Heading off to distant lands in search of sun, sand and a tan has become a summer ritual for many Irish.
I won’t try to claim our Emerald Isle can compete with our sunnier European neighbours in terms of weather – although it does look like we’re shaping up for a pretty decent summer by Irish standards – but there are some definite advantages to holidaying a little closer to home.
Think about it. No daily sleepy-eyed dash at an ungodly hour of the morning to claim a few plastic sun beds. No hunting for your pocket dictionary (which is actually lying on your bedside locker back home) to try to figure out how to ask whether that strange-looking creature you saw in the sea is poisonous or not.
And, more importantly, no trying to calculate the probabilities of the ash cloud manoeuvring into your way or stressing about your passport not arriving on time. The backlog of passports waiting to be processed now stands at an ‘impressive’ figure of 62,000.The waiting time is eight weeks by normal post or more than a month using the express service.
So why not give Ireland a chance this summer. Especially given some of the great deals available on www.axaleisure.ie. Book a 1-night B&B Hotel Break for just €39pps or a 2-Night Hotel B&B Break for just €65 per person sharing. Take family or friends away and book a Holiday Home break in July & August and receive €50 off (RRP €499). Check out www.axaleisure.ie for a full list of breaks available for AXA customers.