City West Hotel - Is it Really Worth Staying Over for an Event?

I was very lucky a couple of weeks ago & won a prize of an overnight stay at Citywest Hotel & tickets to Disney on Ice for our family. As my husband had to work I decided to brave it & bring the children myself. I always wondered what it was like to stay on site for events like this & if it was worth it. The resounding answer I decided on is... eh... NO.

We arrived for check in at about 3.30pm to be told that we had to park in the event centre car park. I advised them that I was staying at the hotel & I had young children so I wanted to park nearer the hotel in the hotel car park. Apparently nothing could be done as they closed all other car parks & I had to park there then try to negotiate my way through a huge car park of moving cars with a pram, our luggage & little hands to hold.  

Check in was crazy but the line moved fairly quickly & the receptionist was lovely. As there were so many families staying you had to book the swimming pool, which was already booked out by the time we arrived. The lobby was utter bedlam but the concierge seemed to have a handle on it.

We had stayed at Citywest Hotel before & had a great time but this time we got a room on the 5^th floor, it was a nightmare. As soon as I opened the door to our room it was like stepping into Mordor with an instant sheen of sweat on my face. I made sure the radiator was off & opened the window to allow the room to cool while we were out.

Half an hour later when I tried to exit the car park, all exits were blocked so they had to remove the barriers to allow me to leave. Corkagh Park is just 10 minutes drive from the hotel so I decided to bring the children over there to run off some of their excitement. It’s a 300 acre park with lots to do for young & old alike, including a free pet farm & playground. You can even go fishing if you fancy it.    

Later that evening after another fiasco in the car park, we got back to our hotel room & it was as hot as ever so I jumped the children into a lukewarm bath to cool them down. I fed the baby who was now down to his vest & nappy but still roasting. I gave up & called reception for a fan to be told there are no fans in the hotel. She advised that I should just put on my air con, then she said 'Oh wait you don’t have air con in that room, just open the window.' The window was tiny, but I couldn't have it open as the noise of the air con going to the other rooms was deafening with the window open & just about bearable with the window closed. She then called back to offer a change of rooms but at that stage it was after 9pm & the children were in bed trying to sleep.

Breakfast wasn’t as crazy as I would have thought but then again we went down at 7:45. The staff here were fabulous offering me help with the children, they really couldn't do enough. Breakfast itself was lovely with fresh fruit, breads & cereals on offer to complement the full Irish also available. When we got back to reception to check out it was crazy with tons of people milling about so I opted for express check out & got out of there.

We headed straight through the blue sea of little girls in Frozen dresses for the event centre to see Disney on Ice.  Prices were astronomical with a cup of frozen drink setting you back up to €12, it was also €12 for a bag of candy floss. A plastic sword was €16 while a light up twirly Olaf was a staggering €21. 

Of course me being the savvy mammy of 5, I had a bag packed with party bags I had made up before we left home which included glow sticks from Dealz. The staff in the event centre were brilliant & when they saw I was on my own with the children they moved us to a block on our own to give me more room to feed the baby during the show! The children really loved the show & it was totally different to the last Disney on Ice, even my 6 month old was mesmerised by the lights & songs. 

While I would stay in Citywest Hotel again, I certainly wouldn't stay during any event, I can imagine it might be easier if you're part of a couple but with little ones in tow, it’s just not worth it.

Have you stayed with Citywest, while there was an event on? How did you fare?

City Centre Luxury in the Dylan Hotel

If you are heading to Dublin & really want to push the boat out, I’d recommend a night in the 5 star boutique Dylan Hotel, Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4. The hotel is located a stone’s throw from Baggot Street, so everywhere is within walking distance for a night on the tiles. We had the pleasure of a stay last year & we paid €211 for a twin room for one night B&B.

 

If it’s style & sophistication you are after the Dylan Hotel is the one for you. From the moment I set foot in reception I was taken with the understated elegance & pure luxury of the Hotel. On the way to our room there is an almost burlesque feel with colours of the decor topped off with sparkling chandeliers.

We stayed in room 301, which is a Dylan Style room. Our room came complete with a balcony so we had a bird’s eye view over the rooftops of Dublin. Oh yeah & one of the walls is floor to ceiling mirrors, I frightened the life out of myself walking into the room! 

The amenities of the room are befitting of a 5 star hotel, memory foam topped beds, high count cotton linens, Air conditioning, iPod with Bose docking station, mini bar, flat screen TV, robes & slippers to name a few. They even have hair straighteners & curling tongs available on request.

Breakfast is served in the Tavern Restaurant, where they have everything & anything you could possibly want, all freshly prepared. The only difficulty I had was it was so hard to choose what to have! Sue has regularly commented that The Dylan have the best brekkie she's ever had (and she's had a few). 

