Set on 450 acres of parkland, Dromoland Castle dates back to 16th century Ireland when it was home of the O’Brien family, whose lineage dates back 1,000 years to Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland. Converted to a hotel in the 1960s and fresh off a $20 million renovation and restoration, Dromoland Castle exhibits the best of its regal Irish heritage.
As frosty days turn to
long nights, there’s no need to escape the cold. Put the winter doldrums aside
and embrace the best that the season has to offer, Downton Abbey-style, at
Ireland’s Dromoland Castle. Think: Cozy spaces. Evenings spent by the fire.
Brisk walks through the countryside. Days idle by, with opportunities to enjoy
falconry or horseback riding. Warm up with afternoon tea or a signature spa
treatment. Nights are for indulging in an artful take on traditional Irish
ingredients at The Earl of Thomond Restaurant before retiring to the cocktail
bar for a tarot-card inspired libation or a glass of Irish whiskey. Then, it’s
off to the stately guest rooms for a restful night before beginning another day
as a royal.
If Ireland’s temperate
climate isn’t enough to lure travelers from the States – though it’s chilly,
the daily low rarely dips below freezing – Dromoland Castle in County Clare has
a number of winter specials on offer. Stay two nights and receive a special
rate that includes a five-course Table d’Hote Dinner in the Earl of Thomond
Restaurant. The two-night package starts at $700 based on double occupancy. Or,
gather your gal pals for a special wine weekend from February 21–22. The
getaway includes a six-course meal that showcases the best of the Co. Clare
culinary scene, paired with six different wines. Rates start at $881 for the
two-night package.
Set on 450 acres of
parkland with 97 rooms and suites, Dromoland Castle dates back to the 16th
century when it was home of the O’Brien family, whose lineage dates back 1,000
years to Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland. Converted to a
hotel in the 1960s and fresh off a $20 million renovation and restoration,
Dromoland Castle exhibits the best of its regal Irish heritage.
Central to Dromoland
Castle’s appeal is its location. Just 15 minutes from Shannon Airport,
Dromoland sits at the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way – the 1,553-mile route
along Ireland’s west coast. Dotted with small fishing villages, the trail
passes vivid seascapes, with plenty of opportunities to stop to enjoy a local
catch. The Cliffs of Moher, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just an hour’s
drive from the Castle. And the limestone, lunar-like landscape of the Burren
National Park is only 45 minutes away.
Though surrounded by
Ireland’s famously dramatic landscapes, Dromoland Castle is just an hour away
from Galway, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2020. The arts
abound, as the city has been designated a UNESCO City of Film, and it has a vibrant
musical, theater and literature scene. Dublin, home to the newly opened Museum
of Literature Ireland, is 2.5 hours east.
Families: Multigenerational families have the perfect venue at Dromoland,
which features something for each age group – tennis lessons, bespoke golf
clinics, horse and buggy rides, archery, garden tours, falconry, bubble baths
on demand, and even a genealogy expert to help trace any Irish familial roots.
Golf: No one does greens better than Ireland. With its 18-hole parkland course,
Dromoland offers expert lessons at its School of Golf, as well as a newly
renovated driving range that feature “power tees,” eliminating the need for
bending down to replace a tee each time.
Dromoland is perfectly
suited to enjoy Ireland’s famed links courses – Lahinch, Ballybunion
and Tralee – as well as the new Adare Manor, which will host the Ryder Cup in
2026. Stay at Dromoland and transfer between the courses via helicopter – which
the Castle can arrange – or simply take advantage of Dromoland’s ability to
book a tee time.
Weddings: All of Dromoland Castle can be rented out for royally lavish
weddings. Among the Irish touches: The bride can make her entrance via horse
and carriage; bagpipers can create fanfare as the guests arrive; tents or even
glass pavilions can be erected on-site; step dancers can perform; and fireworks
over the golf course will end the evening with a pop!
