X5 P7/Q7 R17 V8c T1 L8 W4/X6 X9 L3 G4 T11/U11 S12 M6/N6 CM23 R17 L3 W1a W6 R3 L8 U5a S19 V4/V7 X8 X9

Exhibitor Co. Name The Barn Gallery and Rose Gardens The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel The Bluestack Centre The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Passport Service and Consular Assistance The Dragon Trip The Earth Trip The Enniskillen Hotel The Glasshouse Hotel Sligo The Gobbins Coastal Path The Green Guide The Jackie Clarke Collection The Killeshin Hotel/So Hotels The Lake Hotel Killarney The Magnolia Hotels The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The Ride NYC The Ritz The Safari Expert The Seychelles Tourism Board The Sightseeing Pass NYC The Strand Hotel Ballyliffin The Talbot Collection The Travel Department THIS IS CAVAN! Tirol Tourist Board Topflight Tour America Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourism Northern Ireland Trabolgan Holiday Village Trailfinders Trailriders Bike Hire/Ballyhoura Bike Trails Tralee Chamber Alliance Travel House of America Travel Oregon Travel the Unknown Travel Trade Tickets and Tours Trident Hotel Kinsale TUI TUI BLUE PLUS SCHLADMING Tunisian National Tourist Office Turfortes DMC Turismo De Galicia Turismo Franciscu Della Turismo Srl (Italy) Turistica do Alentejo Turkish Airlines Turkish Culture and Tourism Office Umbria Incoming (Italy) Umbria Region (Italy) Una Walsh (Ring of Gullion Landscape Unique Japan Tours Universal Orlando Resort University Preparation College Austraila Uniworld Boutique River Cruises uWalk Vacances Sunelia Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa Valencia Camping Federation Valencia Region Vermont Tourism Viajes Olympia Vilanova Park Villa Rose Hotel Villaggio Dei Fiori Sunelia Virginia Visit Belfast Visit California Visit Downings Visit Kentucky Tourism Visit Maldives Visit North Carolina Visit Rhode Island Visit Sligo Visit USA Visit Waterford VisitPortugal Vorarlberg Tourism Walk the Mournes (Guided Tours) Walsh Whiskey Distillery Washington DC Capital Region Waterfront Hotel Waterways Ireland Wellington Hotel NY Wendy Wu Tours West Limerick Tourism WestJet White Mountains Visitors Bureau Whiterocks Wien Tourism Wine, Water & Wonders NY Wineport Lodge Woodlands Park WOW Air Wyoming Office of Tourism Youghal Tourism Zagreb Tourist Board & Convention Bureau Zip World Select Hotels of Ireland Waterways Ireland

Website www.gardensofireland.org/directory/61/ www.fortmyers-sanibel.com www.donegalbluestacks.com www.dfa.ie www.thedragontrip.com www.theearthtrip.co.uk www.enniskillenhotel.com www.theglasshouse.ie www.thegobbins.gov.com www.caravanandcampingireland.com www.clarkecollection.ie www.thekilleshin.com www.lakehotel.com www.themagnoliahotelqdl.com www.panynj.gov www.experiencetheride.com www.theritz-killybegs.com www.thesafariexpert.com www.seychelles.travel www.sightseeingpass.com www.ballyliffin.com www.talbothotels.ie www.traveldepartment.ie www.thisiscavan.ie www.tirol.at www.topflight.ie www.touramerica.ie www.tourismthailand.co.uk www.discovernorthernireland.com www.trabolgan.com www.trailfinders.ie www.trailriders.ie www.tralee.ie www.travelhouseofamerica.com www.traveloregon.com www.traveltheunknown.com www.tttandt.com www.tridenthotel.com www..tuiholidays.ie www.tui-blue.com www.discovertunisia.com www.turfortes.com www.turismo.gal info@turismofranciscus.it www.visitalentejo.com www.thy.com www.gototurkey.co.uk www.umbria-incoming.com www.umbriatourism.it www.ringofgullion.org/things-to-do/tour-guides www.uniquejapantours.com www.universalorlando.com www.upc.edu.au www.uniworld.ie www.navantravel.ie www.sunelia.com www.valedoliverirasresort.com www.campingscomunidadvalenciana.com www.comunitatvalenciana.com www.vermontvacation.co.uk www.viajesolympia.com www.vilanovapark.com www.villarose.net www.sunelia.com/villaggio www.virginia.org www.visitbelfast.com www.visitcalifornia.co.uk www.facebook.com/Visitdownings www.deep-south-usa.com www.visitmadives.com www.visitnc.com www.visitrhodeisland.com www.sligotourism.ie www.visitusa.ie www.visitwaterford.com www.visitportugal.com www.vorarlberg.travel www.walkthemournes.com www.walshwhiskey.com www.capitalregionusa.org www.waterfronthoteldungloe.ie www.waterwaysireland.org www.wellingtonhotel.com www.wendywutours.co.uk www.visitwestlimerick.com www.westjet.com www.visitwhitemountains.com www.whiterocks.me www.wien.info www.winewaterwonders.com www.wineport.ie www.kingdomcamping.com www.wowair.ie www.travelwyoming.com www.youghal.ie www.infozagreb.hr www.zipworld.co.uk www.selecthotels.ie www.waterwaysireland.org

21

Sunday Independent January 21 2018

GUIDE TO GETTING AWAY WITH THE FAMILY

Unsure about where to bring the kids on holiday? Two families share their travel experiences at two very different locations, near and further afield

Paul, Casper, Susanne and Ajay

I

Costa Water Park

Fun in Fuengirola

t had been four years since Susanne Cleary, her husband Paul and their two boys, Ajay and Casper, were on a family holiday. So, last year she decided it was time to book something they could look forward to. When her cousin, who has young children, recommended Fuengirola, a town on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, Susanne decided to look into it for her own family and her mother, Pauline.

“We’re not very organised and only started looking into booking a holiday for the last week in August in June! We wanted a destination that would suit us all, that wasn’t too far on a plane and not too far from the airport.

“A travel agent helped to book our flights and hotel and I was really impressed with how helpful and accommodating they were.

A couple of weeks before our holiday, my husband realised he wouldn’t be able to fly out on the same date as us, due to a GAA match fixture. However, they were able to change his flight to two days later without any hassle and it wasn’t expensive.”

The family stayed in Fuengirola Beach Hotel, less than half an hour from Malaga Airport and approximately a 10 to 12-minute walk from Fuengirola town and the beach.

“My boys were 11 (Ajay) and three

Casper loved Bio Park Zoo

(Casper) at the time and I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough activities for both of them. But, there were shows by the pool before lunch, aqua classes, water polo, volleyball, soccer on the on-site Astro turf pitch, a games room and music every night.

“It was a lovely place which felt very safe.

We had a pool view from our balcony so my older son Ajay could go down and play soccer, and we could see him from there.

The pools were clean and had two lifeguards on duty at all times, which is something I really liked.”

Susanne says there were plenty of attractions in Fuengirola to keep the entire family happy.

“The Miramar Shopping Centre was right on our doorstep, which had shops from Primark to Zara and a brilliant supermarket called Carrefour. It had a McDonalds, Burger King and many other restaurants which comes in handy if you have picky eaters! On the rooftop of the shopping centre, there were games, bouncy castles, trampolines, a rodeo bull, and go karting.

Fuengirola town also has lots of shops that are well worth a visit.”

Susanne recommends visiting Bio Parc Zoo, “The boys loved getting close to the animals. Myself and Ajay also went to Costa Water Park, a huge inflatable area in the sea with climbing and trampolining. Then, Paul and Ajay travelled to Malaga Football stadium via the train. Paul loved that the train was so accessible and the day was special for Ajay as he’s a huge soccer fan.

