If you're looking for an idyllic gastronomic holiday in Italy, do check out Vigna dell'Acqua, in the heart of the Langhe wine region in Piedmont.

Located in the town of Santo Stefano Belbo and a 40-minute drive from Turin, this guest house has been lovingly restored by Dublin women Sinead Boyle and has three B & B rooms, as well as five selfcatering apartments.

Sinead and her Italian husband Frederico Balbo also run a restaurant for their guests, specialising in local, regional food and wine, and there's also a swimming pool, landscaped gardens and a vineyard.

Wine tours and cooking courses can be arranged upon request and they're also positioning the house as the ideal location for an intimate wedding. Call 0039 01418 44150 and visit www. vignadellacqua. it for more information.

SO MANY PLACES, SO LITTLE TIME
Book titles advising you as to what you should be visiting/doing/buying before you shuffle off this mortal soil seem to be guaranteed best sellers, 101 Things to Buy Before You Die, a collection of the most covetable luxury goods and designer brands being the latest.

Less consumer-driven and therefore obviously a far more worthy addition to your bookcase is 1000 Places to see Before You Die in the USA and Canada by Patricia Schultz. Schulz also wrote 1000 Places to See Before you Die which has spent 162 weeks on the The New York Times bestseller list and her books are meticulously researched, interesting and often quirky . . . well worth a look. Out now, 18.99

KILLARNEY CALLING
The Cloisters Spa at Muckross Park Hotel, Killarney, is one of most seriously impressive and luxurious spas in the country. It also boasts the wonderful Sean Blake as its resident therapist, who was awarded Top Massage Therapist, 2007 and there's even greater incentive to visit now that they've added Aromatherapy Associates to its list of treatments.

The brand is already used in hotel such as the Dorchester and the Ritz London, as well as the Mandarin Oriental and includes bath, body and skincare collections. Try the Renew Rose Radiance Facial ( 100 for 50 mins) which leaves the skin polished and delicately scented and the Citrus Detox Reviver which releases and eliminates toxins ( 100 for 50 minutes). Tel 064 23400 and visit www. muckrosspark. com

HALLOWEEN TREATS
Halloween's a coming, the kids are off for a week so what are you going to do?

One nice option is the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare which has a very child-friendly programme happening. Guests are welcomed on 26 October for two days of festivities and food.

The K Kubs is the courtesy programme for young guests aged 4 to 11, including trick or treat, fancy dress competition and a treasure hunt, all under the mindful eye of qualified childcare providers.

Meanwhile, the grownups can indulge spa treatments and rounds of golf and there's also complimentary travel to designer outlet, Kildare Village as well as tours of the wine cellar, garden walk and an art history tour. Prices, which include two-nights accommodation, breakfast daily, two leisure treatments or golf, Halloween-themed dinner on both nights and scheduled child and adult activities is 525 per person (plus 10% resort gratuity).

Children under-12 sharing with parents stay free and there's 50% off the above price when sharing their own room.

Call 01 6017200 or email resortsales@kclub. ie.