The team at CityHotels.ie have cherry picked some of the last remaining Valentine’s Day bargains available for a romantic evening with your loved one! 

 DUBLIN (4 Star Treatment)

• The Gibson Hotel at The Point O2 Theatre | €51.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
• Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel Killiney | €54.00 per person sharing 
• D4 Ballsbridge Towers Hotel | €34.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
• Burlington Hotel Dublin | €49.50 per person sharing
  more…>

GALWAY (4 Star Treatment)

• Meyrick Hotel Eyre Square Galway City | €60.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
• Loughrea Hotel and Spa, Loughrea, Galway | €69.00 per person sharing including 1 Evening Meal + B&B
• Ardilaun Hotel Salthill Galway City | €59.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
  more…>

 CORK (4 Star Treatment)

• Gresham Metropole Hotel Cork City Centre | €39.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
• Imperial Hotel and Spa South Mall Cork City | €59.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
• The Montenotte Hotel Cork City | €75.00 per person sharing including 1 Evening Meal + B&B
• Maryborough Hotel and Spa Douglas, Cork  | €79.00 per person sharing including Irish Breakfast
  more…>

Limited availability so what are you waiting for? Book now!

Everybody enjoys good customer service and no more satisfying getting VIP treatment when staying at a hotel. Here are a few tips from our  hotel insider on how to get the most out of your stay and to make your trip a more enjoyable experience.

1.  Select a suitable hotel:
You have to be reasonable about what service levels to expect in return for what you pay. Don’t think you can wangle VIP treatment if you are staying in a budget type no-frill type hotel.  These hotels won’t have a pool, spa treatment, fitness centre or full-time concierge.  Their offering is low prices in exchange for basic facilities and service levels.

So where would you expect VIP treatment? Focus your attention on 3.5-5 star hotels where guest comfort and relaxation is part of the experience. Look for hotels with good facilities such as spa treatments, sauna, pool(s), fitness centre, parking, concierge, hotel porter, restaurant etc. This gives you more chance of taking full advantage of what the hotel has to offer and of course getting the best bang for your euro!

2.   First impressions:
Hotel staff are human too! First impressions when you arrive do last and are hard to change. Lose the football jersey and tracksuit bottoms. You have more chance/less hassle getting a free upgrade or whatever you request if you are smartly dressed.  Business travellers tend to get looked after better since they could potentially offer repeat and frequent business.  Think Don Draper from Mad Men!
Also, little things like the condition of your luggage or arriving by private transfer influence hotel staff perception.

3.   Acknowledge: 
Working in a hotel is demanding and can be stressful. Respect the hotel staff and show your appreciation by acknowledging their service. Hotel staff welcome compliments and like to hear that their efforts are noticed. They are quick to remember you especially if you have any special requests or need help in any way. 

4.   Tip early:
Most guests who choose to tip hotel staff tend to do so in one lump sum towards the end of their stay or upon check-out.  There is no doubt you will benefit much more by tipping staff immediately or consistently (in smaller tips) throughout your stay. This will guarantee that you will receive their full attention and a quality service.

5.   Build rapport: 
Talk to the bell boy, waiter, concierge, reservation, housekeeping or any hotel staff that you come into contact. Remember staff are most likely locals from the area and are likely to be very knowledgeable about special offers, good insider tips and suggestions. They might be able to pull a  favour or go out of their way to help you, especially if you have been tipping well! 

If you follow these five tips you are on a good path to a pleasurable stay and VIP treatment be it free room upgrades, complimentary tickets to a show, free parking , airport drop-off, complimentary champagne, free passes to , discount on dinner, free round of golf and much much more!

Enjoy your stay!

The CityHotels.ie Team

Further to our recent blog posts on the Stansted Express and Luton Airport Express we thought it would also be useful to write a blog post for those travelling to London for the first time via Gatwick Airport.

Situated approximately 29 miles south of central London, you would be wise not to take a taxi into London as it would cost close to £80.00.  In general, any form of road transport is going to be tedious and takes considerably longer when you have to contend with heavy volumes of traffic going in and out of this metropolis. So the only other and most sensible option is travelling by rail. Here you have a couple of options.

Gatwick Express: This non-stop 30 minute service runs every 15 minutes from London Victoria station to Gatwick airport. You can pay for your ticket at the airport or on board the train. However, you can take advantage of a 10% discount when you book online in advance on either their own website or through AerLingus.

• Gatwick Express Single online fare: £15.20 per adult / £7.60 per child (5-15)
• Gatwick Express Return online fare: £25.80 per adult / £11.00 per child (5-15)

As you can see there are considerable savings (£4.60 per adult) if you purchase the return ticket rather than two separate single fares. Note, groups of three or more person can avail of 50% special offers such as 4 for the price of 2 or 3 for the price of 2.

