travel
Prague, Czech Republic
On January 23rd, myself and 23 other students embarked on a four day, three night trip to Prague in the heart of Czech Republic. Last year I headed to the beautiful city of Budapest, so I had high expectations for Prague. Although we were there for 3 nights, the first and last days were primarily spent travelling to and from the airport. We managed to fit a good bit in to our other two full days- here's what we got up to!
Where to stay;
We stayed in the cutest little hostel about 15/20 mins from the city centre by tram called Sir Toby's. The rooms were clean and affordable, and the bar downstairs was where we started our nights every evening. With happy hour from 6-8pm and beers for around 90c, you couldn't go wrong! The breakfast in the morning was a help-yourself sort of situation but the food was delicious. They also had a free dinner most evenings which I tried on the first night and it didn't disappoint. It's the perfect hostel for travelling with a large group of people, but I think if I was to visit Prague again I'd prefer to stay closer to the city centre. I've friends that stayed in a hostel there called Mosaic House and they had no complaints either.
Things to do & see;
For our first full day, we went on a two hour walking tour around the city. This covered parts of the old and new town, and cost around €6 each. Similar walking tours are usually free, but the common courtesy in Prague is to tip the tour guide whatever amount you want at the end. The day we went on the tour also happened to be the coldest day during our trip, with temperatures hitting -9 during the day. We ended the tour a bit early because of it- even with three layers of clothes on, I've never felt a bitterness like it! For our second full day, we took the 1-hour train journey out to the concentration camp town of Terezín just outside of Prague. As a bit of a history nerd, this trip in particular was one that I was really looking forward to! As we went through a company, the trip (including travel time) was about 6 hours long, but it was so worth it. It's genuinely the strangest town I've ever visited, and it was so moving to hear what went on there during WW2.
Food & nightlife;
I'll be honest- 24 students on a tight new year budget meant that most days, we were just eating pizza from the local takeaway retaurants. As I mentioned above, our hostel had free dinner which I tried the first night. I always make an effort to at least try the traditional food in the country I'm visiting! It was some sort of red lentil soup and it was delicious. My favourite meal was on the last evening when some of us went to a local Czech restaurant. I had goulash in Hungary but I was dying to try the Czech version and it was honestly one of the best dishes I've had in a while! I also tried trdelnik (pictured below) which was such a warming sweet treat.
We went out every night (nothing new there) to a variety of bars and clubs including the famous 5-storey Karlovy Lázne, as well as another club called James Dean and a bar called Groove. The student nightlife was a lot quieter than I expected (compared to Budapest this time last year) but the drinks were still ridiculously cheap.
Have you ever been to Prague? If you're heading there soon and need any more information, pop me a comment below or tweet me and I'll try my best to help!
3 Nights in Prague | Travel Guide
2.03.2017
Prague, Czech Republic
On January 23rd, myself and 23 other students embarked on a four day, three night trip to Prague in the heart of Czech Republic. Last year I headed to the beautiful city of Budapest, so I had high expectations for Prague. Although we were there for 3 nights, the first and last days were primarily spent travelling to and from the airport. We managed to fit a good bit in to our other two full days- here's what we got up to!
Where to stay;
We stayed in the cutest little hostel about 15/20 mins from the city centre by tram called Sir Toby's. The rooms were clean and affordable, and the bar downstairs was where we started our nights every evening. With happy hour from 6-8pm and beers for around 90c, you couldn't go wrong! The breakfast in the morning was a help-yourself sort of situation but the food was delicious. They also had a free dinner most evenings which I tried on the first night and it didn't disappoint. It's the perfect hostel for travelling with a large group of people, but I think if I was to visit Prague again I'd prefer to stay closer to the city centre. I've friends that stayed in a hostel there called Mosaic House and they had no complaints either.
Things to do & see;
For our first full day, we went on a two hour walking tour around the city. This covered parts of the old and new town, and cost around €6 each. Similar walking tours are usually free, but the common courtesy in Prague is to tip the tour guide whatever amount you want at the end. The day we went on the tour also happened to be the coldest day during our trip, with temperatures hitting -9 during the day. We ended the tour a bit early because of it- even with three layers of clothes on, I've never felt a bitterness like it! For our second full day, we took the 1-hour train journey out to the concentration camp town of Terezín just outside of Prague. As a bit of a history nerd, this trip in particular was one that I was really looking forward to! As we went through a company, the trip (including travel time) was about 6 hours long, but it was so worth it. It's genuinely the strangest town I've ever visited, and it was so moving to hear what went on there during WW2.
Food & nightlife;
I'll be honest- 24 students on a tight new year budget meant that most days, we were just eating pizza from the local takeaway retaurants. As I mentioned above, our hostel had free dinner which I tried the first night. I always make an effort to at least try the traditional food in the country I'm visiting! It was some sort of red lentil soup and it was delicious. My favourite meal was on the last evening when some of us went to a local Czech restaurant. I had goulash in Hungary but I was dying to try the Czech version and it was honestly one of the best dishes I've had in a while! I also tried trdelnik (pictured below) which was such a warming sweet treat.
We went out every night (nothing new there) to a variety of bars and clubs including the famous 5-storey Karlovy Lázne, as well as another club called James Dean and a bar called Groove. The student nightlife was a lot quieter than I expected (compared to Budapest this time last year) but the drinks were still ridiculously cheap.
Have you ever been to Prague? If you're heading there soon and need any more information, pop me a comment below or tweet me and I'll try my best to help!
Glasgow, Scotland
After waking up ridiculously early one Friday last month, I checked my emails (as usual) and the first thing I saw was an email from Ryanair- "€2 FLIGHTS". Feeling rather spontaneous, I gathered some of the girls together and after repeatedly trying to access the crashing website, seven of us managed to book return flights to Glasgow for 4 quid. Cheaper than a trip into Dublin city!
Because we were flying out early in the morning and flying home late that night, we wanted to fit as much sightseeing in as possible. Here's what we got up to!
12 Hours In Glasgow | Travel Guide
11.24.2016
Glasgow, Scotland
After waking up ridiculously early one Friday last month, I checked my emails (as usual) and the first thing I saw was an email from Ryanair- "€2 FLIGHTS". Feeling rather spontaneous, I gathered some of the girls together and after repeatedly trying to access the crashing website, seven of us managed to book return flights to Glasgow for 4 quid. Cheaper than a trip into Dublin city!
Because we were flying out early in the morning and flying home late that night, we wanted to fit as much sightseeing in as possible. Here's what we got up to!
Liverpool, UK
After my original holiday fell through and with time already booked off work, myself and two of my besties decided to pop over to the UK for a small break away. Today's post is all about the 48 hours we spent in Liverpool, before we headed off to Manchester for a night. Liverpool is the perfect city for students- mostly because of how cheap it is! Our flights were €20 return with Ryanair and we stayed in a hotel called Days Inn, which was about £70 between us for the two nights. I thought I'd put together a little student friendly travel guide for anyone that's thinking of heading away this year for a quick city break!
48 Hours In Liverpool | Travel Guide
7.03.2016
Liverpool, UK
After my original holiday fell through and with time already booked off work, myself and two of my besties decided to pop over to the UK for a small break away. Today's post is all about the 48 hours we spent in Liverpool, before we headed off to Manchester for a night. Liverpool is the perfect city for students- mostly because of how cheap it is! Our flights were €20 return with Ryanair and we stayed in a hotel called Days Inn, which was about £70 between us for the two nights. I thought I'd put together a little student friendly travel guide for anyone that's thinking of heading away this year for a quick city break!
Budapest, Hungary
I say this all the time, but I feel like every time I travel, I grow as a person. Back in January I headed to Budapest with a group of fellow photography lovers from college, and I came back feeling completely refreshed. Not only did I make a whole bunch of like-minded friends, but I fell in love with the city, too.
Budapest Photo Diary
3.11.2016 Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, Hungary
I say this all the time, but I feel like every time I travel, I grow as a person. Back in January I headed to Budapest with a group of fellow photography lovers from college, and I came back feeling completely refreshed. Not only did I make a whole bunch of like-minded friends, but I fell in love with the city, too.
What To Eat:
Custard tarts (or 'pastel de nata') are a Portuguese speciality, and by god,they're delicious! I really didn't think I'd enjoy them but I had way too many during my 5 day stay in Lisbon. The best ones I tried were at Confeitaria Nacional (Praça da Figueira 18B). We had breakfast there twice as it was only a 5 minute walk from our apartment! I also recommend their hot chocolate (one of the best I've ever had) and their croissants. For dinner, we mostly had Italian as there were plenty of restaurants to choose from. We really enjoyed Romans (Rua Augusta, 216-218) and Da Vinci Ristorante & Pizzeria (Rua Jardim Do Rejedor, 37-45).