I went for the Eggs Benedict & was not disappointed with my choice. It was undeniably the best Eggs Benedict I’ve had in any hotel across the Country. I have a feeling the next time we are celebrating something & heading to Dublin for the night we just might be booking a room in the Dylan again.

Tell us, have you stayed in this 5 star gem of a hotel before? Let us know!

Win The Freedom of Dublin City with Two Dublin Passes!

Giveaway time!

Whilst we're all about travelling the cities, seeing new sites and learning what this great big planet has to offer; nothing quite compares to our own home town, Dublin. 

Have you ever wanted to do the touristy thing in your own town but never gotten the chance? Well today is your lucky day as we're giving away the freedom of this fair city so you might truly get to know our history and our culture. 

I know since I was a little girl I had always wanted to visit Guinness Storehouse, we eventually went on our school tour back in the late 80’s (STOP doing your sums!). Unfortunately for me the closest I got was to the door, as a scuffle broke out with the lads in the queue & I was pushed, resulting in a fractured foot. So while my classmates were enjoying the story of Guinness I was whisked away to hospital in the Guinness ambulance. 

Tragic right? I've been several times since and it's honestly one of the places, though you might think cliche, that I'd recommend everyone visits at least once. At least. 

G.P.O & The Spire on a sunny day in Dublin

If you're from Dublin I have the ultimate tourist in your own town experience for you. If not, this is your ideal opportunity to get thee inside The Pale and see what we have to offer as it includes all of the best tourist attractions our Fair City proudly boasts.

Watching the world go by on the quays in Dublin

We are giving away two 2-day Dublin Passes worth over €60 each. Hopefully this will give you the incentive to get around to immersing yourself completely in Dublin’s charm. These passes are your keys to Dublin & allow you free entrance into 33 major attractions. Some are even fast pass so no need to queue. 

Dublin Pass also entitles you to 23 extra benefits, offers & discounts at various locations around the city. All details are in the 2014 guide book worth €4.99 which we’ll also send you if you are our lucky winner.

One of many stunning Georgian doors in Dublin

The impressive list of attractions includes: 

• GuinnessStorehouse
• Old Jameson Distillery 
• Kilmainham Gaol 
• Dublin Zoo
• The AvivaStadium 
• Dublin City Hall
• Glasnevin Museum 
• Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship Museum
• Croke Park Stadium Tour  - amongst many others!

Source

Entry couldn’t be easier, just use the widgery doo dah below! 

Winners will be announced on the 25th, ideal time to plan your Christmas trip!

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tuesday Chattery - Your Top MUA YouTubers For Halloween Looks?

Blahhdy love me some Youtube and never more so than this time of year when the ridiculously talented makeup artists begin to upload their Halloween looks. Chances are I wouldn't be able to recreate a single one but dayum if they aren't fun to watch. 

I've linked up 3 of my faves to keep tabs on and would love to see your picks in the comments or on Twitter/FB. 

1. Siobhán from LetzMakeUp

Simply put, there's no one quite like Siobhán on the Irish beauty scene. For over 5 years she's been uploading her amazing looks to Youtube. She's one of the most down to earth 'gurus' you're likely to find, her love for the art of makeup is only matched by her natural born talent. 

Some of the most basic of makeup skills I learned from our Siobhán's vids but when it comes to her Halloween looks, I have to leave it to the expert. If she's not already a fave, prepare to up your sub list by one!

2. Julia From Julia Graf

I love everything about this girl! She's a Swiss/Canadian beauty blogger and Youtube creator that's one of the most straight talking and honest in the business. Her Halloween looks are unparalleled, with the Masquerade Mask & Harley Quinn being just two of the standouts for me. Check her out and tell me you don't love her just as much. 

3. Joanne From TheMakeupFairyPro

Another shout out for an Irish lovely, this time one of the hardest working MUA/Bloggers in the business and someone I happily call a pal. Joanne has an effortless way with makeup and always makes me want to be more adventurous in my own looks. Her Halloween vids are genius in their simplicity but the finished look is never less than flawless - that's the trademark of someone that's honed her craft through years of hands on work. Check out her channel and add her to your must watch list. I did from day one. 

I know YouTube is a vast catalogue of varied uploads and it can be very easy to miss a crazy talent, while watching your personal faves so tell us - who do you love to watch at this time of year? 

Let's Chat!

The Wednesday Chattery - Beauty Products You Can't Wait For?

Something is coming, something that has me stupidly excited like only a beauty product can - IT'S AN ILLNESS, OK?!

