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Guest Post: Dublin – a great family destination

Sunday, June 28th, 2009Karen Bryan

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In this guest post Lindsay Sydenham illustrates why Dublin is a great location for a family trip.

“One of the best family destinations in Europe is Dublin, Ireland. Anyone looking for family vacation ideas should strongly consider a trip to Dublin. The city of Dublin is rich in culture and offers a delightful experience for travelers at every age. There is something to do for everyone!

Temple Bar, Dublin

Temple Bar, Dublin by Australia photos

Temple Bar:
Temple Bar is the cultural hub of Dublin. This is where the hustle and bustle of the city occurs. There are many restaurants and activities to choose from in this area. Take the family and stroll through the area to get a good feel of what the locals love in Dublin.

Ghost Bus Tour:
Interested in getting spooked? Dublin is a haunted city. The Irish are known for being incredibly superstitious and they believe strongly in the influence of the afterlife on the world. Purchasing tickets and going on the Ghost Bus Tour will give you an insight to haunted Dublin. You will travel to the school and home where Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, conjured up the story of a murderous vampire. You will visit a graveyard and learn about grave robbings in the medieval times as well as see the untouched sites where witches were burned at the cross. Taking the Ghost Bus Tour might be a little spooky for young children, but teenagers will certainly enjoy the ride.

Take a Day Tour:
There are a few tours to take during the day that will give a great overall impression of what Dublin is all about. One of the most recommended tours to take is the Wild Wicklow Tour. For a reasonable price, their full-day tours will take you on a short city tour, a gorgeous costal drive, a visit to Glenalough (an older Irish city), a view of mountain lakes and an opportunity to eat lunch in a traditional pub and shop in a nearby craft market. Taking a day tour is the perfect opportunity to discover the overall feel of Ireland.

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle by infomatique

Visit a Castle:
Go back in time and visit an old, Irish castle. You can start with the Dublin Castle, which is located in the heart of Dublin. See the interior of the castle, but be sure to spend time in the beautiful gardens that resemble a maze. If you and your family enjoyed the visit to the castle, know that there are hundreds of other castles to visit in Ireland. It is possible to spend an entire trip to Ireland just visiting the beautiful, historical castles the country has to offer.

Visit a Pub:
A night out for the adults should consist of pub hopping. Dublin offers some of the most impressive pubs in the whole world. Try different brews that have been created all over Ireland. It will be especially fun if you are a connoisseur of beer!

Howth

Howth by infomatique

Take a Ride to Howth:
Howth, Ireland is a gorgeous costal city that really gives visitors a different feel of Ireland. Walk the Irish cliffs and view the blue water. Each fresh fish and chips and be sure to order the “catch of the day.” Explore the marina area where there are old fishing boats. The locals in this city are kind-hearted and love to help visitors find their way around.”

Tags: Dublin
Posted in Guest post, Ireland by Karen Bryan | 1 Comment »

Happy 2009

Friday, January 2nd, 2009Andy Hayes

Happy 2009 EALC Readers!

Fireworks over Edinburgh – Copyright by Andrew Hayes

I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions; I think if someone needs improved or changed or done, don’t wait until January to put it onto your to do list! However, I have several items on my agenda for Euro-wonderful travel this year and I’m excited to share it with you. Maybe they’ll give you some travel inspiration, or maybe I’ll see you there.

Navigating Norway

I love the Nordic and Scandinavian countries and Norway is the only one I’ve missed. I plan on visiting the cities of Bergen and Olso, as well as do some serious hiking. Places like the preachers pulpit (look mum, no guardrail!) and the Kjeragbolten, a huge boulder wedged between to cliff faces, are high on my list.

Siesta in Spain

Can you believe in Spain I’ve only been to Barcelona? I’d like to see Madrid and Bilbao, as well as do some walking in the hills in the north. Nevermind the copious amounts of sangria and tapas I’ll be downing while on tour!

