A city still full of surprises
It has been 17 years since I visited London, so I was long overdue for a trip to refamiliarise myself with the cosmopolitan English capital. A short 75-minute flight from Dublin and I am figuring out the tubes on the Underground, finding my way into Central London. As I sit on the tube, flashes of […]
A warm Donegal welcome
The minute I take the exit off the busy M50 motorway and onto the road to Donegal, my shoulders relax and my body immediately slows down. I visit Donegal as much as I can and if my tweens will come along. When they were younger, I went to Donegal several times a year and would […]
California Dreaming – The Ultimate National Parks Road Trip
I began to do road trips around Ireland with my children when they were about eight years old, they are now 12. I hadn’t been driving long (I did my test at the ripe old age of 46) and I couldn’t wait to just get in my car and drive everywhere. And that’s what I […]
Snap up a trip to Kissimmee
The last time I visited Florida was 18 years ago with my family and all the amazing things we did then have never left me. I even got to see the legend Tony Bennet sing live at the Hard Rock Café at Universal Orlando Resort. Such is the magic of this state in the US; […]
Family fun in the hills of Benidorm
We are so spoiled for holiday destinations from Ireland to Spain – the only hard choice is narrowing down which costa you want to visit. Among my favourites is the reliable Costa Blanca – home to Spanish culture, family-friendly hotels, great food and a guaranteed 300 days of sunshine. Some of the most popular resorts […]
Spain’s Hidden Costa
We have all heard of the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Dorada…now there’s another one to add to the list: Costa Tropical. A short flight to Malaga takes you to the busy resorts of Benalmadena, Torremolinos, and Marbella, but a short detour will take you to an authentic Spanish town called Salobreña in the […]
Home of natural wonders
Growing up in the 1980s, one of my favourite forms of escapism was movies. I spent countless hours glued to the television, completely absorbed in Hollywood blockbusters and iconic TV shows, imagining a life far removed from my reality. In my head, I was being swept off my feet by someone who looked like actor […]
Caribbean State of Mind
For me, travel has always been about escape and the further away, the better. I like that feeling of landing into a completely different culture, where everything from the food to the pace of life feels slightly unfamiliar. It started in my early twenties when I went backpacking in Thailand, not entirely sure where I […]
Relax into a Slower Summer Holiday
There is a particular kind of stress that comes with planning a family holiday and this summer, why not look at making it less demanding and more about the adventure. With ongoing concerns around aviation fuel supply and the knock-on effect on flights, more families will be thinking of a Plan B. For many, the […]
Timeless Treat By The Sea
I have such fond memories of going to the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire for afternoon tea with my mother and sister. It always felt like a real treat – sitting in the Bay Lounge, looking out at the sea, working our way through sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and more cakes […]
Beyond the Blue
If you’ve ever spent time in Australia, you will know that unmistakable early morning soundtrack – the call of the kookaburra. It’s one of those sounds that stays with you. I didn’t know what to expect in the Caribbean, but in the Cayman Islands, it’s the crowing of roosters that you hear in the early […]
A True Taste of the Heart of Ireland
The geographical centre of Ireland is generally considered to be near the village of Kilbeggan in County Westmeath and whether you’re a local or a visitor, you need to put it on your ‘must-visit’ list. Particularly to visit the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in Ireland, dating as far back as 1757 – Kilbeggan Distillery. If […]