Struggling to decide where to go for a quick break or a short stay? Let the stars be your guide
It might not be your usual method of planning a trip but each zodiac sign has its own unique personality traits and quirks, and there are ideal destinations for each sign based on those characteristics. If you follow this logic, these are places where you’ll feel naturally happy and at ease, responding to your surroundings in a deeply comforting, almost therapeutic way.
For example, a thrill-seeking Aries might be energised by the dramatic scenery of rugged mountains while a laid-back Cancer would find more pleasure in cosying up somewhere that reminded them of home, only prettier and more luxurious.
Embrace this cosmic energy with a stay designed to recharge and restore you to the best version of yourself.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Slieve Donard, Newcastle, Co Down
Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is energetic and dynamic, and no stranger to competition. The perfect astronomical adventure for all Aries signs is a place with plenty to do and see, and if there’s the possibility of a little bragging rights at having experienced something brand new for the first time, all the better.
Slieve Donard in Newcastle, County Down, has just reopened after a lavish re-imagining by new owners, Marine & Lawn. This landmark of grand Victorian style now has a fresh new blend of old-world charm and modern luxury, with four elegant options for drinking and dining at the resort, ranging from relaxed to upscale. Aries guests will thrive on the challenge of a round of golf on the world-famous Royal County Down links courses, right next door, or a brisk, wind-swept cycle along the Promenade by the sea, followed by a deep dive into the excellent new bars and restaurants across the Slieve Donard resort.
To celebrate Slieve Donard’s 125th year and the hotel’s new Marine & Lawn makeover, guests can avail of a special offer with rooms from £125 (€144) per person including an overnight stay and a two-course meal at The Percy French with birthday cupcakes on arrival.
Aries celebs: Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga, Emma Watson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Mariah Carey. Visit marineandlawn.com/slievedonard/ for more information.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Fota Island Resort, Co Cork
Taurus is an earth sign that loves sensory-driven experiences, so is probably the most likely sign to be met coming from a three-hour bubble bath and full body massage on their way to the dessert trolley with a glass of wine in hand. All Taureans love luxury and comfort, being surrounded by beauty in a serene and soothing setting, so Fota Island Resort is their dream getaway.
Fota Island Resort, at the heart of its own peaceful island, is a dreamy location to escape to and spend time being thoroughly pampered, surrounded by gorgeous scenery and mature woodlands. A haven for a Taurus who wants to spoil someone special (especially themselves!), explore award-winning Fota Island Spa and savour a treatment using luxury products from GROUND, which could have been specifically designed with this earth sign in mind.
Taurus celebs: Lizzo, Adele, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Aidy Bryant, Tina Fey, Penelope Cruz, Ellie Kemper, and Gigi Hadid. An overnight stay for two people at five-star Fota Island Resort including breakfast is available from €339, see fotaisland.ie for more.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Hard Rock Hotel, Dublin
Geminis are the known socialites of the sun signs, likely to make friends in any setting, but also intuitive and smart, needing plenty of stimulation. The sign of the twins likes a little bit of everything, so needs a destination that can offer a mix of history, culture, food and, of course, the chat!
If you’re a vivacious Gemini, you’ll be perfectly at home in the vibrant energy of Hard Rock Hotel, Dublin, with its eclectic blend of rock’n’roll nostalgia and modern luxury. The air sign will enjoy sharing food at Zampas, while sipping on a Pisco Sour and embracing the great live music. Any Gemini will enjoy a self-guided music memorabilia tour through the hotel featuring the likes of U2, Kurt Cobain and David Bowie, followed by exploring the bustling streets of Dublin. Plus every (sound-proofed!) room comes with its own vinyl player for in-room dancing with amazing Fender guitars available too, so Geminis can employ some of their electrifying energy in belting out classic rock tunes.
Forever Autumn at Hard Rock Hotel, Dublin includes 10% off best available room rates, early check in, late check out and breakfast the next morning, from €206 based on two people sharing.
Gemini celebrities include Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum and Venus Williams. See hardrockhotels.com/dublin for more information.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin & Velvære Spa
The homebody of the zodiac, Cancer doesn’t necessarily need or want to venture too far from home for a luxury travel experience. The ‘mother sign’ is a nurturer so making time to relax themselves and not worry is very important. Cancers also enjoy being by water, any kind of water, as that is their ruling element.
Velvære Spa is an unparalleled wellness offering, creating a sense of escapism and complete relaxation in the heart of Dublin city. The ‘Me Time’ experience at Velvære Spa is an opportunity for any Cancerian to enjoy some well-deserved time out while being cocooned by a sequence of wonderful water-based rituals and therapies.
