It’s been a long year.

If you dream of moving into a five-star hotel for the Christmas holidays and leaving all the cooking and serving to someone else, Cork’s luxe Hayfield Manor has given us all a taste of what guests actually get up to in there over the festive season.

The price for two adults over three nights from December 24th-27th, 2020? A cool €2,980.

Still, completely worth it in our book if you’ve got the spondulicks.

Here’s what the hotel’s ‘Ultimate Christmas Experience’ buys you… 

Checking in on Christmas Eve, residents are served warm mulled wine while being serenaded with Christmas carols by a local choir.

After dinner, it’s back to the open fireside for a nightcap of hot port and mince pies before hopping into bed in a plush suite to await Santa’s arrival.

Christmas Day begins with Hayfield Manor’s famous Irish breakfast before a swim and a sauna or a soak in the tub and a morning opening presents in your room or a cosy corner of the resident lounge.

Naturally, a Champagne toast precedes Christmas Lunch – a gourmet spectacle of festive favourites prepared by the head chef. Later, Santa Claus pays a visit to the hotel to surprise junior guests with a carefully selected gift for all good boys and girls.

Feeling peckish? No need to raid the leftovers later; the evening culminates with a light buffet supper, after which everyone gathers for a classical piano recital before bed (there’s a special bedtime gift for each guest every night too).

St Stephen’s Day in the spa

St Stephen’s Day begins with a leisurely breakfast before The Beautique Spa opens to massage away the excesses of the past few days. After a stroll through the city or nearby Fitzgerald’s Park, it’s back to the Hayfield Manor for live music over a St Stephen’s Night dinner.

Hayfield Manor will reopen on December 3rd, 2020 (reservations are open on 021 4845900).

We’re off to buy a Lotto ticket.