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wedding on the rooftop, shot A Dublin Christmas Carol there during lockdown, and attended numerous VIP Fashion Awards ceremonies, sponsored by my friends in Peter Mark. The staff are always the most helpful and I look forward to returning. A big congratulations to all involved. Putting Ireland on the map! Visit themarkerhoteldublin.com
Escape to Belfast
WITH KEVIN FLANAGAN Top Hotel in Ireland I was delighted to see The Marker Hotel in Dublin getting one of the most prestigious awards available. They were named the ‘Top Hotel in Ireland’ and one of the ‘Best Hotels in the World’ by the coveted Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2021. This is no mean feat. More than 800,000 Condé Nast Traveller readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to provide a full snapshot about the places they can’t wait to return to next - and they picked The Marker! I have celebrated my own son’s
Situated across Belfast, Central Belfast Apartments are the ideal base for exploring the city and surrounding areas this autumn. With a range of bright, stylish and spacious accommodation options available - from deluxe two-bedroom to five-bedroom penthouse apartments - these inviting, serviced apartments provide guests with a relaxing experience. David Cordner, Owner and Managing Director of Central Belfast Apartments, says, “Our apartments offer you the freedom of your own self-catering accommodation, whether you are looking for a long weekend, or a full two-week holiday, and you can be assured that the highest cleaning and safety protocols are in place. Reschedule postponed travel plans, and make up for missed memories.” Prices range from £90 / €105 per night based on a three-night stay for a family of four. Visit centralbelfastapartments.com
Sea views from Hilton Malta
Award-winning Marker Hotel
Christmas At The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat Stay at The Rabbit, an idyllic lakeside retreat in Templepatrick, Antrim, for a festive retreat. Part of the Galgorm collection, the Rabbit Hotel is a hidden gem in the Antrim countryside and their range of Christmas packages start from €150pps. For example, their Festive Getaway package from €150pps includes: an overnight stay in a snug guestroom; a seasonal three-course dinner in The Rabbit Restaurant; access to the Relaxation Burrow, their incredible spa with a steam room and hot tub; a turndown ‘Naughty’ or ‘Nice’ cocktail created by their in-house mixologist, and a full Irish breakfast the following morning. Available Sunday – Thursday. Offer subject to availability. Visit rabbithotel.com/christmas.html
Clodagh Dooley’s Pick of the Week: Hilton Malta For the past three weeks, I wrote about just some of the main highlights from my four-day trip to Malta. This week, and for the last column entry on Malta, I’m covering some travel and accommodation information. Malta is just a 3.5-hour flight with Ryanair from Dublin and Cork airports. Currently, when travelling to Malta, along with your passport, anyone aged 12 and over needs to present their EU Digital Cert and complete a Passenger Locator form. If travelling to Malta, I would highly recommend basing yourself in St Julian’s, approximately a 20-minute drive from the airport. St Julian’s has a bustling atmosphere, with plenty of bars, eateries, shops, as well as beaches, St George’s Bay and Balluta Bay Beach. We stayed in the fab 5-Star Hilton Malta, based in Portomaso Marina
(the sea views from my luxurious room was amazing!). The hotel also has five pools and impressive dining options, including the Blue Elephant restaurant, with authentic Thai dishes, and the Oceana Restaurant. Sunway has great offers for 2022, staying at Hilton Malta in St Julian’s. Stay four nights in a King Deluxe Room for €713pp (two adults sharing). Travel on 2nd May. Or, stay seven nights in a Queen Bed Deluxe Room, travelling on 2nd May for €1,100pps. Or travel for five nights on 6th July and stay in a King Deluxe Room with Garden View for €1,073pps. All offers include Ryanair flights with 20kg check-in bag per person and return private transfers. Offers subject to availability. Book online at Sunway.ie and for more info on Malta, see visitmalta.com. You can also read more details about Clodagh’s trip on travelextra.ie