TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe DONEGAL’S only 5-star hotel Solis Lough Eske Castle has been named the world’s top Luxury Country Hotel at the industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony held in Bangkok, beating off competition from around the globe. The stunning hotel near Donegal town landed the coveted Luxury Country Hotel accolade at the World Luxury Hotel Awards last weekend, just two years after it opened its doors following meticulous restoration of the original 17th century castle. In the space of just 18 months the castle was transformed from a ruin into Donegal’s only Five Star hotel which is managed by Solis Hotels & Resorts. Solis Lough Eske Castle was among 200 hotels worldwide shortlisted before being selected outright winner in the Luxury Country Hotel category. It was also shortlisted for the Luxury Spa Hotel award and The Luxury Hotel award, which were won by hotels in Thailand and the Maldives. www.solislougheske.com The Brunello Lounge & Restaurant, restaurant of the prestigious Regina Hotel Baglioni in Via Veneto, in Rome, has received the “International Certificate of Excellence “from the Gotha of Taste. The Gotha of Taste is an independent International committee reuniting since1999 unites more than 200 gastronomy journalists worldwide with the goal to connect journalists and experts from prestigious newspapers and televisions with facilities enhancing taste and genuine and traditional cuisine with a special attention to innovation while respecting international quality standards of excellence.
Holiday Hotspot
Singapore is remarkable in that it is one of the few “city-states” left in the world remaining the smallest nation in South-eastern Asia. All visitors arrive at Singapore’s Changi Airport, an airport that is more like a resort destination than a typical airport. Besides the usual airport shopping and restaurants the airport has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, free movies, plus several gardens including an outdoor sunflower garden. Over ten million people visit Singapore each year to see such amazing sights as the famed Orchard Road, one of the most famous shopping districts in the world. Legalized gambling is also a huge draw and Singapore boasts some of the most luxurious casinos in Asia, like Marina South and Sentosa. Confronted with so many shopping opportunities, visitors often ignore Singapore’s cultural offerings. Visiting exhibitions complement the state-of-the-art permanent displays of Chinese, South Indian and Islamic heritage. Eating out in Singapore is considered a national pastime. And for the serious foodie the city-state’s unrivalled, multicultural cuisine is truly the stuff of heaven. In fact great culinary experiences can still be had in restored shop houses found in Singapore’s cultural enclaves: Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam. Singapore’s light rail system is one of the most advanced in the world. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is the fastest and the best way to explore Singapore. Over 40 stations link the city and its suburbs. The MRT system terminates at Changi Airport, for easy ac-
cess to your flight. Standing at a stunning 165m, the Singapore Flyer is the height of a 42-storey BARCELÓ Asia Gardens Hotel building – that’s & Thai Spa, the five-star luxsome 30 metres taller ■ Singapore ury Asian inspired resort on than the famed LonSkyline at ni ght. the Costa Blanca, has introdon Eye making it the duced a new seven-day Thai Worlds largest obser9th 14 Days experience break, providing vation wheel. As the from just €1895 includthe perfect combination of wheel turns, you’ll be ulator Singapore Sim ht Flig on ert Rob ■ ing return flights & flight relaxation and wellbeing. The treated to a visual 360° taxes, 9 nights in 4* hoThai Experience break costs feast of iconic and histels on a B&B basis and 2 nights Safari on a full from 1065 € per person (£995 torical landmarks and per person). The break inviews from the Marina Bay to the Singapore River, board basis and 6 days car hire. www.abbeytravel. cludes seven nights’ bed and Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and the ie Whatley Manor the privately owned 23 bedroom breakfast accommodation in Padang. There is no other place in Singapore that boutique hotel tucked away in the heart of the a deluxe room, a VIP check-in offers these breathtaking, panoramic views. One of Wiltshire countryside has put together a choice with complimentary Thai tea, the big highlights for me was a trip on Flight Experi- of romantic proposals to spoil your loved one for three Thai massage treatence which is similar to the flight simulators that Valentines weekend. Start with a unique gift of prements of the guest’s choice airlines use to train their commercial pilots, and senting your very own handmade chocolates to at the Thai Spa, full use of its 100% authentic replica cockpit delivers a total your loved one when you join a master class on the spa facilities including a immersion virtual reality environment. The 180° Tuesday 8th February. You’ll have the opportunity heated indoor and outdoor wraparound visuals, high-fidelity sound and cooling to spend the day in the hotel’s kitchen learning the pool, Turkish steam bath and systems, along with a slight seat vibration, all com- secrets of handmade chocolates from the hotel’s outdoor Jacuzzi, a daily 90bine to fool your senses into believing you are actu- Michelin two-star chef Martin Burge before taking minute yoga, meditation and ally captaining a jet airliner and is a must do for any home all that you have made on the day includChi Kung session and compliairline enthusiasts.. Singapore offers a wide variety ing the recipes. The full day Master class costs mentary Barceló Asia Gardens