TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Just as people are going online to organise their summer holidays, more and more are arranging their own ski breaks without using a tour operator. Package companies make skiing holidays easy, you just turn up at the airport and on landing you are coached to the resort, handed ski-lift passes, escorted to a ski-hire shop and then on to ski school. But just as people are organising summer holidays online, more and more are arranging their own ski breaks. The advantages are in flexibility and, very often, cost (cheap flights are crucial to this). The crucial factor is the flight price, once it starts getting close to the package price it’s not worth the hassle – you might as well go with a package company. Some people worry about how to get equipment, ski instructors and lift passes, but that’s easy. Resorts are coming down with ski-hire shops, you just walk in, ask for what you want and they’ll fit it. Many hotels will have discount deals with certain shops, so ask in reception. Lift passes can be bought at the main lift going up out of the resort and, often, other lifts in the resort too. You book lessons in one of the ski school offices in the resort: you’ll usually have a choice of the country’s main ski school. If you are just paying for yourself, when skiing alone, as a couple or in a group, it’s easier to treat yourself to a package but if you have offspring and are looking at the prospect of being priced out of ski holidays, then it’s worth checking out cheaper options.. Self-organised ski holidays are also good if you just want to ski for a few days, although package companies are beginning to offer alternatives to the Saturday to Saturday option.
Weekend Hotspot
For many tourists to Ireland the Ring of Kerry journey instils their image of Ireland. The scenery, coastline towns and villages are all spectacular and I once heard it said that the landscape varies a hundred times in 100 km such is its diversity. Even in recessionary times the Ring of Kerry drive is crowded and you may find yourself behind a convoy of tour buses at almost anytime of the day so a visit in off peak is my
Living
advice. Most of the tour buses drive the Ring in a counterclockwise direction and some tourists who drive themselves prefer to drive the same route in a clockwise direction to avoid the crowds..There are a variety of safe beaches in the area and the surroundings attract n 2011 Ski se adventure sports enason. thusiasts. Parknasilla od. mo vel Tra by Citalia of nch Lau n an indulgent Victorian hotel has been reinvented for the modern era, with a magnificent new spa overlooking servatory style area, have Kenmare Bay. This historic hotel views over the garden but is set in 500 acres of rolling green you need to book early to countryside, surrounded by sub- avoid disappointment. tropical vegetation, mountainous The newly developed spa backdrops and tranquil Atlantic sea and leisure centre has 13 views. Best of all is Parknasilla’s at- treatment rooms and the titude to children if you have a large thermal suite has a south family to consider, In fact they are easterly aspect incorpoperceived as guests of the future rating a mix of wet and and catered for accordingly with dry, warm, hot and cold special menus, entertainment and cabins. The selection of n Parknasilla Resort Spa. activities. Up the sweeping staircase outdoor activities at Parkand past the stained glass window, nasilla has come of age another reminder of a bygone age, with something to suit the older bedrooms at Parknasilla everyone. On offer miles Hotel are full of character, with of walks, both guided and independ- about Italy that could possibly do classic dark wood furnishings and ent, tennis, a private 12 hole golf it justice! From art to food, from tall bay windows. The property has course, horse riding, petanque, cro- stunning and varied countryside 92 bedrooms and suites but the quet, archery, clay pigeon shooting, to historical ruins, Italy has it all! 24 two-bedroom courtyard lodges fishing, falconry and boating. Park- Now Citalia by Travel mood projust off the main building and the nasilla Resort continues to be one of vide holidays to Italy that caters 38 spacious three-bedroom villas Ireland’s most romantic getaways, to all tastes and budgets. Whether are particularly suited to families. so make sure and sign the guest you’re looking to explore the beauThe older block with higher ceil- book on departure and join many tiful lakes in the North, marvel at ings would be my preferred choice well known visitors throughout the unique beauty of Florence or Venand the new rooms are quite small years including Bertie Ahern, Prin- ice or simply escape