TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe ICELAND experienced its highest ever visitor numbers in January as its non-euro status and improved accessibility look set to boost popularity further in 2010.The destination suffered in 2009 as recession-hit Britain and Ireland stayed at home. But Iceland Tourist Board said the country saw an 11.6% year-on-year increase in visitor numbers in January – which amounts to 4,312 compared to 3,865 for the same month in 2009. Travellers can already fly to Iceland from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester and Glasgow all airports providing excellent connections from Irish airports. Transfer company a2btranfers.com has launched technology that removes language barrier problems for travelers who want to confirm times for their airport pick up. The company offers clients its a2btransfers.mobi service which allows them to make a booking from their mobile phone and then view the pick-up time on the day of the transfer simply by tapping in a reference code. The company claims this pick-up time functionality is a first. www.a2btransfers.com
Holiday Hotspot
Bangkok Bangkok is an exciting, high-energy melting pot of east meets west. The capital of Thailand, it’s an exciting, bustling city and is one of the top tourist destinations in the World. Rivers and canals have traditionally been the lifeline of Thai people since ancient times and today, they present a fun and exciting way of seeing Bangkok rather than the usual traffic-congested, chaotic channels normally presented to tourists. There are a lot of fun things to do in Bangkok. The ‘Krung Thep’ is your place for fun and adventure suiting all tastes and fascinating visitors with its vibrant, colorful scenery and risky nightlife. Thai food is found all over the world but like many places, what you get in Thailand will totally blow your mind in terms of quality and what authentic Thai food really tastes like. Thailand has a tropical climate with an annual average temperature of around 75 to92 degrees. You’ll find every type of accommodation, from lavish 5 star international names to smaller hostels favored by back packers. The
Pan Pacific Hotel Bangkok, where the service is impeccable and the comfort and peace within the hotel seem a million miles from the traffic in the city below is a very good location if you like the shopping and nightlife of nearby Patpong. Located in the heart of Bangkok city and offering easy access to many exciting attractions, Pan Pacific Bangkok also lies opposite Bangkok’s biggest green area, Lumpini Park. Every single one of the 241 well-appointed
Living
rooms and suites feature panoramic views of the city and are fully-equipped to cater to your every whim. On the pacific floor from level 30-32 you can enjoy an even greater level of privacy and extra benefits including private check-in, complimentary international buffet breakfast, all day coffee & tea, soft drink and juices, plus daily evening cocktails, hot dishes and canapés at the dedicated lounge. Guests can also enjoy a selecl Retreat. ■ Pan Pacific Bangkok Poo tion of choice of five restaurants and bars serving eastern and western cuisine. My favourite is Panorama restaurant on level 23 which will definitely change your view on dining and the head chef uses the best products available in this cosmopolitan city. I enjoyed an amazing New Years Eve party here and the grand buffet was of world standard. The décor at Panorama is an eclectic mix between arabesque Asian motifs and the boldness of Italian interior lines. It’s all very modern in a soulful way, using natural stones and rich ■ Pacific Lo unge at Pan tropical wood. For the most stunning Pacific. view, step out to their semi alfresco dining patio. Panorama also has a luxury cigar lounge with Ritz-Carlton has announced it will several spaces tailor made to individual tastes, build a hotel on the Caribbean island of Aruba. The new property located on Palm Beach, will from the whisky bar to the library Lounge. The magnificent swimming pool on Level 24 have 320 rooms and is expected to open by late offers an exclusive atmosphere, daily sunshine 2012. It is the group¹s seventh property in the Carand spectacular views across the city skyline particularly at sundown with the most unu- ibbean. www.ritzcarlton.com Indian airline sual mellow lighting at nightime perfect for a Kingfisher Airlines has been granted traffic late dip to cool down after a busy day at the rights to seven new international routes by the nearby markets and shopping centres. Pan Indian government. The destinations are New Pacific guests will now receive 15% savings off Delhi to London, Hong Kong, Bangkok and the best available rate when they stay at Pan Dubai, and Mumbai to Columbo, Bangkok and Pacific Bangkok until 31 May. www.panpacific. Dubai. Crystal Cruises will introduce two new Black Sea voyages this year, calling for the first com time to Sevastopol in the Ukraine. Home and Away Extra The 12-day cruises from Venice to Istanbul The Merrion Hotel is the perfect elegant set- on July 19 and August 24 on Crystal Serenity ting for a relaxing Easter break. Enjoy over- will also take in Greece and Bulgaria. The itinnight accommodation in a Garden Wing room erary includes a visit to Greece’s Katakolon, with Easter themed amenities and full Irish the birthplace of the Olympics, and Navplion; breakfast the next morning. Prices start from Nesebur in Bulgaria; Yalta and Odessa in the €110 per person sharing info@merrionshotel. Ukraine and a cruise through the Dardanelles com EasyJet has become the first airline in Eu- and the Bosphorus Starits. www.crystalcruises. rope to sell Starbucks coffee on all its flights. com Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is being made availThe Stafford has joined the Kempinski portable to buy on all flights across its European folio. Heralding the brand’s re-entry into a key network following a trail period from selected Europe capital, the hotel has been renamed airports. The coffee will be available in Italian The Stafford London by Kempinski. The proproast or Colombia blends. erty is located on St. James’s Place between
Pet’s Corner...
