CHEAP AS TRIPS; Survey shows Italy is top for best bargain deal.Byline: CLAIRE BRENNAN IRELAND has been snubbed by holidaymakers in an worldwide study of travellers' favourite destinations. Only a handful of Irish towns made it on to the Trip Advisor shortlist of the best places to spend your summer break - and Dublin wasn't one of them. More than 32 million people across the world use the website to rate their favourite - and not so favourite - places to stay. But Ireland failed to get enough good reviews to secure a Top 10 placing in most of the survey's categories - including the race for the Best Bargain. We couldn't compete with hundreds of cheaper destinations as cashstrapped tourists start to shop around. Italy took the top prize. Reviews for the Hotel Vecchio Asilo in San Gimignano San Gimignano (sän jēmēnyä`nō), town (1991 pop. 6,956), Tuscany, central Italy. It is a tourist center that has fully preserved its medieval aspect. were so good that it was voted the best bargain hotel in the world. Dublin's expensive reputation meant it failed to make the list at all, leaving Co Kerry flying the flag for Ireland. Loch Lein House in Killarney and Castlewood House in Dingle were the only home-grown hotels to feature in the Top 100. And places to stay on the Emerald Isle Emerald Isle Noun Poetic Ireland Noun 1. Emerald Isle - an island comprising the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Hibernia, Ireland also failed to entice tourists looking for the ideal place to bring their children. Ireland didn't get a look in the Best For Families shortlist with mums and dads opting to head Spain instead. But it's not all bad news for Ireland with Co Kerry proving to be the place to visit if traveller reviews are anything to go by. Killarney's hotels were voted among the world's Best Hidden Gems coming in behind places to stay in Spain's Marbella. And Donegal town was celebrating last night after being named one of the Most Charming Towns in the World. Failte Ireland said locals should be proud of their sixth place mention. A spokeswoman said: "This is fantastic news for Donegal town. "The are a has always been a very popular stop on the visitor trail it really is a gem of a traditional Irish town." But the good news ended there for Ireland. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the survey love-birds are also flocking elsewhere. Romantic getaways in Dublin and beyond are being dropped in favour of exotic locations like Mexico and the Maldives. But Etu Moana in the Cook Islands is really the place to be if you fancy the perfect weekend away with your loved one. It came out on top of the saucy sauc·y adj. sauc·i·er, sauc·i·est 1. a. Impertinent or disrespectful. b. Impertinent in an entertaining way; impossible to repress or control. 2. poll. BEST FOR FAMILIES Hotel Apartamentos Princesa Playa (Ciudadela, Spain). Homewood Suites Carlsbad (Carlsbad, California Carlsbad is a coastal resort-town in northern San Diego County, California. According to the state Department of Finance, the city had a total population of 90,271 in 2003. ). Club del Sol Aparthotel (Pollenca, Spain). Shangri-La's Fijian Resort (Yanuca Island, Fiji) Castaway Castaway Arden, Enoch shipwrecked sailor; lost for eleven years. [Br. Lit.: “Enoch Arden” in Benét, 316] Bligh, Captain commander of H.M.S. Bounty who was cast adrift by mutinous crew. [Am. Lit. Island Figi (Qalito Island, Fiji). Disney''s Pop Century Resort (Orlando, Florida The city of Orlando is a major city in central Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. According to the 2000 census, the city population was 185,951. A 2006 U.S. ). Apartments Ferrera Blanca (Cala d'Or, Spain). Canada Hotel Cirali Olympos (Cirali, Turkey). FDR Pebbles (Falmouth, Jamacia). Hilton Grand Vacations Club Hilton Grand Vacations Hilton Grand Vacations Company is wholly owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations Company develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, vacation ownership resorts. (Orlando, Florida) BEST FOR ROMANCE 1. Etu Moana, Aitutaki, Cook Islands 2. Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece 3. The Caves, Negril, Jamaica 4. Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso, Playa Paraiso, Mexico 5. Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort, Agios, Ioannis, Greece 6. Excellence Riviera Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Mexico 7. Komandoo Maldive Island Resort, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives 8. Golden Tulip Bucuti Beach Resort & Tara Beach Suites, Oranjestad, Aruba 9. SALA Samui Resort And Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand 10. Cottages & Hotel, Koh Samui BEST HIDDEN GEMS 1. Anastasis Apartments, Imerovigli, Greece 2. Riad Zolah, Marrakech, Morroco 3. Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), Prague, Czech Republic 4. Derwent House Boutique Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa 5. Hotel Vecchio Asilo, San Gimignano, Italy 6. Hotel Casa do Amarelindo, Salvador, Brazil 7. La Villa Marbella -CharminHotel, Marbella, Spain 8. Loch Lein Country House, Killarney, Ireland 9. Killeen House, Killarney, Ireland 10. Arcadia Residence, Prague, Czech Republic CAPTION(S): SUN Parents head for the heat of Spain for family holidays TOP CHOICE Loch Lein Country House, Killarney, Co Kerry FAVOURED Killeen House, Killarney |
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