Welcome Back To Lanzarote
There are few better escapes from COVID woes than letting loose among Lanzarote’s weird and wonderful lunar-like landscape warmed by balmy winter sunshine and wowed by the contrasting golden sandy beaches of the south. Little wonder that the sunniest and strangest island of the far-flung archipelago of volcanic islands, that rose out of the sea […]
Ireland’s most intrepid globetrotter turns 90
Travel Times salutes Ireland’s most intrepid Globetrotterby Isabel Conway Travel trail blazer Dervla Murphy has just turned 90 and Travel Times extends warmest congratulations to the world renowned doyenne of travel writing.The legendary adventurer has seen it all and survived many a scrape in her time, as she revealed in conversations with Travel Times, from […]
All set for America
By Isabel Conway Dreaming of a Bite of the Big Apple again, exploring historic Boston, chilling out in sunny Palm Springs, family fun in Florida, or of heading down south to Memphis home of blues, soul and Rock n’ Roll.? It’s long overdue and none of us can wait to take a trip across the […]
Taking the Road Less Travelled
by Isabel Conway Distant Fields may not be all that greener as everyone bitten by the ‘walking bug’ during Ireland’s outdoor revolution since our first COVID -19 pandemic lockdown discovered. Over a year on, our wings may still be clipped, but bookings for organized hikes and more leisurely meanders through the country’s history, taking forgotten […]
All Roads Lead to Ravenna
All Roads lead to Ravenna, one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Once the rollout of the COVID vaccine gathers enough momentum we can dream of’ la dolce vita’ again and a return to a destination rich in culture, romance, spectacular scenery, wonderful food and wine. To the far east of Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna a charming UNESCO […]
Green shoots at last for travel?
By Isabel ConwayTravel off the island may still be off the table but the roll out of vaccines and availability of COVID testing at airports looks like being a game changer. After the most bruising year in history for the industry Travel Times talks to travel professionals. The award winning online Travel Agent “It has […]
The Staycation: Checking out the New Check-In
Basil Fawlty’s take on virtual check in and check out, social distancing, hand sanitizers and hospital standard cleaning of his hotel rooms can only be imagined.The irascible star of the classic TV comedy could be relied on to throw away his new face mask, ranting and raving that he’ll be driven out of business faced […]
Going Dutch in ‘New Normal’
Going Dutch may never be the same again as bars and restaurants all over the Netherlands opened for the first time in almost three months to celebrate the country’s sunny Pinksteren (Whit) public holiday Monday. Few European countries enjoy summertime terrace drinking and dining quite like the Dutch do. Amsterdam’s picturesque canal side open air […]
A Brave New World – Kinsale
In a normal year one of Ireland’s most scenic towns, Kinsale, Co Cork would start to welcome ever growing numbers of international and domestic tourists. Coaches would roll in too, filled with visitors on day excursions from Cobh to the east, whose deep water harbour has become a favourite stop off port on cruise […]
Making a Splash in Lanzarote, Ireland’s favourite Canary Island
With foreign travel on freeze and summer abroad cancelled by the COVID -19 pandemic one of the most successful Irish run hospitality businesses in The Canaries takes the pulse on the challenges ahead. Travel Times meets Dubliner Geraldine McFadden. Geraldine is a dynamic travel industry veteran, formerly a destination rep for Club Travel, among other […]
How the world’s largest hotel chain is giving back during COVID-19
A helping hand from the hospitality sector during the coronavirus by Isabel Conway The Marriott global hospitality giant has stepped up to the plate by supporting communities, with its CEO and Chairman taking no salaries for the remainder of the year, offering free rooms to first responders and donating food and hand sanitizers to hospitals. […]
What’s trending in travel for 2020?
by Isabel Conway and Ed Finn As we settle into a new year, and a new decade, Travel Times looks at some of the big travel trends for 2020.Travellers now and in the years to come will prioritize sustainability and the likely impact of their journeys on the planet, travel industry experts agree. ‘Slow travel’ by […]
Under the spell of Little Women in New England
By Isabel Conway New England and locations in Massachusetts are poised for an influx of ‘Little Women’ movie fans to locations throughout the state that feature in the much talked of period-drama starring our own Saoirse Ronan. The stunning period-drama, featuring a star-studded cast which also includes Laura Dern, Meryl Street and Emma Watson was […]
Boston Harbor Hotel
By Isabel ConwayA grey rain soaked October evening fails to dull the magic of watching Boston harbour from the tenth floor of my spacious nautical themed bedroom. Its floor to ceiling windows offer amazing views. One of only three 5 star properties in Boston, aptly named Boston Harbour Hotel happens to have the best location […]
Ten things we love about Providence, Rhode Island
By Isabel ConwayThe city of Providence, capital of America’s smallest state of Rhode Island is only an hour and a half by car from Boston. In the past overshadowed by New England’s historic colonial power house, Providence has long come into its own as a hip and cultured city, whose winding streets resonate with colonial-era […]