42 meathpost
TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe
Living
SPAIN still dominates the national travel market despite the strong euro, according to travel search site Skyscanner. The site says that in its January search rankings five Spanish cities were in its top ten. Faro and Dalaman also made the list. The site says city breaks have retained their popularity despite the recession, with searches to New York and Amsterdam also strong. The other most popular medium and long haul destinations searched for during January were Bangkok, Orlando, Sharm el Sheikh, Dubai, Sydney, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, Delhi and Hong Kong. Relais & Châteaux ‘Charming Escapes’ is exclusive to the 28 Relais & Chateaux hotels across the UK and Ireland - 3 in Ireland (including a new member Cliff House), 4 in Scotland, 1 in Wales and 20 across England (including new member The Connaught).This is the first time Relais & Châteaux has offered a package across all the properties The price is £350 per room per night (+ VAT) (total pp is £205.63) £520 per room per night (+ VAT) (total pp is £305.50) Price Includes: Room, breakfast and dinner based on 2 sharing up to May 1 20 2010 www. relaischateaux.com
extensive metro system, or catch a ferry into the harbour. One of the highlights of your sightseeing experience is the exciting contrast between the ultra-modern urban side of Hong Kong, evidenced by the soaring sky-scrapers and luxury shops, and the old-world charm of centuries-old temples like Wong Tai Sin and the thriving traditional markets. The heart of the city is the bustling Central district, where Western Market and many corporations and shopping malls are situated. Over to the east are the Wan Chai and Causeway Bay districts where many top res■ Hong Kong, The Peak taurants and nightclubs can be found. For museums head to the Kowloon relipeninsula and for a glimpse of tradiable service to and from the airport tional Chinese culture head out by ferry to Aberdeen and the outer islands. The Ngong and downtown. Trains depart every 12 minutes, Ping Cable Car is a spectacular four-mile (6km) between 6am and 1am, and take around 25 minropeway that affords panoramic views over the utes www.hotelpanorama.com.hk and www.dobay and surrounding area on its 25-minute jour- scoverhongkong.com ney to the Ngong Ping Village and is one of my Weekly Best Buy favourite destinations in this amazing city. As The Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Galway is offervisitors approach the cable car terminal on top Weekend Hotspot Hong Kong consists of four sections, Kowloon, of the plateau views will include the huge Tian ing a romantic package with a difference. if you Hong Kong Island, the New Territories and the Tan Buddha Statue and the Po Lin Monastery. failed to get away at Valentines. Enjoy an overOutlying Islands. Kowloon and the New Territo- Hotel Panorama by Rhombus is a classy and night stay including Super Buffet Breakfast and ries form part of the Chinese mainland to the trendy hotel in Kowloon. Hidden in a less busy complimentary access to the Thermal Suite at north of Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong Island, street, however accessible by public transpor- spirit one spa. .With an array of luxury extras to containing the central business hub, lies on the tation, offer luxury rooms and a five-star serv- choose from, you can create your own bespoke southern side of the harbour facing Kowloon. ice. We upgraded to “Deluxe Platinum Harbour package, tailored to suit her tastes of course! Although better known for its shopping and res- View” We were given a room with a superb view www.radissonhotelgalway.com Guoman Hotels taurants, there is plenty to see and do in Hong over Victoria’s harbour, granted access to the is offering 50% off at its collection of four luxury Kong. Best buys include electronic gadgets and Rhombus Club Executive Lounge as well as to four and five-star centrally located hotels in audio-visual gear like cameras and ipods; jew- the Santa Lucia restaurant (38th floor) for break- London including: Charing Cross, The Cumberellery, especially pieces using gold, jade and fast. Breakfast offered variety and quality and all land, The Royal Horseguards and The Tower. All pearl, and wrist watches; and bespoke clothing the staff was helpful and friendly The airport is hotels are perfectly located allowing guests to and haute couture. The best way to see the city situated 21 miles northwest of Hong Kong Island explore the sites of London with Charing Cross is on foot. It’s compact and there are plenty of and 14 miles from Kowloon The Airport Express minutes away from theatre land. Prices start alleys and interesting detours to explore. When Line is a dedicated airport railway providing a from just £75 per room per night and are based on two adults sharing a double/twin you tire of walking, hop onto the fast and room, on a room only basis. Offer is valid for bookings made before 18 April 2010 for stays between 26 March 2010 and 18 April www.guoman.com/eastersale Savings of 33% are being offered by Irish Ferries in their spring sale to France. This sees two adults and car travel from Rosslare to Cherbourg or Roscoff during the period March 7th to May 31st for only EUR139 each way inclusive of berth in a 2-berth, 2-star cabin with shower and toilet. www. irishferries.com Enjoy three nights’ irishferries.co bed and full Irish breakfast in the heart of Cork City this Easter with a stay at the Imperial Hotel. From just €180 per person sharing enjoy three nights’ accommodation, with a full ■ Hong Kon g Skyline Irish breakfast each morning www. g Kon g Hon ynnhotels.com flynnhotels.co ■ Mickey Mouse at Disney
Pet’s Corner...
