Family fun at the Celtic Ross in Rosscarbery, Co Cork
A West Cork favourite, the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery has teamed up with the West Cork Model Railway Village for a special mid-term break. A treat for train lovers, this is Ireland’s only model railway experience, offering a fully scaled handmade model of the historic West Cork Railway Line with fully working miniature trains and towns that the railway served during the 1940s. Choose a break from two nights up to five nights, enjoy a family dinner showcasing West Cork’s local suppliers and add in a visit to the Leap Scarecrow Festival 2021 too.
Details:From €359 per family for a two-night stay, including dinner and the railway visit. celticrosshotel.com
2. Sligo staycation
With its dramatic beachside location, there’s always something fun to do at the Ocean Sands Hotel in Enniscrone, Co Sligo. Its Spooktacular Family Mid-Term Halloween Break is a two-night getaway with lots of added extras. The kids will receive trick-or-treat bags upon arrival and there are complimentary passes to the playground, pitch ’n’ putt and a family pass to Waterpoint Aqua Park thrown in. The break includes breakfasts, a two-course dinner on one evening, and a special storytelling and puppet show with Jay Ryan from RTÉ Jr.
Dreaming of a family trip to the capital, with Dublin Zoo top of the agenda? Base yourselves in the stylish Castleknock Hotel, a four-star set right beside the brilliant Phoenix Park. With access to acres of open space, see if you can spot the resident deer. (Sporty families with teens should book the Dash running tour, learning about the park while jogging through it — see dublindashtours.com for more). A two-night family break includes breakfast, dinner on one evening and children’s welcome bag.
Details: From €250 for onenight based on two adults and two children sharing. castleknockhotel.com
Choose a cosy outdoor adventure this October at the magical Glamping Under the Stars, a glampsite featuring six charming grass-roofed, hobbit-style accommodations built into the earth. Close to Abbeyleix and Portlaoise, each house has unique, themed décor and sleeps a family of up to six, with a private bathroom, garden, picnic bench and chiminea stove for toasting marshmallows. Family-friendly and wheelchair-accessible, there’s also a Glamp House with communal kitchen and dining space, covered veranda, campfire area and large wildflower meadow.
Details: €399 for a two-night stay for a family of up to six; glampingunderthestars.ie
Why not take the teens to Connemara for a digital detox and great outdoor walks? Screebe House, on the water’s edge, is a beautiful Victorian country house just a 40-minute drive from Galway city. It’s a great base to explore the rugged landscape with scenic drives and local hikes, and you can unwind after a busy day of activities with an indulgent seaweed soak, a sauna overlooking Camus Bay or a refreshing dip in the indoor saltwater pool at the Spa Lodge adjacent to the house.
Details: A Soak Up the West package features a one-night mid-term stay with breakfastand a couples’ seaweed bath from €275 for two adults sharing. screebe.com
Kian Feisser of Carlingford Oyster Company, part of the Sea Louth Seafood Trail
A short hop from Dublin, discover the new Sea Louth Trail over the mid-term — a great new addition for kids and teens of all ages (sealouth.ie). Pick up your passport and collect stamps visiting three Blue Flag beaches, the Sky Park and new Ireland’s Ancient East Maze. Hire bikes to explore the Carlingford Lough Greenway and plan an excursion on the Carlingford Lough Ferry to look out for Finn the dolphin.
Details:Two nights’ B&B and one dinner for two adults and one child at the Carrickdale Hotel & Spa costs from €400, with playground, pool, basketball, tennis and mini golf facilities. carrickdale.com
The K Club’s Madness & Mystery break offers a really fun week of activities from Saturday October 23 to Sunday October 31. While grown-ups will love the five-star comforts on this sweeping Straffan campus, children will enjoy Mad Hatter tea parties, spooky woodland walks and old-school games on the lawn. Tennis camp, skincare seminars, tarot card readings and trick-or-treating are all lined up, culminating in a firework extravaganza lighting up the skies on Halloween.
Details: Package prices from €745 per night, for two adults and two children for a minimum two-night stay including interconnecting rooms and one evening meal in The Barton Restaurant for two adults. kclub.ie
An impressive country estate with cosy self-catering cottages and exotic furry friends — what more could you want on a family break away? The converted stable accommodation at Wells House is stylish and comfy with wood-burning stoves, and the kids will enjoy exploring the beautiful gardens of this Gothic pile. Activities include meeting meerkats, trolls and dragons, while the new Land of Light experience will thrill, as it illuminates the night sky, trees and buildings to the sounds of atmospheric music. There’s a fairy trail and small playground, too.