Irish Invasion

My mum is coming back over again next year and we’ll be taking our touring skills to Ireland. I know Dublin pretty well, so we’ll be exploring a few more rural regions, and I suspect she’ll want to pick up some Waterford Crystal. You’ll have to subscribe to the RSS feed or email on the blog to find out if we kiss the blarney stone or not!

You’d think that was enough for one year, but rest assured, I’ve got plenty of other trips up my sleeve. Stay tuned.

What are your Euro-fabulous travel plans this year?

Tags: bilbao, blarney, happy new year, hiking, Ireland, irish, kjeragbolten, Madrid, nordic, Norway, sangria, Scandinavia, siesta, Spain, tapas, Walking, waterford
Posted in Authentic travel, Ireland, Norway, Spain by Andy Hayes | 2 Comments »

Before They Disappear…

Friday, December 5th, 2008Andy Hayes

Looking for a new theme to your next holiday? Want to know more about eco-tourism or environmentally-friendly tourism? Then maybe you should pick up Frommer’s latest guide, 500 Places to See Before They Disappear.

Disappearing into the light…. Copyright Andrew Hayes

The first time I saw this title, I was overwhelmed with sadness. Were things getting so bad we had to compile a list of them? But after flipping through my copy of the guide, I feel much better. Frommer’s has kept the focus not on why things are the way they are, but instead explains the beauty of what’s still here – stuff we need to enjoy here and now. It’s advice we should take, climate change or not. And the book is chock full of information, including travel information, nearby hotels and websites for nearly every entry.

The usual suspects are featured – places we already knew were under threat, such as the leaning tower of Pisa, the ancient city of Pompeii, and the beautiful canal-side architecture in Venice. But I did find a few interesting sights that might be a great springboard for your next “off the beaten path” holiday.

Hadrian’s Wall

Built between 122AD and 128AD, it is a testament to Roman engineering that any part of this wall even still exists. Emperor Hadrian had the wall built to help control movements between the north and south of Britain during the Roman occupation. However, due to continued pilfering of stones from the wall as well as tourists walking on top of the wall, it is showing the signs of age. There is a walking path that runs alongside the entire wall path, built back in 2003; it sounds like a great walk, but be sure to stick to the path.

The Abbey of Mont-St-Michel

I love rural France and have always wanted to see this abbey in person; via photo, it looks like a mystical creature rising straight out of the waters on the coast. However, in reality, it appears the “island effect” is no more as due to the building and various waterworks in the area, the bay has silted up. The local government is doing its best to repair the damage and hopes to have things back in order by 2012. Regardless, I would still love to explore this area of France.

The Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara is a rural location in Ireland that was a “sacral site associated with Indo-European Kingship rituals (courtesy of Wikipedia). With various burial mounds, pillar stones, and a visitor centre that puts everything into perspective, it seems that a key to the history of Ireland lies in these ruins. However, the brilliant planners of the Irish motorways already placed a major roadway nearby, and are planning on putting yet another even closer. Reading this reminds me of my surreal experience at Stonehenge – and my distaste for the dual carriageway running next to it! Apparently, the construction works for the new Irish motorway have unearthed (and consequently destroyed) a number of underground megalithic buildings. What a travesty.

Want to know more about these or other disappearing sights across Europe and the globe? Pick up your copy of the guide and then tell us in the comments what you’d like to see before it disappears.

Tags: England, France, frommer's, Ireland, travel guide
Posted in Authentic travel, England, Environment, France, Ireland, Themed holidays, Travel tips by Andy Hayes | No Comments »

Sail Rail from London to Dublin for £54 return

Friday, July 25th, 2008Karen Bryan

You can buy a return Sail Rail ticket to Dublin for only £54 from UK cities such as London and Newcastle. Sail Rail is a partnership of British and Irish ferry and train operators. The ferry crossings used are Fishguard to Rosslare, Holyhead to Dublin, Stranraer to Belfast.

I did a search for a Sail Rail ticket from Edinburgh to Belfast on 27 July, in 2 days time and found a single ticket for £26.

