Spend a romantic weekend in Dublin

A lavish and indulgent romantic break - with cost-cutting options. Bernadette Fallon visits Dublin and the Merrion Hotel.

Looking for a romantic getaway to escape the recession? There's never been a better reason to treat yourself. You just need to be clever about how you do it. Because planned carefully with all the right ingredients - exciting city, classy hotel, spa treatments, great shops, quality restaurants and bars - all with viable budget options, you can make this a romantic weekend to remember.

 

First of all it's important to pick a nearby city, served by cheap flights, that way you can afford to splash out on the hotel. Dublin is the perfect choice - close enough to do an overnight on the cheap, far enough to feel like a proper break.

 

Budget flights

 

Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus offer good value flights from a large number of UK airports; flying time is just 50 minutes and Dublin city centre is 20 minutes from the airport by taxi. For the credit crunch option, hop on one of the blue airport buses outside the main terminal building - they leave every few minutes and wont' take much longer than a cab.

 

Treat-yourself hotel

 

Choose a hotel in a central location, we opted for the five star Merrion Hotel, one of the city's most exclusive venues located just a stone's throw from leafy St Stephen's Green and the city's vibrant shopping hub, Grafton St. Across the road from Government buildings; next door is the National Gallery of Art, while around the corner Baggott St is a bohemian collection of music bars and quirky restaurants, where a young band called U2 once played gigs in pub back rooms.

 

If you don't have time to visit the National Gallery on your whistle-stop tour, the hotel has a stunning collection of original (and mainly Irish) artworks, including luminaries like Paul Henry, John Lavery and, of course, Jack B Yeats.

 

House of history

 

Four magnificently restored Georgian houses have been cleverly combined into one sumptuous building - the Merrion pulls off the impressive feat of being exclusive and welcoming at once. Sit by one of the roaring fires in the elegant lounge area - a series of interconnected drawing rooms overlooking a large courtyard garden, a real find in the bustling city centre. Box-edged paved paths wind their way around a long central pool, nearby James Joyce keeps a bronzed eye on the scene, and the secluded Lady Mornington's garden offers screened niches for a private stroll surrounded by the romance of a classical 18^th century garden.

 

Travelling with children?

 

And if you have children you can't bear to leave behind (or you couldn't find a babysitter!), this is one of the few five star hotels that not only allows children, but actively welcomes them. Turning up with a three-year-old in tow was easy and she was delighted with all the attention; from the chatty doormen who fell over themselves to help with the buggy to all the treats designed to make children feel welcome. We returned after one shopping trip to find a balloon had been delivered to our room - along with collection of colouring books and pencils.

 

Spa treats

 

The Tethra Spa in the hotel's new wing is an oasis of calm in the city; it offers an expansive infinity pool, steam room, gym and a delightful menu of treatments - I strongly recommend the aromatherapy full body massage, a treatment that really got to grips with my post-flying stress knots!

 

And if you can tear yourself away from the delights of your romantic nest - what's there to do in Dublin?

 

Four to shop

 

For something special in the fashion stakes, head for the Powerscourt Design Centre off Grafton St, a lavishly restored 18^th century  townhouse, packed full of Irish designers.

Avoca on nearby Suffolk St is a treasure trove of beautiful designs, from fashion to homewares and quirky collectibles.

If you want to spice up your evening, check out Lisa O'Riordain's funky Live by Love lingerie, available at Arnott's (one of the city's main department stores, located on O'Connell St), and Fran & Jane stores around the city (quirky boutiques, good for a browse).

Other Irish designers to covet include Orla Kiely, Ciaran Sweeney and Louise Kennedy. Louise has her own shop at 56 Merrion Square, close to the hotel, and is a frequent visitor there - hang out with her over a cocktail later!

Treat yourself on a budget with some sumptuous chocolates from one of the many Butler's cafes around the city - and get yourself a hot chocolate to go while you're there, believe me, you have never tasted hot chocolate this good.

 

Three to eat

 

If you are going for broke, indulge yourself at Chapter One on Parnell Square, a good reason to cross the river from south to north; located in the basement of the Dublin Writer's Museum, save yourself a few pounds by opting for the pre-theatre menu, served from 6 to 7pm.

Or see if you are lucky enough to pick up a table at the city's premiere Patrick Guilbaud restaurant, with its two Michelin stars. You'll save money on taxi fares - this beautiful dining room is located within the Merrion hotel.

At the other end of the scale, the Pizza Stop on Chatham Lane offers fantastic value in tasty pizzas and Italian fare, the surroundings are cosy, with red and white checked tablecloths and candles in bottles.

 

Two to drink

 

From the Pizza Stop it's a short stroll around the corner to The Chatham Lounge on Chatham St, a great locals' pub (who will all refer to it as Neary's) and a bit of the romantic ‘real Dublin'.

Or experience the ‘new Dublin' in the U2-owned Clarence Hotel in Temple Bar; the atmospheric Octagon bar is a gorgeous setting for a glass of champagne. The Tea Room restaurant is serving a special Valentine's menu (also with champagne!) for the festivities.

Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets to the river Liffey after an afternoon drink, cross the hump-backed Ha'penny bridge to Ormond quay and the Winding Stair bookshop, well beloved of Dubliners and the place to pick up a copy of WB Yeat's ‘Love Poems' for your Valentine. Plus, the upstairs restaurant is a great mid-range option for evening dinner.

Cut through St Stephen's Green on your way back to the Merrion, lush green walkways will provide the perfect romantic backdrop and - if you are really feeling smaltzy - hail a horse-drawn carriage outside the park for a twilight drive through the city.

 

More information

 

The Merrion Hotel, 00 353 1 603 0600, email info@merrionhotel.com; www.merrionhotel.com

 

Great weekend deals

 

Plan now to get away for St Patrick's Day on March 17 - one of the biggest dates on the Irish calendar and a national holiday. And, to ease the pain of a rapidly rising euro exchange rate, The Merrion is offering a fixed rate sterling package, so you know exactly how much you are paying.

 

Choose from an overnight deal with full Irish breakfast and a Black Velvet cocktail (made with Guinness and Champagne) for £120 per person per night, based on two sharing, or ‘the Full Shamrock' - two nights' accommodation, full Irish breakfast, Black Velvet cocktail, grandstand tickets for the St Patrick's Day Parade and a parade picnic box - for £299 per person for two nights, based on two sharing.

 

Romantic inspirations

 

Read more great Valentines' ideas in our Love over 40 special, see all features here

 

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