Departure Lounge: This chic wine estate is welcoming guests to a new hotel in South Africa
Wine Of Wine Farms South One Spier Farm Africa’s Oldest Is Working
One of South Africa’s oldest working wine farms, Spier Wine Farm will begin welcoming guests to its new hotel from March 2025.
I adore South Africa with the Western Cape and Winelands especially beautiful. Renowned for its award-winning wines and commitment to regenerative farming, Spier sits within the world-renowned Cape Floral Kingdom. The property’s rewilded indigenous gardens are home to 39,000 reintroduced fynbos plants and the expansive spa with a Cape herbal bath house is enough to make me jump on a plane. Just 30 minutes from Cape Town International Airport, this chic wine estate has farm-to-table restaurants and one of the largest heated pools in the Winelands.
Tour America, a leading Irish holiday specialist for trips to the USA and Caribbean, has just announced a new Clubcard Rewards partnership with Tesco Ireland. The deal enables Tesco Clubcard members to double their value by turning their Clubcard vouchers into savings with Tour America. These vouchers can then be used toward booking your dream trip to the US. It’s a canny move and certainly a clever way to help Tesco customers turn everyday shopping points into exclusive holiday savings.
tesco.ie/clubcard/reward-partners
Dog-friendly hotels are always welcome news. Moxy Cork (which our Hotel Examiner reviewed in October) offers pet-friendly accommodation complete with cosy doggy beds, water and food bowls, and a welcoming atmosphere. One dog per room is allowed, with a maximum weight of 35 kilograms, and there’s a small non-refundable fee of €20 per night. Over the festive period canine guests will be treated to a festive doggy snack on arrival, while their owners enjoy a welcome cocktail or mocktail to toast the start of their stay. Dogs are welcome in the lively lobby too, where you can hang out, play games, or enjoy drinks and light bites at the bar.Rooms from €149.
marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/orkox-moxy-com
This December, The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin is offering a couples Christmas stay right in the heart of the capital. Just off Grafton Street on St Stephen’s Green, the modern five-star’s newly refurbished Deluxe Premium Balcony guestrooms have been inspired by the elegance of Art Deco luxury liners, with your very own mini Christmas tree to enjoy.
With bubbles on arrival and a plush new lounge to linger in on the ground floor, it’s a glam spot to hang out in the city. Overnight B&B with bubbles on arrival from €499. Alternative rooms from €299 BB double occupancy.
Is 2025 the year you finally undertake the camino? Departing May to October 2025 Uwalk.ie have created this tailor-made Camino group walk package for solo travellers who wish to walk the French Camino route with a group of like-minded Irish pilgrims. The Camino Frances Final Stage package will take you across pristine Galician landscapes on the sacred route to Santiago de Compostela. Seven nights from €789 per person excluding flights