with Kathleen Murray
The games we play with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
WE all like to play games. Some games are fun and some are trouble. All are educational. We learn from games. When you play a game with your dog it is important for you to know what you are doing. Dogs do things that we see as “just fun” but they are more than that to the dog.
When two pups (no matter how cute they are) run around together pulling a twig between them we need to know that this is no game to the pups, it is more than that. It is an assessment. The one that ends up with the twig is the more dominant one. With very young pups the “winner” can vary from day to day but as they get older and stronger and smarter, this all changes. They hold on harder and harder, not wanting to let the other one have it and can sometimes
growl if another pup approaches to warn it off. Dogs spend their lives trying to win “games”. They are very competitive. They always have to be alert in case another dog tries to take over their role as the leader. In a family situation it is important to know that, when you play these games with dogs, the dog is assessing the family. They know who will “give up” and who will “hold on” to the toy. They know from a simple game like this who they can dominate and who will dominate them. Tug-of-war games need to be won by the family, not the dog, if they want to be able to control the dog. It can be great fun but it is very important that the family member, not the dog, ends up with the toy. Dogs that pick up tea towels or other
things like shoes and run off with them need to be dealt with in a certain way. The minute you run after the dog to get it back you are “in the game”. You need to win that game. People that laugh at dogs when they do things like this, or find it “cute” to let the dog have “some fun” with the stolen item, or take it into their bed with them, are handing over control to the dog. If the dog is in control then it doesn’t have to come when you call it or do anything you say because you have no authority in its eyes. You told the dog all this when you let it win the game. Play is important, mind games are a different matter. Don’t be taken in by how cute that little innocent face is… it is judging you every time it is in your company.
Weekly Best Buy Sunway has launched their first ever escorted tours programme offering the finest selection of premium escorted tours. From start to finish Sunway carefully plan, arrange and co-ordinate every aspect of your holiday including flights, transfers, hotels, meals, excursions, and any optional extras you may require. Some of the most popular tours include Treasures of France 8 day tour from €1,452 Highlights: Paris, Rouen, Honfleur, Normandy, Bayeux, Mont St.Michel, Angers, Loire Valley, Saumur, Chambord, Amboise, Chartres Italian Dream 8 day tour from €1,263. Spanish Wonder 9 day tour from €1417. Prices include flights, local transfers, accommodation and meals as per itineraries, experienced tour guides www.sunway.ie. Hospitality Collection- Private Ireland are delighted to offer all Mum’s, Grandma’s & Mum’s to be a real treat this Mothers Day, with a luxury 2 night Bed & Breakfast break plus one evening meal available in any of the 7 Private Ireland Properties, made up of Boutique Hotels, Picturesque Country Houses and Stylish Townhouses, for a Flat Rate from only €199 pps. Mum will also receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers and chocolates during her stay. www.privateireland.com Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and is guest travel writer for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland Green Park and St. James’s Park offering 105 rooms and suites set in three historic buildings surrounding a quiet courtyard. Offering a haven of calm, the property recalls its past incarnation as a stately residence, with buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Further augmenting the guest experience, all public areas, guest floor corridors, and 24 rooms in the Main House are to be completely renovated by the end 2011. Known worldwide for its collection of distinctive and historic properties, Kempinski Hotels was founded in 1897 and remains Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. www.kempinski.com