Casper was very content playing with the inflatables in the small pool and we could sit by the poolside and keep an eye on him.”

Paul, Susanne, Susanne’s mother Pauline, Ajay and Casper with their new friends!

Relaxing by the pool!

Despite the many activities to do there, Susanne was surprised by how relaxing the holiday was.

“Anytime you bring a toddler on holidays, you anticipate it will be mayhem. But, because it was a great hotel with so much to do and was very safe, we actually were able to relax. I’d highly recommend Fuengirola as a family destination. Marbella, Torremolinos and Benalmádena are all close by, if you want to visit for a day trip.”

For those travelling abroad with young kids for the first time, Susanne advises: “Airports, airplanes and foreign countries can cause little ones to get anxious, so make sure they know what to expect and talk them through it all. Introduce them to the

air hostesses, point out things to them, and distract them so they don’t have time to feel nervous.

“And, bring a buggy, even for older toddlers or pre-schoolers. You’ll ask yourself if you really need it, but two-, three- or fouryear-old children are not up to walking far, and even if your child normally doesn’t sit in a buggy, they will sit in it on holidays!

“Finally, don’t try and keep your at-home routine, for example with nap and meal times. Just go into holiday mode and let yourselves and the kids enjoy the time away.

Remember, you can return to normality when you hit home soil!”

Continued on 22 ➔

22

January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

GUIDE TO GETTING AWAY WITH THE FAMILY

Thailand with the kids

Bangkok, Thailand

Is a far-flung destination like Thailand suitable for families with young children? Ciarán O’Conluain finds out

A

nybody who has young kids knows the cost of a family holiday is something that can require an accounting degree to help budget for! Last summer, myself, my wife Maria and two children, Maya (one year old) and Kuba (three years old) didn’t go on a family holiday, as it just didn’t seem to be good value for us. But, you miss having something to look forward to and the winter in Ireland can be very long.

Italy, France, Greece and Malta were the usual summer destinations for us, which we loved, but for the money, we wanted something different this year. So, we looked further afield on the map, and landed on Thailand.

GETTING THERE Travelling with children can be a daunting thought, particularly when it’s long-haul.

As we flew with KLM, we had a short flight to Amsterdam and then an 11-hour flight to Bangkok. If you bring a backpack with some snacks and toys, and stock up your tablet with stories and movies, the kids will be occupied while they are awake. We had pre-arranged a pick-up from the airport to the hotel we were staying in, which helped to avoid any stress in the hustle and bustle on arrival.

Ciarán, Maria, Kuba and Maya at the Wat Mahatha Ayutthaya, Bangkok

Thailand’s floating markets are a must-see, as they’re alive with local custom and are a vital part of Thai life. Eating an appetising array of grilled prawns, squid, noodles and more from moored wooden boats is a very unique and fun experience.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

FIRST STOP We stayed for three nights in the 5-Star Anantara Riverside Resort, which is like a paradise right in the centre of Bangkok.

It’s vast 11 acres are set on the banks of the grand Chao Phraya River, which runs

through the centre of the bustling city.

The resort offered free shuttle boats to major attractions and the kids loved Asiatique The Riverfront, which is a massive open-air mall and amusement park. It is also home to the iconic 60-metre Asiatique Sky Ferris Wheel, with views over the river and Bangkok. It makes for a fun night out before a well-deserved sleep.

On our second day, we did a half-day (8.30am until 2pm) boat tour along the scenic Chao Phrayam River and the canals.

In 30 degrees in January, we sailed on a traditional long tail boat through the city’s residential area. Although the roof of the colourful boat is covered, make sure the kids are well protected with suncream and are wearing sun caps.

Stops along the river included the ‘Temple of Dawn’ (Wat Arun), a Buddist temple which stands majestically over the water. We then visited the Grand Palace, which was built in 1782 and is one of the most visited sites in Thailand, with stunning temples spread over a vast area. The chapel here is a national shrine and we had to wear proper attire, removing our shoes before entering the temple buildings, as a matter of respect. Our three-year-old walked his little legs off and slept all night!

The following morning, we did another half-day excursion to the Amphawa Floating Market, which is a series of floating stalls serving traditional food and drink.

SECOND STOP We then moved on to Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel for two nights. Elegant with traditional Thai architecture and handpainted ceilings, this luxurious hotel has hosted many stars and can be seen on Jack Whitehall’s new series ‘Travels with my Father’ on Netflix. And we certainly felt like stars on arrival! We were at the hotel early and had no plans for the day, so we ate a delicious Thai lunch in their Spice Market Restaurant. We spent the rest of the day by the pool sipping cocktails while the kids had iced drinks. The kids loved the pool and there’s a mini playground nearby, while the staff were great with them.

On our final day in Bangkok, we took an organised full-day trip to the historical city of Ayutthaya. 250 years ago, the breathtaking temples were attacked by Burmese troops and the history behind the UNESCO World Heritage site is fascinating.

Sadly, after those attacks, many of the temples are now ruins which makes you wonder how extravagant this would have also been in its full glory.

There are so many places to go for a one-week or two-week long beach break afterwards, including the islands of Phuket and Phi Phi. With airfares to many top European destinations rising, Thailand offers an incredible cultural experience for both children and adults. Costs once you are there are a fraction of prices back home and it felt very safe for our two kids. They loved the food (there were no stomach issues) and the experience was life changing. I’m already looking at planning our next longhaul trip!

INFORMATION Flights – Book with Topflight for best deals.

Visit www.topflight.ie or call (01) 240 1700 Hotels – www.siam-bangkok.anantara.com www.bangkok-riverside.anantara.com

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Sunday Independent January 21 2018

‘Be Our Guest!’

Travel writer Clodagh Dooley recommends taking a trip to Disneyland Paris

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ou don’t need young kids to have a one-day ticket and spent a couple of hours an excuse to travel to Disneyland in both parks. However, if you’re staying Paris. If you didn’t get the chance in Paris longer than a weekend, I would to experience the magic yourself recommend a multi-day ticket. This allows as a child, then grab your niece/ you to return another day. Unless you have nephew, grandchild or sibling(s) a Fastpass (which reduces waiting time and and take them along with you! Disneyland are subject to availability), queues for many Paris is a perfect escape for any age group, of the rides can take up to three hours. If and with the celebrations of the resort’s you want to see the shows or meet some of 25th anniversary taking place this year, the characters, as well as go on the rides, what better time to go. you won’t feel the time slipping by.

There are two parks to explore, The entire resort consists of seven Disneyland Park (which has official Disney-themed hotels five fairytale-inspired and several partner hotels to areas filled with rides, stay in. If you are an avid attractions, shops and Disney fan and would ique n u f o variety nd Paris. restaurants) and like to be in the midst e id w a yla There’s ions in Disne una Matata Walt Disney Studios of all the action, I k t a p o d H Park (where would recommend dining ited was the neylan is (D d vis elan film family favourite looking into One we t in Adventur urite Disney ries’ vo an aF movies and TV the on-site restaur pired by my fa cious ‘Hakun prices s eli e programmes accomodation.

Park), in ing’. We had d en strips. Whil ing your g ick nK in r h io come to life).