Confeitaria Nacional
Breakfast at Confeitaria Nacional & Dinner at Da Vincis
Places To Visit
Two day trips that are quick to make and well worth the time are Cascais and Sintra. Lisbon is a beautiful city itself, but if you're looking to fit in a trip to the beach, then Cascais is the place to go. It's only 40 minutes by train from the Cais De Sodre station (which is also on the metro line) and cost around €4.40 return for an adult. There are many beaches there and it was absolutely scorching when we went there (twice!). Sintra is another town that's also around 40 minutes away, which you can get to from the Rossio train station. It's a beautiful old little town that has plenty of castles. We chose the Quinta da Regaleira, the cheapest of the 'palaces', which was stunning on the outside but a bit of a let down inside. We also took a little train around the city which cost €5 each!
Cascais beach & Quinta da Regaleira
Where To Shop
The streets of centre Lisbon itself, particularly around the Baixo-Chiado metro station, are full of shops like H&M and Zara. There's also plenty of cheaper shops with jewellery for as little as €2 and handbags for €10. However if you prefer to have all your shops under one roof, the Vasco Da Gama shopping centre, beside the Oriente metro station, is a must visit! From Sephora to Stradivarius, there's something to suit everyone, not to mention a massive food court with the likes of Pizza Hut and KFC.
So there you have it! My guide to Lisbon. If you have any more questions about where to stay (or if you're looking for a beautiful apartment recommendation) don't hesitate to get in touch via twitter or email.
Have you been to Lisbon before?
-Rachel x
My Travel Guide To Lisbon
7.27.2015
What To Eat:
Custard tarts (or 'pastel de nata') are a Portuguese speciality, and by god,they're delicious! I really didn't think I'd enjoy them but I had way too many during my 5 day stay in Lisbon. The best ones I tried were at Confeitaria Nacional (Praça da Figueira 18B). We had breakfast there twice as it was only a 5 minute walk from our apartment! I also recommend their hot chocolate (one of the best I've ever had) and their croissants. For dinner, we mostly had Italian as there were plenty of restaurants to choose from. We really enjoyed Romans (Rua Augusta, 216-218) and Da Vinci Ristorante & Pizzeria (Rua Jardim Do Rejedor, 37-45).
Confeitaria Nacional
Breakfast at Confeitaria Nacional & Dinner at Da Vincis
Places To Visit
Two day trips that are quick to make and well worth the time are Cascais and Sintra. Lisbon is a beautiful city itself, but if you're looking to fit in a trip to the beach, then Cascais is the place to go. It's only 40 minutes by train from the Cais De Sodre station (which is also on the metro line) and cost around €4.40 return for an adult. There are many beaches there and it was absolutely scorching when we went there (twice!). Sintra is another town that's also around 40 minutes away, which you can get to from the Rossio train station. It's a beautiful old little town that has plenty of castles. We chose the Quinta da Regaleira, the cheapest of the 'palaces', which was stunning on the outside but a bit of a let down inside. We also took a little train around the city which cost €5 each!
Cascais beach & Quinta da Regaleira
Where To Shop
The streets of centre Lisbon itself, particularly around the Baixo-Chiado metro station, are full of shops like H&M and Zara. There's also plenty of cheaper shops with jewellery for as little as €2 and handbags for €10. However if you prefer to have all your shops under one roof, the Vasco Da Gama shopping centre, beside the Oriente metro station, is a must visit! From Sephora to Stradivarius, there's something to suit everyone, not to mention a massive food court with the likes of Pizza Hut and KFC.
So there you have it! My guide to Lisbon. If you have any more questions about where to stay (or if you're looking for a beautiful apartment recommendation) don't hesitate to get in touch via twitter or email.
Have you been to Lisbon before?
-Rachel x
Hey everyone,
Guess who's back in Ireland? Much to my dismay, me! Don't get me wrong, I do like my home country, but that post-holiday depression has certainly hit. And I've only been home a few hours! It was my first time in Lisbon- and Portugal in general, actually- but I really did love it. There's something about Lisbon that really captured my heart. Between the beautiful weather, the old fashioned buildings and plenty of things to see and do, it's safe to say it's a place I'd definitely like to return to!
