We’ve rediscovered the enjoyment of a slower pace of life, and many of us have relished the opportunity to spend the extra time we’ve gained catching up on our reading. What better way to relax and use our minds to escape, travelling far away into the pages of a great novel.

We asked our team to provide us with their recommendations for the novels and books that have really inspired them during this down time to discover new places, people and cultures when they are able to travel again.

Which one of our teams’ top recommendations will make it to your nightstand?

As many borders remain closed around the world, we’re constantly dreaming about our next journey and being able to indulge in a luxury journey. For now, we’re only able to dream about our next escape and film is a magnificent way to be transported to a magical far away destination, even if only for a few hours. We asked our Luxury Gold team to share the top travel films that are inspiring their next journey:

Ireland’s West Coast is a labyrinth of landscapes that evolve with every passing hour. Winding roads flanked by traditional stone walls, a magnificent coastline of dashing waves and expansive walks, and pretty villages and towns awash with character and charm.

And nestled in the West is the county of Mayo, the birthplace of Ireland’s first female President and home to one of the most historic and spectacular five-star hotels in Ireland, Ashford Castle, the only hotel in Ireland to have earned a Five-Star Forbes Travel Guide Ranking.

Niall Rochford, General Manager at Ashford Castle, invites you to take a look around the hotel and the 350-acre estate that envelops the castle, where guests have enjoyed exceptional levels of hospitality for more than 80 years: