The Kilkenny Observer Friday 04 March 2022
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Travel & Leisure 1. GREEN ELEPHANT HOSTEL & SPA: MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS THE tiny islands that make up the Florida Keys are a popular destination for couples, families and adventure travelers, and it’s easy to see why. Often referred to as America’s Caribbean, the Keys boast crystal clear waters, endless opportunities for water sports fun and some of the dreamiest oceanfront resorts in the entire U.S. 1. BUNGALOWS KEY LARGO: KEY LARGO Bungalows Key Largo is one of the few all-inclusive beach resorts in the United States, which means the nightly rate includes your meals, drinks and entertainment. The resort is also adults-only, so it is geared toward friend groups and couples seeking romance. Standout travelerfavorite features include the resort’s Key Largo Spa, which offers massages and other treatments in its outdoor cabanas, as well as included activities like yoga and water sports. Guests can also dine and enjoy top-shelf spirits in five different bars and restaurants within the allinclusive plan. 2. CHEECA LODGE & SPA: ISLAMORADA Cheeca Lodge & Spa is one of the best beach resorts in the Florida Keys, according to visitors, due to its waterfront location,
ZADAR is a quirky seaside city on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, with a fascinating historic centre, enviable restaurant scene and sprawling national parks within easy each. Here are nine reasons to add it to your 2022 travel wish list. 1. HISTORY AND HERITAGE The 3,000-year-old city is like a living museum of the Europe of millennia ago. The Old Town is where many of its most arresting landmarks can be found. From the ruins of the Roman Forum, conceived by the first Emperor Augustus, to the striking dome of the 9th century Church of St Donatus, you can soak up centuries in seconds just by strolling around. Marvel at the monuments — including the Cathedral of St Anastasia, with its Venetian- era bell tower — while enjoying an ice cream from a street- side cafe. 2. SEA VIEWS AND SUNSET STROLLS Zadar’s seafront has been an inspiration for filmmakers, and it’s not hard to see why. As boats drop anchor around sunset, a promenade stroll feels like being let into a wonderful secret, especially when discovering Croatian
Five top Florida Keys resorts Stunning beaches, relaxing spas, fine dining and more yet other features make it a must for your next trip. For example, the property offers casually elegant rooms and suites with ocean or golf course views, some with kitchenettes and sleeping space for up to six. The resort also boasts three highly rated restaurants, two open-air tiki bars, tennis courts and ample opportunities for sportfishing and water sports activities
like scuba diving, snorkeling and windsurfing. 3. LITTLE PALM ISLAND RESORT & SPA: LITTLE TORCH KEY Little Palm Island Resort & Spa gives guests the private island experience with no passport required. This 4.5acre adults-only enclave is only accessible by boat or seaplane, and it limits
its guest count to 60 at any given time – a policy recent visitors said led to an overall peacefulness throughout the property. Resort amenities at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa include a crystal clear lagoon pool, a pristine white sand beach and a marina for those who love yachting or sailing. You can book luxury bungalows with outdoor soaking tubs, beachfront
access and private fire pits, and there are no in-room telephones or televisions to spoil the mood. 4. OCEAN KEY RESORT & SPA: KEY WEST If you’re seeking a luxury stay in bustling Key West, travelers say Ocean Key Resort & Spa should be on your list. This property is considered to be one of the
show that mimics twinkling starlight. 3. A RICH TAPESTRY OF CULTURE With so many nooks to discover, Zadar knows how to impress even a well-travelled crowd. The renaissance-era Land Gate, one of the Old Town’s
many triumphal archways, is part of the city’s old defence system and a Unesco World Heritage Site. People’s Square is another showstopper that tells the story of Zadar in marble and stone. There are other highlights aplenty, including the unmissable Museum of
5. ISLA BELLA BEACH RESORT & SPA: MARATHON If you’re comparing Florida Keys beachfront resorts, the Isla Bella Beach Resort & Spa should be a hotel you consider. This luxury resort sits on 24 oceanfront acres with white sand and unbelievable water views in every direction. There are five different pools to choose from (including one giant pool sprawling across 4,500 square feet), and three distinct restaurants serve everything from fresh seafood to burgers on the beach. Suites with up to two bedrooms are available and many room options have oceanfront terraces or beachfront walkout access, which guests appreciate. A 4,000-square-foot spa, a well-equipped fitness center and a marina with water sports offerings like fishing charters and snorkeling trips are also located on the resort grounds.
To come to Croatia and not explore one of its many hundred islands would be serious folly. Throughout the year, yachts and boat taxis cruise in and out of Zadar, tempting visitors with an array of day-trip options. One particular castaway destination is the limestone cliffs of Telašćica Nature Park, ideal for beachcombing and spotting marine life. If this doesn’t appeal, you could spend an entire trip sailing the neon-blue waters from sun-baked islands Silba and Premuda, to nextbig-thing Dugi Otok.
Why you should go visit Zadar, Croatia
architect Nikola Baši ’s two multi-sensory art installations. Both are embedded into the harbourfront; the Sea Organ giving a voice to the lolling waves below the seafront’s cascading steps, and the disco dancefloorlike Sun Salutation producing a dreamy night
best Florida Keys waterfront resorts due to its stunning ocean views and world famous sunset pier. Rooms and suites offer captivating water views and perks like whirlpool tubs and large outdoor terraces, plus the on-site spa helps guests relax with Balinese spa treatments and Thai body rituals. The best part? You’re just steps from the sights, sounds and debauchery of Old Town Key West and Duval Street.
Ancient Glass, where artisans deliver glass sculpture workshops inside a former 19th- century palace, and the Benedictine Convent of Saint Mary, which hides a remarkable gold and silver exhibition. 4. ISLANDHOPPING AND BEACH EXPLORING
5. THE ROCK STAR NATIONAL PARK Half an hour north of Zadar, Paklenica National Park is more than a rock-climber’s Shangri-La. While the limestone corridors and karst cliffs hide around 95 miles of hiking trails and harder scrambles for those with a head for heights, it’s also the realm of some of the deepest, widest canyon lands in Europe. Join a photo safari here for an off-road odyssey from Starigrad to snow-dusted summits and mini Grand Canyon gorges. At midday, as tradition dictates, lunch is served at mountaintop farms in the company of shepherds and their shaggy goats.
