Travel And Leisure
Australia Travel & Vacation Deals
Posted on January 17, 2012 |
Australia is a country that occupies an entire continent, located in the southern part of Pacific Ocean. Due to its location Australia has been relatively isolated many years on the international travel market, but now things are changing. Nowadays a travel to Australia is a more and more popular experience, indifferent if is taken in consideration the cultural travel market or the active segment of holiday makers.
Because to its increasing popularity, travel agencies offer a wide range of vacation deals to Australia. A significant part of this deals go to the scuba diving fans and are offered by hotels and resorts of Cairns. This is a pretty small city in Queensland and many people could ask why is it so renowned in this circumstances. Well, the answer is the Great Barrier Reef, which is the biggest (it can be seen even from the space!) reef of the world, made up of a huge number of coral formations. Of course, in this tropical waters are a lot of species of marine animals, especially a very large variety of colorful fish species and invertebrate mollusks. During a vacation in Cairns holiday makers have many other attractions to enjoy – Cape Tribulation area, the Daintree National Park, the Rainforestation Nature Park of Kuranda (100 acres large and having 3 main attractions – Army Duck Rainforest Tour, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and Koala & Wildlife Park), and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. To see this natural wonders, many tourists choose to buy vacation deals offered by hotels and beach resorts of Cairns. There are all kind of accommodations, starting from very basic budget hotels up to all inclusive 5 star resorts, where holiday makers are pampered 24 hours a day.
But scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and other water sports (surfing is gorgeous in Australia, by the way!) are all what Australia has to offer to an avid traveler? Not, of course! There are so many things to do that could be filled a few books with all attractions available on this continent. This country has tropical regions in the northern part, arid deserts in the center, temperate climate regions in the southern part and many cosmopolitan cities such as Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin, Perth and Victoria. Each of this cities is a very interesting travel destination and vacation deals of its hotels can be categorized as excellent. Tourists are advised to not try to see this country during a single vacation because it’s impossible! Each vacationer should assign a main goal to its holiday and enjoy the best things that the visited region has to offer.
Fairfield CT: One of Connecticut’s Best Cities For Your Home And Family
Posted on January 16, 2012 |
Fairfield is known for its elegant living and unique neighborhoods, beautiful beaches, a lively downtown and numerous leisure activities. These important quality of life benefits that come with living in Fairfield make it one of Connecticut’s best towns for your home and family.
For beach goers and waters sport enthusiasts Fairfield’s eight-mile Gold Coast on Long Island Sound is a summer playground. There are four public beaches, docking and mooring facilities, sailboat storage, a marina and boat basins. Jennings Beach and Penfield Beach have sandy shorelines with food concessions for sun worshippers.
Fairfield’s lovely landscaped parks offer walking, hiking, bicycling, picnicking and nature study overlooking the Mill River. For residents and visitors who enjoy freshwater swimming there’s Lake Mohegan. During the winter months, ice skaters glide across Sturges Pond, Owen Fish Park and Gould Manor Park.
Money Magazine ranked Farifield as the best place to live in the Northeast. The community has six public and private golf courses, dozens of asphalt tennis courts at parks and schools.
The Metro North Railroad, Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway are all easily accessible and make it convenient to travel to nearby metropolitan areas like Westchester County, New York City, Hartford and Stamford.
The city has an extensive and diverse range of houses and communities from stately colonials dating from the late 1700s, Greek Revival, Federal and Victorian homes to striking contemporaries and a variety of condominiums both inland and along the coast. Many of these well-preserved buildings are registered historic landmarks.
An Eighteenth Century saltbox farmhouse furnished to portray the lives of its Revolutionary-era inhabitants Ogden House and Gardens is an interesting stop to visit. The city’s Historical Society Museum located on Old Post Road features over three and a half centuries of artifacts, and includes permanent as well as changing exhibits.
