STAYCATION TRAVEL

NORTHERN IRLEAND // STAYCATION

WORDS: GAVYN ANDREWS

2020 HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR

for everyone with travel restrictions and even restrictions on leaving your own house or visiting friends and family. Some people have been lucky or unlucky depending how you look at it to fly overseas and manage some kind of a summer holiday but for many we are still dreaming of that break from the world of COVID-19. The government has even asked us all to go back to work and send kids to school or university even though the virus is still going strong and in some areas cases have spiked again and again meaning the reintroduction of some localised lockdown measures.

So for this issue I am going to simply say forget about the Spanish Costa’s, Gran Canarias and even the Greek Islands and say HELLO to Holidays in Northern Ireland and in specific Hello to holidays staying in Wooden Cabins or lodges.

Holidays in Northern Ireland often mean huge savings on flights or ferry costs and I feel this means that you should have more budgets to spend on adventure days out or excursions depending on the size of your family and duration of your stay. It is also handy to remember that here in the north of Ireland many parks, gardens and museums can be visited for free it just takes a little bit of extra planning with number of restrictions due to Covid-19.

A holiday at home can often lead to the same old hotels and or even caravan parks and that’s why I’m highlighting Wooden Cabins because they offer something fresh, modern and unique not to mention at times quirky. You will also notice that due to the shape and adaptability of a Cabin that they will come in many shapes and sizes and in a huge array of locations from countryside, mountains, beaches, woods/forest or even parks such as Centre Parks down in southern Ireland. Holidays in a self- contained cabin is really a product that can work for couples looking a romantic break or a large family wanting to get away from it all but stay together in a space that works for them.

What you need to consider when looking at Cabin Holidays are:

- What is your Budget for the accommodation itself - How long do you want to stay and are you flexible - How many beds are required i.e. only family or additional beds for overnight guests - Where do you want to be? i.e. at the Beach, In the Woods or a Flexible site central to everything - Find out if the cabin is pet friendly - Work out how far you want to drive and maybe hire a different type of car - What opportunities for adventure and fun are in the Areas nearby you have chosen - Does the Cabin suit the need of all your family age groups

We often forget about how important tourism is in Northern Ireland and that we have some unique world-class tourism sites and facilities right on our own door step from East to West or North to South nothing is ever more than 1-2 hour’s drive away. Depending where you choose to holiday wooden cabins will give you the opportunity of course to forget the car and head out on foot to explore the natural

Gorestown Glamping Chalets

surroundings or even get on your bike and cycle through small towns or unspoilt coves creating family memories on the way

This accommodation type provides endless opportunities for Birthday Parties, Romantic honeymoons or simply a weekend away. Holidays of this type can be sourced directly from the owners of the cabins or through online travel bookings sites as well as through the Discover Northern Ireland accommodation booking sites. A cabin provides the same type of family isolation bubble that you would need if you have to isolate with family during further lockdowns.

You will find cabins can become a real break away from your normal life and almost bring you back to your childhood. Gorestown Glamping Chalets offer some highly modern chalets with many mod cons of a modern house today. This venue is situated in an excellent location for exploring the south of Northern Ireland close to Moy and also provides easy access to the likes of Armagh and Newry or even day trips to Dundalk’s waterpark etc. Many of the cabins are also pet friendly. You will also notice that many of these types of cabins now come with options of extras such as shopping delivered to you and or depending on weather outdoor eating like BBQs etc. can be provided.

Personally I have always liked the more traditional style Cabin’s like you would see in the ski resorts of Austria and I am delighted to share with you the Donard Shadow lodge in Newcastle County Down.

This property comes highly recommended by customers who recently stayed at the property praises both the property itself and the location of it. Newcastle County Down offers you a truly unique opportunity for you to explore the sea, beaches and the mountains with the local tourism board and suppliers offering some really one off and unique tours on land or at sea. Your holiday here can truly be as detailed or as simple as you wish that the good thing about a cabin break because it really is a something unique to each and every customer.

For me this type of holiday would be perfect for a couple like myself with dogs because we could pack the car up take the mountain bikes and wake up every day and just do something different. It’s down to you what the pace of your holiday is like and I adore nothing more than a slow pace of life with options to go out and eat and drink and visit places or venues that make your break feel truly special and unique.

Autumn has arrived and winter will not be long in coming around so if you have not managed a summer holiday then please look into a winter break or even a Christmas break in a cabin could be something truly amazing. Even though you are planning to stay and holiday in Northern Ireland I highly recommend when booking that you take out travel insurance and know the cancellation policies of the Cabin provider well in advance just in case you have to cancel or the restrictions mean he cabin has to close itself.

Explore your homeland and support the local tourism and hospitality industries.