Southern Railway: Another rail alternative to the Gatwick Express service and can save you several pounds.  Just like the Gatwick Express this service runs every 15 mins but takes 8 minutes longer. However, when you book in advance and travel off-peak (after 0930hrs) you can get single fares for as little as £3.75 each way!

First Capital Connect: These trains run up four times each hour and the journey to London (London Bridge, St. Pancras) takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on how crowded train is and of course the time of day. Single fare advance ticket costs from just £5.00!

In a nutshell, choose from the above three options and make your decision based on price and/or journey time.

The CityHotels.ie Team

Other than Irish hotel bookings, every one of our customers that makes their hotel booking through CityHotels.ie has gone down the DIY route of booking flights and accommodation separately. Gone are the days of being restricted by package holiday operators to certain dates and a select few hotels.  No doubt everybody welcomes and relishes  the opportunity to fly to say Madrid or London for €50 return. However, the dirt cheap airfares on offer from low cost airlines such as Ryanair has spurred on their management to seek revenue from other ancillary sources. We know only too well about hearing horror baggage charge stories from friends and colleagues.

So…to save you some of your hard earned cash, we have come up with a few tips on how to avoid and save yourself from these unneccesary charges.

1. Online Check-In Charges: Try to book your return flight from Ireland in one booking rather than two separate bookings. For example, if you book a return flight to London flying out of Dublin, you will face mandatory online check in charge of €5.00 per journey (€10.00). If you book these journeys separately, Ryanair for instance charge you €5.00 check in for your outward journey and £5.00 (€6.43). This extra £GBP sterling differential adds up especially when you are booking for a group of people!
You might get lucky if Ryanair are doing promotional fares on a suitable flight such as free online check-in and no taxes. If so happy days!

2. Baggage Charges: Many people choose to opt for carry-on luggage only which has a maximum of 10kgs per person. Ryanair staff are extremely strict on imposing their restrictions for both the weight and dimensions of carry-on luggage. Apparently their staff earn a commission on extra charges for passengers caught with overweight luggage. You could face the prospect of paying  a €20.00 baggage check-in charge even if your bag is marginally overweight. S be sure to weigh your bags after they have just been packed!

If you plan to check-in luggage, be very wary of which luggage weight option you choose on their website. €15 for 15kg or €25 for 20kg per flight. Note if you are purchasing a return flight the Ryaniar website gives you no option but to opt in for the same weight for the return leg of the journey. This is where passengers are caught out and Ryanair earn more revenue as your luggage weight is more likely to be heavier….be it presents, clothes even a damp towel!

Although their excess baggage fees are not disclosed on their website, a good guideline is that AerLingus charges a fee €9.00  per kilo overweight. Maybe you should have opted for the 20kg option? One last thing, please note Ryanair baggage charges go up during July and August “peak season” from €15 to €20 for 15kg and from €25 to €30 for 20kg.

3. Print your Boarding Pass at Home: Be sure you have checked in online the night before and that you have printed your boarding pass. If you lose or forget to bring your boarding pass to the airport, Ryanair can  re-issue you with a new boarding pass up to 40 mins prior to the schedule flight departure but at a hefty cost of €40.00 per boarding pass. Yikes!

4. Priority Boarding Fee: Personally I don’t get why people pay £4 or €4 for the “luxury” of standing in a separate priority seating queue when it is less stressful to sit and wait until the majority of passengers have boarded? Is it to get a good seat? Is it to guarantee to sit beside your partner or friend? What are those “reserved” front row seats for? Surely not to reward those people who wait to board last minute    By the way for those that still choose avail of this service note if you book a return flight you must opt in to this service for both journeys. Thats €8/£8 or €16/£16 if travelling with somebody.

5. Avoid Card Handling Charges: Both Ryanair and AerLingus charge hefty administration handling charges of €5.oo per journey or (€10.00 return). The only free payment method on Ryanair is via the Prepaid MasterCard. This card can be purchased in Ireland through a limited few operators but is well worth the savings even if you only travel abroad a year.

6. SMS Confirmation: Why would you pay €1.00 for this service? This is not a valid ticket and a service that is guaranteed by Ryanair. And what purpose does it serve other than to tell you what you already know or what has already been emailed to you.

7. Airport Parking: This is a no-brainer. To save money on airport parking you should book online in advance for the best rates possible.

Check out CityHotels.ie for further savings on 80,000 cheap hotel accommodation in Ireland and worldwide!

Happy saving!

The CityHotels.ie Team

Unlike the other popular London airports such as Stansted, Gatwick and of course Heathrow, London Luton airport is not attached to any rail lines. You could always make the 32 mile journey into London by bus/taxi but you are looking at least a 90 minute journey and a £80.00 fare! So on that note take the train. It’s a no brainer ;)

The nearest station is the Luton Airport Parkway Station which is only 1.8km from the terminal. The Luton airport authority runs a frequent free shuttle bus service from the terminal to the station. This journey takes approximately seven minutes.

