Go with the flow on trip down the magical Seine...
APINCH and a bump for the first of the month... I think it was just an excuse for The Scary One to give me a slap. It jolted me though into focusing on the fact that Wednesday was August 1 and there is more summer behind us than in front.
So either we get on a late deal among the plethora out there, or we look to late summer or Autumn.
It was timely then that U by Uniworld introduced us to their new product which offers high-end river cruising in Europe and invited us to roadtest their food and wine in the funky environs of Urchin on St Stephen’s Green, a good fit for their pitch.
Because while the ships are plush with sweeping staircases and chandeliers, the emphasis is on casual with no pressure to dress up like penguins or take half a dozen cocktail dresses.
And did I mention there were oysters, octopus (my favourite) and 28 different whiskeys, all of which you get on board... so be sure to sign up for the extra drinks package.
Only now just recovered, let me try and tempt you into the same.
As a sample, I found eight days The Seine Experience, Paris roundtrip, and Rolling on the Rhine Amsterdam-Frankfurt for August 25 both from £1,469pp.
The Seine takes in ConflansSainte-Honorine, Rouen, Honfleur and Vernon, and don’t the names just evoke Gallic elan?
The Rolling on the Rhine package will take you to Haarlem, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz and Frankfurt.
You’ll get 14 meals onboard, a welcome party, two U hosts, 11 included excursions, 11 U Time optional excursions, local celebrity DJ Party and onboard wine tasting.
So give yourself a shake, or get your better half to do it for you, and call 0845 678 5656 (www.ubyuniworld.com).
STILL on the water, let’s go for a gondola ride. Now, fans of Venice, of which I am one, may baulk but Americans do it too. I wanted to hate the Rialto Bridge and gondolas at the Venetian o in Vegas, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know, but do now, that quiet Providence in Rhode Island, New England have gondola rides too. The Viaggio dei Sogni (trip of dreams) offers $89 for two on a gondola that takes six max. Fly Dublin-Providence/Boston with Norwegian Airlines (www. norwegian.com). Fares from €129 one way.
WITH temperatures hitting 48ºC F in Spain you’d maybe prefer somewhere a bit cooler. Iceland, for example? Travel Department is offering three nights including excursions to the Blue Lagoon, a guided tour of Reykjavik, an excursion to search for the Northern Lights and a full day tour of the Golden Circle. Prices from €699pp including return flights from Dublin, three nights’ B&B hotel stay, transfers, expert local guide, excursions and all taxes & charges, departing October-December. Visit www. traveldepartment.ie/(01) 637 1650.
WHO are we kidding? Furnace-like weather wouldn’t stop us going to Spain, particularly with these deals. TUI is offering an extra €100 off on holidays departing August and September with the code: SUMMER100. The offer is only valid on new August and September bookings. Minimum spend €1000 per booking.
AER Lingus knows how much we love Spain. It has €20 off return flights to Malaga and the Canaries between August 21 and October 25. Code: SUNSHINE18. See www.aerlingus. com.
IF your little prince or princess is off to Electric Picnic, they’ll need a wash down after. The Heritage Hotel & Spa, near Stradbally, has a PostPicnic Pick-up, September 3, from €150pps. Or Mum will pamper them back home. (057) 8645500/www.theheritage.com.
THINGS are looking up at the Morgan Hotel on Fleet Street in Dublin. It has reopened after a €15million redesign which includes a new fifth floor and 39 new bedrooms which brings the complement up to 168.