of accommodation types to suit all budgets and £127 per person and includes the master class, an bath robe. Asia Gardens is a preferences. They range from backpacker, budget apron, recipes, buffet lunch with wine and refreshshort distance from Alicante and youth hostels to boutique and five-star hotels. ments throughout the day. Arriving on Friday, 12th and its airport. www.barceThe Pan Pacific Singapore located in the heart of February or Sunday 14th February this special two loasiagardens.com. OrientMarina Bay is the number one ranking Trip Advi- night stay costs from £698 per room based on two Express has launched its 2010 sor destination to stay in the city and having spent sharing a standard room for two nights, including trains and cruises brochure three days at the property I can understand why. champagne and chocolates. www.whatleymanor. incorporating authentic new The hotel is 20 minutes from the Singapore Expo com Irish Ferries has opened the door for 2010 journeys. Crossing boarders and Changi Airport. It is also close to Singapore’s bookings on their services to France and Britain and continents, the trains historic, cultural and entertainment areas, such as with packages that include double-digit discounts and cruises open up the heart Chimes, the Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Robertson and a number of attractive early booking offers. of destinations from France, Walk and the new Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. Under the title The French Revolution, they begin Laos, Thailand and Burma ofThe property is also connected to Millenia Walk the year with a fare sale to France offering disfering guests a truly unique and Suntec City shopping complexes. The attention counts of up to 28% reflected in a lead fare from travel experience. www.oriand staff service impressed me greatly and many EUR99 one way for car and driver, inclusive of a ent-express.com rooms enjoy tremendous views over nearby Ma- reserved seat. To avail of this offer, bookings must rina Bay. Pan Pacific together with Kempinski and be made at least 14 days in advance of travel and Robert Walshe The Doyle Collection are some of the high profile before 31st January next. www.irishferries. is a freemembers of Global Hotel Alliance delivering on the ie The stylish Hotel L’Avenida in Soller, l a n c e world’s most desirable, independent, upscale and Mallorca is opening for the months of c o n luxury hotel brands under one umbrella. The best January and February 2010 with a special tributor websites for information on Singapore include www. self-catering winter sun escape package / broadglobalhotelalliance.com/panpacific www.visitsinga- which is perfect for a group of friends, a corporate event or a large family gathercaster and pore.com and www.flightexperience.com.sg/ is guest ing. Representing exceptional value whist Weekly Best Buy. travel providing luxurious and exclusive acIf you’re after a new kind of city break that is commodation, a 7 night self-catering stay writer worlds away from Europe, or a wild safari adven- costs from only €200 (£180) per person, for River ture on land or sea, South Africa provides plenty of plus 7% room tax. L’Avenida was transM e d i a choice. Abbey Travel offers packages to allow you formed three years ago from a private newspaper titles to soak up the highlights of this beautiful country. mansion into an exclusive townhouse ■ Pan Pacific Visit Cape Town, the Winelands, The Garden Route hotel and during that time it has gained across the Hotel Singapore. and enjoy a Safari Trip all in one fantastic holiday a reputation as one of the coolest hotels island of this coming Easter 2010. Departs March 27th - April in Mallorca www.avenida-hotel.com Ireland
Pet’s Corner...
Home and Away Extra
with Kathleen Murray
with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
Please don’t let your dog kill ALREADY there have been killings. Serious damage has been caused to others. Sheep are big targets at this time and for the next few months especially as they will be giving birth. Dogs can smell this in the air miles away. This is the time of year to get excited if you’re a dog. Pups are born, lambs are born, lots of animals give birth in the spring. Nature works this way and it fires up hunting instincts. It is vitally important that these old wolf instincts (that will always be there) are controlled. They cannot be gotten rid of so they must be controlled. You must control it by controlling your dog. Even if your dog has never looked at a sheep, that doesn’t mean
Living
that it never will. You must know where your dog is at all times and it must do what you say straight away without question. It should be home, in the house, in a run, in an enclosed yard or on the end of a lead… nowhere else. If a dog is free to do what it wants and go where it wants, it will be in trouble in no time. This will not be its fault but it will probably pay the price. Dogs get poisoned. This is a horrible thing for anyone to do to a dog. If you let your dog irritate people regularly and don’t do something about it then this is what the other person has done about it many times in the past.
It happens all the time. Its wrong but your dog is at risk of some form of cruelty if you don’t keep it on your property. Sheep pay a high price every year and every year dogs are loose running about. They all need to be protected. Every year there are new dogs in the area, some with very irresponsible owners. Even if you are a responsible owner your dog can still cause trouble by accident e.g. if someone comes in and leaves a door open or doesn’t close a gate on the way out etc. It’s a full time job making sure your dog does not cause trouble. Please take the job seriously as your dog’s life (and others) depends on you. 0863192247