Learning Manners WHEN is the right time to start teaching a dog manners? The answer to that is… as soon as you see it doing something unmannerly. The younger the pup is the better it is. Pups need to learn to live in the human world so they need to learn very early on what is allowed and what is not. Dog manners are completely different to human manners. Dogs don’t see it as “unmannerly” when another dog comes up and eats their dinner without asking. They either allow it or attack it. There’s no big conversation or lecture about it. If you leave your dinner on the table and turn around to get
something the dog will eat it and wonder what the big fuss is all about. It won’t be looking into your big sad eyes and decide to give you some of it’s dinner later. Dogs also do not consider it unmannerly if one dog sticks their nose up the other one’s behind. This is saying hello in dog language… but not in human language. A higher level of manners is expected by some people more than others, so this is a factor to be considered when teaching manners to your dog. If mucky dogs jump on other dogs when greeting each other, or during a game, there
TUESDAY 16 MARCH 2010
Home and Away Extra If you’re sleepless in Bangkok there may be only one place to go - Accor’s MGallery hotel - VIE Hotel Bangkok, which has launched a guest concept called “Deep Sleep”. Vie’s sleep consultants will explain every detail of the sleeping process, including the healing powers of aromatherapy to help balance and maintain physical and emotional health as well as unwind the mind and body for blissful relaxation leading to a long deep sleep.” The introductory ‘Deep Sleep’ Package (until May 15, 2010) includes: Accommodation stay in Deluxe Suite room including breakfast, Personal check-in - A selection of relaxing songs to be played in your room - A selection of herbal teas, dreamy aromatherapy candles/burners, and specialty pillows and pillow mist to choose from - Complimentary 45-minute relaxation treatment in the VIE SPA to help relax your body and still the mind www.accorhotels.com A hotel that hosted delegates during the recent Copenhagen COP15 climate conference has to live up to some pretty high expectations. And whilst the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers may not be one of the world’s prettiest hotels, owner InterContinental claims it’s up there with the greenest. www. crowneplaza.com Air Canada will offer a direct seasonal service between Dublin and Toronto with a convenient morning departure from Dublin and evening departure from Toronto. The airline will offer COMFORT PLUS seats on the service, which are located in a dedicated cabin at the front of the aircraft. Seats are wider than standard Economy Class and have ample legroom for an enhanced travel experience. Air Canada has an extensive global network, with hubs in four major Canadian cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary), providing scheduled passenger service directly to 58 Canadian cities and 55 US destinations. www.aircanada.com Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and is guest travel writer for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland
with Kathleen Murray
is no problem but if a mucky dog jumps on a human it is a horrifying experience for the dog… having to listen to all that screaming and roaring. This is very confusing for a dog so this is why the dog needs to learn human manners sooner rather than later, as it will be living with us and not running around all day with dogs. If you bring your dog to a friends house or you go to “Granny’s” for a visit then these people will soon start making excuses about not being home when you ring up, if you keep allowing your dog to jump all over their house, or steal food out of the bin or
off the table … or go to the toilet on their sitting room floor while they are trying to enjoy a chat and a cup of tea with you. Nobody wants this unmannerly intrusion in their home. Being respectful and mannerly gets you a lot further than taking other people and property for granted. It goes a long way with your dog too but these are things that need to be taught to your dog because dogs see things differently to us… they are a different species with different rules. Help your dog to live longer and be liked by others… please teach it some manners.
■ Bo in therapy
■ Solo learning not to be greedy