Travel Tips and Facts

Friday, July 02, 2010

Western Region

Galway, Mayo & Roscommon

Abbeyglen Castle Hotel

Clifden, Galway. Located on the Sky Road and set in pleasant gardens. Built in 1832, the hotel is renowned for quality cuisine. Abbeyglen has 18 superior rooms, many with four poster beds and open fires.

Ballynahinch Castle

Ballynahinch, Galway. This manor, set in a 455-acre estate, dates from the 18^th century. Tastefully-furnished guest rooms have special features and excellent views. Relax in the superb restaurant or old-world bar.

Ashford Castle Hotel

Cong, Mayo. This famous castle, on the shores of Lough Corrib, is one of Ireland’s most luxurious retreats. Guests relax in spacious rooms, dine in the elegant restaurant and enjoy golfing, horse riding and more.

Kilronan Castle

Ballyfarnan, Roscommon. This luxurious property is set in 40 acres with lovely scenery all around. Enjoy a wonderful mix of old-world elegance and state-of-the-art facilities and standards to make your stay memorable.

South Western Region

Cork, Kerry, Limerick & Clare

Cahernane House Hotel

Killarney, Kerry. Set in its own parklands on the edge of Killarney’s National Park and dating from 1877, the hotel features elegant bedrooms, comfortable reception areas and the award-winning Herbert Restaurant.

Dunloe Castler Hotel

Killarney. Overlooks the Gap of the Dunloe, a few miles outside the town. Deluxe bedrooms, restaurants and bars create a relaxing haven. Enjoy the gardens and health club plus golf is available nearby.

Ballyseede Castle Hotel

Tralee, Kerry. Step back in time while enjoying modern comforts. Elegant bedrooms are decorated with taste and imagination. The gracious dining room serves Continental and Irish cuisine with a fine wine cellar.

Bunrathy Castle Hotel

Bunratty, Clare. Close to Durty Nelly’s Pub, Bunrathy Castle and Folk Park. All traditional-style rooms offer air conditioning and every modern comfort. Relax in Kathleen’s Irish Pub with great food.

Dromoland Castle

Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare. One of Europe’s top luxury hotels with stately halls, elegant facilities and luxurious guest rooms designed for relaxation. Sample award-winning cuisine, enjoy golf or leisure center.

North Western Region

Donegal, Leitrim, Monagham, Cavan & Northern Ireland

Solis Lough Eske Castle

Donegal. The current castle was built in the 1860s and is newly renovated. Beautifully appointed rooms feature bespoke furnishings in calm neutral tones. The new Cedaes Grill combines easygoing elegance with a very contemporary sense of style.

Lough Rynn Castle

Mohill, Leitrim. This is the original 19^th century home of the Clements family. The gracious manor house offers 42 luxurious bedrooms, intimate public rooms, elegant dinning, a world-class spa and a championship golf course on a 300-acre estate.

Castle Leslie

Glaslough, Monaghan. Nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating country-side, the Leslie family has lived here since the 1660s. The Castle offers authentic interiors and warm hospitality. Located only 80 minutes from Dublin and 60 minutes from Belfast.

Ballygally Castle

Ballygally, Antrim. The Castle dates to 1625 and is located on the scenic Antrim coast. 44 bedrooms offer old beamed ceilings and modern décor. All the top facilities add to the welcoming atmosphere and the Garden Restaurant offers excellent food.

Cabra Castle Hotel

Kingscourt, Cavan. Dating from 1760, the hotel is set in 88 acres of parkland with a 9-hole golf course. Well-appointed guest rooms, gourmet dining and gracious public rooms combine for a great stay.

Eastern Region

Meath, Westmeath, Wicklow, Laois, Kilkenny, Tipperary & Waterford

Dunboyne Castle

Dunboyne, Meath. This hotel offers comfortable guest rooms, magnificent gardens, a fully-equipped spa and great facilities for dining and relaxing. Close to Dublin Airport and tomb of Newgrange and Knowth.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Each year thousands of people take on the adventure of traveling to Dublin, Ireland and are presented with an abundance of things to do throughout. This is one place that will keep you going from beginning to end with its buzzing city life as well as beautiful country life.

