Living the Dream on Lough Derg!

It’s been a dream of mine to stay in a real thatched cottage with the kids so I couldn’t believe it when I saw a deal HERE for Lough Derg Thatched Cottages in Tipperary for just €149 for a 3 night stay for up to 6 people (!). I had brought the kids to the Co Clare side of Lough Derg during the mid-term break but we had to cut the trip short due to illness, so I promised the kids we’d go back. You can catch up on that trip HERE.

How to Get Into Central London from 'London' Airports ~ Stansted, Gatwick, Luton, Heathrow & London City!

There’s nothing quite like that feeling you get when you click “book” on a rock bottom priced flight that you’ve found after hours of trawling the internet; by the same token there is nothing as bad as that sinking feeling when you arrive at your destination airport to realise to get to the city centre will cost you the same price as your flight and in some cases double the price again. Today I’m going to give you the low down on exactly how much it’ll cost you to get to central London from London’s 5 major airports.

The Perfect Hotel Stay For the Point Depot!

For those of us that live outside of Dublin it’s quite hard to choose the right hotel when you are looking for an overnight stay while heading to a gig in the Point Depot, yes it will always be the Point to me & not the O2 or the Three Arena or any other name they decide to call it in years to come.

 

A few months ago I was bringing my WWE mad daughter Orla to the wrestling & needed a hotel for us, at the time my car had broken down so that limited us to hotels on public transport routes. I eventually chose the Best Western, Sheldon Park Hotel in Dublin 12. I paid €70 B&B in a twin room for both of us. Rooms are spotless & spacious. The hotel itself has a lovely old style charm with large chandeliers in reception. We had no issues with noise as we might have had if we opted for a city centre hotel.

It’s on the Red Luas Line so we got the train to Heuston Station & hopped on the Luas at the door to bring us the 10 minute ride out to Kylemore. From there the hotel is just a 5 minute walk away. Easy. Peasy. 

Overall it’s a lovely hotel but with just a few tweaks it could be so much better. One thing I really didn’t like is that they tell you in the rooms that you have to take your towels from the room to the pool & bring them back. I really felt ridiculous with a bundle of towels under my oxter trotting through the car park as that’s the only way to access the pool & leisure centre! However, when I mentioned it at the pool I was told that you can hire the towels there for a deposit of €1 each.

The location is great as the Luas is only a short walk away & it brings you right to the door of The Point, €5.20 for adults €2.10 for children ages 4-15yrs return. So if you don’t fancy driving in Dublin City Centre you really don’t have to. Better yet after the concert is over you can get the Luas back & drop into McDonalds at Kylemore for a quick bite & still be back in the hotel for last orders.

Gigs You Need Your Passport For!

EVERY year Sue’s birthday conveniently falls the day before St. Patrick’s Day. How awesome is that?! It means that we always have an extra day off to celebrate (or recuperate) so we usually head away for a city break. 

One Year, however, Kylie, one of her all time fave artists, was coming to Dublin for the Aphrodite tour. I debated whether to just get her Kylie tickets and an overnight stay in a Dublin hotel for her birthday rather than go away, as the tickets alone were the guts of €100 each. Then it struck me, sure it’s a European tour, we could do both!

First thing I did was check out Ticketmaster for what other cities Kylie was playing in, then checked out Aer Lingus to see where we could go that wouldn't cost the earth. Yep, it was genius, nope, I'm not ashamed of the humblebrag. Wait till you see, you're about to realise it was genius too...

Valentine's Trips ~ My Top Spots!

With the festive season firmly in the rear view mirror it’s time for a bit of forward planning, but before those Summer holidays come calling, let’s talk about some Valentine’s Day romantic getaways. While I know everyone won’t be all loved up with that special, Snuggle Bunny / Pookey / Muffin Chops or Sweet Cheeks by February 14^th, my top picks are also perfect for some bestie Valentine’s pampering. GALentine's, if you will. PALentine's? You get the gist. 

Killashee House Hotel

I loved everything about the Killashee House Hotel on our visit couple of years ago & have vowed to go back as soon as I can. The four poster bed was so luxurious as was the decor of the room. We got gentle tap on the door not long after we arrived to present us with some wonderful macarons, this, for me, is top class service.  

I have yet to find Eggs Benedict to rival those at The Killashee. Head Chef Philip Gleeson along with his team source the best quality Irish ingredients & whip them into dishes that are found in every foodies dreams. Trust me dinner in Turners Restaurant is a must, the 5 course tasting menu is to die for. 

