With a hotel Christmas package, all you've got to do is raise your glass. Sandra O'Connelldigs deep in search of some of the best available in Ireland
Park Hotel
Kenmare
There's a movie theme here in Kenmare, with showings of Miracle on 34th Streetand It's a Wonderful Lifesetting the scene for a traditional Christmas offering.
Guests are greeted with mulled wine and mince pies on Christmas Eve, followed by a candlelight dinner and music from the hotel’s resident pianist as a digestif.
Christmas Day is one long seasonal food-fest, with lunch followed swiftly by afternoon tea (Christmas cake and mince pies) followed by a champagne reception and gala dinner.
Younger guests will be much more interested in Santa’s visit, at 5pm, followed by a special children’s tea, while on St Stephen’s Day there’s a treasure hunt round the town for the whole family.
There is also the option of a guided walk on the Old Kenmare Road, with the local walking club. There’s aqua aerobics and after dinner dancing too, so plenty of opportunity to burn off your pud. The three-day Christmas package starts at €1,295pps. parkkenmare.com
Ritz Carlton
Powerscourt
Enniskerry looks gorgeous at Christmas time, with the village decked out in golden lights. The way the weather is turning, you may even get snow. The Ritz Carlton in nearby Powerscourt is getting in the spirit of things too, with a life-size Gingerbread House in the lobby.
For younger guests, the Christmas programme includes treasure hunts, cookie decorating and pizza-making classes, movies and popcorn in the kids’ cinema room. There’s a Wii tournament too, while the adults stroll the river walk or take a spa treatment.
The two-night package, from December 24th to 26th, costs €399 per night per couple sharing, including breakfast, a three-course dinner menu on Christmas Eve in its Gordon Ramsay restaurant and a grand buffet lunch on Christmas Day. ritzcarlton.com
Merrion Hotel
Dublin
Have Christmas in the capital with check-in on Christmas Eve in time for a 6.30pm visit from Santa, complete with a present for each child staying, and a glass of champagne for Mum and Dad.
On Christmas Day, there’s the option of a traditional festive lunch or dinner, plus mulled wine afterwards in the hotel bar, while for those looking to extend their stay the hotel will organise tickets and transfers to and from the Christmas race meet at Leopardstown.
If only one wants to go horse racing, the other can stay warm indoors with a one-hour treatment in the hotel’s Tethra Spa.
The three-day option, including race tickets, runs from December 24th to 27th and costs €595pps. merrionhotel.com
Westin Hotel
Dublin
Just €200 will get you an overnight Christmas package at Dublin’s Westin Hotel, including breakfast, mulled wine reception on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a gourmet buffet lunch, festive entertainment and complimentary parking – the last no small matter in the city centre. thewestindublin.com
Farnham Estate
Cavan
Or how about a country Christmas at this Radisson Blu property in Cavan? Arrive for 2pm on Christmas Eve and you’ll find a bottle of wine in your room. Once you’ve become acquainted with it, it’s time for a drinks reception and dinner at the hotel’s Botanica restaurant. On Christmas Day, there’s a buffet breakfast, Christmas lunch, and an afternoon spent golfing, walking or fireside cosying. After dinner, there’s a quiz in the lobby bar, with breakfast to finish on St Stephen’s Day.
This Christmas package costs €390pps, and if you want to stay an extra night, you’ll get dinner and BB for €85 extra. farnham estate.ie
Slieve Donard
Co Down
For a very Victorian Christmas, the Slieve Donard in Newcastle, Co Down, is the perfect spot, with traditional carols, chestnuts roasting and open turf fires.
Younger guests are invited to join the hotel’s Little Reindeer Club for party games and face painting. Grown-ups can head back to school on St Stephen’s Day for a wine appreciation class.
Get there early enough and you can make a detour to Santa’s Cottage in the Mourne Mountains, near Hilltown, the official residence of Santa in Ireland, as awarded by the Greenland Denmark World Congress of Santas. And if that’s booked out, don’t worry, Santa is arriving at the hotel, by horse and cart, on Christmas Day.