Fairfield has the three excellent public libraries. Pequot Library located in Southport is home to one of the nation’s most impressive collections of rare volumes and Americana.
Fairfield’s city’s school system is modern and thriving. The Continuing Education program offers a variety of learning opportunities for adults. There are many independent and parochial schools and colleges including Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University. These colleges offer arts and athletic programs for the community to enjoy, including lectures, theater and Division I intercollegiate sports.
Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts produces a regular theater series featuring a wide range of performing arts attractions throughout the year in an 800 seat theater. Westport Country Playhouse offers music and theater in a quaint and charming renovated Red Barn. The Quick Center for the Arts has two large main theaters.
The Connecticut Audubon Center and the adjoining 155-acre Roy and Margot Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary features live education animals displays and other nature-related exhibits. A captivating butterfly garden that’s fun for all ages is open from late spring and throughout the summer. The Center’s “Birds of Prey” aviary is home to a variety of hawks and owls, two Peregrine falcons, and a turkey vulture.
Squantz Pond State Park photographers appreciate the stunning reflections in the pond during the change in foliage colors during the fall. Squantz Pond’s beauty is that it’s surrounded by wooded areas and rolling hills that make it feel mountainous.
The city has two fine golf courses. Fairchild-Wheeler Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation length course. The Brooklawn Country Club and Golf Course has received wide accolades as one of the top 100 classic courses in America.
For the adventurous Connecticut Yankee Balloons offers hot-air balloon flights over the Litchfield Hills, central Connecticut and the Housatonic and Naugatuck River valleys – weather permitting.
The wide range of outdoor activities, cultural events and natural beauty on the Long Island Sound makes Fairfield one of Connecticut’s best cities for your home and family.
Terrorism and Travel
Posted on January 12, 2012 |
Pre September 11 terrorism was an issue which didn’t overly concern Americans. It was something that happened in faraway places to people they did not know. In fact this was much the same for most western societies. Unfortunately in today’s world this could not be further from the truth. If you travel beyond the borders of the USA or the UK in any direction you are stepping into the cross fire of a battle that involves thousands of people in dozens of countries.
The answer to this problem is not to refrain from travelling abroad. No, far from it, as this is in itself a victory for the terrorist. The solution lies in broadening your security awareness of the issue and adapting prudent travel habits. The single most important element in reducing your exposure to terrorism is for you to take active security and/or close protection precautions. Like most criminal minds, a terrorist will pray on the easiest targets. We have to harden the target and stop making their job easy.
IDENTIFY THE DANGER
Terrorism defined is an act of violence or the threat of violence with the purpose of generating fear. While all countries have suffered as victims, Americans remain the number one target choice.
According to Andy Lightbody (an emerging authority on terrorism), since 1983 over 400 Americans have been killed by terrorist actions abroad and over 600 injured. These figures are deceptive as they do not take into consideration the hundreds of victims who have escaped physical injury but retain the psychological scars of terror. The FBI reports that the total number of terrorist bombings world-wide reported in 1986 alone, totalled more than 700. It is an increasing security problem with a frightening growth potential which all close protection officers should be aware of.
Security Tip: Prior to the end of the last Millennium if we removed the obvious trouble zone of Lebanon, we found that six countries dominated two-thirds of the recent terrorist attacks, namely Columbia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Spain and Belgium. However fast forward to current day and the shift has moved to war zone areas like Iraq and Afghanistan. However terrorist attacks are increasing in many other global destinations. Security and close protection officers are advised to conduct rigorous threat assessments prior to close protection operation deployment to these areas.
The terrorist of today is not the disorganised lunatic that you may envision. Many are from upper and middle class backgrounds, who for a variety of reason have been recruited into a fast-paced world of violent causes. They are organised to a high degree that would be admired by the very establishment they oppose. While some terrorists have mercenary motives and others exhibit signs of raving insanity, the majority of terrorists are dedicated crusaders willing to give his or her life, as well as yours, for their cause. With extensive media coverage, terrorism against Americans has become an effective way to gain public attention in a world theatre. These tactics are deplorable, but unfortunately successful and efficient. Simply stated, terrorism does work, hence the need for security and close protection officers to understand the security information outlined in this terrorism and travel article part 1.