I think that is a really good offer as it appears to be available even at peak times and without having to book months in advance. You also have to consider that you don’t have the hassle of getting to and from the airport, the train will take into the city centre. You can also take as as much luggage as you like.

Have you used Sail Rail?

Tags: cheap fares dublin, cheap fares ireland, sail rail
Posted in Budget options, Day trips, Ferries, Ireland, Rail travel, Short breaks, United Kingdom by Karen Bryan | 2 Comments »

Ryanair flights from UK to Ireland for £2 return (plus card handling charge)

Thursday, July 17th, 2008Karen Bryan

Ryanair are offering flights from the UK to Ireland for only £2 return if you book by midnight on Friday 18 July 2008. However as I highlighted previously Ryanair do charge card handling fees, even on free flights. It’s now £4 for a credit or debit card for each flight but if you have an Electron card then there is no charge.

by dllisbona

The offer is available for flights from 1 September 2008 to 31 October 2008 with certain blackout dates. You can only fly on Mondays after 12:00, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Thursday before 12:00 and Saturday after 12:00.

I did a quick availability check and found several flights from Edinburgh to Dublin during the first two weeks in September for £10 return, including the £8 card handling charges.

Tags: cheap flights, Ryanair
Posted in Air travel, Budget options, Ireland, United Kingdom by Karen Bryan | 1 Comment »

Boating holidays in Ireland – messing around on the river

Monday, July 14th, 2008Karen Bryan

Hiring a boat to cruise around Ireland is a great way to see the country at a relaxed pace. With the recent renovation of the Shannon Erne Waterway, there is access to the longest inland waterway in Europe. There are hundreds of mooring points along the rivers Shannon and Erne so there’s plenty opportunity for stops. You can fish from your boat with no licence required on the Shannon. There’s also the option to play golf as 20 golf courses are within easy reach of the waterways.

River Shannon by IrishFireside

Carrick Craft offer a choice of well equipped, comfortable boats from 2 – 8 berth all with onboard cooking facilities, shower and toilet. The have three pick up locations Carrick-on-Shannon, Banagher and Tully Bay. It’s possible to do one way trips, It’s fairly easy to pick up how to operate your boat and you’ll receive instruction and an onboard demonstration before taking to the helm.

I had a quick look at prices and found a 2+2 berth boat for 756 euros for a one week hire from Saturday 23 August with a start and finish at Banagher. There is a separate charge for fuel which is estimated at 100 – 150 euros for a one week hire. There are other offers such as 10 day hire for the price of 7 in April and October, child discounts and 2nd week discounts.

Tags: boating holidays, boating holidays ireland, cruising Ireland, Erne cruising, Ireland cruising, Ireland fishing, Ireland golf, Ireland holidays, Shannon cruising, Shannon Erne Waterway
Posted in Family holidays, Ireland, Themed holidays by Karen Bryan | 1 Comment »

20% off flights between Ireland and UK with Aer Arann

Friday, July 11th, 2008Karen Bryan

If you book by midnight on Sunday 13 July 2008 you’ll save 20% on fares with Aer Arann between Ireland and the UK. The discount is applicable to all flights taken during 2008. Aer Arann has a good network of regional routes including Manchester to Kerry, Cardiff to Dublin, Edinburgh to Cork and Birmingham to Waterford.

Waaterford Sunset by Corey Leopold

Have you flown with Aer Arann, what your opinion of them?

Tags: Aer Arann, Ireland flgihts
Posted in Air travel, Ireland, Travel deals, United Kingdom by Karen Bryan | 1 Comment »

European Cultural & Activity Tours Swicki

Saturday, July 14th, 2007Karen Bryan

I’ve started a swicki, an intelligent search engine, for cultural and activity holidays in Europe. If you’re thinking of a themed holiday in Europe, whether it be walking, cycling, painting, horseriding, language, water sports, tennis or cooking, try searching in the swicki. If you find any great companies you add them to the swicki and vote for your favourite site. Help build a great resource.

check out the European Cultural & Activity Tours swicki at eurekster.com

[tags]Swicki, Europe themed vacations[/tags]

Posted in Cuisine, Culture, Cycling, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Themed holidays, Turkey, United Kingdom, Walking, Wine by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Guest interview – Peter Scott of Hidden-Dublin.com & Hidden-Italy.com

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007Karen Bryan

Peter Scott writes two “alternative” guide websites Hidden-Dublin.com and Hidden-Italy.com to give visitors a more realistic picture of these destinations.