When I return c b L e d e n is h dv ‘T gy s) a wedge would a ur ener The parks someday, I’ll (potato nable here, I rk to keep yo ery busy, pa tv aso are located in definitely e e e g r h t o e t r o t e w ts tend acks in a while Marne-la-Vallée, consider this own sn The restauran ld be waiting eling fe p. ou approximately a option, as this levels u means you c r. So, if you’re isps, a f cr 40-minute train way I won’t have to o which ou can orde g a b y ve a d. ride from Paris city worry about getting before ’s good to ha al bar to han it re , e h c is y a k r r c e centre, so book a a later train back o v pe it e u v r a f h f piece o icularly if you t kids! ticket for as early in into Paris. As myself ien Part , impat the morning as possible. and my sister travelled hungry This way, it is manageable over in February, it was to see everything from Sleeping very cold, so we left the resort Beauty’s Castle to Indiana Jones’ a little earlier than we would have Temple of Peril rollercoaster in Disneyland, liked. This meant we didn’t get to catch the and the land of Ratatouille to the Tower of main highlight of the evening: when the Terror in Walt Disney Studios. iconic Sleeping Beauty’s Castle comes to life Myself and my sister, Caoimhe, each had with fireworks, light projections and special

TOP TIP

Clodagh and her sister Caoimhe outside Sleeping Beauty’s Castle effects. So, if you’re planning to travel in winter or spring, do make sure you are wrapped up warm!

Whether you’re visiting the resort for one day or three days, do your research online and check if there are any attractions that really interest you, making a note to visit them. There are new rides and shows this year, such as ‘Star Wars: A Galactic Celebration’, so keep an eye out for any upcoming events on behalf of the park’s 25th anniversary. But, even if you don’t get to go on all the rides or see every attraction, just wandering through the park itself is enchanting. It will bring out the inner child in everyone!

To book tickets and check park opening and closing hours, visit www.disneylandparis.com

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WIDEN YOUR HORIZONS

The travel professionals take us through the best long-haul destinations in 2018

January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Tropical beach in the Maldives

TROPICAL EXPERIENCE

Hasan Mutlu, the General Manager for Turkish Airlines in Ireland, says that while cities such as Tokyo, Los Angeles, Beijing and New York are popular with travellers in their network, 2018 will see this broadening to include paradise island destinations.

“The most popular long-haul holidays for 2018 will be the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Cape Town, Havana, Bangkok and Phuket. For Irish people, the Indian ocean, Thailand and South Africa have always been the most popular places.

These locations have fabulous luxury hotels, fascinating religions, culture, shopping, nightlife, entertainment, safari, landscape, street food, and of course, the most beautiful beaches. With competitive fares in the market, these holiday destinations will be more easy to reach and will be far more affordable.”

The Maldives will become a very popular location in 2018 for long-haul fliers, in particular, the tropical paradise of Kuramathi Island and Kandolhu Island.

Brian McCarthy of Island Marketing says that it is the uniqueness of the destinations which is the big attraction.

“Tourist arrivals in 2017 from Ireland to Maldives increased 17pc compared to 2016. The concept is one island, one resort offering a true and unique ‘Robinson Crusoe’ experience. Each island is surrounded by its own reef and many resorts offer an ‘over water’ villa option, one of only a handful of destinations that offer this experience. I can’t think of another place that offers such pristine white sandy beaches and some of the best snorkelling opportunities in the world. You can sample the freshest of seafood and locally grown fruits. Grab a snorkel mask and head out to the house reef to experience the colourful marine life. You may even get to swim with a turtle or manta ray!”

Other unique locations worth the long journey are niche markets such as Zanzibar, Madagascar and Ulan Bator, which Hasan Mutlu says are preferred by solo travellers.

“When coming to these destinations for a solo trip, visitors are guaranteed to never feel alone,” adds Hasan Mutlu, Turkish Airlines. “These destinations are always popping and moving, full of people from across the world for solo travellers to meet and socialise with.”

Turkish Airlines has their main hub in Istanbul, which Hasan says is filled with attractions for those stopping off or sticking around.

“The natural beauty of Istanbul, which lies between east and west connecting Asia and Europe, amazes everyone who visits.

There are incredible historical and religious sites like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia which offer spectacular architecture and history. It also has the best seafood restaurants in the world by the Bosphorus waterway and you can also take a boat tour along the Bosphorus.”

When planning a long-haul flight, Hasan has some advice for those worried about the length of the journey.

“If you are prepared properly before a long-haul trip, it can be fun and you can enjoy every minute of it. Depending on the schedule of the trip, you should sleep well in advance, especially if you are travelling

Hasan Mutlu, Turkish Airlines with kids, otherwise it can be an endless trip. It’s also really important to talk to a knowledgeable travel agent before you book.”

Check www.turkishairlines.com before booking your next trip away

AMERICAN MADE

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE With the USA being hugely popular with Irish travel makers in 2017, it’s no surprise that it is expected to remain one of the top countries to visit in 2018. Yvonne Muldoon, Director of Sales for Aer Lingus, says that the US holds a certain appeal for Irish people.

“Looking at 2017 trends, New York tops the poll as the go-to North American destination and is probably the first place we think of when the States is mentioned.

Boston is also hugely popular given the strong Irish population that has been living there for generations. Orlando in Florida is one of the most popular destinations for families given the huge number of theme parks guaranteeing endless entertainment for the kids, and adults too of course!

“In 2018, we predict strong interest in places such as Seattle and Philadelphia.

The Irish are explorers and have a certain curiosity, so we always love to discover new places. Miami, which was our new

route in summer 2017 and now runs year round, is certainly hotting up as it really has something for all ages – shopping, nightlife, sunshine and beaches, and it is the number one cruising destination. Travelling stateside has never been easier, so people are really open to thinking about holidays outside Europe.”

In March 2018, Aer Lingus will be launching Ireland’s first direct service between Dublin and Philadelphia and a service to Seattle in March. Yvonne says no trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the city’s most iconic landmarks and pop culture treats.

“Few places in the city capture the spirit of Seattle like The Pike Place Market. It is one of the few authentic farmers’ markets in the United States which actually played a role in the city’s most iconic movie, ‘Sleepless in Seattle’. When in the city, you must visit its most iconic landmark, the Space Needle. You can go up to the observation deck on the 605-foot tall tower and soak in the views of the city.

“Seattle is very famous for its music, so it’s no surprise that it boasts the Museum of Pop Culture, showcasing science fiction The Space Needle in downtown Seattle

exhibitions, interactive pop stations and sound sculptures. Ships have also been sailing from Seattle to Alaska for hundreds of years and you can enjoy a cruise to glacier-carved fjords and forested islets.”

Yvonne says to always plan ahead when travelling to long-haul destinations, especially if you have young children as there is a longer flight time.

“The in-flight entertainment is packed with kids games, TV programmes and movies so there are endless hours of fun.

Planning is key, from everything to packing

Yvonne Muldoon

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Sunday Independent January 21 2018

Philadelphia is the rising star in 2018

Greg Evans The Atlantic City Boardwalk

to working out your itinerary for the trip.

The States is bursting with things to do, so it’s always helpful to have a general idea of where you want to go and what you want to see, so you don’t miss out.”

For more information, visit www.aerlingus.com PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME In 2018, Greg Evans from the travel and lifestyle company, The Greg Evans Consultancy, says that while Miami and Seattle will be very popular in 2018, the rising star is Philadelphia.

“Philadelphia will be served by American Airlines from both Dublin daily year-round and Shannon seasonally during the summer.

This will be joined by the new service by Aer Lingus commencing in March to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.”

Greg says that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the most underrated city in the USA. Philadelphia is home to one of the largest communities of Irish descent in the USA. Visitors with Irish heritage can do research into their ancestors, and they also enjoy a strong Irish influence throughout the city.

“Philadelphia provides a rich cultural backdrop for any visitor. It was awarded the elite title of America’s first ‘World Heritage City’ in 2015 and it offers a world-renowned arts scene, fabulous food and the most historic square mile in the USA. The other

thing to remember is there is no tax on clothes or shoes throughout Pennsylvania, making it a shopper’s paradise.