PREPARATION AND THE MINDSET OF PREVENTION
By acknowledging the fact that you or your security close protection VIP client could be a target of terrorism, that indeed it could happen to you, puts you well on your way into the mindset of prevention. Although you do not want to be fearful, you cannot be overly cautious. You need to remain in that perceptive middle ground between complacency and paranoia. This middle ground is the ground taken by many security, bodyguards and close protection officers.
Security Tip: Undertaking specialised security close protection training will place you in the higher ground of professional paranoia which is occupied by many of the world-class close protection specialists.
As you plan your vacation or business trip abroad, begin the process of intelligence gathering. Unfortunately, you may find an appalling lack of unbiased security information available to the general public as to the actual situation in the country to which you are travelling. Learn as much as you can about your destination through personal and security sources, follow the media and keep current with the political changes of the region. Clearly identify the potential risks of travelling in that country. Make your plans to avoid large events in your host country such as national celebrations and anniversaries, military displays or air shows. Such events are often the target of violent protest against the government increasing your risk and the potential risk to your security close protection client of becoming an incidental casualty.
An excellent source of security information for professional bodyguards is our own State Department. They are not a travel agency and they will provide you with a candid assessment of the risk factor in any particular zone of the world. They can also inform you of any upcoming events in your destination country which you should plan on avoiding. For an authoritative report on conditions abroad, call them at 202-6475225.
Some of your higher risk times, especially when conducting a security close protection operation will be in the airport before and after departure and on the plane itself. Because military, law enforcement and security personnel are specifically targeted by terrorists, do not carry your badge or other security I.D. in your wallet on the plane. If you must bring it for work purposes, pack it in your luggage. If you are on family vacation, it is best to leave all such identification at home. Clean out your wallet of all unnecessary information, telephone numbers and notes. Do leave in pictures of family and children as. hijackers have been known to be more lenient on families.
If you are hijacked, your passport will definitely be taken. If you are a frequent traveller, get a new passport as a multitude of visa entries will betray the fact that you are acting in an official capacity. If you visit Israel – ask them to stamp your visa on a separate piece of paper that does not need to be carried in your passport. The Israelis will readily agree as that government is painfully aware of the injuries inflicted upon their citizens and allies. Make a photocopy of the first page of your passport and your visas and keep this in your checked luggage. It will help you get a replacement passport quicker at your destination should your passport be confiscated or stolen.
Security Tip: In your carry-on bag, pack at least a six-day supply of any medication that you require on a daily basis. This small precaution will safeguard your health in the event of a hijacking. Do not carry your ground itinerary with your travel tickets as this alerts a terrorist to where you are going next. Do not carry controversial reading such as Playboy, Penthouse, or even Cosmopolitan. Many terrorist groups find this type of publication highly offensive and it will provoke them to unnecessary anger.
Leave a detailed itinerary of your travel plans with a contact person in the States. Make sure they know exactly where you will be, how you are getting there and how to contact you. it is, also, a good idea to leave with them a photo copy of your passport, credit cards and traveller’s checks numbers.
For executive travel arrangements consider consulting security cleared travel sgency. a company who makes travel arrangements and consultations for corporations and individuals who carry a high risk factor and must keep terrorism in mind. They are usually staffed with experienced and intelligent personnel, sensitive to your travelling requirements.
Copyright (c) 2009 Dr Mark Yates
Bangkok Hotel Travel Tips Part 1: The Best Months For Hotel Discounts in Bangkok
Posted on January 6, 2012 |
Traveling to Bangkok for an exotic and delightful Asian tour is more popular then ever after it was proclaimed as the “Top City” by Travel & Leisure magazine. One major factor for the honored title is that Bangkok is seen as one of the most popular places to visit for budget travelers and also for travelers who can afford a moderate spending spree.