Although there are numerous platforms and operators, the quickest journey into London city centre from Luton Airport Parkway is via the Luton Airport Express. There is a regular service operating in both directions. The total journey time to London St. Pancras station is just under 30 minutes. From here you can simply connect to the London underground network and finish out your journey.

Adult single: £11.90
Adult return: £20.40
Child single: £5.95
Child return: £10.20

These prices can vary slightly depending on whether you travel peak or off peak times. For exact up to date fare information go to their website .

It’s hard to believe but this year The Festival of World Cultures will host it’s 10th annual festival over the coming weekend, July 23rd – 25th. Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin is the home of the colourful event each year which sees thousands of people flock to the town for the 3 day weekend festivities.

The festival has grown hugely over the years and is now set as one of the most enjoyable and anticipated weekends of the summer calendar. There is literally something for everyone at this festival including music, food, dancing, art and craft, workshops, entertainment and games. And just as diverse are the various venues throughout the festival including a 21st century theatre space, a 19th century church, a scenic coastal green and a period Victorian park. The programme of events for the weekend is packed but the vibe throughout is totally relaxed, fun and enjoyable, it really is an event for all the family.

The main stage is located on Newtownsmith Green, which runs between Sandycove beach and Dun Laoghaire Pier. The stage hosts the main music acts over the entire weekend and the green is a perfect meeting point for groups and families to lay about on the grass and take in the sounds of various countries around the world, and with one of the food markets located next to the green it’s a perfect opportunity to try the tastes of the world too.

Peoples park is generally a hub of activity too with a music stage, food and craft markets, children’s workshops, games and face painting throughout the weekend. The festival stretches through Dun Laoghaire town and many local venues host an event of their own too, so really there is something interesting to find on any street corner, pub, restaurant or green space depending on what your looking for.

Asking around the office and the CityHotels.ie team hangouts for the weekend will be:

Food, food, food, Various Locations, All Weekend
There are various food markets located all around the festival so you’ll never be too far away from a whole new taste experience. We highly recommend arriving hungry and eating your way around Dun Laoghaire.

Mr Whippy Soundsystem,  Carlisle Pier, Saturday & Sunday 11:00 – 19:30 | Free
We always love the festival sounds from the ice-cream van of legendary DJ Mr Whippy and friends. Weather your eating, browsing, dancing or just chilling out Mr Whippy sends out the perfect summer-soundtrack.

Caribbean Chill Out, Peoples Park, Sunday 12:00 – 18:00 | Free
Re-charge the batteries – treat yourself to a juice and some tropical fruit, kick back in a hammock and enjoy the music and performance. Let the kids play in the sand and enjoy the sleepier side of carnival.

The Cirrus Session, Kingston Hotel Bar, Sunday & Saturday 19:30 – 21:30 | Free
Catch these young talents up close and personal in a foot stomping traditional Irish music session. Exchange tunes, join in a session and embrace the surge of energy. Open session, all welcome!

Newtownsmith Shorts, Newtownsmith Main Stage, Saturday & Sunday 13:00 – 18:00 | Free
View acclaimed shorts such as Moore St Masala and beautiful animated shorts such as Lullabies of the World. Wrapping up the Newtownsmith festivities is Synth Eastwood’s Gif Shoot, a live visual montage of the Festival weekend – see if you can spot yourself!

Steel Pan Workshop, Royal Marine Hotel, Saturday 16:00 – 17:30 | €12
Age: Teens to adults
Experience the uplifting sounds of the steel pan drum with one of the UK’s leading carnival arts organisations CultureMix Arts. With its roots in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean; a culture that embraces the creativity of costume, masquerade and calypso music, the steel pan is a unique pitched percussion instrument, originally made from gallon oil drums. This is a practical hands on workshop for all abilities.

All in all, check the official website here, plan your events, and get yourself to Dun Laoghaire for a great weekend.

CityHotels.ie is delighted to announce our partnership with An Post to accept their One4all Gift Cards as full or part payment against a booking in any of our 70,000 hotels worldwide.

How to spend your One4all Gift Card with CityHotels.ie?
It’s pretty simple. Just log on and search for a suitable hotel on CityHotels.ie or any of its individual fifty dedicated city hotel websites e.g. parishotels.ie, liverpoolhotels.ie, barcelonahotels.ie , corkhotels.ie, praguehotels.ie  etc.

As soon as you have chosen your preferred hotel have your gift card handy and just pick up the phone +353 1 685 4312 and one of our reservation agents will process your booking over the phone there and then.

