Travel Articles
   
 
5 Great Bargain Breaks
 
There’s never been a better time to bag a value break in Ireland. Georgina Campbell recommends five favourites that are high on luxury, yet low on price.
01. Harvey’s Point Country Hotel
 
Lough Eske, Co Donegal , www.harveyspoint.com; 074 972 2208
Blessed with one of Ireland’s most beautiful locations, on the shores of Lough Eske near Donegal Town, the Gysling family’s well-managed four star hotel has lovely lake and mountain views, and has recently been redeveloped so that it is now a luxurious place to stay. The rooms in the new 40-room extension may not all have a lake view, but they do have acres of space, huge beds and vast bathrooms, which is more than enough for most guests. Harvey’s Point is known for good food too, and the staff are really friendly and helpful – and they’re known for their great value offers. These change all the time but at the time of writing there are several musical weekends coming up, painting and guided walking breaks that include a beautiful section of the renowned Blue Stack Way (Rambler Breaks from €249 per person sharing for 2 nights B&B, packed lunch, and 2 lovely dinners in the dining room overlooking Lough Eske); they also do Christmas and New Year packages and there’s always something new coming up. Well worth a look.
02. Coolbawn Quay Lakeshore Spa
 
Coolbawn Nenagh Co Tipperary, www.coolbawnquay.com; 067 28158
If you fancy the idea of a country break in understatedly luxurious cottage accommodation, with a mini-spa on site, look no further than this unique place on the eastern shores of Lough Derg. It was our Hideaway of the Year in The Guide in 2005 and, although a registered hotel, this is a hotel like no other. Modelled on the lines of a 19th century Irish village, accommodation is in cottages rather than a hotel building. The shoreside situation is truly lovely and there is a sense of being very close to the changing moods of nature, partly because the main building – which has a small traditional bar and a country style dining room – is only a few feet from the water. Rooms are simple but well furnished and many have a turf-burning stove which is set up in advance, so you can have your own real fire whenever you like. They’re open all year except a few days over Christmas and run a range of offers – at the time of writing, for example, there are ‘Snug & Cosy Breaks’ which are great value - 2 nights B&B, 1 evening meal from €169 per person sharing(weekends €189), ‘One Night Wonders’ (€125 for dinner bed & breakfast and a complimentary spa treatment), and they also do ‘Girly Sleepovers’, Spa Breaks and ‘Golfers United’… A real break.
03. Cromleach Lodge Hotel & Ciunas Spa
 
Castlebaldwin Co Sligo, www.cromleach.com; 071 916 5155
Neil Perry’s Rockpool (107 George St, The Rocks; 9252 1888) close to the Harbour Bridge, is one of the two most talked-about restaurants in Australia. Open fifteen years it was an early exponent of Modern Australian cuisine and the use of pork belly in various guises (even partnering lobster) is a hallmark of that kind of cooking. Perry cooks with a robust panache that is quite a contrast to the other seriously fashionable restaurant Down Under, Tetsuya’s (529 Kent Street; 9267 2900) where Japan meets France.

Tetsuya Wakuda produces tasting menus only, at a very reasonable $190(€117) per head for ten courses with five carefully chosen wines. A tartare of raw salmon studded with finely diced truffle is one of the simpler examples of the jewel-like dishes and exceptionally good.
04. Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
 
Lakes of Killarney Killarney Co Kerry, www.aghadoeheights.com; 064 31766
With stunning views of the lakes and the mountains beyond, this famous five-star hotel a few miles out of town overlooks Killarney’s two 18-hole championship golf courses and its 10,000 sq ft spa is among Europe’s best, offering couples suites, and some unique treatments – including ‘Ayervedic Precious Stone therapy’ in a custom-built aromatherapy cabin. In the care of the brilliant management team Pat and Marie Chawke, it’s now one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels (their motto “it’s the little things which make the difference” can be seen in action here) and is a fantastic short break destination – especially when the price is right. Stylishly contemporary, with airy and spacious public areas, lots of marble, original artwork, and a relaxed, open ambience, there’s a chic bar, an open-plan lounge on the first floor with that view (day food served here), seriously luxurious accommodation in spacious rooms with balconies and lake views, sumptuous bathrooms... All round a good place to be and, with midweek breaks from €265 per person sharing (from €295 weekends) for two nights accommodation, full Irish breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening in the Lakeroom Restaurant, that is real value for a 5-star hotel. (And especially in one like this, as the quality will not be compromised.)
5. Dunraven Arms Hotel
 
Adare Co Limerick, www.dunravenhotel.com; 061 396 633
Bondi Beach may be a bit of kip (there’s a hint of Bray seafront about it, despite the difference in climate) but it does have a landmark restaurant in the form of Icebergs (1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach; 9365 9000), which has a commanding view of the sweep of the bay. Its menu combines Italian influences with a commitment to stripped down and stylish simplicity. Mud bugs with potato salad, peas and tarragon and salt-encrusted bistecca alla Fiorentina were simply ace on my visit. Iceberg’s clientele is young, hip and very well heeled but the service is friendly and the wine list first rate but not exorbitant.

If you manage to eat in only one Sydney restaurant it would be hard to beat Guillaume at Bennelong (Sydney Opera House; 9241 1999), a modern Australian with a very French twist. Situated within the arches of the Sydney Opera House it has to be one of the great dining rooms of the world with unrivalled views of the harbour. And the food matches up, especially the tomato soup with caviar and the roasted peaches.
In association with