#VirtuosoWeek top ten | Ashford Castle

This is number eight of my "top ten list" from Virtuoso Week.

One of the most highly anticipated annual awards at Virtuoso Travel Week is the "Hotel of the Year" award presented at Wednesday evening's Hotel & Resorts Banquet. Voted on by Virtuoso travel consultants, this year's winner is Ashford Castle.

Located in County Mayo in western Ireland, north of Shannon, Ashford Castle has undergone extensive renovations. A one-time residence owned by the Guinness family (yes, that Guinness family), this is your chance to stay in a real castle and experience a genuine sense of place. Just a short walk from the cute town of Cong where the movie "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara was shot.

Beautiful rooms, wonderful food, and lots of activities including fishing, golf, falconry, clay shooting ... and a newly created spa. Virtuoso guests receive great value in addition to the Full Irish breakfast already included in the rates: an 85€ F&B credit, upgrade if available, and early check-in/late check-out if available.

And if that weren't enough to temp you, the first Travel Horizons reader to book Ashford Castle through me will receive the voucher below for an additional 50£ towards a single F&B purchase at Ashford Castle. The voucher is valid until Dec. 31, 2015. This makes a total of 135€ in F&B credits just by booking through me!

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

your chance to win £50 for food and beverage

this is just a facsimile — the original is printed on both sides (and is valid through 12/31/15)

Traveling to London or Ireland? Here's your chance chance to win a £50 certificate towards food and beverage at Red Carnation Hotels. I have one of these certificates, courtesy of Terry Holmes (whom we at Brownell affectionately know as Uncle Terry), and you can win it right now! Just be the first client to book a three night stay through me at one of the following Red Carnation hotels in the U.K. Each is a member of Virtuoso, and the great Virtuoso amenities are listed.

The Milestone Hotel
Located right across the street from Hyde Park, this is one of London's top-rated hotels for guest service. I had a great lunch at its restaurant (as I recall, it serves English "comfort food). Although the rooms themselves are small, I can definitely recommend the Suites at the Milestone. See this previous post from Travel Horizons.

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Full English breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests 
•    Choice of two entrance tickets (per room booked) to Kensington Palace plus a $60.00 credit toward Afternoon Tea at the Milestone on one day.
•                  OR
•    A three course dinner in the hotel restaurant for two people per room booked, once during the stay.
• Suite Bookings 3 or more nights or any apartment bookings of 7 or more nights a one way airport transfer from London Heathrow to Milestone will be included as additional amenity
• Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability

Egerton House Hotel
For a true sense of place, you cannot do any better than the Egerton House. Consisting of two side-by-side London townhouses in a neighborhood with a distinct residential feel, you're still close to great shopping. While lead-in rooms are small, the larger rooms are absolutely wonderful. And the Virtuoso extra amenity is a martini making lesson from the King of Martinis!

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Full English breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests 
• Exclusive pair of member tickets to all current Exhibitions at The Victoria & Albert Museum with full access to the members lounge
• Free Wifi throughout the Hotel
• Afternoon Tea for 2 on one day during your stay
• Martini making lesson with the King of Martinis,  Antonio, plus 2 dry martinis and a Certificate of Excellence signed by Antonio Pizzuto, Head Bar Man of the Egerton House
• One Way airport transfer for Suite bookings of 3 or more nights stay (cannotbe used in conjuction with any other promotions)
• Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability

Ashford Castle

This Irish castle on the west coast of Ireland used to belong to the Guinness family. It has been lovingly restored and is one of the grandest estates experiences you could ever hope to enjoy. From Ashford Castle, you can go fishing, try your hand at falconry, or walk into the small town for a taste of local cooking or a pint at the pub.

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Full Irish breakfast included in rates daily served in restaurant
• 85 Euro Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay  (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
• Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

next stop, Ireland!

Wasn't I just in France, you ask? Well, yes… and I've been back all of three weeks.

And wasn't I just in Ireland last year? You have such a good memory! I was indeed in Ireland a year ago and posted this trip report on eleven luxury hotels and this brief article about Guinness (to which I took a liking).

So why am I going back?

1. Partly because it's Brownell's annual educational trip, and it's a great opportunity to spend time with my friends and colleagues.

2. Partly because I want to compare Irish Guiness with what they pour in the States. I had a half pint at The Irish Bank on Saturday night in San Francisco, along with some excellent Shepherd's Pie. The US version had a slightly bitter taste, so that's what I'll be tasting for in Ireland.

3. But mostly because Ireland is an incredible destination. Beautiful scenery with forty shades of green, friendly people, great food, pubs, and ancient Celtic ruins (such as the amazing structure pictured above that predates Stonehenge). How did they get that 3,000 pound stone raised to the top of the structure, and what has kept it from falling for more than a millenium?

Ireland deserves a consideration as your next European destination. Everyone wants to go to Italy in the summer, but Italy is so hot and humid during the summer months … and crowded all the time. When I get back, I'll have even more to share … as well as my impressions of some hotels I missed the first time around including Ashford Castle, Gregans Castle, K Club, Westin Dublin, and Ballyfin.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

what's on your travel bucket list for 2014?

view from the museum at Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg

I enjoyed some wonderful travels in 2013 which I've shared with you on Travel Horizons. With the new year upon us, it's time to turn my attention to 2014 and a new set of travel adventures. Here are some of my travel plans. What's on your travel bucket list for 2014?

COSTA RICA — 31JAN-7FEB. While I've had a number of opportunities to visit over the past few years, this is my chance finally to experience Costa Rica. One of the world's eco-tourism destinations, Costa Rica has mountains, rain forests, volcanoes, lakes, and beaches. I'll be seeing all of these as well as making hotel site inspections. Two nights at El Silencio, two nights at the Springs Resort, and the final three nights at Four Seasons Costa Rica. My itinerary and transfers have been arranged with the expert guidance of Rico Tours.

FRANCE — 1APR-9APR. My trip to France begins in Paris with two days of site inspections. I'm planning to see the Shangri-La, Prince de Galles, and Fouquet's Barriere — and hope to be able to also see some hotels currently under renovation or construction including the Ritz and the Peninsula. My six-day FAM trip then takes me to La Ferme Saint Simeon, Chateau La Cheneviere, l'Agapa Hotel, Le Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Chateau de Bagnols, and Hotel L'Alpaga. We'll be visiting Honfleur, the Beaches of Normandy, the Bayeux Tapistry, Mont St Michel, Perros-Guirec, the Loire Valley, Beaujolais, and the Alps. The trip ends in Geneva; here's a google map.

IRELAND — 3MAY-10MAY. Brownell's annual FAM trip will take me back to Ireland in May with stays at Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, Kildare Hotel (K Club), and possibly Ballyfin. It's also a chance to reconnect with all of my Brownell colleagues … and to enjoy some half pints of Guinness.

LAS VEGAS — 9AUG-15AUG. While Vegas is not an ideal summer destination (I dislike heat), Virtuoso Travel Week draws me back year after year. Four days of appointments with hotel sales reps, education opportunities, and connecting with fellow Virtuosos.

September-October? Still thinking about the destination for Ourisman Travel's second annual FAM Trip. Where would you suggest?

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.