FACTFILE DUBLIN
GETTING THERE
Dublin is very accessible by both air and sea. with Dublin airport. Dublin port and Dun Laoghaire harbour within easy reach of the city and county. easyJet. Go and Aer Lingus are your best bets for budget flights — if you book in advance. fares start as low as $15. Once yOu're there. travel is easy by bus. rail. bicycle and car. A 20min journey takes yOu from the bustling city centre to the pleasant coastal towns and villages of the COunty.
ACCOMMODATION
Booking yOur accommodation through the Irish Tourist Board is a good plan if you don’t want to leave yOur holiday accommodation to chance. They offer a wide range and you can easily book ahead online. To search for a hotel, guesthouse. B&B or other serviced or self-catering accommodation log on to wwwgulliver.ie/dublintourism
SIGHTSEEING MUST-SEES
There's a massive range to choose from. If you can drag yOurself away from the lure of Guinness. why not check out Dublin Castle. at the very heart of historic Dublin? Alternatively. if you're just looking for a gentle wander. the Garden of Remembrance is beautiful. Designed by Daithi Hanly and dedicated to the
memory of all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. the gardens house a large sculpture by Oisin O'Kelly. based on the theme of the children of Lir. Better still. admission is free. If you're more of a culture vulture. the Chester Beatty Library's exhibition collection offers artistic treasures of the great traditions and religions of the world. Of a similar ilk. the Dublin Writers Museum could well be just what yOu're looking for if you fancy something a little more literary. Check out wwwvisitdtiblin.com.
SHOPPING
With its bustling city centre and lively Suburbs Dublin provides the ideal setting for shopping. offering the visitor a wonderful array of products ranging from the traditional to the more contemporary. A must is the central shopping area which runs from O'Connell Street to Grafton Street. Here you'll find one of the best districts in Ireland for concentrated and speciality shopping at prices competitive with most other European cities. Once you leave the city behind. many of the suburban shopping centres such as the Liffey Valley Centre and the Blanchardstown Centre incorporate high street stores and indivrdual speciality shops to provide the complete corisunfer-experience under one roof.
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Travel
Perth. Australia for as little as £569rtn. And while you're there why not partake in a tour or two? One of our favourites is Adventure Tour Australia’s South-Western Safari starting at 2146. Highlights include a visit to Wave Rock. hiking in the Stirling ranges. a wine tour at Margaret River and diving at Dunsborough. As before. check out www.statravel.co.uk.
I EUROPE’S CALLING, SO WHY not answer? Escape humdrum daily life and fly off to Paris or Prague for a few nights. Costs start as low as £124pp for return flights and include three nights accommodation. Log on to www.statravel.co.uk or call 0870 160 6070. Top tip: if Paris is your choice destination and you fancy a dining experience with a difference try Orestias on 4 rue Gregoire-de-Tours.
Excess baggage
Festivals, flights and f€P9l99§ fares
I FESTIVAL FEVER IS STILL GOING strong — only this time it's more of a Fit Fest. This year's Scottish Border's Festival of Walking (7—14 Sept). is set to take place in and around Melrose. offering intrepid trekkers the ideal opportunity to take in a veritable melting pot of magic and mystery. Walks include visits to Thomas the Rhymer’s Stone. William Wallace's statue, Robert the Bruce's heart and much more. Participation is free but pre- booking is essential. For more info on travel, walks and accommodation, log on to www.scot-borders.co.uk or call 0870 608 0404.
I FOOD-LOVING LOTHARIOS should have their hands full with the Lonely Planet’s new literary offering, World Food: Portugal. This handy little number promises to guide you through your culinary senses and help you use your new found foodie knowledge to impress and seduce prospective lovers. Saucy. See www.lone|yplanet. com for more details.
I THOSE EVER-KINDLY folks at STA have plans afoot to help you escape the cold British winter. Travel to
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