TRAVEL

Home & Away with Robert Walshe

Home and Away ExtraAccording to a TripAdvisor survey published

recently, Bangkok is the cheapest of 50 of the world’s most popular tourist destinations it as-sessed. The site’s “Trip Index” worked out how much a taxi ride of 8km, a night’s accommodation in a four-star hotel, a margarita pizza and dry Mar-tini cost in the 50 locations and found that a tour-ist could get by for one day in the Thai capital for just €79. It was an entirely different story in Paris which was declared to be the most expensive city in the world to go on holiday. The cost of one day in the city came in at €303.Zurich finished in sec-ond place with the price of the four items working out at €268 while London was in third place with the cost of one night in the city at €264. Finish-ing behind Bangkok at the other end of the scale was Beijing where a day will set you back €85. The third cheapest city in the world to visit was declared to be Sharm el-Sheikh with the cost put at €90.50. While Dublin would, at one time, have reasonably expected to finish close to the top of the price chart, hard times have seen its prices fall considerably and, according to the index, it was the 27th most expensive place to visit and the cost of a visit was put at €157. Dublin nearly made it into the top 10 most expensive places in the world when it came to the Martini, however, with the price of the cocktail so beloved of James Bond being put at €12, just one place outside the top 10.

LivingThe number of people who have received working holiday visas for Australia has gone up by nearly 50 per cent in the last year. According to the Austral-ian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the numbers of visas granted in the year ending June 30th increased from 14,832 to 21,784.

Working holiday visas are available to young people be-tween 18 and 30. They allow successful applicants to work up to six months during the year’s visa and to stay another year if they work in designated industries, like construction and fruit picking, and in cer-tain regional areas outside the major cities. Australia’s commodity boom and tightly regulated financial sector has helped it to be one of the few developed countries to avoid recession during the global eco-nomic crisis. Parts of Australia are continuing to experience a boom, particularly commodity-rich Western Australia. Its state government minister for train-ing and workforce development Peter Collier was in Ireland last month seeking to recruit work-ers because of skills shortages in the region which is as big as Western europe and which has a chronic infrastructure deficit.

Holiday HotspotDonegal is by far one of Ire-

lands most ancient and tradi-tional counties. The landscape is stunning and unspoilt with sandy beaches, top golf courses and some of the best surfing in the world. The region takes its name from the O’Donnell’s - one of the most powerful families who were the origi-nal inhabitants of Lough eske Castle back in the 1400s. The castle that we see today was built in the mid 1800s. In fact a stone engraved with the year 1621 still remains on the property as a memory of its history. Renovated in recent years and transformed into Ire-land most luxurious rural re-treat, Solis Lough eske Castle

is perched on Lough eske between Donegal Bay and the Blue Stack Moun-tains surrounded by 43 acres of ancient wood-land. The setting is grand and the drive in impos-ing as you approach this most stunning Tudor Ba-ronial property. Step into the Solis Lough eske Cas-tle, and you marvel at the imposing lobby which has been refurbished and ex-tended to create the mod-ern comforts and graceful luxury that instantly competes with any world class hotel of its size. here, you can escape into, a world of relaxed elegance and per-sonal service with spacious pub-lic rooms, impressive fireplaces and leaded windows. The 98 bedrooms and suites vary with the most luxurious castle ac-commodations offering a blend of antique charm and modern comfort. The guestrooms at all levels exude a natural beauty and charm while in my opin-ion the interiors are a styl-ish blend of contemporary and traditional. The antiques throughout Solis together with specially commissioned art-work bring this historic build-ing into the 21st century. On my latest visit I was spoilt by a secluded garden suite hid-den away from any sign of people or life and I returned home feeling totally recharged assisted by a signature mas-sage at Spa Solis. The A la carte menu at Cedars Restaurant of-fers fresh, locally sourced and sometimes organic produce – resulting in perfectly cooked dishes. The crap starter and fillet steak were my choice and the quality and service was remarkable. The dining room is stunning with its floor-to-ceiling, button-back uphol-stery and modern crystal light fixtures.

