03-05-2025
Departure Lounge: Five travel offers, including a €63K Antarctic adventure
Once-in-a-lifetime
For many, an Antarctic adventure is top of their bucket list. If money is no object, then White Desert will help you make the trip in style.
The luxury tour operator has been named Best Antarctic Adventure Outfitter in Modern Luxury's 2025 Best of Luxury Travel Awards and its otherworldly Echo Camp, has been recognised in Elite Traveler's Top 100 Suites for 2025.
Pushing the boundaries of high-end experiential travel in the region, White Desert delivers once-in-a-lifetime experiences, with private jet access, expert-led adventures, fine dining, and immersive itineraries. Day trips from €14,000. Six-day tour including return flights and transfers from Cape Town to Antarctica, all accommodation, food, beverages, and activities around camp from €63,000pp.
Roman tour
Marvel at the artwork inside the Sistine Chapel ahead of the daytime crowds
The eyes of the world are on Rome this year, with the Pope's death but also to celebrate the city's 2025 Jubilee Year, a religious event that takes place just once every 25 years. With millions of pilgrims and tourists expected, it makes sense to book ahead, especially for any of the key attractions. Walk's Pristine Sistine Early Entrance Tour offers a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with a maximum of 15 people. Over four hours, you'll have time to marvel at the artwork inside the Sistine Chapel ahead of the daytime crowds before exploring the Vatican museums at their quietest. Walks of Italy also offers food, culture and architectural tours. From €109.
Ancestral luxury
Guests can spend time with a resident genealogist to uncover stories of their ancestors.
Hastings Hotels' Culloden Estate & Spa has a new package designed to help guests research their Northern Irish heritage and trace their family history. Guests of the elegant five-star's Ancestral Luxury Escape Package will spend time with resident genealogist Brian Watson, to uncover stories of their ancestors.
Set on the outskirts of Belfast, with views over Belfast Lough, the palatial building was once home to the Bishops of Down, and features 12 acres of gardens, a spa, and three restaurants. Breakfasts and afternoon tea in the hotel's fine dining restaurant, Vespers is included with this two-night stay in the hotel's Luxury Estate Suite or the Bishops Palace Tower Suite, from €2,157.
Portugal with purpose
Latitude is more than a tourist guide
A new kind of hotel group, Octant Hotels has just launched Latitude, a carefully researched platform that invites guests to discover local traditions, cultures, nature and cuisine at the heart of every location surrounding its hotels. Latitude brings together over 200 careful recommendations of things to experience at the hotels and their surrounding areas.
More than a tourist guide, it's like a little black book for travelling with purpose. Between October 24–26, Latitude will go even further, with an exclusive weekend at Octant Douro celebrating the area and its community through local chefs, artists, and producers over two days of informal luxury. The diverse programme including tasting dinners, live music, intimate talks with philosophers and thought leaders, riverside yoga, and countryside walks. Check out the considered programme at
Deal of the Week
Fancy a sunshine-boost in North Africa
Line up a late summer break with a sunshine-boost in North Africa. Fly direct to Tunisia from Dublin and stay all-inclusive for less than €100pp* per day. TUI Suneo Palm Beach Skanes is in Skanes, Tunisia with a choice of five bars and two restaurants. There's a pool, gym and mini golf course and you're just 350m away from a private beach with free sunbeds and parasols. The port town of Sousse is a 20-minute drive away, for shopping and sight-seeing adventures. August 25 all-inclusive from €699.