They also have an onsite spa which uses my all time favourite Elemis products. One night bed & breakfast including dinner in Turners starts at €200 per room per night. You can purchase gift vouchers online here.

Source

The ultimate Valentine’s getaway would be to the City of Lourve, Paris. Believe it or not it really doesn't have to cost the earth. Aer Lingus currently have their January seat sale with flights to Paris Charles du Gaulle starting at €103pp for Friday 13^th – Sunday 15^th February. BARG!

Source

The hotel I have chosen for you is a very budget friendly 4 star designer hotel in a fantastic location near the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe & the Eiffel Tower in the 16^th arrondissement.  Hotel Bassano is easily reached via Metro from Charles du Gaulle airport. Valentines weekend for a double room is €337.76 per room for two nights. Here is where I found the cheapest rate for Hotel Bassano. Flights & hotel for this weekend would cost approx €544 for two people.

The last one I’m not allowed to tell you about, but I can tell you that you'll snap up two nights B&B for 2, including a bottle of wine for just €145 Here - if that's not enough to make you Lusty for Lusty Beg Island, maybe Sue's full review will be - check it out HERE!

Tell us, are you planning on escaping it all this February 14th? 

Cologne & Valkenburg Christmas Markets ~ Probably The Most Magical Yet!

I left it very late this year to book our Christmas market trip as I knew the latest addition to our family would only be about 6 weeks old. I worried that my hubby might panic if I left him with our 5 children, he did a great job, even managed a day out to Dublin with them on his own! I taught him well. 

Gorgeous Ladies on the panel, Rachel Farrell, Sue Jordan, Joanne Larby & Leanne Woodfull, photo nabbed, with permission from @ohheythererachel’s Instagram!

I needed to book a late afternoon flight as Sue was speaking at Ireland’s first ever blogger conference in the Spencer Hotel. Our only option was to fly Ryanair direct to Cologne/Bonn airport paying €87 each, return, including a checked bag for the return flight. I also had to book Fast Track through security for Dublin Airport as I didn’t know how busy traffic or the airport would be at that time. 

A Presidential Christmas in Áras an Uachtaráin

Back in 2012 our family were lucky enough to be invited to the President's house for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Traditionally this is held the first weekend in December & televised by RTE News. 

When the invite arrived on luxurious stationary in late October, the girls were over the moon. This was to be their year, as they were also toy demonstrators on The Late Late Toy Show that year! 

When we arrived outside the gates of the Áras we all had to produce photographic I.D. & our invite before we were allowed access to the car park. There was even a bus to run us up the driveway to the big house. The children were so excited that we decided to walk up to use a bit of their energy!

All bundled up in hand made Arans from Nan

We were welcomed at the door by members of the wonderful staff that work in the Áras. They were so friendly & inviting and made us feel like family returning home. Whoever decorated the house for Christmas did an amazing job, understated elegance throughout.

As we arrived we were ushered into the main reception room where there was an enormous homemade festive spread. Everything was made from scratch in the Presidential kitchen, including the sausage rolls, chicken goujons & filo pastry wrapped tiger prawns. But the mouth-watering cakes & cookies caught the attention of the children.

We were formally introduced to President Michael D Higgins & his wife Sabina, by his military aides-de-camp. They were so lovely & genuinely interested in our family. We chatted for a while, with them telling us all about their four children. Sabina even asked could she hold our youngest son Cillian. 

Then we were led through to meet Santa who gave each of the children an engraved Newbridge Silver Christmas decoration, so they would have a beautiful keepsake of their visit for years to come.

By the time we got back to the reception room the entertainment had started with a magician for the children, this was followed up by the very talented Moya Brennan.

The President & his wife then gave a speech as to what Christmas meant to them, it’s all about family in the Higgins household. We all gathered outside for the lighting of the Christmas tree with the glow of Dublin’s lights in the background, they really have a stunning view from their back garden.

Back inside, I got chatting to a member of staff (kicking myself I never got his name) As we were chatting I mentioned that after there I was going to visit my Dad, who was in the Mater Hospital recuperating after an operation. To my surprise about 10 minutes later he came up to me with a care package of cakes for my Dad. 

I was so touched by this gesture, I actually cried. Dad was delighted with it & later told me that all the doctors & nurses from the other wards came in to visit him in the hopes of getting a Presidential sweet treat for with their tea.

After the ceremony outside a smaller group of us went back inside to an ante room for relaxed chats, while a pianist played Christmas carols. They were so down to earth, Sabina even told a member of staff that they could go for the evening & she took over putting more turf on the fire.

I love this picture, it shows how friendly & approachable Sabina really is!