I took so many photos during my trip (some which can be seen on my Instagram here) so there'll be plenty of outfit and travel posts coming your way! I have a pretty busy week ahead, but I'm feeling so inspired to blog. Travel really does broaden the mind, and thankfully this trip has brought me out of that dark hole of blogger's block!
Playsuit- New Look
Sandals- New Look
Bag- vintage
Hat- Penneys/Primark
Shop similar here...
Have you ever been to Lisbon?
-Rachel x
OOTD- The Streets Of Lisbon
7.25.2015
Hey everyone,
Guess who's back in Ireland? Much to my dismay, me! Don't get me wrong, I do like my home country, but that post-holiday depression has certainly hit. And I've only been home a few hours! It was my first time in Lisbon- and Portugal in general, actually- but I really did love it. There's something about Lisbon that really captured my heart. Between the beautiful weather, the old fashioned buildings and plenty of things to see and do, it's safe to say it's a place I'd definitely like to return to!
I took so many photos during my trip (some which can be seen on my Instagram here) so there'll be plenty of outfit and travel posts coming your way! I have a pretty busy week ahead, but I'm feeling so inspired to blog. Travel really does broaden the mind, and thankfully this trip has brought me out of that dark hole of blogger's block!
Playsuit- New Look
Sandals- New Look
Bag- vintage
Hat- Penneys/Primark
Shop similar here...
Have you ever been to Lisbon?
-Rachel x
Hey everyone,
Some more pictures from my recent trip to France! Looking back at these photos is making me wish I was still there.. Thankfully I don't have to wait long before travelling again, as I'm off to Lisbon in Portugal next week. I'm super excited as I've never been before- if you have any recommendations on places to visit, please send them my way!
During my time in France, we took a short trip to the Château De Chenonceau. Believe it or not I'm a bit of a history nerd and when I heard we were visiting this castle in particular, I'm not going to lie, I fangirled a bit! I did my Leaving Cert history research topic on Mary Queen of Scots, and this castle is actually linked to her. Her father-in-law's mistress, Diane De Poitiers, lived here for a while, as did her mother-in-law Catherine De Medici. The castle and it's gardens was honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. I found it fascinating that all the rooms remained in such good condition! The castle was about a 45 minute drive from where we were staying just outside Tours, so if you're around that area, I highly recommend visiting it.
Top & hat- Penneys/Primark
Skirt- New Look
Bag- vintage
Bracelet- Newbridge Silverware
Necklace- Eleanor Hall Jewellery*
-Rachel x
Travel Diary & Outfit: Château De Chenonceau
7.13.2015
Hey everyone,
Some more pictures from my recent trip to France! Looking back at these photos is making me wish I was still there.. Thankfully I don't have to wait long before travelling again, as I'm off to Lisbon in Portugal next week. I'm super excited as I've never been before- if you have any recommendations on places to visit, please send them my way!
During my time in France, we took a short trip to the Château De Chenonceau. Believe it or not I'm a bit of a history nerd and when I heard we were visiting this castle in particular, I'm not going to lie, I fangirled a bit! I did my Leaving Cert history research topic on Mary Queen of Scots, and this castle is actually linked to her. Her father-in-law's mistress, Diane De Poitiers, lived here for a while, as did her mother-in-law Catherine De Medici. The castle and it's gardens was honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. I found it fascinating that all the rooms remained in such good condition! The castle was about a 45 minute drive from where we were staying just outside Tours, so if you're around that area, I highly recommend visiting it.
Top & hat- Penneys/Primark
Skirt- New Look
Bag- vintage
Bracelet- Newbridge Silverware
Necklace- Eleanor Hall Jewellery*
-Rachel x
Hey everyone,
Welcome to the first ever 'travel diary' post here on Oh Hey There Rachel! I love travelling, so I figured it would be a great idea to start a new series on my blog documenting my travels (even if I don't go abroad very often). As I've mentioned here multiple times, I recently went on a trip to France to stay with a friend and to see Florence + the Machine at festival Beauregard in Caen. I stayed in a small village called Montbazon just outside the city of Tours which is in central France. We flew into Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris with Aer Lingus, and then got the TGV train from the airport to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps which took just over two hours. We booked our train tickets well in advance, and went first class for an extra euro! It was definitely worth that euro, as we had so much leg space. It was my first time on a TGV train and I found the whole double decker thing quite fascinating...