That something is this: 

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting BLUSH palette! Just look at at, no look, you're not looking!! I get a leeedle bit manic about products like this, my love for the Ambient Lighting powder palette knows no bounds so you can see why this is making my wanty hand itch, right? She's set to land in late October and that's just not soon enough for me! 

Today my question is thus: what's coming that has you just as peachy keen? The new Lorac Mega palette? The Urban Decay Vice palette? Do tell, we can obsess together...

Let's chat!

The Tuesday Chattery - Budget Beauty Treatments in Penney's - Will Ya?

Having heard a couple of whispers I made some inquiries yesterday and it turns out that, yep, fast fashion mecca, Penney's/Primark are about to offer budget beauty treatments in store, alongside their budget buys. 

With the first opening being a Nail & Lash bar in their Mary St store on September 29th, Love Beauty by Mohindra are set to take the affordable treatment world by storm. Worry not about quality of care though as Monika has been in charge of training at world famous Shavata Studios for 15 years!

There'll be nails, lashes and eventually brows, all at prices more akin to New York salons, rather than the somewhat exorbitant prices we pay in Dublin now. Here's just a taster:

Manicure: €12

File & Paint: €7

French Polish: +€3

Gel Polish: €17

Threading: €7

Eyebrow Tinting: €7 

Considering I paid €36 for a thread & tint just this month, 

I'll certainly be checking them out. I could have my brows sorted and enough left for fleece pjs AND fluffy socks?! Can you say BARG?

Tell us, are you looking forward to more affordable treatments? 

Will you be getting your nails did in the space of time it takes to queue in Penney's of a weekend anyway? 

Let's Chat!

WIN One of FIVE Benefit Make Upper Makeovers in the Gorgeous South William St Boutique!

Another day another seriously good Giveaway to celebrate our new site. 

This time we're talking all things Benefit and FIVE of you lucky ducks will win the chance to visit the stunning South William St boutique and be treated like royalty with a Benefit Make Upper makeover! 

Because of the boutique location do please only enter if you can attend the Dublin address but don't allow scheduling to put you off as these are open ended invites so can be saved for a very special occasion or given as a very thoughtful gift. 

Entry today is stooopidly simple: 

Just sign up for mah newsletter over there ----> and leave a comment below to let me know you've done it (if you're already signed up lemme know that too!) 

See? Peasy!

Winners, as with all #CherrySuesNewDo competitions, will be announced Dec 24th. 

May the Bene-odds be ever in your favour!

Madagascar Meet & Greet in Dublin!

There's big news for little 'uns and fun for all the family this weekend in Dublin City. 
DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures in assocation with Stephens
Green Centre, Dublin's 98fm and Fossett's Irelands National Circus are to host a very special Madagascar event at Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. 

Alex The Lion and the penguins (my personal favourites) will  be there to  meet and greet you but not only that Fossett's circus artistes will perform led by the infamous
Ringmaster herself Marion Fossett during the day. 

Schedule of events are as follows:

Saturday October 6- 12.30-4pm

Dublins 98fm Thunder Team will be there to join in the fun and you could
win exclusive goodies from Madagascar 3 : Europe's Most Wanted

12.30pm - Alex the Lion and  the penguins will be at the centre to meet
and greet till 3pm. Truth be told I'd pay serious money to meet the 'real' Kowalski, Private, Skipper & Rico. 

12.45pm- Fossets Circus performers enter the centre and will be there
till 4pm.

Sunday October 7- 12-2pm

More of the same mayhem!

Grafton Street is a circus at the weekend at the best of times but if you have smallies that love these guys, then I'd say get in there early and say howdy. Sounds like it'll be a fab event. 

Happy Birthday Jervis Inglot: Sale Heads Up!

It's hard to believe it's already been a year since beauty Mecca, Inglot opened for business in Dublin's Jervis Centre but, come the 11th and 12th of August, Birthday celebrations will be in full swing and that means great news for customers. 

Aside from the chance to play with the eye watering array of high quality products, Inglot have arranged some fantstic offers for beauty lovers. There'll be 3 for 2 on nails (normally €10), you can pick up the AMC Face and Body Collection for €20; Lip glosses will be reduced to €10, there's a stonking 50% off the round Freedom System palettes (there's over 200 gorgeous shades to choose from (!)) PLUS there's 10% off all products on both days.

Some stunning new Inglot additions from the Autumn Colours 2012 Collection

I had a good old play around with a bajillion shadows when visiting Inglot in Blanchardstown with Karen of the LovelyGirlyBits last weekend, many, many hands were swatched, while oohing and aahing but I reluctantly left empty handed. If you saw my bargain post, you'll know why. That's just one of the reasons I'll certainly be hot footing it into the Jervis centre this weekend, I can't have the girls celebrate their big day alone *coughs suspiciously*. You should come too!