Soak up the atmosphere and dance until you drop this carnival season, with Expedia.ie!

Carnival season is upon us, so make sure you have a ticket to the party! From parades and to street parties, to masquerade celebrations, Expedia.ie will make sure you’re center stage for all the action, wherever you choose to go. Here are two fantastic festival options for 2014, to help you plan your Carnival trip.   VENICE Festivities: The Carnival takes place from February 15th  to March 4^th.  Join in on the festivities and enjoy live entertainment in St Marc’s Square from the main stage every afternoon.  If you really want to get involved why not dress up in traditional dress (think Casanova!) and wear a famous Venetian mask. Top tip:  The official opening of the carnival is on Saturday, but Sunday is one of the biggest days of the carnival.  Make sure to get down early to St Marc’s Square to watch the ‘Flight of the Angel’ where the Angel will fly from a rope from the top of San Marcos Bell Tower into the middle of the square. Expedia offer:  Three night’s B&B from Friday 21^st – Monday 24^th February in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice.  For just €495 per person, travel from Dublin airport to Venice Marco Polo International airport, and stay in one of the city’s most luxurious 4-star hotels, the Starhotels Splendid Venice. Location, Location, location: The hotel is located directly in the centre of the city, in the luxury shopping area.  Perfect for all you shopaholics out there! It is also an easy walk to all of the city’s main attractions such as St Marc’s Square, the Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace. Something special:  The hotel is of true Venetian style so take advantage of its canal side location and embark on a gondola ride around the city, right from the hotel front door! Hidden gems:  There is so much to see in Venice, so if you wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of the carnival, take a trip across the city to visit the old Jewish ghetto, or take a look at some of the world’s most prestigious modern art at Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Take a breather: Relax and enjoy some delicious Italian cuisine in one of Venice’s canal side restaurants. Don’t forget:  Its necessary wrap up as it is still quite chilly at this time of year.     BRAZIL  Festivities:  The carnival of carnivals! The Rio carnival runs from the 28^th of February until the 4^th of March.  The whole city of Rio turns into one giant party, so get involved in the numerous street parties and band processions across the city. Bright colours and feathers play a large theme in the festivities, with many of the locals and visitors dressing up for the occasion. So prepare to let your hair down! Top Tip:  The highlight of the carnival is the Samba Parade in the Sambodromo.  The parade is not like the normal street parties, but is a well-orchestrated show piece of the carnival that can be seen from the grand stands in the Sambodromo.  It is important to remember that you must buy tickets to attend. Expedia offer:  An adventure a lifetime to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the biggest carnival in the world.  Travel from Dublin airport on the 28^th February to Rio de Janeiro international airport and stay for 7 nights in a deluxe room in the 4-star Mar Palace Copacabana Hotel for only €1,634 per person with a 25% Expedia.ie discount. Location, Location, location:  The Mar Palace Copacabana Hotel is located in one of the most beautiful and scenic areas of the city, Copacabana, which is located in the South of the City. Copacabana is famous for its stunning beach (only an 80 metres walk from the hotel) and party atmosphere, so you are sure to be right in the middle of the celebrations.   Something Special:  Take a break from the madness of the carnival and climb to the top of the Sugar Loaf.  It is best to do this in the early morning or evening when it is cooler in the day.  It is the perfect way to see a magical view of the city and an amazing sunrise!  Hidden gems:  As the saying goes ‘when in Rome’, so when in Rio why not try your hand at samba dancing.  One evening, put on your dancing shoes to attend one of the many samba schools where you can learn the basics of this native Brazilian dance. Take a breather:  Relax by the outdoor pool in The Mar Palace, or enjoy a stunning view of the ocean from the rooftop terrace. Don’t forget:  Bring plenty of sun cream as temperatures in Rio can be as high as 30 degrees in March.   Andy Washington, Managing Director of Expedia.ie comments “When we travel, we all have slightly different priorities and carnival is no exception so whether you’re looking for a family-friendly carnival, historic splendour or to be at the heart of the party, there is a carnival to fit your needs. The Expedia app is the ideal way to book quickly and easily so that even if you aren’t going all the way to Rio, a quick getaway to a European carnival has never been easier.” For reservations, go to www.expedia.ie – the leading specialists in helping Irish people travel themselves interesting!