Gift your adventure seeker the gift of a visit to India with andBeyond to explore the mountainous region of Ladakh and search for snow leopards
Stuck for a special gift for your animal-lover lover? Your art aficionado? Music buff or theater devotee? How about a snow leopard expedition for your adventure seeker? Think about giving the uniquely personal gift that keeps giving: the gift of a travel experience. The holidays is a time of wish fulfillment, so what better gift that tapping into that bucket list. Here are some ideas for the gift of getting away, no matter the time of year:
For the Animal-Lover
Winner: andBeyond Pangolin Adventure
Pangolins are mini (and adorable) dinosaur-like
mammals. While not commonly known in the U.S., these native African anteaters
are covered in keratin scales, which are highly valuable to poachers, making
them the most trafficked mammal in the world. The species used to roam freely
in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, but have been locally extinct
for decades. andBeyond Phinda
Private Game Reserve has committed to
reintroducing the species to the area, and there are already three thriving in
their new environment. Conservation-minded travelers can have the
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with these elusive
creatures with andBeyond’s Pangolin Conservation Experience and assist in
replacing tags and monitoring behavior. Rates from $3,504 per group (up to six
people).
Runner-Up: Nayara’s Sloth Sanctuary
Ever wonder what it would be like to sleep all
day? And all night? Of course you have. Humans are naturally lazy. But not as
lazy as sloths. The slowest mammal on earth loves to hang around in Cecropia
trees. Spot them in the wild at the new Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica, which opens December 20. As a part of
Nayara’s commitment to reforestation, the acres surrounding the resort are
being replanted with thousands of trees, including the Cecropia trees, so that
the sloths can continue to thrive. Take a slow, leisurely stroll around the
property to see these fabulous animals in in-action. Rates start from $1,200
per night.
For the Art Aficionado
Winner: La Reserve Paris
Mona-who? Been there, done that. The
latest must-see at the Louvre celebrates much more than the Instagram
overloaded Mona Lisa. Open through February 24, the Leonardo da Vinci
exhibition honors the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance man’s death. Though
almost sold out, guests of La Réserve Paris can skip the line by booking the Leonardo da
Vinci package, including two VIP
fast-track tickets to the exhibition and da Vinci inspired cocktails at Le Bar.
Package rates start at $1,330.
Runner-Up: Belmond La Residencia
It’s P-art-y time in Mallorca! Deia,
the hillside village on the island’s northwest coast, is an artsy town
welcoming painters, sculptors and writers for inspiration. Among Mallorca’s
most famous former residents is Joan Miró, and Belmond La
Residencia is home to the
largest exhibition of his paintings
in a hotel anywhere in the world. Thirty-three of his
original artworks
will be on display in Café Miró, the hotel’s bistro, until September 2020. The
hotel lawn is also one of Spain’s largest outdoor sculpture gardens, and it
features Tete (1975), a Miró bronze head. After taking in
the art, enjoy Belmond La Residencia’s “Tea with Miró,” which is inspired by the artist’s signature use of bold
colors and abstract line drawings. The tea is served on an exclusive tea set
made of La Cartujade Sevilla porcelain with a design based on Miró’s 1952 work, Sans titre. The setwill
be available for purchase in the on-site boutique. Rates start at $470 per
night.
Fore! The Golfer
Winner: Belmond Royal Scotsman
Hit the links with Belmond Royal Scotsman as the
train travels through the heart of the Highlands from tee time to tee time.
Golf enthusiasts can customize the two- to seven-night journeys by adding
rounds at Scotland’s renowned courses such as Gleneagles, Royal Donorch Golf
Club, Castle Stuart Golf Links and Kingbarns Golf Links. A veritable ‘country
house on wheels,’ the Royal Scotsman will also make stops at local distilleries
including Strathisla Distillery, the oldest working distillery in the Scottish
Highlands. Journeys start at $3,158 per person for the two-night Taste of the Highlands itinerary.
Runner-Up: Dromoland
Enjoy a golf experience fit for a king at
Ireland’s Dromoland Castle. Set on a 450-acre
estate, the 15-century castle’s parkland course is the perfect place to hone
golf skills. Take a lesson at The Academy, the on-site golf school helmed by a
resident PGA pro. What’s more, Dromoland can coordinate private transfers and
tee times at Ireland’s famed links courses, including nearby Lahinch,
Ballybunion, Tralee and the new Adare Manor. Rates start at $355 per
night.
