The Staycation Guide: Her.ie’s Best Spots For A Weekend Break

The purse strings may have tightened a little and the summer may be over but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop.

The weather might be, eh-hem, the usual but don't let that dictate your weekend plans. As the summer season this year got underway, a survey of more than 2,000 people found that almost one third chose to holiday in Ireland. A quarter of the people surveyed said that they will split their main holiday between Ireland and a foreign destination.

This proves that Ireland has what it takes to enjoy a break.

We've only picked three destinations this time, one for a weekend with the girls, one for a break with the boyfriend and one for a trip with the family... share your tips and let us know where your own favourite places to go are!

Aaah, Ireland!

A weekend with the girls: Kilkenny

What's it like?

Get some good night's sleep before you head to the shore of the Nore, as Kilkenny City features some of the best night life in the country. We're debating whether it is a city or not, they like to call it so, but if it's a spot of shopping, an enjoyable meal out and a weekend of partying you're looking for-the Marble City has it all.

Where will we stay?

Check out the Kilkenny Tourist Hostel or Lanigan's Hostel for a cheap night's accommodation. If it's a hotel you are looking for, the Ormonde, the New Park and the Club House Hotel Kilkenny are all located within a few minutes walk of the town centre.

What's there to do?

Take some time out shopping at the city's MacDonagh Junction shopping centre and treat yourselves to the Ristorante Rinuccini or Cafe Sol for dinner. Begin your night in Lanigans's or the Púc Fada in town and head on to Matt the Millers or the famous Langton's for the morning's earlier hours.

Cure yourself the next day with a good fry from any of the city's pubs and a walk in the scenic Kilkenny Castle park. If it's a more extreme cure you're looking for, check out the New Park Hotel spa for a luxurious treatment.

Any tips?

Keep an eye on Kilkenny's festival calendar. The city's year is packed full with events including the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival and the Happy Valley Festival, to name only a few...

Relax in the gardens of Kilkenny Castle...

A break with the boyfriend: Westport, Mayo

What's it like?

Recently voted 'The Best Place to Live in Ireland' by the Irish Times, Mayo's Westport is an equally impressive place for a staycation break. Nestled at the foot of Croagh Patrick and overlooking the magnificent Clew Bay, the heritage town is a unique mixture of traditional and modern. It seems there couldn't be a more romantic place for a break away with the boyfriend.

Where will we stay?

A Bed & Breakfast may be the way to go if your days are going to be jam-packed with activities. Brook Lodge and Abbey Court are within walking distance of Westport town. Boffin Lodge could provide a more luxurious overnight stay. The Carlton Atlantic Coast Hotel and the Westport Woods Hotel both come highly recommended but the town has no shortage of quality hotels with reasonable prices.

What's there to do?

Explore Clew Bay and the town of Westport on a bike, Clew Bay Bike Hire and Westport Bokes 4 Hire both rent bikes out on a daily basis. If you have a more adventurous spirit, grab a surfboard and check out the swell at Mayo's selection of Blue Flag beaches.

Westport House is a must-see and the house provides squash courts for use during the summer months. The history of the area at the Clew Bay Heritage Centre may interest some or a simple drive around the coastal area could be a greta afternoon out.

Eat like a king at J.J O'Malley's restaurant or sample the local seafood at J.W's Bar. Top off the day with a night out in the town, taking in Westport's night scene, craic and ceol.

Any tips?

Check out Killary Cruises for a romantic 90-minute trip around Clew Bay, we're blushing already...

Oooh, ferry trip around Clew Bay sounds nice...

A trip with the family: Kinsale, Co Cork

What's it like?

Kinsale is one of the most picturesque and popular resorts on the country's south-west coast. The Cork fishing town is famous for its yachting, dolphin and whale watching trips and has been hailed as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. It is the perfect location for a family break and is only an twenty minute car journey from Cork city.

Where will we stay?

If it's a self-catering holiday and a bit more privacy you'd prefer with the kids, check out the Barley View or Friar's Lodge Holiday Home for a place within walking distance of the town. The town has no shortage of hotels; Acton's, the Trident and Carlton Hotel are in great central locations, just to name a few.

What's there to do?

Take the kids to the Oysterhaven Holiday and Activity Centre to check out their skills on a dinghy or in a canoe. The opportunity to show off your own skills as a windsurfer may arise too!

Charles Fort promises both an interesting history lesson and a wonderful location for a picnic or break. Kinsale Harbour Cruises offer a trip around the harbour and beyond that will have the kids ecstatic for hours afterwards and Whale of a Time offers a more exhilarating water-ride, this time on a speedboat.

Kinsale is close enough to Cork city to check out what Fota Wildlife Park has to offer too.

Any tips?

With West Cork so close and tempting to discover, it may be an idea to head west for a day or two too and check out Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Baltimore as activity-packed places to stay for a day or two... or more!

Plenty of boats to choose from anyway!