Travel Tips
Reading Rick Steves’ Ireland on the Kindle Fire – what I found
I bought my wife a Kindle Fire HD for Christmas, and until now I haven’t had much opportunity to use it. I used it to browse a couple of websites, checked Facebook on it, and watched a couple of Netflix shows on there, but until tonight I’ve never used it for reading books or magazines, which is probably one of it’s primary functions. I have to say, now that I have used it to read/browse a book, I am impressed by what I found. I downloaded the trial version of Rick Steves’ Ireland, and took it for a good test-drive....
read moreHiring a car in Ireland…a must for seeing the country
When my daughter picked us up from the airport in Dublin, speeding off onto the motorways of Ireland, my dad and I were second guessing our plans to hire a car on our own. First off if you’re not familiar with a right hand drive on the left side of the road, you may be a bit daunted but don’t be!! Hiring a car in Ireland was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip and we only wished we had done it sooner than during the latter portion of our stay. We decided on beginning our journey in Cork and hired the car from the airport. It...
read moreIreland Visitor Discounts – save money on top attractions
Holidaying can be an expensive past-time. Of course you have the credit-card-killers: flights and hotels, but outside of those the activities you’ll do at your destination really do start to add up, especially if you’ve got a few kids tagging along. There are deals to be found though which will save you money on top visitor attractions, food and more. I stumbled on a handy little site a while back and they had pretty amazing savings for Irelands top visitors locations in 2012. Luckily they have updated the discounts to give the...
read moreWill My Cellphone Work In Ireland – Phone Travel Tips Part 1
To be quite honest, there’s no one simple answer to the question “Will my cellphone work in Ireland?”. It really depends on a few things – your service provider, the type of service you already have, and the type of phone you wish to take with you on your travels. Most major American cellphone service providers do have options for international roaming, and you can probably find out the information related to roaming, on their website. Extra fees You may be tied in to a plan or service in your home country, but when...
read moreHow Do I Call Ireland From Abroad – Phone Travel Tips Part 2
Congratulations! You’ve booked your flights to Ireland, and now you’re looking for places to go, things to see, and somewhere to stay. You may need to make a call or 2 across the pond, or up from down under, to get some details straightened out. You may have found a number you wish to call, you may even have tried it, and it’s not quite working. So you’ve found yourself asking “How Do I Call Ireland From Abroad”. Never fear… Irish Area Codes Most standard Irish area codes begin with the number zero...
read moreEmergency Phone Number in Ireland – Phone Travel Tips Part 3
Hopefully your holiday in Ireland will be jam-packed with fun, and there’ll be absolutely no need to look for any kind of emergency help during your stay. But if you do need help, then it’ll be good to know how to get it. Emergency Phone Number in Ireland In the United States, people call 911 to get through to the emergency services. In Ireland the number to call is 999. Alternatively you can use 112, which also works throughout the EU and some other countries. Here’s a list of where 112 supposedly works. Safe travels! More...
read moreOne very good reason to rent an economy car in Ireland
You’ll often find that people will spend countless hours researching various car rental companies, and getting as many quotes as possible, before finally settling on the company they wish to rent from. They have good reason to! Renting a car in Ireland can be expensive, so doing the research could save you a lot of money. image credit What people spend less time analyzing is the cost of gas (petrol) in Ireland. From one gas station to another there won’t be a vast difference in cost per litre, but by renting an economy car, you may...
read moreContent Needed! Do You Have What It Takes?
Picture me, sitting at home, browsing the web, poring over pictures of Ireland, reading Irish history, delving into my memories, doing my best to muster up pieces of information that people visiting Ireland might find useful. Now picture you doing it! Yeah, that’s right – I want YOU to contribute to this blog! I’m looking for people who, like me, want to promote a little piece of Ireland. If you live in Ireland, or you’ve spent time in Ireland, and you have something to share that others might benefit from, then get in touch. Here are...
read moreWays To Get Into, Out Of, And Around Ireland
Ireland is more accessible to visitors now than it ever has been. There are so many options available for getting to Ireland, and when you get there you won’t have a problem getting around either. For those of you who haven’t been to Ireland since the 80′s or 90′s you’ll probably remember trying to navigate tiny rural roads on your way around the country. Thankfully, at least for the sake of Ireland’s beauty, those types of roads do still exist. However, these days when driving between major towns or cities,...
read moreAnother way to save some money while in Ireland
A quick follow up to my previous post about things to do in Ireland for the Gathering 2013. In that post I gave you some tips on what to do, and highlighted some of the better online resources to help you find great activities while inIreland next year. I also gave you a link to a coupon site that gives discounts on entrance fees to many of the well known attractions aroundIreland. Like I said in that post, it’s the 2012 coupon booklet, but they may create one for 2013 too. If they do I’ll be sure to let you know. But that got me thinking,...
read moreLet me help you find things to do in Ireland for the Gathering 2013
2013 is fast approaching, and for any of you that are tuned in to events going on in Ireland, you will already know that next year is expected to be a big one for Irish tourism.
read moreIrish Road Trips – 5 Of The Best
The entire island of Ireland is full of delightful and spectacular places. There are historic locations, tourist attractions, and natural wonders everywhere. If you are not in Ireland for long enough to explore it all, then you need to pare down your itinerary to just the best trips. Read on to discover PassSmart’s top five Irish road trips, to help you get the most out of your adventure in Ireland. 1) County Clare Drive through County Clare for a road trip that combines natural splendor with many points of historical interest. Drive...
read moreFree Family Fun In Dublin
When funds are tight, you could just stay at home – or you could find cheap and inventive ways to enjoy yourselves on a family trip. You can’t get any cheaper than free, so if you’re looking for some budget-friendly ways to occupy the children next time you’re in Dublin, read on: Botanic Gardens It’s hard to believe you’re just minutes from the city centre when you visit the stunning Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. If the weather is fine, take a picnic and appreciate the beautifully restored, award-winning glasshouses, while the...
read moreVisa Requirements For Entering Ireland (and a funny story)
A few years ago I was passing through Shannon Airport on my way back home for a visit. I had gone through the passport check, and was waiting on the other side of the immigration kiosks while my wife was being processed. There was a tourist at the desk next to her, and for some reason he had presented 2 passports to the Irish officer on duty. I could tell his English was pretty much non-existant, and he for sure couldn’t understand the thick Irish accent of the immigration officer. The officer was grilling the guy quite sternly (not sure...
read moreAbarta Audio Guides – An Informative And Entertaining Addition To Irish Heritage Landmarks
Some really cool, innovative, ideas have come out of recession-hit Ireland in recent years. One of those ideas that drew my attention recently was that of Abarta Audio Guides, an Irish company formed by a group of people passionate about Irish history and archaeology. Together they are equipped with a diverse skill set, which allows them to bring us a pretty unique set of audio guides that provide interpretation to cultural and heritage sites around the country. The sites include Glendalough, The Rock of Cashel and The Hill of Tara, among...
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