For the Adventure Seeker
Winner: andBeyond Snow Leopard Expedition
Known as ‘Little Tibet’ or the ‘Roof of the
World’, the mountainous region of Ladakh is situated on the northern border of
India and is home to the snow-capped Himalayas, cobalt lakes and an abundance
of wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard. The species, listed as
‘vulnerable’ and rare to find, lives in this high-altitude cold desert
environment and can be seen during winter months. Conservation-minded,
experiential safari outfitter andBeyond offers travelers the opportunity to
explore this wilderness with the region’s most experienced guides, offering the
rare opportunity to meet a snow leopard, if luck strikes. The 12-day Snow Leopard
Expedition sets off in small
group set-departures in January, February and March 2020. Rates start from
$6,891 per person, including a $200 donation to the Snow Leopard Conservancy.
Runner-Up: Ponant Emblematic Antarctica Cruise
Journey to the ends of the earth, but make it
luxury. Swap icicles in your eyelashes for a champagne toast on an Antarctic
iceberg with Ponant, the leader in polar cruising. Each trip to the
southernmost continent challenges adventure seekers with the trip through the
Drake Passage – the 600-mile stretch of ocean between South America and the
Antarctic peninsula that boasts some of the roughest seas in the world. Keep an
ear out as the captain will often stop and redirect the ship to point out
passing whales, Gentoo and Adelie penguins, and crabeater seals. Once in
Antarctica, expedition guides and naturalists will lead daily Zodiac excursions
with visits to research stations and former whaling stations. Rates start from
$13,310 per person for the 11-day / 10-night Emblematic
Antarctica journey.
For the Theater Goer
Winner: Chatwal, New York
Do you like your theater with a little side of
murder mystery? If so, you’ve come to the right place – The Chatwal, New
York. Designed in 1905 by iconic American architect
Stanford White – who was famously killed by his mistress’s husband atop Madison
Square Garden – The Chatwal was once home to the prestigious Lambs, America’s
first professional theatrical club. The Chatwal continues to play homage to its
history as the epicenter of Broadway. A dedicated theater concierge can offer
access to the most sought-after shows; and guests can enjoy a pre-theater
dinner at Geoffrey Zakarian’s The Lambs Club at The Chatwal. Rates start at
$595 per night based on double occupancy.
Runner-Up: Westbury
Theater buffs visiting The Westbury in Dublin can explore the history of Ireland’s stage with
the complimentary Theatre Walking Tour every Thursday morning. The 90-minute
stroll begins in the vibrant Georgian Quarter and brings guests to key sites
around the city, including a behind-the-scenes look at the famed Abbey Theatre,
which has nurtured the talents of Irish playwrights like William Butler Yeats.
The tour also includes a lesson on ancient Irish storytelling at the Setanta
Wall, and a look at the drama-inspired artwork within the National Gallery.
Rates start at $277 per night.
For the Movie Buff
Winner: GoldenEye
The 25th James Bond movie, which will mark
Daniel Craig’s final appearance as 007, is heading back to Jamaica. In
celebration of the April 2020 release, movie buffs can retrace the island life
of Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming. The author was a former British intelligence
officer and discovered Jamaica during a WWII mission in 1942. Four years later,
he purchased 15 acres of under-developed tropical land and named it GoldenEye
to pay homage to his naval operation that first brought him to the island. He
resided at GoldenEye every January and February for more than two decades and
wrote a new Bond novel each winter for a total of 14 books. His beachfront
bungalow, which is now called The Fleming Villa with five bedrooms, is part of
the 52-acre GoldenEye resort. Fleming’s
writing desk and sunken garden where he would entertain the likes of Noël
Coward and Katherine Hepburn are available for guests to enjoy. Rates start at
$6,365 per night.
Runner-Up: Park Hyatt Tokyo
Guests of Park Hyatt Tokyo can channel Bill Murray while sipping on a whisky flight in
the hotel’s 52nd floor New York Bar. Famed as the location of Sofia
Coppola’s Lost In Translation, the bar’s signature L.I.T cocktail
with Japanese sake and peach liqueur can be enjoyed to the soundtrack of live
jazz while overlooking the sparkling city skyline. Rates start at $600 per
night.