The chats soon moved on to the topic of the Diaspora, both the Michael & his wife said that they were heartbroken that so many families are affected. 

I said that my big brother Rob & his wife Catherine had to move to the UK in order to find work. I was then asked to call him (!) What followed was 10 minutes of utter surrealism as I greeted my brother & proceeded to hand my phone to the President so he could wish them a Happy Christmas & sympathise that they were not home with family for the festive season.

  

Our visit was not at all what I had expected; it was so relaxed & informal. Our family will always have great memories of that time. No doubt the children will talk about it again as they hang their silver angels on the tree this year.

Áras an Uactatáin is open to the public every Saturday. Admission is free, tickets are issued on a first come first served basis from the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on Saturday mornings. They do not take bookings, so be sure to get there early before the first tour starts at 10.15am. 

Thomas Land ~ Drayton Manor - A Magical Christmas Trip!

Thomas Land is a Thomas the Tank Engine theme park based in Drayton Manor just outside Birmingham and if you have little ones the ideal short break from Dublin. 

Getting there is really easy & you have a choice of Aer Lingus or Ryanair flights direct from Dublin for the hour long flight. We usually fly Ryanair paying about €160 return for 2 adults & 4 children including all taxes & charges.

Knapford Station ('The Fat Controller - I KNOW HIM!!')

The best option we have found is to book a taxi ahead of our flight from Tamworth Taxis so it’s waiting for us at the airport when we arrive. 

Another option is to get the train but when you are travelling as a family it’s just as expensive for the train as it is for a taxi. We pay £25 for 6 of us to our hotel that’s located in Tamworth 20 minutes drive from the airport.

Terence’s driving school

I really like the Holiday Express Inn in Tamworth. It’s usually £50 per night for a family room B&B. As it’s a business hotel they don't have a restaurant but that’s the best bit as they have all local takeaway menus so you order in. You can sit in the breakfast area & they'll give you plates & cutlery. We found it much cheaper than eating at restaurants each night with children!

There is a shopping centre a five minute walk from hotel, where you will find an Asda to stock up on drinks & treats for in Thomas Land. The Snow Dome is on the same grounds as the hotel (indoor skiing, tobogganing & a pool) a cinema with a bowling alley are located directly across the road.

Thomas!

We get a taxi to Drayton Manor from the hotel which is about £6 for 6 of us. You can't buy tickets online for Drayton from Ireland (stupid I know!) You can buy them on the day but the hotel also sells them for a couple of pound cheaper per ticket than at the gate at Drayton. 

Gate prices are age 2-3 years old is £5, 4-11 years £27 & 12-59 years £36. One year we got a great deal on tickets from Lastminute.com, they had a 2 for 1 deal.

Cranky the Crane

Once inside, it’s not just Thomas Land that you have access to, but the whole of Drayton Manor theme park. There is also a Zoo, Dinosaur Park, 4D cinema, an indoor play area & lots of other rides that children can go on. Ours really loved the views from the Ferris wheel and the cable car.

Ben 10 Roller Coaster

The usual fast food is available but if you go on the Thomas train & get off at Tidmouth Halt, you’ll find Mrs Kindley’s Kitchen. A lovely train station cafe where you can buy home cooked food like a baked potato & beans or pies. 

Prices are quite good here for food with children’s meals priced at £3.95 for a sandwich, crisps, fruit bag & a drink.

Bertie the Bus

We’ve gone at different times of the year but by far our favourite time to go is late November when it's Drayton’s Magical Christmas. The whole of Thomas Land is beautifully decorated for the festive season. The 4D movie is changed to a condensed version of The Polar Express.

Christmas at Knapford Station

As most of Drayton Manor is closed down during this time, prices are cheaper. Gate prices are 2-3 years £10, 4-11 years £15 & 12-59 years £20. This price gives you access to over 20 rides in Thomas Land & a couple of other rides in Drayton that are still open. 

Entrance to the Castle of Dreams & a visit to Santa are also included. It’s the best organised Santa Visit I’ve seen so far, as they have lots of Santa’s in different rooms but the children don’t see this. It just ensures minimal waiting time at peak times!

Feeling Festive

The gift that they receive from Santa is really lovely. Contained in the gift bag is a Santa chocolate lolly, a return pass for the following year & a silver bell just like the one from The Polar Express!