1 What is the aim of your business?
Firstly, while it does cost me a lot of time and some expense to run hidden-dublin.com, I don’t consider it as a business as such. My aim is to continue to provide alternative information about Dublin and to cover my expenses through affiliations such as GoogleAdSense. I consider anything more as a bonus; in recent years I have been very happy to cover my costs.

2 What prompted you to start your business I began writing the site in 2001, having emigrated from Dublin to a job in the UK. I thought that the standard Irish tourist guides lacked insight and depth, particularly relating to such issues as culture and identity. In my opinion, the tourist board’s view of the country, with its idealized green scenery, open roads and an army of welcoming people, was already being surpassed by a brasher, harder Ireland. I wanted to show people that there were still interesting things to do and great people to meet, beyond the mainstream tourist haunts. One of the most successful parts of the site are the Irish sayings; I notice several other sites have copied this feature in highlighting our colourful use of language!

In 2006 I decided to write a sister site called hidden-italy.com and it explores the more unusual Italian regions (specifically Le Marche and Abruzzo). It is still in its infancy but has received reasonable traffic. I try to upload at least once a month; my unusual pictures have proved popular.

3 What is the hardest aspect of running your own business?
Firstly, trying to get time to research, write and update material. It is extremely time-consuming but enjoyable; the difficulty is achieving a balance with my proper job. Secondly, it has been hard to keep up with the latest developments in SEO (search engine optimization), crucial if you are to keep a flow of traffic and interest. Google have tightened their rules of review; it has taken a lot of research to adhere to these. I am very pleased with my success in placing search terms and they consistently appear on the first page of results in Google for such terms as “irish facts”, “dublin music”, “dublin pubs”, etc.

4 What is the funniest thing that has happened to you running your own business?
I offer free independent advice on Ireland and Italy. Occasionally, I receive messages from ladies looking for free, independent advice on relationships and marriage! Since I’m happily married, I politely decline their thoughtful offers!

5 What would you do differently with hindsight?
The most important element in building a web business is foresight. I began piecemeal, originally uploading pages to my university server space, following which I bought a dedicated domain name. It was some years later before I bought dedicated server space, allowing me to refer to specific pages on my site (where previously I could only refer to my index page). In hindsight, and with a budget, I should have bought domain and server space immediately. At least I discounted those useless free server space options, where you’re at the mercy of the providers.

My comments – Peter and I think along similar lines in that we want to help visitors get a more authentic experience during their trip. I certainly struggle with SEO and most technical issues but you have to get on top of these issues for your business to prosper. I’m fortunate that I have my son, a 2nd year computing student as my IT consultant.

Posted in Authentic travel, Destination guides, Guest interviews, Ireland, Italy by Karen Bryan | No Comments »

Something for the weekend 18 – 20 May 2007

Wednesday, May 9th, 2007Karen Bryan

I thought I’d focus on Northern Ireland for this weeks selection of late availability deals. I’ve read that Belfast is very popular for short breaks but I thought I’d feature hotels all over the area. Easyjet fly to Belfast from several cities on the mainland. It’s also easy to catch the ferry to Belfast or to Larne.

The Radisson SAS is a stylish modern building a ten minute walk from the city centre. A double room without breakfast costs £89 a night. If you stay for 2 nights it’s £105 a night with breakfast included. There’s a option which includes dinner for £135 a night.

The Old Schoolhouse Inn is on the shores of Lough Strangford, seven miles south east of Belfast. The inn receives very good reviews, double room costs £60 per night.

The Ballygally Castle hotel is on the Antrim coast, twenty miles from Belfast, six miles from the Larne ferry terminal. Double rooms cost £95 per night.