#dublinbarbados-route

#dublinbarbados-route

The theme of this year's festival was 'Roots' in celebration of the centuries-long facets of Irish identity woven into modern Irish society. Stretching from Parnell Square in the city's north side to Kevin Street on the south, 12 large floats and 10 marching bands consisting of 3,000 people in total meandered through the parade route flanked by onlookers from home and abroad.

I had booked the wrong room, packed the wrong clothes, and selected the wrong excursions. I went home with so many regrets that cost me money, sleep, and luggage space.

Protect yourself from the sun with headgear and lots of sunscreen. The sun can be very strong in some destinations, especially on Caribbean trips.

When retirement approaches, many start to wonder where they want to spend their golden years. Some might be most comfortable in the familiar surroundings of their hometowns, but others envision themselves in an idyllic location-one that offers beaches, sunshine, palm trees, and a laid-back vibe. Whether the goal is to reduce expenses and live comfortably on a fixed income or to spend retirement in luxury among beautiful scenery, some tropical spots are perfect for seniors.

For a true sense of freedom and escape, nothing quite compares with an island getaway. Whether it's island hopping in Greece, exploring a Scandinavian archipelago by kayak or simply getting on a ferry to the Isle of Wight, we'd love to hear about your favourite European islands. The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a 200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property the company has more than 3,000 worldwide.

As a long-distance runner, I had always wanted to use running as a means of travel, a way to traverse a landscape. I'd heard of people running across Africa, or the length of New Zealand, and the idea of embarking on an epic journey propelled only by my own two legs was compelling. I had just turned 50, and some might have said I was having a mid-life crisis, but I preferred to envisage it as a sort of pilgrimage

There has been a significant increase in wealthy Americans moving to Ireland to escape life under Donald Trump, new figures from the Department of Justice reveal. The number of US citizens granted permission to live here on temporary Stamp O visas has jumped by almost 90pc in only a couple of years. The visas were granted to 387 US citizens last year, nearly double the 204 who were granted Stamp O visas in 2022.

Back in chilly February, when you were bored at work, you didn't think twice about booking a wine tasting and zipline excursion back to back. By the time reality hits in July, you're desperately chugging water to try and stave off heat stroke. Just like that, your 'relaxing' getaway is not so relaxing at all.

Hop on a plane to Malaga, and you might expect to see passengers in flip-flops and sun hats, ready to spend a week on a lounger with a cocktail to hand. But in recent years, a different kind of traveller has set their sights on the Costa del Sol. Instead of staying by the sea, they head inland, to cycle the mountains of Sierra Nevada.

The temporary route between Dublin and Bridgetown will take off from March 31 and operate to May 31, running three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, it said. Flights will be on an Airbus A321XLR - one of its newest single-aisle aircraft - and fares are currently available from €229 each way. Aer Lingus is to close its Manchester base from March 31, and will cease transatlantic services from the UK airport from that date.

Despite decades of jokes and occasional bad publicity, cruise vacations are more popular than ever - just ask the tens of millions of Americans who take one every year and together represent more than half of all annual cruise travelers. Today's ships are massive, complex affairs backed by giant corporations and celebrity commercial sponsorships, all commanding big money. And while to the uninitiated, a ship may just seem like any other ship, experienced cruisers increasingly understand that unique offerings make all the difference.

Barbados's vibrant mix of breathtaking beaches, Colonial-style architecture, botanical gardens, and characteristic Caribbean hospitality makes it a natural beacon for those seeking sun, sand, rum punch, and a warm island breeze. Despite a slim 21-mile radius, there's a surprising number of excellent hotels here bringing historical charm, plush beds, and unrivalled sea views to restore peace to weary travelers. But for a proper pulse-slowing immersion into island time, a private villa is best.

Portrush has gone up a gear with several new hotels, including this from Marine & Lawn

I've never had a sense of direction. In a family where everyone knows where they're going, I'm the one who gets lost. When my son Charlie was small, he would listen as I outlined the day's itinerary-grocery store, library, post office-then interrupt. "Mama," he'd say, "I have a better way." And he did. He was five, and already knew where he was going.

I'm learning to go slowly, not too fast too soon. It's probably the reason I got the fracture in the first place.

"Stopovers allow people to turn what used to feel like 'dead time' into a destination in its own right," says Whitney Haldeman, founder of the luxury group travel company, Atlas Adventures. "Done well, a stopover can end up being the unexpected highlight of the entire trip." Sometimes, booking an extended layover can even save you money. "I often recommend booking a round-trip transatlantic flight into London," she says.

The winter season was once the time of the year when travelers would flock to the Caribbean to escape the cold-but that's not the case anymore,

As the final hours of 2024 crept up, I sat on my parents' hardwood floor with a giant whiteboard, a box of colorful markers, magazine cutouts and a Don Fulano Margarita. It's become a New Year's Eve tradition to make a vision board, my creative outlet to manifest what's to come, along with picking a color and a word to live by for the upcoming year.

British post-holiday chatter is frequently peppered with remarks and references to the pennies saved once we return home with more loose change than expected, our bellies as full as our hearts after days ticking a new destination off of the ever-growing bucket list. As any thrifty traveller knows, it's all in the planning - yet it's the endless search and consequential indecision that all too often keeps the trip in the group chat. Faff no more, we say!