The hotel was renamed Great Southern Hotel in 1925 with merger of various railway companies in southern Ireland, now called Great Southern Railway Company. Then in 1933, another famous pilot and his wife arrived after landing a seaplane near Mutton Island. Charles and Annie Lindbergh visited Galway as part of a Pan Am aerial survey. During my two day sojourn at beautiful hotel, I didn’t realize celebrity status of charming edifice. That’s what so great about staying in historical hotels.

During Second World War years people didn’t travel as much as before. Rationing of butter, tea, and sugar was enforced, even at hotel. But after war, in 1946, pent-up demand for discovery saw hotel over run with tourists, and often times people even slept in lobby. While soaking in Canadian hot tub on fifth and top floor in hotel’s Square Spa & Health Club, I had a bird’s eye sunset view of Galway Bay and dockyards that still flourish with arrriving and departing passengers at rail station and tour buses grinding out of bus station to take present day adventurers on their voyage of discovery.

After railways came under public ownership in 1945, hotel was owned by CIE. In 1952 General Manager, Brian Collins, began Galway International Oyster Festival that is still a regional legacy.

Other celebrities that have rested their bones at hotel include: Queen Salote of Tonga Islands; British Paratroopers, Sergeant Chay Blythe and Captain John Ridgeway, who arrived as first to row across Atlantic Ocean. Presidents that have stayed at hotel or at least lunched there include: Sean T. O’Kelly, Eamon de Valera, Erskine Childers, Patrick Hillery, Cearbhall O’Dalaigh, Mary Robinson, and Charles De Gaulle. Lord Oranmore and Browne took over 5th floor for two weeks during shooting season for many years, with members of peerage including Lord Longford and Lord Killanin. Now that blood sports such as fox hunting are banned in England, more sports shooters are seen at hotel.

Actors who have stayed at hotel include: Siobhan McKenna, Ray McNally, Rex Harrison, David Hemmings, Bing Crosby and his wife, Cathy, Michael Mac Liammoir, Hilton Edwards, John Ford, and David Lean. Lunch visitors have included: Richard Harris, Fred Astair, Jack Nicholson, Anjelica Huston, John Huston, Paul Newman (who starred in Mackintosh Man nearby Burren region), John Wayne, and Maureen O’Hara (both starring in The Quiet Man). Yes. I was in fine company while dining a la carte in Oyster Room Restaurant. O’Flaherty’s Bar in basement of hotel is named after writer, Liam O’Flaherty, who often stayed at hotel while pounding out screed in 1940s. So as a Scottish writer myself, I had to toast my Irish counterpart. Well, maybe more than one toast!

Although hotel bedrooms on lower floors are not overly large, they are appointed with modern amenities, including modern baths, internet email access, personal fax service, TVs, and lovely and comfortable beds. Some of these bedrooms are more traditional. The fifth floor is only elevator accessed with your room key, and offers plushest rooms in house. The hotel underwent a renovation of €8 million in 2003, so you are assured a very high standard. During renovation, many of Victorian features were enhanced and restored.

The hotel is still in heart of Galway, with Eyre Park on one side and Galway Bay on other. Just a short stroll away is wonderful streets filled with bargain shopping that ends at River Corrib.

Read this entire feature FREE with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/ireland/greatsouthern/galway.html

By Kriss Hammond, Editor, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

A couple standing next to me chooses European plan as they will get their own food or dine out. I can see how Mr. and Mrs. DINK (Double Income, No Kids) can afford to do this. Hmmm . . . and I must wonder if they are Dinks then what are we? Dorks? No income, double kids?

My son takes one step outside, looks at largest pool on island beckoning his graceful belly flop, colorful mounds of American and international fare at poolside La Terraza bar and grill, nonstop activities and says, "Well, I guess this is goodbye" as he salutes us and makes plans to disappear for next five weeks. (Yes, you hear me correctly. It's a five week stay!)