But one of the most important key in the overall satisfaction of a holiday in Bangkok is where you will be staying. And choosing the right hotel accommodation could mean the difference between a memory of a lifetime or a lifetime of regret.
Fortunately Bangkok is a city with a wide range of quality hotels with affordable nightly rates. And if you could live with a fan in a spartan room in a mostly hot climate than you can certainly stretch your budget further. And if you can afford to spend a bit more you just might even land yourself a 4 star luxury hotel. Like most hotels throughout the world room rates fluctuate by the low and high seasons or during special events and holiday occasions.
Bangkok’s Seasons:
April to late September is the hot and wet season. April is the hottest month at 35 degrees Celsius or 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Factor in the high humidity and you’ve got yourself a steam bath. Towards September expect to see a downpour of heavy rain though it hardly lasts a few hours. These months are considered as the low season so room rates are reduced by 20% and in some cases 40%. October to mid February is the cool season. Temperatures around this time are about 29 degrees Celsius or 85 degrees Fahrenheit with low to moderate humidity. You can expect the temperature to be slightly cooler after rainfall. This is obviously the best time to visit Bangkok and in turn prices for hotels cost more. New Years and Christmas. These two popular Western holidays is also celebrated in Bangkok. Staying in a brand name hotel such as a Marriott will cost more because you will have to pay extra for a compulsory dinner of some sort.
In my opinion Bangkok is a great city to visit all year round. Even though April is the hottest month it is also the Thai New Year where Thais and foreigners take part in the popular Songhkran Festival.
And even though hotel prices cost more during the high season it is still much more affordable than any hotel in the West. And the excellent quality of the rooms and services provided will definitely surprise you, especially budget hotels that are right in central Bangkok.
Travel & Philanthropy
Posted on January 4, 2012 |
Summer’s just around the corner and people are getting ready for their vacations. The count-down has begun for the first day of sleep-away camp; university students are returning home; others are heading overseas for adventures.
At 17 I moved out of my parents place and spent a year traveling around Europe and the Middle East. When I returned I made a promise to myself that I would take a month off each year to explore a different part of the world and a different part of me. My boundaries have been pushed – from kayaking along the east coast of the United States and hiking a part of the Appalachian Trail; to handing out tef (grain from Ethiopia) to street kids and their parents in Northern Ethiopia. It’s this last experience that I want to draw upon for this blog post – travel and philanthropy.
David Chamberlain, CEO of Exquisite Safaris, said the following about philanthropic travel:
“Philanthropic Travel is focused on helping people get past their daily march for survival.”
In fact, the UN has even identified the positive impacts that tourism with a community bend has on both the traveller and the communities that are visited:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) states that if responsible practices are in place, tourism is the natural interlocutor between the wealth and desires of the global traveler and the socio-economic needs of some of the world’s most remote, but heritage-rich communities, natural and cultural sites. It’s vital to manage, through collaboration, the impact of tourism and the low-volume, high yield operators particularly in the luxury tier are in a unique position to deliver service and stability to world heritage. UNESCO sees responsible travel as a delicate balancing act. Tourism involves a series of trade-offs but, within an agreed framework of goals and limits and a climate of educational, respectful relationships, we have one of our most powerful tools for poverty reduction.
What does that balance look like? For centuries we have been travelling the globe bringing with us our own ideas of what society and community should look like. Mostly from the religious perspective. From the Crusades and their concepts of tithing and gospel; to the Muslim expansion into Spain and their values of education and charity; to today’s missionary groups like World Vision, Samaritan’s Purse and others that couch doing good as part of “What Would Jesus Do?”
There is a difference between missionary work and philanthropic travel. And there is also a difference between volun-tourism and philanthropic travel.