Take a little extra time for yourself with an overnight stay at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin in one of their stylish guestrooms with breakfast served in The Chancery Grill, from €180 per room (two guests sharing) until the end of November. The Cancer symbol is the crab, a being comfortable within their shell and likely to feel at home wherever they are. They especially enjoy trips surrounded by family and friends, so the perfect way to indulge them would be for a group to get together and plan this ‘me time’ as ‘us time’, with all their favourite people gathered together — pure Cancer perfection.
Cancer celebs: Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Solange, Lana Del Rey and Margot Robbie. See radissonblu.ie/royalhotel-dublin for more.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Adare Manor, Co Limerick
The only zodiac sign ruled by the sun, Leos love attention and having a good time while appreciating the finer things. The language Leos speak most fluently is luxury, and they don’t want to just be satisfied — they want to be wowed. Awarded a five-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide 2023, Best Resort in the World by Condé Nast Traveler in 2022, and Best Resort in Europe 2022 and 2023, Adare Manor could not make a better backdrop for a Leo looking for that special somewhere in the spotlight with exceptional style and service.
Adare Manor gives guests a unique experience, from Michelin-star dining in The Oak Room to playing the Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course, from the only 111SKIN Spa in Ireland to the lush 840-acre estate with its bounty of outdoor activities. There are chic cocktail bars too, lavishly decorated bedrooms, beautiful grounds and grand, impressive spaces steeped in history and beauty, all with lovely staff, charming and attentive, who will make any Leo feel like the King or Queen they believe they really are.
Dinner in The Oak Room is available from €160 per person, with an overnight stay starting from €740.
Leo celebs: Meghan Markle, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lawrence, and Cara Delevingne. Visit adaremanor.com
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
The Station House, Kilmessan, Co Meath
As a Virgo, you have an eye for detail and a longing for perfection. Organised and structured, you love when a trip away can also be a learning experience or an opportunity to explore a creative side.
Run by the second generation of the Slattery family who have been welcoming guests to this polished and intriguing series of buildings since 1983, The Station House is an appealing marriage of colour and luxury, pattern and period detail, unashamedly maximalist and supremely comfortable.
Take an enriching trip to this lovely setting, and stay for one of the popular Boyne Valley Tasting Dinners, taking place on 25 November and 22 December, pairing the finest wines with a seven-course dinner featuring the best of Boyne Valley produce. The Boyne Valley Tasting Dinner costs €80 per person (€120 to include drinks) or €180 per person sharing to include tea/coffee and homemade scones on arrival, dinner, and an overnight stay with breakfast the following morning.
Virgo celebs: Beyonce, Blake Lively and Cameron Diaz. Visit stationhousehotel.ie for more information.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Knockranny House Hotel & Spa, Westport, Co Mayo
Set on a hillside overlooking the picturesque town of Westport, Knockranny House Hotel & Spa may be the perfect place for harmony-seeking social butterflies like Libra, whose hearts are drawn to art, music, dance and connecting with others.
Sitting with their significant other or a group of friends over dinner in award-winning La Fougère, Librans will be at maximum happiness. The breathtaking views of Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay’s islands to the west and the Nephin Mountains to the north provide just the kind of sweeping backdrop every Libra loves. Partnerships are a key aspect of their lives, and they truly thrive when they’re around friends and family, allowing them to feel at their most comfortable and balanced.
As balance is their perpetual mission, enjoying a buzzing evening of clever cocktails made by mixologist David Hacobian in The Brehon Bar at Knockranny will be evened out with the calm and peace of the Harmony Ritual, a specially created in-house treatment at Knockranny’s lovely Spa Salveo.
Rates at Knockranny House Hotel & Spa start from €75 B&B per person sharing.
Libra celebrities include: Serena Williams, Brie Larson, Kim Kardashian and Bella Hadid. Visit www.knockrannyhousehotel.ie/
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Recess, Connemara
Considered the most mysterious and deep of all the zodiac signs, Scorpio is a water sign in touch with their emotions, intuition, and creativity. Destinations near water, places that inspire an emotional reaction, or where they can get their creative juices flowing are beneficial for all Scorpios and, unlike many other star signs, they don’t need to be constantly around other people to have a good time.
Ballynahinch Castle is a destination full of authentic character, creativity and history, perfect for the Scorpio penchant for investigation and exploration. Let your Scorpio wander the miles of trails through the 700 acres of Ballynahinch grounds, a natural pilgrimage by the fast-flowing river, through mysterious old forests of velvety moss and the backdrop of impressive mountains.
By water and nature, exploring history, culture, and tradition, and expanding on a sense of spirituality and awe, Ballynahinch Castle with its light touch of sophistication and elegant setting makes a beguiling stay for the Scorpion in your life. An overnight stay with dinner at Owenmore Restaurant starts at €230 per person sharing.
