Believe it or not, Dublin was not a high priority on my places to visit in Ireland. It was the Place Everyone Visited and therefore I wanted to go in a different direction. However, the one stipulation … more
I saw this statue years ago when it toured the United States. Then last year I got to see it in Rome within St Peter's Basilica amongst the other great sculptures and was even more in awe of the artist's … more
In several tour books and travel blogs I'd read about these wonderful palm sized custard tarts, so I had to give them a try. What a treat! It's Lisbon's version of New Orleans beignets. In … more
The Book of Kells Exhibition – is housed within the grounds of historic Trinity college. It is definitely a “must see” for Dublin. The Book of Kells is a gospel manuscript from 800 A.D. … more
I love Rick Steve's books and his TV shows because he talks about the importance of getting to know the locals by meeting them instead of just seeing them from the window of a tour bus as you are … more
London is one of the priciest cities to visit so you might want to look for some free things to do so you can afford to eat. Here's a freebie that gives you the opportunity to step back in time and … more
My husband and I enjoy visiting Gothic cathedrals whenever we take a trip to Europe. The very first, and one of the oldest, cathedrals that we experienced was in Salisbury, England. I’ll never forget … more
When my friend Steffie and I were plotting our travels to Ireland last year, I knew that I wanted our home base to be in Cork, even though we would be leaving for the east and a bit north the day … more
Last June my friend Steffie and I packed our bags and headed off to Ireland! There was no way around it; I wanted Steffie and I to fly into Cork. Our … more
So I'm off to Europe the day after Christmas and one way I'll be getting around is by train. I've used all types of transportation through Europe in the past but for some reason trains are … more
My husband and I have been fortunate enough to have made several visits to Paris. There is so much that is wonderful about the city, but I think my absolutely favorite place is the Musee National du Moyen … more
When travelling throughout Europe we often stay in hostel accommodation and I am always telling people that most hostels have private rooms, some en suite, and that really these hostels are much closer … more
Finding budget accommodation in the Italian city of Udine proved to be a long drawn out struggle. The tourism pages of the municipal website list the larger hotels but not cheaper accommodation like hostels, … more
I had the opportunity to stay at the Holiday Inn in the Schwabing borough of Munich, Germany this past spring. As a non-German speaking American, I found it an extremely convenient place … more
Due to an unplanned chain of events we arrived in Ljubljana at 8.30 on a Sunday evening with nowhere to stay. We couldn't impose on our friends there as they have a newborn baby and we wanted to be straight … more
Old Town Hostel Alur is situated as the name suggests in Vana Tallinn - Old Tallinn. Well just about, it's within the old walls and is two minutes walk from the main square, Raekoja Plats. There are one … more
As a frequent traveller I always want to save money wherever I can and accommodation is one area of my holidays where I am happy to go for the most basic option in order to spend more money elsewhere. … more
On our arrival in Kosovo we were thrown into a bit of a pickle. We had come from Nis in Serbia, a country that strictly speaking does not even acknowledge Kosovo's existence and our bus should … more
When you enter Borthwick Castle for the first time everyone makes it clear immediately. You are a guest, not a customer. My husband and I arrived and the staff greeted us as though we were expected guests, … more
If you are lucky enough to travel to London, England, you MUST take in The Royal Observatory at Greenwich and the nearby National Maritime Museum. At the conclusion of your tour, you'll be offered … more
I'm not a seasoned or jaded traveler ... yet! So a comprehensive travel guide is critical to my preparation for a trip and a great way of post-filling information and details into some of the holes … more
Someone once wrote, perhaps joking, that if you wanted to have a great time on vacation, look up all the places Lonely Planet recommended and DON'T go there. I think the idea was that so many tourists … more
Lonely Planet's Great Britain travel guide begins with a list of 25 top experiences, top itineraries, and information for planning your vacation. Great Britain is then divided into chapters covering London, … more
Lonely Planet's Spain travel guide begins with a list of 25 top experiences, top itineraries, and information for planning your vacation. Spain is then divided into chapters covering Madrid, Barcelona, … more
Lonely Planet's France travel guide begins with a list of 25 top experiences, top itineraries, and information for planning your vacation. France is then divided into chapters covering Paris, Champagne … more