Live like a major and other travel deals

LIVE LIKE A MAJOR WINNER
Fancy a week in Rory McIlroy's house? The über-golfer's former home, Robinhall House in Moneyreagh, Co Down, has just been added to the Premier Cottages collection and is available for self-catering for up to 10 people from £4,950 (€6,208) per week. The multi-million-pound pad is all contemporary luxury and includes an 18-seater cinema, while the 15-acre estate includes a private lake, a tennis court and a nine-hole golf course with PGA-standard greens.
See premiercottages.co.uk

THE FUTURE IS UNDER YOUR THUMB
Alaska Airlines is now testing fingerprint scans ("e-thumbs") as a way of saving time at bag drops, checkpoints and passenger lounges. If the test is successful, it would be the first carrier to use biometrics for all passenger needs, including in-flight purchases. Alaska Airlines has been at the forefront of airline innovation for more than two decades: it pioneered online ticketing in the 1990s, introduced wireless check-in in 2001, and was the first airline to accept Google Wallet and home-tagging of check-in luggage in 2013.

AIRLINE ALLIANCE

Etihad Airways has created a new airline partnership that has many of the characteristics of the big three airline alliances, but will allow member airlines to remain within their existing alliance.

So far, the initial members of Etihad Airway Partners are Airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways and Darwin Airlines.

Details of how the alliance will benefit members have yet to be revealed, but it will allow for a simplification of operations across carriers through a number of tools, including mileage programmes, while allowing them to remain in their original programme. Airberlin, for instance, is part of Oneworld. Aer Lingus hasn’t indicated that it will join (and remains unaffiliated with any strategic alliance). But Etihad has equity in the airline, and the two have a codeshare agreement, so a future announcement would not be surprising.

SLEEP ANYWHERE
If you're one of those travellers who can't find a comfortable position to sleep on a long journey, a new pillow may be the solution to an uncomfortable neck.
The disc-shaped NapAnywhere pillow can be twisted into shape so it sits between your head and shoulder at whatever angle is most comfortable; a strap is pulled diagonally across your chest to keep it in place.
The NapAnywhere ($59/¤46) was designed by a US-based doctor who had trouble sleeping on planes due to a sports-related injury. See napanywhere.net.

THINGS TO DO IN ICELAND

WOW Air recently announced its direct service from Dublin to Reykjavik from next June. Here are five natural attractions:

Fimmvörðuháls

Don your hiking boots and take on this 23-kilometre trek that’s all about waterfalls and stunning views. Start at Skógafoss and make your way past what’s left of the unpronounceable volcano (Eyjafjallajökull), through fields of flowers until you get to Þórsmörk, a popular camping spot.

Vatnajökull National Park

Covering nearly 15 per cent of Iceland is Europe’s largest national park, incorporated to protect the largest ice cap in the world outside the poles. Beneath the ice cap are mountain and active volcanoes, explorable through a variety of well-signposted trails. The best access point is Skaftafell in the south or Ásbyrgi in the north.

Vestmannaeyjar

Take the 30-minute ferry from Landeyjahöfn or fly Eagle Air from Reykjavik’s domestic airport to this craggy archipelago centred on Heimaey, where most of the population of 4,000 live. From there, take a boat tour of the islets, where you’ll see massive cliffs, the loneliest cabins imaginable and lots of seabirds. The Þjódhátíð Vestmannaeyjar festival in August is a ribald affair.

Kerlingarfjöll

This breathtaking 150-kilometer mountain range was considered the home of fearsome trolls and ferocious bandits. Today it’s the favourite destination of the 4WD thrill-seekers, who hike through a landscape of geysers, glaciers and hot springs.

The Ring Road

If you’re really keen to explore Iceland, you’ll need to rent a 4WD for this 1,330-kilometre circuit around the island, which provides a glimpse of every natural attraction Iceland has to offer, from lava fields to jagged glaciers.

CELEBRITY'S TEENS

Celebrity Cruises has launched new teen-oriented excursion programmes in its continuing efforts to broaden the appeal of a holiday at sea to younger travellers. The new excursions include a flamenco dance-off in Barcelona, a mini- regatta in Bermuda, and a gondoliering challenge in Venice, where teens get a crash course in how to manoeuvre the iconic boats. See

[ celebritycruises.com ]

GET AWAY AT HOME

Christmas bookings are already gathering full pace. You need to book now if you want a Christmas Eve stay at the Shelbourne Hotel (€295 per person sharing;

[ theshelbourne.ie ]

), which includes a five-course lunch or dinner on December 25th and a little goodie bag; the two-night package costs €390 per person sharing. Opening for Christmas for the first time in 20 years is Ballynahinch Castle (

[ ballynahinch-castle.com ]

), just outside Recess in Connemara. The three- night Christmas package t includes light lunch and full dinner on all three days (plus a light supper on Christmas night), afternoon tea daily, welcome treats and hosted activities. It costs from €795 per person sharing in a Classic room (€850 in a Superior); children sharing with parents in a Superior room are €245.

BOSTON for €789

: Three nights in five-star Langham, including free room upgrade and direct return flights with Aer Lingus. For travel on November 27th (Thanksgiving weekend); see

[ trailfinders.ie ]

MOROCCO for €269:

7 nights at Residence Igoudar, Agadir. Includes flights. Departs January 10th, 2015; see

[ budgettravel.ie ]

LONDON for €249

: Two nights B&B at four-star K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd’s Bush. Includes ticket to Miss Saigon in West End; flights not included. Available until March 2014; see

[ dawson-travel.com ]

MICRO-GUIDE TO MEXICO CITY

STAY

Villa Condesa (

[ villacondesa.com.mx ]

; room from US$150) has 14 rooms in beautiful historic building that offers a bit of tranquillity from the mayhem outside.

EAT

El Hidalguense (tacos from €1.50). Perfect example of proper Mexican cuisine, with slow- cooked meats done in an underground pit.

DO

Lucha libre bout (

[ arenamexico.com.mx ]

). The masked luchadores of Mexican wrestling put on a great show at the Arena México