Situated just 30 minutes from Philadelphia, you can also find The King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall in terms of retail space in the USA, with over 400 shops and seven department stores.”

Greg says that Pennsylvania offers something for everyone and is home to outdoor recreation, historic sites, cultural attractions. The famous cheesesteak in Philadelphia is a must for any food lovers.

“It is a great place for any foodies. Iron Chefs, Top Chefs and more abound in a big melting pot of global cuisine throughout the city. And, if travellers are visiting

Pennsylvania with young families in 2018, they should take them to Hershey’s Chocolate World attraction where they can make their own bar of chocolate. It’s just too good to pass up.”

Another area which will also become popular is Atlantic City, New Jersey. The resort city on the east coast of the US, is famous for its wide beaches and glitzy casinos, making it a top tourist destination.

“In Atlantic City, you have beautiful beaches and the iconic Boardwalk, casinos and fabulous shopping. You have everything you need for a fun-filled holiday.”

For more on these stunning locations, visit www.gregevansconsultancy.com

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

SKI HEAVEN! Kevin Flanagan enjoys a dream pre-Christmas trip to the Austrian alps where he meets Topflight Chairman Tony Collins

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espite assurances from the president of America that global warming is a fiction, visiting the Alps before Christmas for keen skiers has been a fraught mission recently. Only last year I found myself skiing down strips of shallow, artificial snow surrounded by green fields.

It was a bizarre experience! Ask any of the natives who grew up in Alpine villages and you will hear similar stories. The snow is coming later and less frequently. Some even fear for the future of the skiing industry itself.

LET IT SNOW! So, what a relief it was to be picked up by Tony Collins and his crew from Topflight for a pre-Christmas skiing expedition in Austria and find the snow literally bucketing down! And bucket down it continued for the duration of our short tour, turning the towns we visited, Bad Hofgastein and Kirchberg, into winter wonderlands. And, things got even better on the slopes.

The foggy start on our first morning turned into a sun-drenched afternoon. We had everything an avid skier could hope for: fresh snow, virtually empty slopes and some deep off-piste drifts to plough through if you were up for it. It was a skiers’ paradise.

SPA-TACULAR We started our trip by staying at the 4-Star superior Hotel Norica Palais in Bad Hofgastein. We skied during the day and took full advantage of the impressive spa facilities at night. A tunnel connects the Norica hotel to the fabulous Alpentherme spa in Bad Hofgastein, and I felt a bit James Bond as I wandered in my dressing gown and togs, through the subterranean maze.

But soon, I was swimming outdoors in the heated pool, surrounded by the mountains, as the snow fell on my head (quite an experience).

Make 2018 your year to ski!

Michelle Anderson (Topflight), Kevin Flanagan and Tony Collins (Topflight)

Visitors also have the option to visit the adult spa area (NB no clothes required).

This has a feast of healthy options. From drinking various natural mineral waters to boost your immune system, to a variety of hot, cold and glacial water treatments. I spent hours here with my friends from the trip. It is the only way to truly counteract the ravages of a five-hour ski session. It soothes aching muscles like nothing else, as well as reviving the whole body. A true miracle cure!

WINTER WONDERLAND After the spa, we ventured into the snowcovered centre of Bad Hofgastein. This boasts a pedestrian zone that is filled with luxury boutiques, restaurants, cafés and Glühwein stands. With the covering of fresh snow, it really is as pretty as a picture.

While in Bad Hofgastein, I was able to spend time chatting with Tony Collins and soon discovered there are few people in Ireland who know more about skiing than him. His company, Topflight, was a ski operator pioneer. Over the years, they have won more awards for their ski holidays than just about any other operator. Their Ian Dempsey annual ski trip has become a fixture that attracts hundreds of avid fans and the company also organises ski trips for schools, colleges and VIP’s (Visually

Impaired Persons).

Tony Collins told me that he has seen the first fresh influx of “beginner skiers” since the financial crisis, which hit skiing especially hard. Apparently, things are on the up-and-up. Now Tony is “looking forward to a very busy season, especially after the early-season heavy snowfall, which makes both on- and off-piste conditions great.”

WORLD’S SCARIEST SLOPE On Thursday, we ventured onto the Kitzbühel / Kirchberg ski area and stood at the top of the Hahnenkamm, the most difficult and legendary slalom in the Ski World Cup calendar. We peered nervously down the sheer drop that all the world’s greatest skiers face as they launch themselves at the start of the race and reach speeds of an incredible 130 kilometers an hour. It is a heart-stopping sight when you actually see it.

That night we ended up at the other end of the legendary Hahnenkamm, sipping G&T’s at the hotel at the bottom of the slope, where the pro-skiers end their deathdefying run and celebs from around the world gather and applaud. We spent two glorious days in the Kitzbühel / Kirchberg area before heading back to Ireland.

BACK TO REALITY It was strange to arrive back into Dublin Airport and see all the plastic snowmen and sleighs in arrivals, only to be faced with wet concrete and rain outside. At least we could say we had experienced a real white Christmas in 2017. And, according to the weather experts, the rest of the 2018 ski season promises to see excellent snow levels. Could the president of the USA be right after all? Is global warming a myth?

The science says a resounding ‘no’, so I’d book my flight to the Alps ASAP and enjoy skiing as it should be – while the snow continues to fall.

INFORMATION Topflight are offering deals for ski enthusiasts of all levels. For more information, visit www.topflight.ie, or call Topflight on (01) 240 1700

Kevin Flanagan with Gerhard Mayrhuber

Ski like an Austrian!

Austrian-born Gerhard Mayrhuber was one of most experienced teachers of The Ski Club of Ireland. He brought his expert knowledge of skiing in the Alps to Ireland. In the process he has encouraged countless Irish people to take up the challenging sport. Gerhard shares his advice on how to best prepare for the ski season, whatever level you are. n BE ACTIVE – Before you head off make sure you have spent a few weeks increasing your physical activity. “The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your time in the alps and the less the likelihood of injury,” says Gerhard. Walking or hill climbing are ideal preparation but taking ski classes are best of all. n TAKE LESSONS – “Every hour you spend in class will give you back hours more enjoyment on the slope,” says Gerhard, adding it will also increase confidence “a vital facet of skiing whatever level you are.” n BEGINNERS MUST LEARN THE BASICS – Gerhard advises beginners to “learn simple things like putting on your ski boots, skis and getting to know the basics like snow plough turns.” You can learn all this by attending beginners’ classes at Kilternan so you can spend more time skiing on the slopes. n WHEN AWAY IN THE ALPS Gerhard heartily recommends enlisting in ski school once you arrive at your resort. “This is not just vital for beginners who have to learn the basics of skiing on snow, but more advanced skiers as well. You will ski better with a teacher which means you will get more enjoyment. Classes may appear expensive but it really is money well spent.”

The Ski Club of Ireland runs the largest artificial ski slope in Ireland, located in County Wicklow close to the village of Kilternan.

Address: Killegar, Kilternan, Co. Dublin Contact: www.skiclub.ie or tel: (01) 295 5658 for classes for all levels and ages.

Sunday Independent January 21 2018

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Vilnius Old Town

Kaunas, Lithuania

Trakai Island Castle, Lithuania

Cultural getaways

What to see, eat and do in Lithuania and the Czech Republic VILNIUS, LITHUANIA

Vilnius.”

It is an amazing fact “Families may find the Toy Museum that Lithuania’s visitor interesting. It’s not far from the Cathedral numbers grow by more in Old Town and features toys and games than 10pc each year. from the 12th century onwards, including Southernmost of the Baltic wooden toys made in Lithuania during the States, Lithuania’s cool capital, Soviet period.”