On our second day in France we headed into Tours city, which was bigger than I expected. There was a main street with plenty of shops liked Zara and a Galeries Lafayette, but it was so hot that for once, I didn't feel like shopping! During my time in France, the temperature went up to 38 degrees because of the heat wave. Instead we visited the old parts of the town which I loved, because I'm obsessed with old architecture! The Gothic cathedral was simply stunning, as was the exterior of the Musée des Beaux Arts. If you're looking for a real French experience, I can't recommend Tours enough. It was so refreshing to go on a non-touristy holiday!
 |
| Saint Gatien's cathedral |
 |
| Musée des Beaux-Arts |
 |
| one of the oldest trees in Europe apparently! |
I hope you enjoyed this travel diary- it's something quite different to what I usually do. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below if you'd like to see more!
-Rachel x
Travel Diary- Tours, France
7.08.2015
Hey everyone,
Welcome to the first ever 'travel diary' post here on Oh Hey There Rachel! I love travelling, so I figured it would be a great idea to start a new series on my blog documenting my travels (even if I don't go abroad very often). As I've mentioned here multiple times, I recently went on a trip to France to stay with a friend and to see Florence + the Machine at festival Beauregard in Caen. I stayed in a small village called Montbazon just outside the city of Tours which is in central France. We flew into Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris with Aer Lingus, and then got the TGV train from the airport to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps which took just over two hours. We booked our train tickets well in advance, and went first class for an extra euro! It was definitely worth that euro, as we had so much leg space. It was my first time on a TGV train and I found the whole double decker thing quite fascinating...
On our second day in France we headed into Tours city, which was bigger than I expected. There was a main street with plenty of shops liked Zara and a Galeries Lafayette, but it was so hot that for once, I didn't feel like shopping! During my time in France, the temperature went up to 38 degrees because of the heat wave. Instead we visited the old parts of the town which I loved, because I'm obsessed with old architecture! The Gothic cathedral was simply stunning, as was the exterior of the Musée des Beaux Arts. If you're looking for a real French experience, I can't recommend Tours enough. It was so refreshing to go on a non-touristy holiday!
|
| Saint Gatien's cathedral |
|
| Musée des Beaux-Arts |
|
| one of the oldest trees in Europe apparently! |
I hope you enjoyed this travel diary- it's something quite different to what I usually do. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below if you'd like to see more!
-Rachel x
Hey everyone,
As some of you may know, I'm off to France tomorrow for 5 nights! I just started a bit of packing today as I hate leaving things til the last minute, so I figured I'd share some of my packing with you. Airlines have a liquid limit of 100ml, which can be slightly frustrating! Thankfully, I've managed to put together a travel bag full of hair and skin products that are all travel size and purse friendly! I picked up this Cath Kidston makeup bag in Kildare Village a few years ago and it's still my favourite bag to use. It's still in perfect shape and I love the bright pattern! Let's take a look at what's inside, shall we?
Last week I headed to a press event with RDCommunications to view their latest Summer releases, and we received a generous goody bag with plenty of travel sized products. I'm definitely bringing the Ziaja Face Cream* with SPF50, as I get sunburnt super easily and I hate the feeling of regular suncream on my face- it blocks my pores! I also got REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash* and Body Lotion*. These smell absolutely divine, and I'm so excited to use them as REN Skincare are a favourite among many bloggers.
So there you have it! The contents of my travel beauty bag. Let me know if you'd like to see more travel posts in future! What's in your travel bag?
-Rachel x
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
What's In My Travel Beauty Bag?
6.30.2015
Hey everyone,
As some of you may know, I'm off to France tomorrow for 5 nights! I just started a bit of packing today as I hate leaving things til the last minute, so I figured I'd share some of my packing with you. Airlines have a liquid limit of 100ml, which can be slightly frustrating! Thankfully, I've managed to put together a travel bag full of hair and skin products that are all travel size and purse friendly! I picked up this Cath Kidston makeup bag in Kildare Village a few years ago and it's still my favourite bag to use. It's still in perfect shape and I love the bright pattern! Let's take a look at what's inside, shall we?
