Departure Lounge: Christmas magic, cobbled streets and Baroque buildings in Vienna
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To capture the essence of a fairytale Christmas setting, it’s hard to beat the cobbled lanes and Baroque buildings of Vienna.
The city’s Christmas markets have been attracting visors for over 100 years, with Viennese Dream Christmas Market running from November 16 to December 26 by the magnificent City Hall.
There’s also the popular Christmas Village Belvedere Palace with over 40 festive stalls, selling everything from traditional crafts to festive ornaments and regional Christmas treats.
Depart December 15, Dublin to Vienna, room only at the 3-star Leonardo Hotel Vienna Schonbrunn, 3 nights from €469pps.
With Dia de Muertos on the horizon it’s got me thinking about a dream trip to Mexico in 2025.
Considering the red hot dining scene in Mexico City — three of the world’s 50 best restaurants are there including the iconic Pujol — I’d plan a culinary pilgrimage there followed by a stay at Casa de Sierra Nevada,
Belmond’s sensational hotel in the pretty town of San Miguel de Allende. a three hour drive from the capital.
A cluster of six historic mansions, Casa de Sierra Nevada is a mix of 17th and 18th-century buildings wrapped around leafy courtyards, terraces, and gardens with atmospheric bars and restaurants, including its Tunki Rooftop with superb town views. Suites from €1,215.
Exploring India as a solo traveller just got little easier with G-Adventures Solo-ish India trip to the Golden Triangle.
The 12-day solo group travel adventure through Rajasthan includes wildlife tracking, river cruising and visiting iconic sites like the Amber Fort and Taj Mahal.
Perfect for solo travellers, in the safety of a group of fellow solo travellers, €1,299 per person, flights extra.
With mid-term break coming up there are plenty of enticing Halloween family breaks on offer around the country.
The Ferrycarrig, on the River ~Slaney is offering mid-term breaks with a river view room from €400 for a 2-night stay and €600 for a 3-night stay for 2 adults and 2 children under 15.
Included is breakfast each morning, access to the lovely pool, a handy baby pantry and on-site playground.
Hook Lighthouse and Johnstown Castle are close by and each family stay includes a pass to the brilliant Irish National Heritage Park.
Iberian Wine Tours have been running highly rated wine tours and gourmet tours for over 20 years.
Alongside Spain and Portugal they offer luxury tours to Argentina, Chile, and other destinations, with numbers limited to a maximum of 20 guests.
Tours are lead by industry experts, including the wonderful Irish wine writer Raymond Blake who will be co-hosting a Burgundy itinerary in October 2025.