Vilnius, is one of the driving forces behind What to see: “Almost half of Vilnius is the country’s booming tourism industry. covered with lush forests and parks. Vilnius Here, Virginija Umbrasienė, Deputy Head is one of the few capitals in Europe, where of Embassy of Lithuania, shares the ways you can observe the centre of the city from to take in the city’s bustling a hot air balloon. Vilnius is also culture. the ‘city of the low-flying What to visit: angels’ – little smiling “Vilnius Old Town, angel sculptures as the UNESCO can be spotted on “The second largest Lithuanian town World Heritage various buildings Kaunas is also a pleasure for the visitor’s eye,” Site, is the all around the says Virginija. “Kaunas is known for its Art Deco heart of the city. And, keep Gothic and Renaissance architecture, the oldest stone city. It’s full an eye out for castle in Lithuania, the Town Hall, the Cathedral Basilica of baroque some pictureand Thunder House, as well as the most beautiful baroque churches, perfect street monastery in Pažaislis. Kaunas is the best destination for music vibrant art on the lovers too. It hosts a wide variety of music festivals: Pažaislis cultural cobbled music festival, Kaunas Jazz, International Folklore Festival, life and streets of Kaunas Castle Operetta, Contemporary Music Festival, and the Vilnius.

Hanseatic Days. narrow, “Take an “A must-visit is the M.K. Čiurlionis National Museum of cozy afternoon Art (www.ciurlionis.lt/en). It is the best place in Lithuania to streets drive to become acquainted with the development of Lithuanian and make Trakai, international art history and culture, from ancient times Vilnius very approximately to the present day. Learn about one of the pioneers of photogenic 30 minutes abstract art, in Europe in the beginning of 20th century and full of away, and see M.K. Čiurlionis, a painter, composer and writer, who surprises. For the 15th-century contributed to Symbolism and Art Nouveau.” example, the Trakai Island Castle.

Bohemian district It is one of the most www.visit.kaunas.lt/en/ of Vilnius, called beautiful medieval Užupis Republic, has castles in Europe on one of its own Constitution and is the 21 islands in Lake Galvė. ‘The referred to as Lithuania’s ‘Land of Oz’. city of lakes’ is another name for Trakai and “Get a walking city tour of Vilnius Old the castle served as a residential place for Town, which takes approximately three the dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. hours. Walking along Vilnius’ narrow The 300m wooden bridge leading into the streets, you will enjoy the most interesting castle, the lakes, beautiful halls, galleries, architectural and historic monuments of stained-glass windows, frescoes and secret the 16th – 19th centuries: Classical Vilnius passages will not leave anyone indifferent, Cathedral, Gediminas Castle, Presidential even those who are not particularly fond of Palace, Vilnius University, the Gothic-style history.”

St Anne’s Church, and the Gates of Dawn, When to go: “Every season is special in which is one of the most visited shrines in Lithuania. However, late spring April and

KAUNAS, LITHUANIA

May, when trees bloom, as well as summer are the most beautiful.

“This year, Lithuania is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Restoration of the State so there will be thousands of events, performances and exhibitions taking place around the country. On 16th of February, all cities will offer a number of concerts, from classical music performances to street musicians and national music ensembles in city parks. This also includes a unique event – ringing bells in 100 churches across Lithuania at 12.30pm.

“The biggest centenary celebration will take place in Vilnius. From 9th to 18th of February, ‘Time Machine’ will take you back 100 years. Restaurants will serve special dishes and performers will play music that was popular one hundred years ago.”

Visit www.lithuania.travel/en-gb/ or www.vilnius-tourism.lt/en/

ČESKÝ KRUMLOV, CZECH REPUBLIC

Located in the central part of Europe, on the halfway point between the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean, is the Czech Republic – the ‘land of stories’. “The Czech Republic has thousands of castles and chateaux, beautiful mountain views and many sites to discover,” says Katarína Hobbs, Director of Czech Tourism Ireland and UK. “If you’re looking for a relaxing stay with world-class spa treatments, head to the ‘Spa Triangle’ in West Bohemia, which is made of towns Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Mariánské Lázně and Frantiěkovy Lázně. While Prague is a popular tourist destination, consider visiting one of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites, Český Krumlov.”

Here’s what to look out for in Český Krumlov.

What to see: “Český Krumlov is getting more and more attention because it looks like a fairytale town. A visit is like stepping back into the 14th century, with small historical houses, and Renaissance and baroque architecture crowding the narrow streets. The Český Krumlov Castle, with its colourful façade, stands on a hill above the red roofs of the Old Town. Not only is this splendid to see, but the Castle also offers a fascinating look into the aristocratic rulers of Bohemia throughout the centuries.

Highlights include the Baroque Theater, where guests of the noble family would go for evening entertainment. Climb to the top

Cěský Krumlov, Czech Republic of the tower and marvel at the views below!”

Where to go: “Visit the Puppet Museum, in the Old Town’s main square, which features more than 200 movable creations and a stage where children can create their own fairytale story with different characters. Or, visit the Marionette Museum, which contains an exhibition of old Czech marionettes and complete puppet theatres from the latter half of the 19th century. Those with an adventurous spirit should rent a canoe and go along the Vltava River, through Bohemian forests and past villages and cafes. While not for everyone, Český Krumlov’s Museum of Torture (Museum Tortury) provides a fascinating look at the cruel ways in which criminals were mistreated throughout the centuries.”

What to try: “There is no better way to immerse yourself in the Czech culture, than having a glass of Czech beer or good wine with a meal consisting of dumplings and meat. Long-past times are evoked by pubs in ancient cellars, where you can enjoy a true medieval feast, such as at Švamberský do̊m Hotel. The Renaissance spirit is fully revived every year in June, when the whole town comes alive for three days with knightly tournaments, fencing matches, and lively craft fairs.

“The Czech Republic is celebrating its 100th anniversary of the ‘First Republic’, the first state of Czechoslovakia to become independent of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The era is very important for the history of the Czech Republic, as it was a time of industrial and cultural boom. But, what people may not realise is that cafés had a big role in it. They were places where intellectuals would meet to discuss the latest issues. For example, in Prague you can visit Café Lourve, where Franz Kafka and Albert Einstein used to go. If you decide to visit Český Krumlov, you should combine the experiences and also spend a few nights in Prague or in the spas in the West.”

For more, visit www.czechtourism.com

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Sunday Independent January 21 2018

My Dream Break

Cavtat, Croatia

Travel editor Kevin Flanagan recalls a dream Croatian break last summer in Cavtat and Dubrovnik

“F

or peace comes dropping slow…”

The words of William Butler Yeats come immediately to mind when I think back to a fabulous couple of days in Croatia last summer.

The first memory is of me standing on the harbour of the small resort of Cavtat with its picture-perfect bay. A gentle breeze is coming in off the sea. The sun is reflecting in the gentle lapping water. I’m eating an ice cream, walking slowly along the promenade that flanks the expanse of water.

Everything is calm. Suddenly I experience the state that James Joyce often referred to an epiphany. The veil of day-to-day worries fall away and I am completely at peace with my surroundings. What’s more, I am at peace with myself! It was one of those rare moments that I will never forget, and I thank Cavtat for that.

Cavtat is the perfect place to go if you want to visit Dubrovnik. It is only a short boat ride away but offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of its more famous

Dubrovnik - King’s Landing in ‘Game of Thrones’ neighbour. But Cavtat has a remarkable medieval character all of its own. There are art galleries and bookshops and some very fine restaurants. But what captures my imagination is the stunning scenery that surrounds this village. The harbour is a cluster of cafés and bars where you can sit and enjoy the extraordinary peace.