To get some much needed lei-sure time the Spa Solis is your answer. Situated in the castle garden, the setting is as peace-ful as you can find. Its sand-

stone and wood floors reflect the natural beauty of the sylvan surroundings. The relax-ation area is equipped with six designer beds that face into the courtyard, making it the perfect spot to get some much needed R & R with your loved one. Or your guests can avail of the use of the swimming pool or fitness centre or treat themselves to a relaxing aromatherapy asso-ciates treatment This gem is the perfect place to hold your wedding ceremony and recep-tion. The elegant ballroom ex-tends into your own exclusive tranquil gardens which offer fantastic picture opportuni-ties. There are also a number of specially commissioned pieces of artwork throughout the grounds for more unique and memorable backdrops to your photographs. Solis Lough eske is now Irelands leading 5 star resort property. weddings.lougheske@solishotels.com

Weekly Best BuyFor romantic international

honeymoon destinations in 2012, Mexico has become one of the top Caribbean destina-tions for Irish couples, with its white sandy beaches, great water sports, Mayan culture and great nightlife, there is plenty to see and do and there are some excellent all-inclusive offers available including the 5* Dreams Riviera Cancun All Inclusive - Travel 1st Jan

– 31st Mar 2012 – 7 nights from €1279 plus tax

€370pp. honeymooners receive a fruit basket, a bottle of spar-kling wine, turn down service and a champagne breakfast in bed. St. Lucia is one the most tropical of islands with its rain forest and Piton Moun-tains lining the skyline, it’s a very beautiful island. With Classic Resorts, you can expe-rience the 4* Rendezvous All Inclusive Couples Only Resort, Travel 16th Jan – 31st Mar 2012 - 7 nights from €2175 plus tax €350pp. honeymooners re-ceive a fruit basket, tropical flower arrangement, a bottle of champagne and an exotic honeymoon basket of treats on arrival. www.classicresorts.ie Take a free cruise on the Shan-non in the Moon River Cruiser when you stay at Lough Rynn Castle, Co Leitrim. Two nights stays with dinner costs from €155pps, www.manorhotels.com The Irish Landmark Trust has some late availability for August and September. Three nights at the romantic Anne’s Grove gate house in Castle-townroche, Co Cork, costs €280, and three nights at the Triumphal Arch Gate Lodge in Colebrooke Park, Co Ferman-agh, is £285 (about €325). www.irishlandmark.com

Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and guest travel writer for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland

Pet’s Corner... with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist

with Kathleen Murray

n Solis Lough Eske Suite.

n Solis Lough Eske Donegal.

The end of the summerIT’S ThAT time of year again and things are winding down. Soon it will be the end of the summer.

Thoughts will be turning to other things like school, night classes, winter clothes and more. It is not the time to be getting a new pup. From now on the evenings will be shorter, colder and maybe windy or wet.

This is not good toilet train-ing weather for pups. People don’t enjoy standing outside waiting in the cold. If you are an experienced dog person then you know the amount of time, energy and hard work that goes into setting a young

pup up for life as a family pet. If you are prepared for all of

that and are totally commit-ted to the outdoor work that it will require then you can han-dle raising a pup in the cold weather. If you are getting a pup for the first time or are getting a pup after the death of an old dog then you will not know or will have forgot-ten how much work there is in brining up a new pup, that’s why the spring and summer are the months to get a pup... for everyone’s sake.

A pup needs to go out to the toilet about every half hour to an hour when it first comes home to set it up for the clean

dog that you want it to be when it is older. If it is lashing down with rain or hailstones then this is not fun for either of you, as a young pup will need you to stay with it until it has done something. Young pups are very scared of the world. They need to be clearly guided and protected.

That’s what their mother would be doing for them if they were still with her. If you go back into the house be-fore the pup has gone to the toilet then the pup will want to go back in too as it will be scared without you. It will go to the toilet in the house then. Closing a door and leaving it

outside by itself will make the pup inse-cure and can cause f u r t h e r problems in differ-ent areas.

A leaf falling for a tree can be scary for a pup. Plastic bags blowing in the wind can scare a pup. After a few weeks the pup will be confident enough to go out by itself but in the beginning you will need to be with it come rain, hail or shine. Pups need to be brought out to be socialised.

It’s important for them to meet other dogs and people when they are young so that they don’t develop problems with shyness or aggression. Winter time makes all of this very difficult and many peo-ple give their dogs up after they have “let them go” for this important phase in their lives.

Please don’t take a pup in the dark cold weather and then not be out there with it when it needs you to be.

You are responsible for how it turns out. A dog is only as good as the handler. Ring me now to book your place in a five week workshop or train-ing class for the autumn and winter.