TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe THE newly opened Kempinski Hotel River Park Bratislava has perfect location only minutes away from the Old Town and the ancient castle, just a stone throw from Bratislava and Vienna International Airports. It is close to the best of everything in the city - historical monuments, shopping, and streets pulsating with life. There is a choice of Superior, Deluxe, Executive Club, and Suite accommodations, crowned by the 450 sqm, 3-bedroom Presidential Suite with a large terrace whose wall-to-wall, floorto-ceiling windows face onto Midtown and riverside. Many of the hotel’s 231 spacious guest rooms and suites housed on eight floors offer stunning views of famous Danube river and the city skyline.: One of the most unique features of the Kempinski Hotel River Park is definitely the rooftop ZION Spa and Fitness centre, offering 1,500 sqm of luxurious space overlooking the water and greenery on the other side of the Danube. The River Bank Brasserie offers a variety of grilled dishes including the best of freshwater fish and seafood. www.kempinski.com/bratislava. Aer Lingus fly Dublin to Vienna daily check www.aerlingus.com
Weekend Hotspot
Tallinn has made huge strides in transforming itself into a hightech, cosmopolitan city, but as much as Estonians are proud of this advancement, theirs no doubt that the cities most valuable treasure is its connection to the past. The jewel in Tallinn’s crown is its medieval city centre known as Old Town, which takes pride of place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1997.The seven hundred years of Tallinn’s architectural history boasts many styles as you stroll down the cobblestone streets. This city quarter has been well preserved by a strong defensive wall and within minutes of entering, one can marvel at Town Hall Square, Town Hall, Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin,Domincan Monastery Museum,Oleviste Guild Hall and my own favourite “Alexander
Nevski Cathedral. This richly decorated Orthodox Church decorated with mosaics and icons reflects Tsarist Russia when Estonia was one of its conquered territories. Tallinn enjoys a yearlong tradition of cultural and folklore celebrations. In June” Old Town days” hosts a festival of ancient stories, jousting, parrot shooting, ■ Tallinn Old and costume dance. The Town , Est onia. Sex and the City 2 biggest Nordic beer festival ■ New York gets ready for runs in July while Estonian culture comes alive weekly in summer with medieval markets, International conprivate dining are temporary dance festivals, White the ultimate in romantic nights events, film festivals and gesture. A wide range of accomthe acclaimed “Festival of Sacred modation is available in Tallinn Music Credo in early autumn. and the numbers of choices grow Tallinn has all the wining and din- yearly. The standards across all ing the adventurous palate might grades are high as the certificahope for. “Olde Hansa” a tradi- tion criteria are more stringent tional Estonian restaurant was my than the European average. Air favourite. Its culinary influences Baltic fly Dublin to Tallinn and were both Russian and German in the best website for information style and Estonian cooking goes is www.tourism.tallinn.ee www. ■ The Kempinski Hotel River Park Bratislava hand in hand with their love of airbaltic.com beer with hundreds to choose Weekly Best Buy from “Vana Tallinn” liquor is a Fans of Sex & the City are sure appears to be benefiting the conmust to warm the cockles of your We’ve heard of hotels that encourage guest heart particularly during a Baltic to enjoy these very special offers sumer as airlines slash prices to nudity, but never have we seen them in Turwinter. Tallinn is the” Paris of the on US city breaks booked during boost sales. Deals include Dubai key. Which makes sense, since the Adaburnu Baltic’s” by day and the” Italy of release of “Sex and the City 2.” from €411 with Turkish Airlines, Gölmar Hotel—opening this May—bills itself the north” by night. There’s live Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Toronto from €429 with US Airas “the first naturist hotel in Turkey?” It makes music in the bars and cafes in Samantha will return to the big ways, San Francisco from €433 a little more sense when you realize that the the evenings and the variety of screen on 28th May with the re- with US Airways, Orlando from service was designed for foreign guests! It’s nightclubs offer everything from lease of “Sex and the City 2” and €443 with US Airways. For travel pretty annoying when you have to jump on a swing to hip-hop and from jazz women everywhere are buzzing between now and 30th June. dinosaur of a computer at a hotel to print up to Eurovision pop. Tallinn is con- with anticipation. American Holi- www.gohop.ie. Falcon Holidays an email or a boarding pass. The simple procsumer friendly with most shops days has launched a series of siz- are offering great deals for May ess seems to take forever on the slow computin the Old Town and most depart- zling, “Sex and the City” breaks to and June including Costa Doers. But BlackBerry users staying at Hilton ment stores in the new city open New York, Los Angeles and San rada, departing Shannon/Cork, hotels now have the option to print directly seven days a week. A required Francisco. American Holidays 21st May, CYE Holiday Centre, from their smartphones. Download the mostop on any shopping excursion has teamed up with the Sheraton 7 nights, self catering, 2 sharing bile printing app, HP ePrint, to wirelessly print is the outdoor market in towns New York Hotel & Towers to offer from £368pp, Gran Canaria, dedocuments in the company’s 1,300 worldwide square. The Katariinja Passage a three-night New York break from parting Dublin, 22nd May, Green hotels, which are equipped with a network of house workshops for glassworks, €679 per person. Price includes: Park Apartments, 7 nights, self special public printers called PrintSpots. www. ceramics, leather goods quilts Return flights from Dublin to New catering, 2 sharing from £324pp, hilton.com Only one in ten people are considand original art. Designer labels York and 3 nights on a room-only Corfu, departing Dublin, 4th June, ering postponing a planned holiday as a result are plentiful in city department basis at the 4* Hotel. Departing on Alexis Studios, 7 nights, self caterof the volcanic ash crisis which grounded Eustores but beware of expensive 18th June 2010. Die-hard fans can ing, 2 sharing from £379pp. . www. ropean flights for five days. Almost half (46%) European prices. The Schlossle add a “Sex and the City Hotspots” falconholidays.ie of people disagreed that the airspace closure Hotel in Old Town if your budget tour to their New York break from made them less likely to fly for their summer Robert Walshe is a freelance permits has to be experienced. just €40 per person, also bookholiday this year, new research shows.The The surroundings are medieval, able through American Holidays. contributor / broadcaster and media hype around the damage that the recent plush, and grand in all senses. www.americanholidays.ie The is guest travel writer for River events have had on future airline bookings apThe Great Hall, Reading rooms volcanic ash cloud madness may Media newspaper titles across pears unfounded, according to TNS RI Travel & and the restored wine cellars for be over but the aftermath now the island of Ireland Tourism which questioned
Pet’s Corner...
Home and Away Extra
with Kathleen Murray
with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
What is happening in your neighbourhood? WHEN it comes to animals there couldn’t be enough people looking out for them. Do you know who has animals in your neighbourhood and how are they being looked after? Are cats a big problem or not? Are stray dogs a big problem? Are there sheep in your area? What about wildlife? Are there birds, hedgehogs, rabbits etc. Would you know what to do if you found an injured animal? It’s always good to know what to do or where to ring if there is a situation that needs attention regarding an animal. The D.S.P.C.A. Launched their new website (dspca.ie) last week at the animal welfare
Living
open day and it is a good place to start to learn about the world of animals and animal welfare. T h e r e are contact numbers on there
and information about animals. There is a Free-phone telephone number that you can ring to find out how things work. You can ask any question or report any problem regarding animals. Every animal is important so it doesn’t matter which animal you are talking about there will be someone there to guide you. The Free-phone number is 1800303202. Maybe the next time you are out for a walk you might notice the animals more than you did before and offer these details to anyone that has a problem with their animal. Thank you for caring.