Castle of Dreams

In Thomas Land they have the world’s largest Thomas the Tank Engine shop. Prices are ok but if, like us, you have more than one child it gets very expensive very fast. I usually buy Thomas things like t-shirts or engines that I see on sale before we go & bring them with us! I also buy Thomas party bags & fill them with a small colouring book, crayons, lolly & a toy for on the flight. So when we go to the Thomas shop in Thomas Land I just buy the children cheap things badges & flags, saves a fortune!

Realistically you’d only really need one day at Thomas Land. So check back next week when I tell you where we go for our second day in Birmingham!

Christmas Markets in Berlin ♥ Wir Lieben Sie! ♥

So far we’ve given you the inside scoop on Brussels,Bruges & Vienna Christmas Markets, this week is the turn of Berlin.

When we went to Berlin Sue’s two Gorgebags came with us. I hadn't been away with the lads in a while so really enjoyed their company. It wasn’t yet apparent why two teenage lads would want to be seen with their Mam & ageing Aunt. Not only that, but shopping no less!!

We found out on our first night there as when I ordered a beer with dinner. The younger Gorgebag asked his Mam could he also have a beer. Well while I can’t type the answer he got, suffice to say it was a, hell no. He then informed us that in Berlin you can legally drink beer from 16 years old. The waitress confirmed this for us so we all had a beer with our dinner!

I was having trouble finding the flight times we wanted with each airline so I ended up booking our outward journey with Ryanair so we could get an early but not stupid early flight. We paid €50pp including taxes & charges for this 10am flight. 

Our return leg I booked with Aer Lingus so we could get a 10pm flight, this would ensure we got a full day shopping under our belts. This cost us €58.50pp including taxes & charges. I even booked a check in bag for the return leg so we were free to shop with no restrictions.

The train station is just a 5 minute walk outside the airport terminal. Here you can get the train into Berlin City Centre in about 35 minutes for €3.20pp.

The hotel I chose was a just bit too far out of the City Centre for my liking. 

Thirty minutes & a couple of S-Bahn changes later we were at the Europa City hotel.  Having said that the hotel was perfect for what we paid, just €190 for a quad room for 2 nights B&B.

Europa City Hotel

There are over 60 Christmas Markets dotted around Berlin & most are within walking distance of each other. I used christmasmarkets.com to print out maps; this is also a great site for lots of information on each market. To be honest though, you’ll just happen upon most of the markets just by strolling around the city.

Mmmmm gingerbread!

A few of our favourite markets and really should not be missed are

Charlottenburg Palace: This market is the only one that is a bit out of the way from the rest, a bus or taxi is the best way to get there as the trains & trams have their closest stops about 20 minutes walk away.  

Trust me though, it’s worth the trip as not only can you visit the stunning Christmas market with the backdrop of the magnificent old palace you can also take a tour of the palace or walk in the gardens. Many of Berlin’s hotels & restaurants have market stalls in this market so you are sure to find something to whet your appetite!

Charlottenburg Palace

The Nostalgic Christmas Market at the Opernpalais: This market really was like walking onto a film set as the stalls aren’t your traditional wooden huts but rather they are full frontages of buildings. It’s like taking a stroll through a winter wonderland of a bygone era. This market also boasts a 100 year old ferris wheel to take in the amazing views of Berlin.

Nostalgic Christmas Market

This is also where we found our favourite bar!

Potsdamer Platz: This is in the bustling heart of Berlin; the train station is underneath so you will easily find it! There are lots of activities keep you entertained at this market such as ice skating, curling & Europe’s largest toboggan run with glorious views of the Brandenburg Gate.

Potsdamer Platz

The next two markets are right beside each other Alexanderplatz & Berliner Weinachtszeit. The sights, sounds & smells are sure to have you in that festive mood within minutes. Here they freshly bake bread medieval style in many of the huts, hot mead is served in tavern style mugs. Blacksmiths, glassblowers & potters all sell their wonderful hand crafts. With some even giving demonstrations throughout the day.

Alexanderplatz

This, like many markets also has an ice rink with skates on hire for €4pp. To keep the younger market goers entertained they have a petting zoo, pony rides & historic carousels. Although I have to admit to having a gluhwein or two and having a go on a carousel!

Berliner Weihnachtszeit

We couldn’t go to Berlin without taking in some of the cities culture & visiting some of their historic sites. Below are a few of the photos we took while on our weekend in Berlin.

Checkpoint Charlie

Berlin wall 

Holocaust Memorial

Brandenburg Gate

And back to whence we began! 

Have you been to the Berlin markets? Anything we've missed out? 

Also, in 19 days (but who's counting) we're taking to the skies again to see Cologne. It'll be our first time experiencing their markets and the city itself so any hints and/tips would be hugely appreciated!