Humanitarian travel doesn’t have to mean hard labor or rustic lodging. Unlike volun-tourism, philanthropic travel is designed for people with more money than time. And for most charities, there is nothing they need more than money.
“There are plenty of people (local unemployed laborers) to bang the hammer,” says Chamberlain, “What we need to do is get them the hammers and the nails.”
When you go overseas to volunteer for an organization there are a couple things to consider, and ask before you sign on:
1. Is what I am about to do taking away a job from someone already in the country?
2. The funding for the project that the organization received, does that include staff implementation? If so, how are those funds being allocated if the implementation is being done by a volunteer? In other words, where is that money going?
We hear time, and time again, how hard it is to track the dollars that we send overseas. This is no more true than when an organization receives funding for a project to be implemented by local people, but then sources volunteers from overseas who will pay their way over and for all their expenses and do the work for free. Yes, in the short-term the organization has pocketed the money that would have otherwise been spent on a staff, but in the long-run, that does not help build up the local economy.
An effective travel philanthropy experience looks like this:
Pre-trip educational opportunity Bonding experience in-country between family members and other participants Hands-on interaction between where you donation has gone and what has or is happening as a result Positive in-country encounters that are not only about the social need, but also about the culture and the wonderful things that are part of that community and country A discussion around community economic development and the projects that you are supporting
This fall, Dexterity Consulting, will be holding its first philanthropic travel experience to Ethiopia. More information will be posted online in the weeks to come.
5 Travel Tips and New Year’s Resolutions for 2011
Posted on January 3, 2012 |
When you ask most people to name places they are dying to visit they can usually rattle off at least 10 cities or countries. But, ask them “when” they plan to visit and you often get silence. What are you waiting for? Make a change in 2011 and resolve to visit 5 new places.
We’ve compiled a list of our 5 top travel tips to help you see new places and experience new things in 2011.
1) Choose a nearby town or city to visit: you don’t need to travel far to see new places! Start your year off right by visiting a nearby city or town that you’ve never seen before. Consult friends and family for tips on places to eat, museums to visit and other sites to see.
2) Dream big! Pick one city you’d like to visit in the next five years: big trips take a lot of planning! Want to visit Egypt at some point in the near future? Start researching your trip options and destinations now. Once you can ballpark the cost of such a trip, start stashing away money now. It may sound silly to start saving now, but if you save just $100 per month, you’ll have $6,000 saved by the time year five comes to a close!
3) Let your spouse choose a destination: often our significant others have different travel interests than us and get us thinking outside of our comfort zone. Let your spouse choose a destination for a long weekend trip or special vacation. Then, work together to choose an itinerary that mixes both interests.
4) Meet the girls (or guys!) for a long weekend: take a trip to a spa, visit baseball stadiums in multiple stadiums or meet the gang in another fun spot. Trips with friends offer a nice break from the rigors of everyday life and so many different personalities can make for fun trips with unexpected activities!
5) Keep a travel journal: whether you keep notes in a regular notebook or start a blog to chronicle your travels, recording your experiences is a great way to reflect on (and remember!) what you’ve done. Reading your journal can also inspire motivation for future trips, too!
Travel Magazine: 50 And Beyond Readers
Posted on December 29, 2011 |
Travel 50 and Beyond is the only travel magazine to be specifically aimed at those aged fifty years and over. With twenty years of publication, and 375,000 readers, it serves the traveler who seeks quality and enriching experiences in travel, as well as value for money.
Travel 50 and Beyond’s 50+ readership represent a group which takes 80% of all vacations, often taking longer trips than younger travelers, and traveling more times during the year. This article examines some of the tours and other trips to New Zealand, which may be of interest to Travel 50 subscribers.
New Zealand tours from Travel 50′s associate, Tour Vacations To Go, allows group members time to explore the natural beauty of this island nation. Some tours include Australia as well as New Zealand, while others focus just on New Zealand. Most of the New Zealand tours are accompanied by an expert guide.