There is an abundance of places that you can visit while traveling to Dublin. Whether you want to take a stroll through the many parks, gardens or museums or touch up your knowledge on Dublin through the colleges, libraries, churches or heritage sites there is an extensive amount of things that you can do here.

Dublin is jam packed full of historical buildings, galleries and castles that are open to the public to see and experience. You will have the ability to see exactly what Dublin is all about just by taking a stroll through the city and lands.

Some popular places to visit in Dublin include:

The Christ Church Cathedral
The Trinity College Library which is the home of the Book of Kells
The Ardgillan Castle
The Dublin Zoo
The National Gallery of Ireland

The list goes on. Dublin has many different things that you can do and it really does cater to every interest that a person may have. When planning a trip to Ireland ensure that you plan for a few days in Dublin so that you can experience everything it has to offer and you don’t miss out on anything that you really wanted to see, but may not have had time for.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Please share some of your unique ideas!

Bring an extra bag for souvenirs.   It’s always handy to pack an empty collapsible suitcase or duffel bag with you. It doesn't take up much room and when returning home you can fill it with souvenirs and even dirty laundry.

One color scheme:  When packing to travel, it's helpful to use one color scheme, like black or brown, and maybe just one accent color.  It’s much easier to coordinate your wardrobe this way.

Preventing Wrinkles: Place individual items of clothing in dry cleaners’ plastic bags. Your clothes won’t wrinkle! It sounds too easy but it really works. If you’re using a hanging garment bag, prevent creasing of suits and garments on hangers by placing a small rolled-up towel on the inside, where the garments fold. This will prevent the horizontal crease caused by the fold.

Save Space: To keep shoes and boots in shape, fill them with socks. Ladies, consider putting your shoes inside your husband's shoes. They'll be protected and won't take up more space.

A dryer fabric softener sheet in your suitcase will keep your clothes smelling fresh while you travel.  Slide a dry fabric softener sheet over your hair to calm down static-electric flyaway hair.

Beauty products that are good for 2 or more uses are great. Elizabeth Arden's 8-hour cream works as a facial moisturizer, lip balm, hair tamer, and sunburn soother all in one. Shampoo can double up as travel wash, and those chubby make up pencils from Clinique can multi-task for lipstick, eye color, and blush. Oil of Olay Daily Facials cleansing cloths are dry, and they remove makeup, cleanse, and moisturize without taking products.

Make-up tricks: Use a stick foundation instead of a liquid. The texture is light, and many of the new sticks are oil-free. The foundation can also double as a concealer and an eyeshadow base. Look for perfume in a solid form as well. The containers are small enough to fit in a purse, yet smell strong. Kiss my Face makes shave lather in a tube – no aerosol cans. Invest in a good lipstick palette with a variety of colors. The palettes are small, and give you a good variety of colors for all skin tones, and cut down on the number of bulky tubes.

Earrings: To bring a selection of earrings on your trip, get an inexpensive felt square at a fabric store (they sell them pre-cut) and simply fasten earrings through the felt and fold. Fasten the roll with a rubber band.

Necklaces: When packing your necklaces, place each one in a straw, by threading one end of the necklace through, and clasping it closed. This prevents the necklace from tangling up. (Use longer straws for longer necklaces, and cut the straw to exactly half the length of the necklace, for shorter ones.)

Creative packing tips from Perillo. 

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Planning a trip to Ireland? Here's a quick overview of some of the things you can see and do.

The larger cities of Galway, Limerick, Killarney, Cork, Belfast and Dublin offer their own unique style with central locations that are perfect for exploring the countryside.

Dublin, which is the capital of Ireland, is a favorite of travelers. Visit pubs, museums, restaurants and shops. Popular sites include St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Malahide Castle, Guinness Storehouse and the Garden of Remembrance. Take time to stroll through Dublin's beautiful Georgian squares. Enjoy entertainment at a theatre, club or pub with traditional Irish music.

Killarney is considered the tourist capital of Ireland due to its natural beauty and the world-renowned Ring of Kerry. Other popular sites are Ross Castle, Dingle and Tralee, Ladies View and the McGillicuddy Reeks. Golfers can enjoy some of the world's best championship golf courses nearby.

Belfast is a thriving city in Northern Ireland, rich in history and culture. It is said to have some of the best nightlife in Ireland. Wonderful restaurants, shops, pubs and old markets offer plenty to do.