For the Romantic Beach Bum
Winner: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
“Love Island” – not just a reality show,
but something that could actually be your reality. Give the
gift of an ultimate couples’ vacation in the Maldives. When it debuted in
July, Waldorf Astoria Maldives
Ithaafushi became the first
luxury resort to open near the capital of Malé in the last decade. The journey
to tranquility begins with a yacht ride from the airport to the resort. The 122
accommodations include 39 beach villas, each of which features a swimming pool
and a private alcove on the beach with an outdoor hammock and two sunbeds.
Surround yourself with sand and surf on a nearby sandbar, available for a wine
pairing dinner or a yoga class. Rates start at $1,700 per night.
Runner-Up: Belmond Cap Juluca
Set on the white sands of Anguilla’s Maundays
Bay, known as one of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean, each room
at Belmond Cap Juluca has its own private slice of sand complete with a dedicated
beach butler. Guests of the newly renovated property can soak in the Caribbean
sun and sway to live calypso and reggae at the Cap Shack, a laid-back beach bar
with a vintage ’80s food truck serving up everything from fish tacos to rum
punches and poke bowls. Rates start from $725 per night.
For the #InstagramFamous Friend
Winner: Dalloway Terrace
Off to Europe for the festive season? Why not
hit two countries in one – visitors to The Bloomsbury in London will be treated to a Merry Swissmas
celebration. The hotel’s heated, al fresco restaurant, Dalloway Terrace, has
launched a collaboration with the alpine resort town of Gstaad. Stroll from
Regent’s Park into snow-dusted pine garlands and frosty foliage. Gstaad’s Swiss
traditions overwhelm the terrace, with bespoke “Scherenschnitte” (Swiss paper
cuttings) on display around the restaurant. Guests can warm up with Foxford
woolen blankets and warming cocktails like an alpine toddy – a hot toddy with a
chamomile twist. Cocktails are delivered to the table with a Retro Viewer that
allows guests to gaze upon the picturesque mountains of Gstaad between sips.
Afternoon tea starts at $50 per person.
Runner-Up: Almanac Rooftop
360-degree views of Barcelona, check.
Instagrammable décor, check. Craft cocktails, check. Almanac Barcelona’s Azimuth rooftop bar is open year-round, beckoning guests
with its coral-hued, cocoon-like lounges and cozy blankets during the mild
winter months. The city is known for its gin and tonics, with the clear liquid
and fizzy bubbles the perfect accessory for an Instagrammable rooftop view.
Almanac’s signature ‘Dealer’s Choice’ cocktail is elevated with dry sherry from
Jerez, grapefruit bitters and artisanal tonic water. Rates start from $287 per
night.
For the Foodie Focused
Winner: Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum in
Napa
Give the gift of the CIA. No, not that CIA
– the Culinary Institute
of America at Copia in Napa Valley is
the perfect place for travelers to the region to become immersed in the local
food culture, with daily cooking classes and tastings from local wineries.
Newly opened at the CIA, the Chuck Williams Culinary Art Museum features the
4,000-piece personal culinary collection – including rare special cookware,
bread baking and culinary tools, appliances, and tableware – of the
Williams-Sonoma founder. Admission to the museum is free. Class and tasting
pricing varies with rates starting at $30.
Runner-Up: Shou Sugi Ban House
Get a taste for the flavors that put Noma in
Copenhagen on the map! Chef Mads Refslund, formerly of the world’s best
restaurant, now directs the food and beverage program at wabi sabi-inspired
wellness retreat and destination spa Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons. The plant-based menu is inspired by Nordic,
Japanese and New England cuisines. Located in Water Mill, New York, adjacent to
the Parrish Art Museum, the 13-room property incorporates many forms of
wellness in its multi-day retreats, which include spa and healing arts
treatments, workshops, meditation and movement. Rates start at $550 per person.
P.S. Don’t forget the most important carry-on
items when traveling: chocolate and a face mask. La Maison du Chocolat’s Bars Unhinged ($14) are the perfect plane-size snack (think mini
deconstructed chocolate bars). Guinot’s Newhite Instant Brightening Mask ($77, set of seven) is a travel-size sheet mask that removes
those post-flight dark circles and creates a glow in 10 quick minutes.