Last week I headed to a press event with RDCommunications to view their latest Summer releases, and we received a generous goody bag with plenty of travel sized products. I'm definitely bringing the Ziaja Face Cream* with SPF50, as I get sunburnt super easily and I hate the feeling of regular suncream on my face- it blocks my pores! I also got REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash* and Body Lotion*. These smell absolutely divine, and I'm so excited to use them as REN Skincare are a favourite among many bloggers.
So there you have it! The contents of my travel beauty bag. Let me know if you'd like to see more travel posts in future! What's in your travel bag?
-Rachel x
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
Hey everyone,
Something I've noticed popping up again and again on the likes of Pinterest and Tumblr is the term "wanderlust". According to the image above, wanderlust is "a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world". Although I don't talk about it here a lot, something I truly love doing is travelling. I long for the day when I have my own income, and I can pick a destination to just spontaneously travel to. I love going to the airport, browsing in duty free and anticipating the journey that awaits me. I love the flying itself- even the dodgy plane food!During my 17 year old life I've been to many cities and countries, for example Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Orlando and London. I can only hope that list continues to grow and grow.
Wanderlust: A Desire To Travel
3.08.2015
Hey everyone,
Something I've noticed popping up again and again on the likes of Pinterest and Tumblr is the term "wanderlust". According to the image above, wanderlust is "a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world". Although I don't talk about it here a lot, something I truly love doing is travelling. I long for the day when I have my own income, and I can pick a destination to just spontaneously travel to. I love going to the airport, browsing in duty free and anticipating the journey that awaits me. I love the flying itself- even the dodgy plane food!During my 17 year old life I've been to many cities and countries, for example Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Orlando and London. I can only hope that list continues to grow and grow.
Hey everyone,
On Thursday I was whisked off on a 3 and a half hour journey to Fermanagh in Northern Ireland thanks to Rachel Dalton Communications. I was lucky enough to receive a night's accommodation in Lusty Beg Island- an exclusive spa paradise. When I first read the email, I have to admit- I squealed a little! I'm so grateful for every opportunity I get, but this one was definitely different to the rest. I was delighted to see some bloggers I recognised also heading up on the coach, as well as journalists, stylists and other members of the press. Not only would accommodation and transport be provided, but we could also make full use of the spa and the activities there. It felt like a bit of a retreat in all honesty, as the island was so tranquil and beautiful. Sounds good, right? Let me tell you, it gets better! I've decided to break my review into small sections so it's easier to understand, so let's get to it!
Accommodation;
I brought my friend Ciara along and we were delighted to receive a room with a double bed and a single bed, and Ciara was gracious enough to let me have the double. The rooms were extremely spacious and modern, with lovely touches like the swan towels on the bed, and free fruit and water on the desk. We stayed in one of their Courtyard B&B rooms, but they also have lakeside cabins, chalets and lodges- how perfect would that be for a group of friends looking for a few nights away! Thankfully, the beds were extremely comfortable, which was definitely a necessity at the end of our long day.
Food;
On Thursday afternoon when we first arrived, we were treated to some delicious soup and sandwiches- but it was the 4 course dinner that night that took my breath away. First we arrived at 7pm for pre-drinks in the Thatch Bar overlooking the lake, then we headed into the main restaurant for dinner at 8. There were four or five long tables and it was great to have Margaret, Laura and Zoë at mine, as we had a brilliant chat.The dinner consisted of confit of duck, roast red pepper & tomato soup, fillet steak and a trio of desserts. It's making me hungry just thinking about it! Breakfast was a buffet consisting of your usual hot food, fruit, cereals, croissants and pancakes- scrumptious!
Spa;
On Friday I was booked in for my facial with Voya after 12, so myself, Ciara and Zoë decided to venture down to the pool before hand. At first, we were the only ones in the swimming pool, which was an added bonus! It was unlike anything I've ever experienced before- the water and air were warm, making it feel very exotic. The outdoor hot-tub was simply divine, and we felt very posh in it indeed! When it came to my facial, I wasn't sure what to expect, as Id never had one before- but after this one, I'll definitely be getting one again. I was brought to the relaxation room first before receiving a facial using Voya products. It was so relaxing and I honestly felt so chilled out after it.
Activities;
Although the island offers boating, archery and clay pigeon shooting at an added price, Ciara and I only embarked on a trip to the shooting range. I was petrified to shoot a gun, to say the least! I managed to somehow shoot two of the clay pigeons (don't worry, they're not real pigeons, and I'm ashamed to say I thought they were at first- you can only imagine my relief when I heard they weren't!). The shock after the first bullet was released was immense, and the gun was also extremely heavy, so I've a big, round bruise on my arm now. Nevertheless, it was great fun and definitely an experience I'll remember.