Details: Cottages sleep four to six people, at €40 per person per night with a two-night minimum-stay requirement. wellshouse.ie; visitwexford.ie
Homely, cosy and welcoming, Co Clare’s Doolin Inn is ideal for exploring the Burren and Wild Atlantic Way. Alongside great hospitality, they’ve partnered with a selection of local attractions to offer guests real added value to their holiday this mid-term. Special discounts from 10-30pc have been arranged, with a day trip to the Aran Islands and tickets to Doolin Caves, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre and Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey Centre all on the list. Their guest lounge is well stocked with board games and books, and Netflix is available in the bedrooms.
Details:A one-night package starts from €369 for two adults and two children sharing. doolininn.ie
Tick the Giant’s Causeway off your list this autumn, with a mid-term break to magnificent Antrim. The Glens County has incredible beaches and wonderful hills for family hikes, but the highlight is a visit to the wondrous interlocking basalt columns, a Unesco World Heritage Site, formed 60 million years ago by volcanic activity. Stay minutes away in the historic Bushmills Inn Hotel, an atmospheric coaching inn (and Blue Book member) with cosy rooms, inglenook turf fires, hayloft snugs and a hidden library.
Details:A two-night Coastal Getaway costs from £200 per person including dinner in their award-winning restaurant. bushmillsinn.com; discovernorthernireland.com
Causey Farm's ice-cream adventure. Photo: Pól Ó Conghaile
Causey Farm’s Pooka Spooka runs every day from October 24 to 30 at 11.30am, and makes a super day out for young families (€14 per person; causey.ie). Kids will enjoy Halloween-themed fun including a scarecrow corn maze, mirror maze, broomstick ride, hayride, magician and storytelling. You can stay nearby at the four-star Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, where you’ll find great facilities, spacious family rooms and lots of little extras.
Details: A two-night B&B Complete Family Package includes B&B, one dinner and a family pizza night, from €532 for a family of five. knightsbrook.com
If you fancy commandeering a castle en masse, then point your car towards Adare. Fanningstown Castle is a great base for a multi-generational family break or for two families to spend quality time together. With elegant décor and all mod cons, it’s comfy, cosy and very cool. Cycle the Limerick Greenway or stroll in Curraghchase Forest Park before heading back to a roaring fire and lazy evening in your own personal castle. With the postcard-perfect Adare village on your doorstep, you’ll find plenty of dining options, sightseeing, walks and a playground.
Details: Three nights from €1,500, or stay over the bank holiday weekend from €1,600 for up to 10 for exclusive use of the castle. fanningstowncastle.com
'Blasket Basket' Island Package from Castlewood House Dingle
Got a grown-up family of walkers? Pack your hiking boots and rain gear and head for the extra-special Castlewood House on the Dingle Peninsula. Its Shadow of the Blaskets package includes a professionally guided half-day walk through beautiful Dunquin on the Dingle Peninsula, looking out over the Blasket Islands. Run by Helen and Brian Heaton, the charming service and warm welcome is legendary here — it just won Georgina Campbell’s Guesthouse of the Year, too.
Details: Two nights’ B&B, with complimentary Bucks Fizz on arrival and the guided walk starts from €420 for two people sharing. castlewooddingle.com
Feel like a little luxe in the city? Treat the family to a glamorous overnight stay in the heart of Dublin, at the elegant Westbury Hotel. Just off Grafton Street, the famous five-star is close to the capital’s museums, attractions and shopping areas. Little VIPs will find a teddy bear and colouring sets awaiting their arrival, with treats like Nutella hot chocolate with marshmallows, or milk and cookies, at bedtime. Balfes bistro is great for a family dinner, and there’s a babysitting service available should you fancy a grown-up meal in Wilde.
Details: B&B for a family of four starts from €396. doylecollection.com
Kilkenny is a great place for a short getaway — central, fun, and combining the best of a small city break with lots of trails, parks and other outings around the county. This autumn, it’s also got a Kilkenny Catwalk arts trail featuring 21 cat sculptures decorated by artists (kilkennycatwalk.ie). There are lots of hotels too. A special at the four-star Kilkenny Ormonde starts from €284 per night for B&B and a two-course dinner for a family of four sharing, or €257 per night if you book two nights. — Pól Ó Conghaile
Ideal for a family with teens, or maybe a mum-and-daughter escape, the luxurious Culloden Hotel in Belfast is high on pampering priorities. Book an overnight spa break and enjoy spacious accommodation, beautiful grounds and a great spa experience. Spend your day in the fabulous Spa at Culloden with its pool, treatment suites and relaxation rooms. Afterwards, you can treat yourselves with afternoon tea or a special dinner in Vespers.
Details: An overnight Relaxing Spa Escape with 50-minute ESPA treatment for two starts from €493 for two people sharing. hastingshotels.com
Heading abroad and need a night in Dublin? The new four-star Holiday Inn Dublin Airport has a family package that would work a treat for those with morning flights. Accommodation is in a queen room featuring a double bed and sofa bed for the kids. Located 10 minutes from Dublin Airport, a free shuttle bus runs to and from the airport from 2am-12.20am. The package includes a hot breakfast and a two-course meal in the hotel’s restaurant.
Details:A dinner, B&B and parking package for two adults and two children costs from €143 per night. holidayinn.com/dublinairport
Head for sunny Spain with the kids and enjoy a week in Salou at the four-star Sol Costa Daurada. Close to PortAventura theme park, you’re within walking distance of Municipal Park and Llevant Beach. The hotel has a dedicated family pool next to the playground and there’s a buffet-style restaurant popular with kids.
Details: Mid-term half-board for a family of four from €1,742, including flights from Dublin; clickandgo.com
19. Cruising in Scotland
Here’s an idea for a memorable holiday surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Emerald Star’s large, self-drive cruisers allow you to travel comfortably while sleeping on board and exploring. A Caledonian cruise in northern Scotland will be spent on lochs nestled in rugged valleys along the Great Glen. With hilltop castles, waterside towns, cosy pubs and beautiful highland scenery, you can add in activities like hiking and biking along the way. Best of all, no boating experience is required, and you can even bring your dog.
Details:A seven-night, self-catered cruise, starting and finishing at Emerald Star’s base at Laggan, starts from €782 per boat, excluding transport to and from the base.emeraldstar.ie
20. Fly to France Campsite lovers can still fit in a great self-catering break this October. Al Fresco has options available in six countries across 24 regions. The five-star La Croix du Vieux Pont is a spacious holiday park accessible from Paris, and, most importantly, Disneyland Paris. On site you’ll find indoor and outdoor pools with water slides, football and table tennis. Small charges apply for pedalos, trampolining, go-karting and archery.
Details: Sevennights, arriving from October 23,are available from €497, for a three-bedroom Azure mobile home, sleeping up to six. Transavia offers return flights from Dublin to Paris on those dates from €138pp. alfresco-holidays.ie
London never grows old. Make the trip extra memorable in a beautiful hotel that’s designed to appeal to all ages. Near London Zoo, the British Museum and Hamleys, Treehouse Hotel London is cool and chic with lots of stylish touches. Its family package invites kids to set up camp in their own in-room teepees, with board games and movie-night milk and cookies. Interconnecting rooms, children’s bathrobes and slippers, children’s bathroom amenities, a welcome treat and breakfast in Californian-Mexican restaurant Madera are all part of the deal.
Details:Package from £359; treehousehotels.com
22. An Irish escape in Spain
Two hours from Barcelona, the new Priorat Aparthotel is a stylish boutique hotel with apartments, just opened by Joan Gallagher and her Irish family, who have lived in Spain for 20 years. The Priorat is a wine region, with hundreds of miles of walking and hiking routes, cloaked in autumn colours. There’s a zip-line park and medieval castle close by, and the region, with 30 villages, is known as the Tuscany of Catalonia. It’s a spectacular time to visit, and you’ll find a warm welcome and plenty of suggestions for family outings and walks.
Details: From €115 per night; priorataparthotel.com
Magnolia Hotel, Algarve. Photograph: Rodrigo Costa
23. Amazing Algarve
Combine a holiday adventure at the stylish Quinta do Lago resort with relaxed accommodation in the colourful and contemporary Magnolia Hotel. Popular with families, seven exclusive cottages here feature spacious bedrooms, living areas, a kitchen and patio. Guests enjoy complimentary access to the new multi-sports hub The Campus, in the surrounding Quinta do Lago area, putting watersports and world-class golf facilities within your reach.
Details:Two-bed family cottages from €239 per night B&B for two adults and two children. themagnoliahotelqdl.com
24. Go to Greece
The island of Rhodes enjoys direct flights from Dublin and balmy temperatures in October. Head to Gennadi Grand Resort, a luxurious family-friendly property by a quaint seaside village overlooking a Blue Flag beach. Gennadi Mini Club is one of the best around, with imaginative and original activities for kids from four to 14. With cooking classes, beach barbecues, yogalates, outdoor adventures and really nice family activities, it leads the way in five-star family activities. Outside the resort, there are endless ways to explore this beautiful island.
Details: Seven nights’ B&B for two adults and two kids from €1,408, excluding flights; gennadigrandresort.com
25. Gran Canaria getaway
Enjoy a family dash to the Canaries, based in bustling Puerto Rico. A family-friendly aparthotel, the three-star Nido del Águila is popular with young families with its simple décor, selection of pools, buffet restaurant, bar, bike rental and billiards, and it’s a short stroll to Puerto Rico Beach, restaurants and bars. One-bedroom apartments sleep four with a sofa bed and balcony.
Details: €414pp, including flights from Dublin; sunway.ie
NB: All prices subject to availability. Before overseas travel, check restrictions at your destination (and on return to Ireland) on dfa.ie, gov.ie and reopen.europa.eu