I stayed in the Hotel Croatia that has perhaps the most extraordinary view I have ever seen from a hotel balcony. It was like standing on the prow of a ship sailing into the sheer crystal blue sea below. And the sound of the surf lulled me to sleep that night. Amazing!

Dubrovnik & ‘Game of Thrones’ The next day, we were ready for the off – a day in Dubrovnik. This is a big deal as I am

an avid ‘Game of Thrones’ (GoT) fan. (and with people around the world waiting a year for the last series to arrive, now is the time to visit Dubrovnik and get your GoT fix!)

The trip from Cavtat to the ancient city takes 40 minutes by boat and is filled with wonder. We had a school of dolphins escorting us into the port. And, here, the real magic starts!

Dubrovnik was the main filming location in Croatia for King’s Landing, a stronghold of the Lannister family. And as you approach the port, you see how the filmmakers exploit the large outer walls and fortifications.

Once on shore we visit Gradac Park, which is just above the Old Town, and a great place to escape from the heat and crowds. The park was transformed into the

reception venue of King Joffrey’s wedding, with the not-so-happy ending!

Next is the Jesuit college, which turns into the Great Sept of Baelor and its surroundings became the main location for one of the most iconic and harrowing scenes: Cersei’s walk of atonement.

Apart from GoT sites, there is much for the interested traveller to see among its well-preserved buildings. These range from the baroque St Blaise Church to the Renaissance Sponza Palace and Gothic Rector’s Palace, now a history museum.

The Old City really is a living museum. But, there are scars of a more recent war.

In 1991, after the break-up of Yugoslavia, Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers and suffered significant damage from shelling. You can still see signs of the shell pockmarks preserved in some buildings but extensive repair and restoration work has allowed Dubrovnik to re-emerge as one of the top tourist destinations in the Mediterranean.

But if you are visiting make sure you get the Cavtat experience as well. The combination is quite unique.

INFORMATION The Hotel Croatia is situated in Cavtat. Croatia Tours are running trips to Dubrovnik and Cavtat.

Call (01) 878 0800 or visit www.croatia.ie

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

Robert Mortell stands on top of the world Image credit: Charles-Antoine Lanthier

On top of the world

For Limerick man Robert Mortell, climbing Mount Everest was a dream four years in the making. Shauna McCrudden speaks to Robert about his personal adventure and the achievement of being the youngest Irish person to climb the iconic peak

“I

never thought I would find out what the top of Mount Everest looked like,” says Robert Mortell.

“It was a monstrous project to me as it would be for anyone. I always hear that it’s a character building achievement, but I think it is character testing. That strength has to already be inside you.”

Robert, who works with MetLife in Dublin and Galway, became the youngest Irish person ever to reach the peak on May 23rd, 2016. He was 26 at the time, and he

says that while he is delighted to hold that record, it was more important to be ready for the climb.

“I could have tried it two years prior and been even younger, but I wouldn’t have been as experienced and prepared as I was when I was 26. It was really important to be responsible. I worry that others might try to beat me to be the youngest without being sufficiently experienced, and I would advise those people to be careful. I look forward to passing over that record whenever the day comes, but it’s all about being prepared.”

Robert’s background is in tax, accounting and music, which isn’t the obvious start to scaling mountains. He was never a risktaker, but after university, he felt he needed to explore what the road to climbing Everest might be like, as he had dreamed of it years earlier.

“I decided it was time to revisit these ambitions now I was older. My family were incredibly concerned about my climb, but I reassured them there would be no undue risk-taking involved and that I was prepared. They trusted me and the methodology I applied to the project.”

TRAINING FOR EVEREST Climbing the world’s highest mountain takes a significant amount of training.

From starting the research to being ready to climb, it took a focused effort of four years and climbing various other mountains in the Alps, Alaska and the Himalayas.

“My training was split into three components: the first was building up cardio and anaerobic capacity with running, cycling and strength training, as you have to carry heavy loads for long periods of time on the mountain. The second was research and I met with people who had climbed it in the past. You need to gather information about the environment and you have to become reasonably proficient at knowing medicines

At 8,300m elevation on Everest

and treatments, as things can easily go wrong.

“The third is practical - building up your experience, gradually spending more and more time on mountains and learning what your body can and can’t do. Your training has to be your focus. I think of it as basically beating yourself up as much as possible, for as long as possible!”

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Robert reached the Everest summit on May 23rd, 2016

The incredible views over the Himalayas Image credit: Wilson Wai Yin Cheung

STARTING THE CLIMB Robert made the trek in Nepal for two weeks of pre-acclimatisation to reach the South side Base Camp with his girlfriend.

He then headed off with his team, filled with other solo climbers, and the US army to the north side of the mountain in Tibet. They met with difficulties in starting the climb as the local government had suddenly revoked their permits.

“There is only ever a small window of time in May, of just a few days, where the jet stream wind moves away from the mountain to enable people to complete the ascent to the summit. If you miss that timeframe, it’s over. No one knows the reason why, but they reversed their decision about a week later in time for us to recommence the climb.

“Eight out of 10 members of the team had hired personal guides called Sherpas to help them up, but myself and another member buddied up and did a lot of our work together. You need to make sure you trust who you go up with because the team has to work together.”

Climbing a mountain is no easy feat and

there were scares for Robert and the rest of the group.

“I had a few difficulties on my ascent because my oxygen mask froze while making my way up. Because of my mask freezing, I could barely move even though I was only 50 metres from the summit.

Things that should have taken 10 minutes at sea level could take me an hour on the mountain. Things can go wrong, but it’s down to your training and preparation as to whether you can overcome them.”

But, the setbacks were worth it as it was fulfilling the achievement of a lifetime to reach the summit.

“When I got to the top, my focus was on capturing the moment and locking it away to reflect on later. Getting up is only half the job and you have a lot of mountain to descend. We had really good conditions and truly incredible views over the Himalayas, Nepal and the Tibetan Plateau.

It was shockingly beautiful. Everest really does dwarf everything around it. It was the culmination of years of research and training so it was overwhelming.

“When we finally descended, we could

only dream of having fresh food which wasn’t dehydrated or frozen. The first thing I bought when I left the mountain was a bottle of water, an apple and a banana. Now that was a fantastic meal!”

GOOD REPUTATION Reaching the summit was a real achievement for Robert and it has helped him to become a trusted member of the mountaineering community.

“I received a number of offers to lead groups up mountains. I’m just getting back to normal after leading a team in the Himalayas in October, on the mountain that Edmund Hillary himself said was unclimbable, a peak known as Ama Dablam.

That someone would appoint me as team leader for a project like this was a massive vote of confidence in my abilities.

“Having completed the Everest climb, I’m now enjoying giving back to the community in an advisory role for others. Before I climbed, I asked for advice from those that went before me, and now I can return the favour to help those seeking knowledge of Everest.”

ADVICE FROM AN ADVENTURER What tips does Rob have for people hoping to tackle their own kind of Everest?

“Whether it is a trip to the Amazon or Australia, a helpful starting point is to divide your concerns into categories such as environment and cost. How can you make yourself comfortable in a new environment far from home? Then see what others have done, what packages are sold by tour agents, and use this knowledge as a starting point to build your own personalised plan.

“You need a plan because of the effort involved in taking control over every aspect of a trip. There is a wealth of information available from recent visitors and local tourism agencies, often covering services that aren’t documented on the internet. So that is a good place to start.”

