Tips for Tuesdays: Shoulder Season - October

Today's Tip: Looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and near-perfect weather? Here's where you should go in the month of October:

• Dubai: Days are cooler and camel-racing season has begun. Hotels, meanwhile, are enticing travelers with bargains. Go from early September through October to take advantage of the shoulder season. 
• Mediterranean resorts: Rates have started to drop, but you'll still find ample sun on island such as Crete, Ibiza, and Sicily.  
• Vancouver Island, Canada: Room prices have dropped by nearly half, and it's still warm enough to enjoy wine tasting at the island's many vineyards. Go through November to take advantage of the shoulder season.

Tips for Tuesdays: Shoulder Season - May

Today's Tip: Looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and near-perfect weather? Here's where you should go in the month of May:

• Japan: Peak hotel rates have come down after last month's cherry blossom celebrations and the humidity has yet to kick in.
• Mediterranean cruising: The weather's warming, but prices remain as much as 20 percent lower than in the summer high season.
• The Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Airfares from the States are at their lowest, and in Australia's north, the days are full of sunshine. Go through August to take advantage of the shoulder season.

Tips for Tuesdays: Shoulder Season - April

Today's Tip: Looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and near-perfect weather? Here's where you should go in the month of April:

• North American Rockies and European Alps: Late-season skiing is still excellent in high-altitude destinations like Whistler, British Columbia; Vail, Steamboat, and the Arapahoe Basin, all in Colorado; and Tignes, France. 
• The Australian outback: With average temperatures now cooling to between 80 and 86 degrees, you can visit Ayers Rock without risking heatstroke. Go through May to take advantage of the shoulder season.
• European cities: Outdoor cafe culture is picking up, but the summer crowds won't arrive until early June. Get here before they do!
• The Caribbean and Mexico's Riviera Maya: Room prices fall as much as 30 percent after Easter, and hurricane season is still weeks away. Go through early June to take advantage of the shoulder season. 

Tips for Tuesdays: Shoulder Season - March

Today's Tip: Looking for great deals, fewer crowds, and near-perfect weather? Here's where you should go in the month of March:

• Hawaii: The big waves have subsided, along with the winter beachgoers; resorts are also bringing down rates. Go through May to take advantage of the shoulder season.
• Rio de Janeiro: Carnival has come and gone, which means hotel rooms are easier to find and less expensive (by as much as 60 percent!)
• Ireland: It's warming up and wildflowers are beginning to bloom; a perfect time for exploring the countryside. Go through April to take advantage of the shoulder season.

Some Amazing Castles in Ireland

So, recently I've been working on a fantastic project for a guy who is hoping to surprise his wife and daughter with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Ireland. His daughter is "in the height of her princess phase" and staying in a castle is going to be a dream-come-true for her! They're also going to celebrate his wife's birthday, hence the big surprise. It's been so fun to plan with this client. His enthusiasm and love for his family are so energizing. I've loved getting to scheme with him! So far, we've settled on two different castles in the west of Ireland. Check these out...

Adare Manor, Adare, County Limerick: http://www.adaremanor.com/

"Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort is a self-contained vacation destination steeped in the mythical history of an ancient Irish Manor. Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in Limerick, Ireland is a modern playground in ancient surroundings. Housed in an impressive 18th-century Gothic style Manor House rich in history and beauty, the hotel is an architectural masterpiece of towers, turrets, and stonework amidst carefully sculptured gardens and ancient ruins. Perched along the River Maigue, this once private and opulent manor has been lovingly transformed into a premier luxury resort that maintains the mystery and intrigue of times gone by. Stroll through hallways of original stone and wood; gaze upwards into soaring ceilings, and live like a king (or queen) in this castle-like setting. Whether dining in the romantic and sophisticated Oakroom Restaurant after enjoying a pre-dinner drink on the garden patio, being pampered in the Manor's spa treatment rooms, or teeing off at the Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship golf course, the Adare Manor caters to all tastes and desires, from casual to extravagant."

Ashford Castle, Cong, County Mayo: http://www.ashford.ie/

"Ancient history meets a modern luxury hotel. Located on the shores of Lough Corrib, the Ashford Castle is a haven of comfort and elegance for travellers.The Ashford Castle is a visual feast. A luxury hotel with the charm and dignity of its original architecture, it astonishes visitors at every turn. Waterford chandeliers and rococo gilt mirrors around one bend. A carved Dante looking benignly down from a side wall. All surrounded by water, gardens, and forests - a setting that hasn't changed for hundreds of years. Guests are provided with exquisite rooms and suites, each individually designed with antiques, marble fittings, and sumptuous fabrics and furnishings. Follow the centuries-old tradition and enjoy a candlelit dinner in the privacy and comfort of your room. Or dine on a seven-course meal in the George "V" dining room. (A family favorite is traditional Sunday lunch, where the Sunday joint is carved from the trolley at your table.) For an equally traditional Irish experience, quaff a beer in the Dungeon Bar, or step back in time and learn the art of falconry in the beauty of the countryside."

The other thing that's amazing about these properties is that they cater to kids. The Ashford Castle offers kid-size bathrobes, slippers and a teddy bear to make them feel more at home. Adare Manor offers kid-friendly activities like picnics in the garden and even hot air balloon rides!

This is certainly going to be an amazing trip. I feel so blessed that I get to be a part of the planning process!