The city of Limerick, off of the River Shannon, is ideally located for a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Village and King John's Castle. Durty Nelly's is one of the most famous pubs in the area.   Located in South West Ireland, Cork boasts beautiful scenery of river valleys as well as the sandstone hills of the west. From here you can visit the Blarney Stone, Blarney Castle, Woollen Mills and the affluent town of Kinsale. Walking through Cork, you can see the Opera House, St. Ann Shandon Church, St. Finbarr's Cathedral.

Galway is full of narrow streets and medieval buildings which make you feel like you have gone back in time.  See the Spanish Arch, the Church of St. Nicholas and Lynch's castle. 

Monday, August 17, 2009

A tour of all the major cities in Ireland would take 12 to 14 days, however keep in mind that this is just an overview of the sites. You will find that these itineraries typically spend only one or two nights in the larger cities, and are on the move the rest of the time getting from place to place. This is why many travelers choose to focus on a specific region of Ireland, to ensure they can take everything in.

The larger cities of Galway, Limerick, Killarney, Cork, Belfast and Dublin offer their own unique style with central locations that are perfect for exploring the countryside.

Dublin, which is the capital of Ireland, is a favorite of travelers. Visit pubs, museums, restaurants and shops. Popular sites include St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Malahide Castle, Guinness Storehouse and the Garden of Remembrance. Take time to stroll through Dublin's beautiful Georgian squares. Enjoy entertainment at a theatre, club or pub with traditional Irish music.

Killarney is considered the tourist capital of Ireland due to its natural beauty and the world-renowned Ring of Kerry. Other popular sites are Ross Castle, Dingle and Tralee, Ladies View and the McGillicuddy Reeks. Golfers can enjoy some of the world's best championship golf courses nearby.

Belfast is a thriving city in Northern Ireland, rich in history and culture. It is said to have some of the best nightlife in Ireland. Wonderful restaurants, shops, pubs and old markets offer plenty to do.

The city of Limerick, off of the River Shannon, is ideally located for a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Village and King John's Castle. Durty Nelly's is one of the most famous pubs in the area.   Located in South West Ireland, Cork boasts beautiful scenery of river valleys as well as the sandstone hills of the west. From here you can visit the Blarney Stone, Blarney Castle, Woollen Mills and the affluent town of Kinsale. Walking through Cork, you can see the Opera House, St. Ann Shandon Church, St. Finbarr's Cathedral.

Galway is full of narrow streets and medieval buildings which make you feel like you have gone back in time.  See the Spanish Arch, the Church of St. Nicholas and Lynch's castle. 

The shorter tours typically allow you to spend at least two nights in each of the major cities, so that you have some free time to venture out on your own. You can always add a few nights before or after your tour begins as well. Tour accommodations range from budget hotels and inns, to five star hotels and overnight castle stays. Of course the better the accomodations, the higher the price. Another thing to consider when selecting a tour is how much sightseeing is included, versus what is going to be offered as optional and cost additional while you are on your trip. Also, how many meals are included, as this can be a considerable savings to you in Europe. Are there any special trips or highlights included? All of these factors can affect the price of a tour, but you may find that spending a little more up front, is a better value in the end to ensure you are getting the most from your visit.

In 8 to 10 days, you can take a Southern Ireland tours and spend time in Dublin, Shannon, Killarney and Waterford, which will include highlights and visits to such places as the Old Jameson Distillery, Bunratty, Ring of Kerry, Kenmare, the Blarney kissing stone and Waterford Crystal Factory.

On an 8 to 10 day trip to Northern Ireland, you would stay in places such as Galway, Derry, Shannon and Dublin.  The drive from the west cost over to the east coast incorporates natural beauty as well as historical sites. Visit the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren and the Connemara region. Some of the trip highlights may include Kylemore Abbey, Glenveagh National Park, Giant's Causeway, Trinity College and St. Stephen's Green. 

You can take an Ireland tour year round, but the best weather is found May through October. Weather can always get chilly, so pack warm clothing for the evenings. If you don't mind the cold weather, then in the winter there are far less crowds and prices are about 40% lower than traveling during peak season. 

You can find great shopping in Ireland for hand-cut crystal, Irish Whiskey, jewely, handmade sweaters and more.