If you are planning a holiday visit to Nepal or are planning on climbing Everest, Robert recommends contacting the Nepal Ireland Society on www.nepalireland.org for more information and local knowledge

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

The Eritrean railway line

Vita helps build clean water wells in Eritrea

Out of Africa

Richard Pearson decided to go to the little-known country of Eritrea to find out more about African life and culture

The Eritrean railway line

“T

he thrill of seeing new places and experiencing new cultures and ways of life has always enticed me,” says Richard Pearson. “So when I got the opportunity to go to Eritrea, I jumped at the chance. It’s off the beaten track and is an experience that I feel most Irish people won’t ever have, simply because they have either never heard of the country or they are frightened by things on the news.”

The troubled nation of Eritrea has been hit with drought and a vicious 30-year war of independence from its closest neighbour, Ethiopia, which ended in 1993. There have been violent skirmishes and border wars taking place ever since between the two countries and Eritrea is now one of the poorest nations in the world.

“A good friend of mine is with the charity, Vita (www.vita.ie). They help build irrigation systems and clean water wells in Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is the only international charity which is allowed to operate in Eritrea. This shows how reputable they are. My friend was going

out to look at different projects in Eritrea, so myself and three others, including two Eritrean nationals, travelled out there with her.

“I read about the country before going and was a little wary, but when I got there, everyone was so genuine, passionate and extremely kind. It was the exact opposite of what you might think. Crimes against tourists are pretty much unknown there and it’s actually a very safe country. I walked around alone a lot of the time and I never felt in any way threatened.”

EXPLORING ERITREA Richard stayed in the capital city of Asmara

The Former Banca D’Italia where he says a lot of the people living there have a good level of English, so he wasn’t left with a significant language barrier.

Richard also went to rural villages to experience where people live.

“The city was built by Italians so the Italian architecture is truly beautiful. There are good roads, restaurants, cafés and hotels in the city, but it’s very different to a European capital city. The culture and the feel of the place is so welcoming. The population is half Orthodox Christian and half Muslim but there is no religious strife there. Everyone works happily side-by-side which is amazing to witness.

“We went to a few villages and in one, goats and cows would live in the house with the family so little things like that would shock me. We went to see water wells that the charity had built. The villagers made us a picnic of local food and we played football with the kids. There is so much amazing history there. One day I hiked to the top of a famous monastery, Debre Bizen on top of Mount Bizen, which was built in the 6th century. That was pretty tough to do in 35-degree heat but I somehow managed it!”

CHANGED OUTLOOK Richard has his own business, Pledge Sports (www.pledgesports.org) which helps to raise money for Irish athletes and teams to get them to competitions and help buy equipment. Richard says he is planning to find a sports-related project in Eritrea and raise money for it with his company.

“I would love to raise money to build something or resurface a football pitch in Eritrea. I want to travel as much as possible and since my company does lots of projects in Africa, Eritrea can be our next stop.”

He says he has learned so much from being in the country that it has changed his outlook on life.

“These people live in incredibly poor conditions but they are so happy and

healthy and welcomed us with open arms.

It made me feel so grateful for everything I have. I would highly recommend people travel to Eritrea and other places outside of their usual preferred destinations. If you won’t travel to these countries for fear of some unknown concern, then you won’t get to have some of the most amazing experiences. You should take heed of any serious warnings, but if you want to go somewhere then just go! You never know what you might be missing out on.”

INFORMATION The Department of Foreign Affairs currently advises against travelling to Eritrea. Check with the Department for future travel updates.

Climbing Mount Bizen

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choice, together with best possible value for money with a guarantee of financial protection. A travel agent serves as the consumer’s advocate in the event something inadvertently goes wrong and we figure it out on their behalf. If one is going to spend a sizable sum, as well as a good chunk of their valuable leisure time, it makes great sense to use a travel agent.”

Five reasons to book with a travel agent

John Spollen from Cassidy Travel tells us the reasons why you should book with a travel agent

A

ccording to the CSO, Irish people holidaying abroad rose by 10.8pc in 2017 from 2016.

With so many trips being taken, travel agents are more necessary than ever. The Irish Travel Agent’s Association (ITAA) are the main body representing agents in Ireland, with approximately 100 member companies covering 140 branches in different towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland. This means it’s easy to find a good travel agent in Ireland.

Here are John’s five reasons why you should book with a travel agent before your next trip:

4. ONE-STOP-SHOP

1. EXPERT KNOWLEDGE

A good travel agent has the knowledge and skills to help you book the best holiday possible. From where to go to what to pack, they have advice on everything.

“We have consultants that have travelled extensively,” says John Spollen, Director of Cassidy Travel. “Travel agents know the best places, the best resorts and the best experiences. A good travel agent can provide useful tips and hints to customers and tell you things that the websites won’t always tell you.”

2. SAVE TIME

Everyone is busy nowadays with work and family life, so no one has time to waste hours online trawling through sites to find the best deal. That is where travel agents can come in handy. There are so many deals available, that it is far easier for people to leave it to a travel agent who has expertise in sourcing the best flights, and accommodation.

“Why spend hours of your valuable time researching when travel agents have everything at their fingertips?” says John.

“With our technology, we can find the best deal instantly and we have literally thousands upon thousands of holiday options to suit your budget and taste.”

3. SAFETY

Booking online directly with airlines, hotels or booking activities can be dangerous.

When booking independently, if something goes wrong such as a flight being cancelled, then there is nothing to be done. But a travel agent can make arrangements for another flight, sort out accommodation and make sure you are taken care of. Holidays can be one of the most expensive items a person buys, so it is worthwhile to safeguard the investment.

“As members of the ITAA, we are fully bonded and licensed for our customer’s protection. Now more than ever, people are booking with their trusted high street travel agent, to ensure they get the widest

Booking independently means having to remember to book everything you need for the exact time needed. You don’t want to get to France and realise you booked a single room when you have a family of four. Travel agents make sure you have everything you need and can even negotiate with suppliers to get you the best travel experience possible.

“Like a personal shopper, travel agents can provide one-stop-shopping for travellers who require air arrangements, rental cars, cruise accommodations and hotel stays.

We provide suggestions that are in the best interest of the client, not the supplier. We provide impartial advice and we will always match the right combination to the right customer.”

5. CUSTOMER SERVICE

Travel agents know what their customers need which is one of the main reasons to book with one. They take the time to understand your needs to create a personal travel experience and they are always there if you ever need them to take your stress away.

“Our customers are so important to us both before and after you travel. Travel agents are there from start to finish. If there is ever a problem, we are always there to help. Our travel consultants all have one thing in common; they are passionate about the services they provide in sharing the world with you.”

To find a good travel agent visit www.itaa.ie, and to book with Cassidy Travel, contact www.cassidytravel.ie

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January 21 2018 Sunday Independent

TRAVEL NEWS

THE LATEST OFFERS AND HELPFUL TRAVEL TIPS! Deluxe Superior Yacht Boat Maritimo

Luxury Croatian cruise

Kevin Flanagan speaks to Sharon Wall of Croatia Tours

All packed up and ready to go!

Packing for a trip can be stressful, especially when you’re responsible for more than one person. Here are five essential packing tips, to help you on your way MAKE A PLAN Weeks before your trip, you should write everything you think you need down on a piece of paper or digital notepad. Even little things, like bringing an extra pair of socks with you, can make all the difference when you start to pack.

Making a plan weeks in advance will you give you the opportunity to only take what you need and avoid over-packing.

Then, make the plan into an actual checklist and tick off the items the second you have them packed in the suitcase. Not only will it help you remember everything, but you also feel better knowing you categorically ticked everything off the list one-by-one.

That way you won’t stress about forgetting anything while sitting on the airplane.

If in doubt, there are plenty of packing list apps you can download, such as the PackPoint Travel Packing List app. This helps you organise your suitcase based on the length of travel, weather, and any activities planned during your trip, so you never leave without your essentials.