Scorpio celebs: Amandla Stenberg, Katy Perry, Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway, and Shailene Woodley. Visit ballynahinch-castle.com for more details.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
The Twelve, Bearna, Co Galway
Adaptable and bold, Sagittarians love exploring the world. They’re energetic, curious and always down for a spontaneous adventure or a quick trip. Which is why they’ll love The Twelve, a gorgeous Bearna boutique bolthole that has been making its outsized mark consistently and with panache since it opened in 2007.
Known as one of Ireland’s best wine hotels, Fergus O’Halloran, Sommelier and General Manager, has created a wine list that is both enlightening and entertaining, drawing inspiration from distant travels and celebrating the cultures of various regions. Not only that, each wine on the extensive list is available to taste via Coravin so you can embrace your adventurous side and sample things you’ve never tried before.
Dynamic and award-winning, dining at West Restaurant at The Twelve is another adventure, and a way to explore this entire region through the ingredients on your plate. West’s head chef Nathan Hindmarsh creates exquisite and elegant food celebrating local produce, and natural explorers like Sagittarians will appreciate the carefully crafted experiences and the approachable, knowledgeable service from the team.
A little hedonism, a little learning, a lot of fun, The Twelve and Sagittarius are a match made in heaven — or Bearna, to be exact. An overnight stay in a Splendid guest Room The Twelve is available from €200 per night
Sagittarius celebrities include Chrissy Teigen, Scarlett Johansson and Taylor Swift. See thetwelvehotel.ie for more.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
The Shelbourne, St, Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
Hard-working, poised and sophisticated, it’s hard to pull a Capricorn away from their daily routine, but no one deserves a break more than they do.
Take them to The Shelbourne, at the centre of Dublin life for almost 200 years. Whatever occasion or special moment you’re marking, or even if it’s just a regular Wednesday night, you can’t help but be drawn to the sparkle and natural charm of this Grande Dame on the Green. From the perfection of a well-made cocktail in No.27 to the classic old-school tableside service in The Saddle Room, the top shelf expertise on display in 1824 Bar, a perfectly chilled glass of Champagne on The Terrace, or leisurely afternoon tea in The Lord Mayor’s Lounge, your Capricorn will appreciate the skill and service at every step.
A Golden Moments stay in The Shelbourne this autumn includes an overnight in a Parkview King Room with an exclusive Irish whiskey flight in The Horseshoe Bar. From Sunday through Thursday throughout October and November, Golden Moments at The Shelbourne is available from €699 per room.
Capricorn celebs: Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Regina King, Zooey Deschanel, and January Jones. Visit theshelbourne.com for more.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction, Malone Road, Belfast
Aquarius travellers love marching to the beat of their own drum. They’re original and spontaneous, the rebel of the zodiac, and they love unearthing hidden local treasures.
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction is a jewel-box labour of love created by its owner, free-spirited and well-travelled Belfast native and born story-teller, Melanie Harrison. An inveterate solo traveller with an independent mind and a keen eye for style and antiques, Melanie took a fine 19th century merchant’s home and transformed it into a bohemian beauty with a series of 16 comfortable, elegant, playful rooms that each tell their own different story. The lovingly-restored landmark Victorian townhouse is right in the heart of Queen’s Quarter, Belfast’s theatre and museum district, and filled with mementoes and souvenirs of artists of all kinds connected to the city of Belfast.
Melanie’s profound love of stories in every shape and form is clear to see in every room, and she loves nothing more than suggesting something surprising, local and experimental for her guests to explore. The Harrison Chambers of Distinction rates start from £150 (€172) per room, including a continental breakfast.
Aquarius celebs: Kerry Washington, Shakira, Chloe Grace Moretz, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Aniston. See chambersofdistinction.com for more details.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
The Ice House, Ballina, Co Mayo
Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac is always looking to find inner peace, on the lookout for places where they can get lost in their own world. Water tends to be an important element in every Piscean life, so intentionally seeking out locations with deep ties to running water will be soothing to their psyche.
On the banks of the River Moy, with glorious views across the river and out to the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ice House has floor to ceiling windows and balconies over the rushing water that are as close as any Pisces and their symbol of the two fish can get to full immersion. A bubble of eclectic style, laid-back buzz and brilliant flavours in a place of peace and natural beauty, each room in The Ice House is decorated with unique, individually selected artwork, and the modern and traditional are fused in the hotel’s award-winning and excellent spa.
A keen and sensitive appreciator of art in all its forms, Pisceans respond to their surroundings more empathically than most, so will enjoy the talent and techniques on display throughout the hotel but at the end of the day, there is nobody more fully content than a Pisces in a bath. The outdoor thermal area with waterside hot tubs and saunas all directly over the Moy will give any Pisces an almost existential sense of comfort and relaxation.
For a blissed-out fish, a stay at The Ice House starts from €180 for B&B per room based on two people sharing.
Pisces celebrities include: Rihanna, Drew Barrymore, Eva Mendes and Emily Blunt. See icehousehotel.ie for more details.
