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Belfast's AC Hotel reflects city's growing popularity

Columbia Hillen

Graceful seagulls and playful whiskered seals.

These are high on my list of fond memories after a short stay at the AC Hotel Belfast.

The prized location of this modern, riverside property means guests can enjoy Mother Nature up-close through floor-to-ceiling windows including creatures such as these which offered me amusing entertainment from my eighth-floor window (Room 808).

Columbia Hillen

With Northern Ireland’s flourishing capital city receiving increasing plaudits from overseas visitors, this modern hotel is poised to benefit immensely. Bordering the River Lagan, which flows into Belfast harbor and the lough beyond, it is an easy walk to many of the city’s main tourism highlights including the SSE Arena, a sports and entertainment complex hosting a multipurpose arena, the W5 interactive discovery center with interactive science, climbing and robot attractions and a shopping arcade housing a movie theatre, bowling alley and selection of restaurants.

Columbia Hillen

Ten minutes away is the city’s most sophisticated museum featuring nine interactive galleries dramatically commemorating the tragic sinking of the Titanic cruise ship; the Waterfront Hall, a performance venue; the historic Cathedral Quarter with its lively cafes, bars and restaurants; and Saint George’s market with diverse stalls selling items ranging from vinyl records to scarves and paintings.

Columbia Hillen

Being close to the downtown area, the 188-room AC Hotel has become a popular social hub. On a recent Saturday evening, it was bustling with people enjoying exotic cocktails such as dark spice storm (rum, bitters and lime) and Tanqueray gin and tonic with cucumber and anise at the ground-floor bar and dinner in the 112-seat riverside ‘Novelli at City Quays’ restaurant next to it.

Columbia Hillen

Sean Hillen

During an international media career spanning several decades in Europe and the US, Sean Hillen has worked for many leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Times London, The Daily Telegraph, Time magazine and The Irish Times Dublin, as well as at the United Nations Media Center in New York. Sean's travel writing for JustLuxe.com and worlditineraries.co has taken him across A...(Read More)

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