We scan courtyard and it is huge! I notice ramps for disabled and elevators to get to all three floors. The resort encircles beautiful tiled courtyard and in center is a pool so enormous that it comprises several smaller pools with different depth levels to meet various needs for lazing, activities, Jacuzzi, children, and well, for swimming. Pools within a pool!

My children are already hooking up with new amigos from Merida as they sit under shade of a palapa to enjoy their own version of "grown-up" drinks. My youngest downs about four Shirley Temples and dons tropical flower garnish (toothpick and all!) in her hair. The two teenagers run around pool with heaping plates of chicken nuggets and French fries hoarded from poolside snack bar, as if food supply would end! I see cocinero is also cooking up some fresh burgers upon children's request. I can also see my rules are flying right out window! But hey, it's vacation!

It's vacation! Those words ring in my ears and I head to open gym to check out equipment. A sea breeze wisps by as I climb on to treadmill and look out at glistening pool and secluded courtyard. The activities staff in their red polo shirts is rehearsing for nightly show. The shows range from comedy, family, to all-out aesthetic dances of culture.

Walking . . . no skipping…to our room with silly smiles upon our faces, a “swish, swish, swish” sound starts and never ends. It is sound that we hear all over island. The swishing is from all sweeping that goes on. Sweeping must be a favorite national pastime for it goes on night and day and people even smile while performing this task! I, for one, have never smiled incessantly while sweeping, nor have I ever swept incessantly, as a matter of fact.

“Fresh paint” announces sign as we round bend to our rooms. The hotel is huge and very large hallways lead us. Ahh . . . tranquility whispers cerulean walls which mimic sea. Hues from brown family-beige, chestnut, mahogany, cocoa—of furnishings bring raw elements of island inside. Like all rooms, ours consists of direct touchtone telephones, satellite TVs, safety deposit box, hair dryer, hooks about diving, large closets, plenty of storage space, and an A/C that worked way too well! Immaculate housekeeping each day means our rooms are swish-swish swept, freshly picked flowers from lush, well-groomed gardens, and footpaths leaving a tropical scent, and tissues and towels meticulously folded into swans, hearts, and even little smiling people.

“Oh wow! Lookie at pool from here!” my youngest yells as she scurries in from arched-covered balcony and immediately starts pouncing on one of cushy beds. I discover that every room has a private balcony that offers an ariel view of island’s largest pool or a terrace with a fresh look of hand-scaped garden (all work is done by hand around here), and views of staff sweeping and sweeping and sweeping . . .

Throwing sunscreen at my husband’s back, I quickly follow rest of clan toward palm-shielded lounge chairs. Cindy and Mike with Activities Staff greet us energetically and ask if girls want to join them in Kids’ Club and Kids’ Playground. Children from around world are in pool preparing for a water balloon war and reciting their daily Spanish lesson in song at same time.

After a few hours of melting into chaise lounger, I am not able to read any of books I brought, nor listen to my CD player, nor jot notes in my journal, but just lie in utter stillness and peace. “Palm Tree Syndrome” they call it here. It’s as if layers of stressare starting to peel away. No shallow ambitions, no material bondage, complete freedom of mind, body, and spirit.

Pictures of undersea life and soothing water sounds illuminate our way through underground walkway leading to hotel’s private beach club. My husband is drooling over complete dive center with snorkeling, scuba diving, and certifications galore.

The children are dropping in one by one from private pier with its gleaming white gazebo and its glass bottom. What an incredible backdrop against a turquoise sea and powder blue sky with wispy clouds. No wonder many wedding promises are sealed here!

Our clan, like most people, tends to opt for wide beaches and shallow waters but at Hotel Cozumel Resort, dropping into sea means we have instant access to incredible live tropical aquarium without having to pay prices of a snorkeling or diving tour. There is also a wonderful beach for landlubbers in family and a pool which peeks at Caribbean.

Now topic that everyone has been wondering about all along-what about FOOD?!

Read this entire feature FREE at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/mexico/cozumel/hotelcozumel/hotelcozumel.html

By Bobbi Buchanan, Arkansas Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com