Tours range in length from extremely short 4, 5 or 6 day tours, up to the 26 Day Ultimate New Zealand Tour, and the 28 day Land of the Long White Cloud Tour. An example of a short tour is the Beautiful Bay of Islands tour, run by Brendan Travel. This tour starts and ends in Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island. Tour highlights are the Waitangi Treaty House and the Cape Brett “Hole in the Rock” Cruise around the Bay of Islands.
The treaty house is one of the oldest buildings in New Zealand. It is the former house of the British Resident, and the Treaty of Waitangi was signed here. This treaty, signed by British and Maori representatives in 1840, is regarded as the founding document of New Zealand, although it is also the source of political controversies, particularly about the rights of the native Maori people.
Visitors remaining in Auckland at the end of the Bay of Islands tour might consider staying at Skycity Hotel Auckland. This hotel is located in the heart of the city, on the corner of Federal and Victoria Streets. The hotel, which is 45 minutes drive from Auckland airport, is part of the Skycity complex, which features two casinos, 18 bars and restaurants, theater and other live entertainment.
The Idea of Travel and Leisure
Posted on December 25, 2011 |
It is a big treat to travel not for any business or work-related reasons but simply for leisure and pleasure. For those who are new to this kind of thrill, there are a thousand ways to plan an itinerary given that one has the right knowledge and the right financial budget. The main essence of travel and leisure is not to simply travel and see places but to bring the concept of traveling to new heights by allowing oneself leisurely experiences while exploring the sights and sounds of the entire area. To determine the right fitted itinerary for your specific needs, a great consideration should be placed on the questions that most travelers ask. Will I be traveling alone or with a companion? What do I need to know if I plan to take the whole family for a leisurely vacation?
Traveling Solo
Most of the practical neophytes opt to go for a pre-planned itinerary that contains a complete set of services including the two-way travel ticket, the accommodation, the course of trips and tours, and other add-on services and perks that some travel agency offers. Going for a cruise type of solitary vacation is getting popular nowadays especially that the romantic promises of an immense horizon and endless waterworld-type of environment is too much to resist for people who escapes from the busy buzz of the urban jungle. Try the Caribbean or Norwegian cruise that would certainly break the monotony of your cyclical and routine-based existence. When you travel alone, try to bring a book, an ipod, or maybe something that would keep your hands busy such as art and painting materials or a writing implement to preoccupy your mind. There are also hotels and resorts that have customized their accommodations for those who want to spend their time alone and relax without worries.
Traveling with a Loved One
The concept of leisure and travel especially for honeymooners requires a focused planning especially in the creation of an itinerary of activities. To make it easier for couples and lovers, there are resorts and hotels that provide holistic services from wellness activities to superbly executed food and dining services. For a leisurely experience, couples mostly engage in activities that are not usually possible when they are on their usual ground. Some of these activities are scuba diving, parasailing, skiing, island hopping, mountain trekking, and even game hunting. In sharing a leisurely but quiet togetherness, couples could simply pamper themselves by getting a spa massage with soothing music on the background or by engaging in yoga and tai chi sessions to maintain the harmony of mind and body.
Traveling with the whole family
This is a tricky vacation getaway especially if you are bringing a baby or a toddler on your trip. Some wealthy families think leisure and travel hiring a nanny to look after the baby but some believe that carefully planning the whole vacation spree will eliminate most of your headaches when the actual trip already begins. One advice is to only bring the things that are necessary to at least minimize the bulk of luggage that you will be dragging with you. There are hotels and even restaurants that cater for a bigger number of customers and clients. Make sure to check out these places before barking on a family journey.
Job Opportunities in Travel
Posted on December 12, 2011 |
Nowadays, more and more people want to travel. Whether it is for business or for pleasure, traveling has become a viable option for expanding companies and eager vacationers. Technology in transportation and communications has improved dramatically affecting the trends of travel and tourism.