Overall, my trip to Lusty Beg Island was a fantastic experience and I can't recommend the place enough. The only negative thing I could say about it is that there was no wifi in the rooms- but when you're heading up there for some peace and quiet, perhaps that's actually a good thing! I can't recommend Lusty Beg enough, and it would be a perfect destination for weddings as they can also host civil ceremonies there. I'm so grateful to Rachel Dalton Communications for inviting me too! You can find out more about Lusty Beg on their website here.
What do you think of Lusty Beg Island*?
-Rachel x
Lusty Beg Island- Review!
9.30.2014
Hey everyone,
On Thursday I was whisked off on a 3 and a half hour journey to Fermanagh in Northern Ireland thanks to Rachel Dalton Communications. I was lucky enough to receive a night's accommodation in Lusty Beg Island- an exclusive spa paradise. When I first read the email, I have to admit- I squealed a little! I'm so grateful for every opportunity I get, but this one was definitely different to the rest. I was delighted to see some bloggers I recognised also heading up on the coach, as well as journalists, stylists and other members of the press. Not only would accommodation and transport be provided, but we could also make full use of the spa and the activities there. It felt like a bit of a retreat in all honesty, as the island was so tranquil and beautiful. Sounds good, right? Let me tell you, it gets better! I've decided to break my review into small sections so it's easier to understand, so let's get to it!
Accommodation;
I brought my friend Ciara along and we were delighted to receive a room with a double bed and a single bed, and Ciara was gracious enough to let me have the double. The rooms were extremely spacious and modern, with lovely touches like the swan towels on the bed, and free fruit and water on the desk. We stayed in one of their Courtyard B&B rooms, but they also have lakeside cabins, chalets and lodges- how perfect would that be for a group of friends looking for a few nights away! Thankfully, the beds were extremely comfortable, which was definitely a necessity at the end of our long day.
Food;
On Thursday afternoon when we first arrived, we were treated to some delicious soup and sandwiches- but it was the 4 course dinner that night that took my breath away. First we arrived at 7pm for pre-drinks in the Thatch Bar overlooking the lake, then we headed into the main restaurant for dinner at 8. There were four or five long tables and it was great to have Margaret, Laura and Zoë at mine, as we had a brilliant chat.The dinner consisted of confit of duck, roast red pepper & tomato soup, fillet steak and a trio of desserts. It's making me hungry just thinking about it! Breakfast was a buffet consisting of your usual hot food, fruit, cereals, croissants and pancakes- scrumptious!
Spa;
On Friday I was booked in for my facial with Voya after 12, so myself, Ciara and Zoë decided to venture down to the pool before hand. At first, we were the only ones in the swimming pool, which was an added bonus! It was unlike anything I've ever experienced before- the water and air were warm, making it feel very exotic. The outdoor hot-tub was simply divine, and we felt very posh in it indeed! When it came to my facial, I wasn't sure what to expect, as Id never had one before- but after this one, I'll definitely be getting one again. I was brought to the relaxation room first before receiving a facial using Voya products. It was so relaxing and I honestly felt so chilled out after it.
Activities;
Although the island offers boating, archery and clay pigeon shooting at an added price, Ciara and I only embarked on a trip to the shooting range. I was petrified to shoot a gun, to say the least! I managed to somehow shoot two of the clay pigeons (don't worry, they're not real pigeons, and I'm ashamed to say I thought they were at first- you can only imagine my relief when I heard they weren't!). The shock after the first bullet was released was immense, and the gun was also extremely heavy, so I've a big, round bruise on my arm now. Nevertheless, it was great fun and definitely an experience I'll remember.
Overall, my trip to Lusty Beg Island was a fantastic experience and I can't recommend the place enough. The only negative thing I could say about it is that there was no wifi in the rooms- but when you're heading up there for some peace and quiet, perhaps that's actually a good thing! I can't recommend Lusty Beg enough, and it would be a perfect destination for weddings as they can also host civil ceremonies there. I'm so grateful to Rachel Dalton Communications for inviting me too! You can find out more about Lusty Beg on their website here.
What do you think of Lusty Beg Island*?
-Rachel x
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