A one-night stay over the festive season is from £200 (€237) per adult sharing and £85 (€101) per child. hastingshotels.com
Bewley’s Hotel
Ballsbridge
The Ballsbridge hotel has a great value three-night Christmas package starting on December 24th with complimentary mince pies and mulled wine, followed by dinner in its Brasserie restaurant.
There’s a traditional Christmas lunch, with wine, and an informal buffet supper on Christmas Day. The deal, which includes breakfast and evening meal every night, starts from €299pps, and €130 for under 12s.
If it’s just one night’s celebrating you want, stay on Christmas Day from €149pp, and €65 per child, including Christmas lunch, buffet dinner and breakfast. bewleyshotels.com
Cashel House
Connemara
Wend your weary way through Connemara in time for a cocktail reception on Christmas Eve with dinner, harp music and carols by local singers.
Christmas Day here is one of quiet celebration until, that is, the man in red arrives at 1pm with gifts for all, followed by buffet lunch and an afternoon spent soaking up the scenery on foot, bike or by car.
Or simply park yourself in front of a turf fire and wait for dinner – your snooze interrupted only by afternoon tea. That evening will see more harp recitals plus a traditional sean-nós dancing display. Rest up on St Stephen’s Day for departure on the 27th, and the whole package costs from €695pp. cashel-house-hotel.com
Brehon Hotel
Killarney
What could be more magical at Christmas than having Killarney National Park across the road.
A stay at the Brehon promises just that and, if you decide to hike around it, there’s complimentary access to the hotel’s Angsana Spa in which to rest up afterwards. Guests on its three-day package arrive Christmas Eve to mulled wine and an evening’s entertainment, a visit from Santa the next day, plus a six-course Christmas Day lunch and a buffet-style dinner that night, followed by live music.
On St Stephen’s Day, the hotel has organising a guided walk of the National Park with a packed lunch to keep your spirits up, followed by Irish coffee and a trad session in the hotel bar.
The three-day package costs €649pps, with children costing €249. thebrehon.com
Parknasilla
Co Kerry
Over in Sneem, Parknasilla is opening up for Christmas from the December 23rd to January 2nd, with cocktails and carols by the fire.
A stay from Christmas Eve until the 27th has all the festive trimmings, plus outdoor pursuits from archery to clay pigeon shooting and petanque. After that, retire to the spa pool, the outdoor hot tubs and the thermal suite. The price here is €699 per adult and €255 per child. parknasillahotel.ie
Ashford Castle
Co Mayo
If you fancy giving yourself a pressie this Christmas, check into Ashford Castle in Co Mayo. Make the most of your stay by checking in on the dot of midday, when mulled wine and mince pieces are served, followed by afternoon tea in the drawing room.
There’s a cocktail reception with chamber music and a Christmas Eve dinner at which Santa arrives bearing gifts. Carol singing is provided by St Mary’s Church choir followed by jazz.
On Christmas Day, you can opt for nine holes of golf or a cruise on Lough Corrib, fuelled by traditional music and hot whiskeys.
There’s a festive buffet lunch followed by a treasure hunt around the grounds.
Cocktails and a gala dinner with dancing and a showband are rounded off at midnight by mulled wine and mince pies.
The St Stephen’s Day programme includes a cookery demonstration, guided walking tour, dinner and more musical entertainment to follow. The package is €3,500 per room, based on two sharing. ashford.ie
Lough Eske
Co Donegal
Arrive a night early for the Solis Lough Eske Christmas package, in Donegal, and you get a night for free. The award-winning hotel has a three-night Christmas package from €635pps.
Children’s deals start at €150 and, as well as a visit from Santa on Christmas Day, there’s all sorts of games and activities for them, plus a movie showing after dinner on St Stephen’s Day.
If you arrive early, on December 23rd, for the three-night package, you get the first night’s B&B for free. solislougheskecastle.ie