The booming travel industry requires increased security staffing. Safety is important for all travel related businesses. Airports and other transportation terminals offer security-related positions all over the world.
The opportunity to work as security personnel has become one of the most obvious prospects. Crowded tourist destinations also have this essential need. An area with an atmosphere of safety attracts more visitors and patrons.
Naturally, if there are a lot of travelers, plenty of transportation attendants are needed as well. Flight attendants and cabin crews are needed in these jobs. These workers ensure the comfort and safety of passengers. Entry level positions are easy to get and usually offer room for promotion. People and service skills are must haves in this line of work.
Hospitality jobs are maybe the most sought after jobs as of late. This type of job is a feasible option for folks with lack of formal education. Bellhops, receptionists, and attendants are just some jobs in this field. They are commonly offered by hotels, spas, and wellness centers. Travelers especially the ones who are in it for pleasure are the recipients of these services.
Cruise ships offer plenty of hospitality and service jobs. A cruise vacation is mainly for gratification and enjoyment and comfort is vital for the vacationers. Hospitality personnel deal with these demands and provide as much comfort as they possible can.
Let us not forget entertainers, waiters, instructors, events organizers, and many more. They provide entertainment or worthwhile activities for travelers. On cruise lines, there are a lot of job opportunities in these various fields. The work setting is splendid and the potential to earn is also great. Tips from satisfied patrons can help workers make even more.
Some people with exceptional skills in art and other technical aspects use traveling as a supplementary part of their job. Travel writers, photographers, and bloggers make traveling the subject of their work. They earn great money while enjoying themselves in the process.
Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort – Something For Everyone
Posted on December 11, 2011 |
When Conde Nast traveler magazine, in 2002, awarded the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort as its number one find it is People’s Choice Awards, one of the major reasons for their selection was that the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort is a place where there is never nothing to do. Visiting this Hotel and golf resort is also a visit to a world-class spa, an outstanding equestrian center, a challenging cross-country trail, and a terrific selection of five-star restaurants at which patrons can recover from their days on the links, on horseback, or on the trail.
Lovers of 18th-century architecture will be dazzled by the turrets and ornate stone masonry of the Manor House, while gardeners will be lost in a dream as they explore its breathtaking grounds and ancient ruins. Adare Manor House offers sleeping accommodations both within the castle itself and in separate three-and-four-bedroom villas a 15- minute stroll from the Manor House. The villas have fully equipped kitchens and master baths with soaking tubs. Those privileged to sleep in one of the 62 bedrooms within the manor house itself may feel overwhelmed by the castle’s ancient wood and stone construction, not to mention its soaring ceilings.
The Clubhouse at the Adare Manor House and Golf Resort has a wonderful outdoor seating area where you and friends can gather following an afternoon on the links to relax over a drink as the sun sinks below the horizon to the west. If you have come to the Adare Manor Hotel for a romantic getaway, relax with your beloved over at candlelit dinner in the Oakroom Restaurant. If you prefer meals within international flair and flavor, then head for the Carriagehouse Restaurant.
Many visitors have come to the Adare Manor Hotel in search of rest and healing. They are welcomed by a staff of professional therapists skilled in the arts of relaxation and rejuvenation. The hotel’s facilities also include a year-round indoor swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness room. Guests who prefer outdoor exercise will love the cross-country trail and the equestrian center, where the Manor staff will arrange a ride on a suitable mount.
The crown jewel of the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort, however, is the Robert Trent Jones 18-hole championship golf course, which opened in 1995. The final major golf course he designed, it is widely regarded as one of his best. It contains 7453 yards spread over 230 acres of emerald Irish countryside, made all the more enchanting and challenging by a 14 acre lake bordering nine of its holes, and the River Maigue coursing and tumbling through its landscapes.
If your idea of the perfect golfing vacation is one which offers much, much more than golf, the Adare Hotel and Golf Resort is where you belong!