from it all on a so know what you want before you cess Grace of Monaco and General beach in Sardinia. Some exciting ofbook. The cuisine at Pygmalion Res- Charles de Gaulle to name but a fers from citalia by travel mood for taurant is a triumph for Head Chef few. If your are looking for a relax- Winter 2010 and Summer 2011 Relax Peter Brennan and the original Vic- ing break after a hectic Christmas, in Rome with a 3 night package at torian dining room overlooking the Parknasilla Resort & Spa has the an- the 3*Hotel San Remo, departs Janusplendour of the bay adds a sense swer with their luxurious ladies re- ary 10th, from €258. or summer in of sophistication. A very large and treat package.. Valid between 2nd to Sorrento with a 7 night package at beautifully appointed formal room, 9th January 2011, this Hotel Package the 3*Hotel Girasole, departs May this is an impressive restaurant by includes:, One night B&B luxury ac- 9th, from €549.or 7 night package at any standards and diners are left in commodation with a mountain view, the 3*Hotel Lidomare, departs June no doubt that this is dining in a style dinner at Pygmalion Restaurant and 1st, from €549. All prices are per that befits the age and history of the a mini spa treatment. Prices start at person, subject to availability, and building. Presentation is exquisite €129 pps. www.parknasillahotel.ie include return flights from Dublin, throughout, adding to the sense airport taxes, and accommodation of a special occasion. The best taWeekly Best Buy as stated. Travel insurance is extra. bles, in a large semi-circular conThere’s nothing you could write www.travelmood.ie
Pet’s Corner...
with Kathleen Murray
with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
Buying and selling dogs without papers
Due to demand, this week, I will list the do’s and don’ts of buying and selling dogs for the information of people that are unsure. Selling dogs is a huge responsibility. If you breed and sell then you need to be registered with the Irish Kennel Club otherwise you are not a legitimate dog breeder. Dog breeding is about improving the standard of the breed, not making money. You need to know what you are doing. You need to know about the breed, what size and shape it should be (measurements are important) and also know not to breed from dogs that have “faults”. Faults are defects in the
dog such as and overshot/undershot jaw, too big, too small, wrong shaped skull/bone structure, wrong temperament (nervous or aggressive) etc etc. There’s a lot to know. You should also know not to breed from dogs during their first heat and not to breed more than 6 litters from a dog during its lifetime. You should know to have the pups wormed, vaccinated by a registered vet at 6 weeks for parvovirus, and to get them microchipped before they go to their new owners. A pup should not be sold before it is 8 weeks old. It should not be taken from its mother before that as it needs to learn valuable les-
sons from her. The mother needs to be able to come and go without the pups being able to follow her. People that sell dogs without papers often sell them too young, not vaccinated (stamped by a registered vet) and they often breed their dogs long after they should have stopped breeding. This is abuse and if you take more than 6 litters from a dog then you are not caring for your dog properly. Dogs are not breeding machines they are live animals that feel pain, get ill or often have to have operations to deliver their pups or die during birth. People buying dogs should not pay money for a pedigree dog that has no pa-
pers with it. They should not pay money for a dog that is not pedigree full stop. This practice only encourages the abuse of animals. Well bred dogs don’t cost any more than badly bred dogs. Know what you are looking for. When you buy, you should be able to meet the mother of the pups and see her interacting with the pup to know that she is the mother. Breeding several breeds (pedigree) in the one place, for sale, is called puppy farming. In these circumstances the money is the main interest, not the poor dogs. Don’t buy from places like that. You are only creating a demand for more dogs to be abused.
Home and Away Extra An Irish company Surfbox, providers of pay-asyou-go internet kiosks, has launched a mobile printing service which allows Irish travelers to print documents from their mobile devices while at the airport. The service is available at Surf box’s eight internet kiosks in the departures lounge at Dublin Airport. Some airlines charge €40 to print boarding passes www.sufbox.ie Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and is guest travel writer for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland