THE days between Christmas and the New Year are a kind of twilight zone if you’ve nothing planned. It’s still the holidays, but there’s nothing much happening, right?
That’s what makes Twixmas the perfect time for a getaway, so this year why not do yourself a favour and book yourself somewhere nice where you can unwind after the Christmas over-indulgance and recharge your batteries for the new year celebrations.
Here are some of the best spots where you can do just that:
West Cork
Blow away those Christmas cobwebs and get ready for the first day of 2018 in the seaside air of Courtmacsherry with a visit to The Lifeboat Inn.
The cosy and welcoming gastropub in the West Cork seaside village is the perfect place to settle in for long, lazy post-Christmas lunch or dinner after a brisk seaside walk.
With a focus on good food cooked simply, guests can enjoy fresh, seasonal dishes such as local Haulie’s black pudding, apple and walnut salad with crispy hen egg or monkfish with tomato fondue, creamed leeks, tarragon and mussels while sampling one of the excellent wines from the list. If a pint of the black stuff is more your thing, settle in by the fire with a half dozen roaring Water Bay oysters and enjoy the peace and quiet of the post – Christmas period.
After a relaxing day by the sea, enjoy a restful night’s sleep in the unique, cosy Travara Lodge guesthouse with unparalleled views of the West Cork coastline.
The Twixmas package from The Lifeboat Inn and Travara Lodge starts from €260 for two people sharing for two nights including breakfast and dinner on one evening.
Visit www.lifeboatinn.ie for more information or call 023-8864656
Tralee
Relax and take a breath between the madness of Christmas and the excitement of New Year’s Eve with a peaceful, comfortable winter escape at The Rose Hotel, the ideal venue for a family Twixmas break.
With classic seasonal menus created by executive chef Odran Lucey in The Park and The Rose Room restaurant, the food over the course of your Twixmas will be delicious!
Junior guests can enjoy dinner at 5.30pm followed by festive activities in the North Pole Kids’ Club such as gingerbread men decorating, pin the red nose on Rudolph and Christmas charades, all guaranteed to engage and delight the kids, leaving the adults time to enjoy some rest and relaxation in the warm and intimate Dott’s Bar or the newly launched Serenity Spa.
Also included is a family pass to the popular Aquadome or tickets to the Tralee Omniplex – this Twixmas Tralee has everything to make your season merry and bright!
Take a break between December 27-30 with one night including breakfast and dinner from only €209 total stay for two adults and two children.
For more information on family packages visit www.therosehotel.com
Inchydoney
Prolong that festive feeling with a post-Christmas break between December 27-30 in gorgeous Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa.
Mulled wine and mince pies, fun board games by the fire, your favourite classic Christmas movies, a relaxing festive back massage in The Island Spa, beach walks and more will ensure the joy and magic of Christmas linger well into the New Year.
The relaxing ‘Twixmas’ getaway, available between December 26-30, includes a two-night stay in one of the hotel’s gorgeous guest rooms with breakfast each morning in The Gulfstream Restaurant, where you can watch the waves crash onto Inchydoney Beach while sipping your morning cuppa!
Also included is mince pies and mulled wine by the fire in The Lounge, where you can enjoy another favourite Christmas tradition – a good old board game!
All the best Christmas movies will be showing throughout the few days in the TV room including ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘The Holiday’, so snuggle up with your guest and your tipple of choice.
Also included is a sensory and relaxing Festive Back Massage in The Island Spa using warming spices of cardamom and ginger to boost the circulation and immunity. The package costs from €310 per person sharing.
Aside from all the fantastic treats included in the package, there is lots more to enjoy during your getaway including the Thalassotherapy pool & Spa, beach walks and more.
Two nights bed and breakfast, mulled wine and mince pies, board games, Christmas movies, festive back massage in Island Spa from €310 per person sharing. www.inchydoneyisland.com
North Mayo
There’s nowhere lovelier to cosy-up and chill out this winter than the Ice House, who have a gorgeous Twixmas Stay & Chill package running between December 26-30, offering guests the chance to completely unwind, relax and let their fantastic staff look after you after a busy Christmas.
Located on the Wild Atlantic Way, overlooking the River Moy and the woodlands beyond, the Ice House is an escape from the ordinary. Delicious food and drink, first class service and an award winning boutique spa create a destination full of character, luxury and charm in the heart of North Mayo. Steeped in history, the Ice House hotel is an eclectic marriage of contemporary chic and traditional elegance. It’s the little things that matter at the Ice House with quirky details, original artwork, luxurious goose down duvets and the waterside hot tub and sauna all creating the sense that you have arrived somewhere very special indeed.
Check into the Ice House for a cosy two-night Stay & Chill package this Twixmas, and just chill out while the amazing staff ensures you have the most restful and relaxing break, and leave feeling renewed and re-energised. The package includes two nights Bed & Breakfast and two 50-minute signature treatments in Chill Spa plus dinner on one evening and complimentary access to the spa during your stay from €335 per person sharing.
See www.theicehousehotel.ie for full details.
More Twixmas holiday suggestions next week.