DAILY STYLE GUIDE While making your packing plan, you should lay out what outfits you want to wear for every day of your trip. This means you only pack exactly what you need and you’re not overloading with clothes. You can either organise them into daily outfits, or per activity.

But don’t go overboard with your fashion choices. Pick two or three pairs of trousers or shorts with three or four tops and shirts which you can mix and match. Bring a dressy outfit for a dinner out, such as the trusted little black dress for ladies, or a blazer or sports jacket for men.

Remember, even hot climates can get quite cool in the evening, so be sure to take that into account when choosing your outfits.

ROLL UP You have most likely seen the advice on rolling clothes to fit them into a suitcase and the truth is, it works. By rolling your clothes, this will save on space and keep them from getting too creased in your bag. Rolling up socks and underwear and putting them into your shoes is another handy tip that can save you room.

Once your clothes are rolled, you can even put them into vacuum-sealed bags to give you even more space. Vacuum-packing also prevents creasing more than folding does. Folding clothes means they are still loose in the suitcase, while vacuum-packing keeps them in place just as you left them.

PACK ZIPLOC BAGS Always pack a few different sizes of Ziploc bags for anything you need to secure.

Transparent resealable bags are used to carry your containers of liquids (100mls or less) through the airport, but they can also be used during your holiday.

When on your trip, you need somewhere to put dirty clothes or wet swimsuits, and a sturdy zip storage bag is perfect for this job.

They can be used for every situation, such as one of your toiletries leaking, or to pack up a food item with the potential of spilling and staining clothes.

The bags are also handy to pack chargers, adaptors or jewellery. Anything that can be tangled up and lost can instead be locked away in a bag for security.

TINY TOILETRIES Make sure you check the precise amount of liquid you’re allowed to bring with you.

Toiletries, such as shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, moisturiser etc, can be packed into a wash bag and tucked into the side of the case.

If you have a fear of spillage, then think about buying your toiletries when you get to your destination. Most hotels even have miniature bottles of shampoo and conditioner in your room. And, instead of bringing that large, expensive moisturiser, opt for the travel-sized version of it.

To make your packing a little easier try out the PackPoint Travel Packing List app available on the Google Play and Apple app stores. Vacuumpack bags are a must for travel and can be bought from most department stores. Just fill the bag and suck out all the air with a vacuum cleaner, leaving your clothes as fresh as when they were packed.

Ever wondered what it would be like to cruise the Mediterranean like billionaire Chelsea Club owner Roman Abramovich?

Well now you can courtesy of our friends at Croatia Tours! This summer, they are launching what looks like a mouthwatering seven-night cruise around the stunning islands of Croatia. I am a big fan of the region having spent part of last summer in the company of Sharon Wall. And, Sharon rates this luxury cruise particularly highly.

“Last summer I went on it with Rachel, my 27 years old daughter and I think it was the best holiday experience I have ever had.

Rachel asked if we could go again!”

Sharon was most impressed by the level of service. “Apart from the great chef, there were seven staff, including housekeepers and bar staff to look after a maximum of 36 people. You were never left waiting.”

Mod-cons like Wifi are available, as well as twin or double beds and an open jacuzzi in the back of the boat where you can pose like a billionaire.

“But it was also very private,’ adds Sharon, “with a sun lounge where you can settle down to read a book undisturbed for the afternoon.”

And with no children, there is a calming atmosphere on board, suiting the clientele, the majority of whom were mature or retired and who want this level of exclusivity and service.

“What I loved was the variety,’ adds Sharon, “we slipped anchor early every morning to sail to our new destination.”

The next luxury cruise leaves on 30th June, flying Aer Lingus Dublin-Dubrovnik and lasts seven nights, visiting HVAR (where Princess Harry, Demi Moore and Paris Hilton have all holidayed), the Island of Mljet, Split, Korcula where Marco Polo was born, Sipan, with a final night in Dubrovnik including a guided walking tour of the Old Town. As Sharon says, “I think it would be a great gift for those celebrating an anniversary or special occasion.”

Price is €2,056 per person sharing.

Includes Aer Lingus flights, 20kg bags, transfers, breakfast, four-course lunch, Captain’s dinner, entertainment, welcome cocktails, olive oil and wine tasting, and fresh fruit and snacks during the day.

For more details call (01) 878 0800 or visit www.croatia.ie

Amazing views of Croatia while you relax in the hot tub

HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW KIDS ZONE

Holiday World Show Dublin will be providing entertainment for the little explorers at the Kids Zone. Drop in for colouring competitions, activities and a special exhibition area where you can display your artwork!

Kids can take part in an art workshop and enter the Holiday World Show Art Competition (ages 4-12) which runs in advance of and during the Holiday World Show Dublin. ‘Draw Your Dream Destination’ (age 7-12) to be in with a chance of winning Aer Lingus flights to a European destination. Or, colour in Ireland’s most

Be in with a chance of winning Aer Lingus flights!

famous lighthouse, Hook Lighthouse, to win a Heritage Island Family Pass to Hook Lighthouse, Birr Castle Gardens or Navan Centre & Fort.

The FREE Kids Zone will be inspired by all things travel and is suitable for all ages, abilities, and interests.

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Global talent

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

Thailand with Anantara Resorts

Paul Counihan, Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing – Bangkok at Minor Hotel Group – is a proud Dubliner who has travelled the world. And, nowadays, he helps manage one of the most prestigious hotel groups in the world. Paul has been telling us of some of the exciting new developments with the properties he has helped bring to international prominence in Thailand.

5-STAR 11-NIGHT LUXURY Begin your journey at the only 5-Star luxury resort in the centre of Bangkok at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, and explore the River of Kings with two nights to taste the highlights of the City of Angels.

Fly north to the cultural city of Chiang Mai and discover the national parks with hill tribes and temple tours, with three nights at the Anantara Chiang Mai Resort. Then, fly south to the tropical paradise of Anantara

Layan Phuket Resort for six nights.

Prices are from €1,899pp based on two persons sharing with Trailfinders Ireland, including flights with Qatar Airways and Bangkok Airways for internal flights.

All transfers and accommodation with breakfast included.

Holiday World Show 2018 will transform the RDS Simmonscourt into a hub of exotic, vibrant, multi-cultural activity with its jampacked programme of global entertainment.

See the Experience Japan Taiko Drum Team perform in their traditional colourful Japanese costumes and visit the Irish Kendo Federation’s display of Kendo, the martial art of Japanese fencing.

Experience ‘Electric-Techno Neon Gods’, a unique artistic performance from Taiwan that combines traditional Taiwanese dance and costume with contemporary music.

Originating in South America, Zumba is the fitness dance craze that will get your heart racing – join Deborah’s classes, running on Saturday and Sunday, to experience a mix of Latin and International rhythms with cardio exercise!

Not forgetting our own culture of dance and music, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will also make an appearance at Holiday World Show. With their energetic performance of pure Irish traditional music, song and dance, it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, tapping your feet to the rhythm

Contact (01) 881 4991 to book or visit www.trailfinders.ie Anantara Layan Phuket Resort

Tap your feet along to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann!

Taiko drummer

of Ireland’s most talented musicians and dancers.

ITALIAN FOOD TASTINGS From the truffles of Northern Italy, to the traditional Neapolitan cakes, Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, Modena’s Balsamic vinegar and, of course, the internationally renowned Bolognese ragu.

Italy is famous worldwide for its sensational food! Don’t forget to stop by the Italian State Tourist Board’s stand at Holiday World Show, as they showcase their homegrown produce with food tastings. Buon Appetito!

Visit www.holidayworldshow.com

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