The CityHotels.ie Team

CityHotels.ie is delighted to announce the acquisition of the holiday apartment website NewYorkApartments.ie. We will be providing our CityHotels.ie customers with a wide variety of studio, one bedroom and two bedroom holiday apartment accommodation in prime areas in Manhattan such as Times Square, Midtown East, Central Park, United Nations, Fifth Avenue.  All apartments are handpicked and are very modern and come with all mod cons you would expect for a holiday apartment. All apartments have 24 hour doormen security and some apartments even have access to their own private residential pool. This is exciting especially for those CityHotels.ie customers travelling in small groups looking to experience and live in New York just like a local New Yorker! For more information go to www.newyorkapartments.ie

Seeing as we’re having another beautiful day and I’m working from home I decided to take the laptop out to the garden so I could soak up the rays while being productive. Unfortunately my crafty plan was soon foiled by the fact that my WiFi doesn’t stretch that far.. booo! However it did inspire me to root around and find out where in Dublin offers free WiFi if I fancied a change of “office” some other afternoon.

There are alot of Dublin city centre locations to choose from and it’s impossible for me to locate and list them all but hopefully this list provides a wide enough variety for most tastes…

The Bald Barista, 55 Aungier St, Dublin 2
Fallon and Byrne at 11-17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2
Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin 2
Science Gallery, Trinity College, Pearse Street, Dublin 2
Trinity Capitol Hotel, Pearse St, Dublin 2
The Globe, 11 South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2
Bia Bar, 28/30 Lower Stephens Street, Dublin 2
Leeson Inn Downtown, 24 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2
Cafe Ciao, Bagget Street Bridge, Dublin 2
Chester Beatty Library, 2 Palace Street, Dublin 2
Front Lounge, Parliament St, Dublin 2
Kylemore Cafe, St Stephens Green, Dublin 2
Renard’s Bar, South Frederick St, Dublin 2
Solas Bar, Camden St, Dublin 2
The Globe, Great Georges St, Dublin 2
West Coast Coffee, 21 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
Cafe Novo, The Westbury Hotel, Harry St, Dublin 2
Readers Cafe, 7 Dawson St, Dublin 2
Milk and Honey, 68 Aungier St, Dublin 2
Yamamori Sushi, 38-39 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
The Odean, 38-39 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
TB Smiths, 9-10 Jervis St, Dublin 1
The Academy Plaza Hotel, 10-14 Findlater Place, Dublin 1
Pembroke Library, Anglesea Road, Dublin 4
Dylan Hotel, Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4
Bewleys Hotel (downstairs in the bar), Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

A little further out on both sides of the city I found a few more spots providing free WiFi…

Village Cafe, 170 Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6
Wilde & Green, Mount St. Annes, Milltown Road, Dublin 6
Dice Bar, 79 Queen Street, Dublin 7
Phibsboro Library, Blackquire Bridge, Dublin 7
Organic Flower Power Tea Rooms, 9 Berkeley Rd, Dublin 7
Leopardstown Inn, Brewery Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
Mugs Cafe, 61a Castle St, Dalkey, Co Dublin
Brown’s Bar, Citywest, Dublin 24

Unfortunately finding an outdoor location providing free WiFi is proving more difficult, so perhaps soaking up the sun while working isn’t an easy option. Apparently if you stay close enough to any buildings in the UCD campus you’ll pick up WiFi but I haven’t tried it and other than that I couldn’t source anywhere else. If you know any perhaps you’d like to comment below and share the knowledge!!

The Galway Film Fleadh is Irelands leading festival for film and is a 6 day annual event held in July. This year sees the 22nd annual Galway Film Festival take place, and will be hosted from 6th – 11th July 2010.

The Fleadh will offer film lovers a week long programme of events which include world premieres, classic screenings, Irish and international documentaries, features and shorts. Not only are there films on show there are also a number of industry events hosted at the festival, including various masterclasses, public interviews, debates, seminars and the Galway Film Fair.

Although it may seem a little early to begin planning how you’ll Fleadh in 2010, it’s an extremely busy time in Galway and if your thinking of heading down you had probably at least start thinking about booking your accommodation.

Our dedicated Galway City Hotels site offers super competitive rates across the board and with free night offers and room share options available in many of the Galway hotels you’re guranteed great value for money.

The main venues to host events and screenings at this years Fleadh consist of the Town Hall Theatre, Galway Omniplex, Eyre Square, Radisson SAS and The Rowing Club. I’ve outlined the venues in the map below and as always they are fairly central and within easy distance from each other.

The Fleadh aims to bring together film lovers and film makers alike to share in the common experience of cinema within an intimate environment. It’s perfectly pulled off with the audiences being made up of cinema-going public, student film makers, industry professionals, film buff’s and invited guests. Every year produces a packed week of film and fun, and this year is guranteed to be no different.

View Galway Film Fleadh Venues in a larger map