"So last week I did a blog on my Top 5 Luxury Festive Getaways and I was lucky to take my own festive break, last weekend, which I love to do every year ahead of Christmas. It’s so nice to just take yourself away from the hustle and bustle and take time to chill and relax and soak up the Christmas atmosphere in the run up to it all.

This year we opted to stay in Ireland and had a fabulous 2 day break in one of my top 5 Luxury Festive Getaway picks. The wonderful five star Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort, somewhere I had never been before. Going somewhere new always creates another element of surprise and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. We set off on our journey early on Sunday morning to make the most of the day and arrived at the hotel early to a lovely Christmassy atmosphere and great buzz about the hotel.

It was such a beautiful crisp sunny day, so we wrapped up warm and set off on a winter walk to explore what was on offer. The walking trail is approximately 2.5km, each way, and is located on the grounds of the resort, that takes you from the hotel to the Golf House. We encountered some fabulous scenery and views along the way, as well as seeing some lovely swans in the river bedside the hotel. The walk is an absolute must and is pretty easy walking so you can stroll at your leisure.

We stopped off for drink in the Golf House and got chatting to a really friendly barman, who offered us  lots of tips and ‘must do’s and see’s’, one of which was to visit a nearby town called Greystones, which until now I have never heard of before. What a fabulous recommendation it was and shows the valuable information you can get simply from talking to the locals.

Off we headed to Greystones, located about 5km from the hotel, originally a small fishing village, Greystones has apparently grown significantly over the past number of years and retains lots of its charm and character. It is served by the Dart from Dublin making it a perfect getaway from the city.

We sampled our way through many of the coffee shops, superb restaurants and quirky pubs which all offered something unique to enjoy. I did a spot of shopping and window browsing in the wealth of unique specialist shops the town has to offer, from clothing and jewellery to floral and sweet shops.

The hotel was so relaxing, homely and welcoming. The reception area has lots of comfy seating to chill by the fire or take a quite space to zone out and unwind. Our King room was very spacious and nicely decorated oh and conveniently located right beside the gym, putting me under pressure to avail of it, which I did.

Breakfast was a highlight with lots to choose from, including lots of healthy options, which very often you don’t get. I particularly loved the omelette station, where you can get a freshly cooked omelette to your liking.

The hotel location is a real plus, nestled in 400 acres of countryside where you can embrace the great outdoors, enjoy the country air and take in the fantastic scenery, whilst at the same time it is so convenient to some great nearby towns and Dublin city of course. It is particularly suited for families and offers a wide range of family activities to include a kid’s playground, a kids club and other family friendly fun to keep everyone entertained.

Overall we had such a lovey relaxing and fun break way, the peacefulness of the hotel, the natural surroundings and the festive atmosphere made it a great way to really switch off and start the festivities. Getting to Kildare village for a day of retail therapy and discovering Greystones, and enjoying all it had to offer, really made our trip. Now all I have to do is look forward to Christmas and maybe a little break in the New Year".

 

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