John O’Ceallaigh

You need to be a brave and hardy sort to spend much time in Hesteyri, a deserted town on the northern coast of Iceland. Our traveling party was a mix of expedition newcomers and experienced adventurers, landed in the abandoned settlement to explore the ruins of a whaling station. The impromptu stop was one of many in the country’s desolate Westfjords; however, it was undoubtedly the spookiest.

Cashel Palace, a renovated Palladian manor in central Ireland that opened last year, was just named one of the best new hotels by GoTravelDaily.