Ideas, suggestions and recommendations that can help you choose from a more limited palette of options that we know — both from professional and personal experience.

Cappadocia — the undiscovered Turkey!

Turkey is so much more than just sun, sea and sand! Although most Irish holidaymakers tend to see Turkey through the prism of popular resorts such as Bodrum, Kusadasi or Altinkum, this amazing country has so much more to offer — from the mega city that is Istanbul to the surreal landscape that is Cappadocia. I just recently returned from an action-packed few days in the region and I have to say that it far
Santiago de Compostela

The way of the Pilgrim

Hi everyone, Apologies for the recent absence but unfortunately our website was hacked however, we’re back up and running and ready to bring you up to date on all that’s happened over the past weeks. Introducing Santiago de Compostela I recently spent a pleasurable few days in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain which has been gaining in popularity over recent years as people from across the globe and of all persuasions are beating the

Looking for the hottest place in town? Check out your nearest friendly volcano!

Volcanoes. They are Nature at her most dramatic and terrifying and they occupy a special place in our collective psyche. The jury is still out in some quarters as to whether the demise of the dinosaurs was due to an asteroid impact or a cataclysmic eruption of a giant volcano that brought about the prehistoric equivalent of a nuclear winter some 50 million odd years ago. In any event, volcanoes are things of beauty and

Going for a walk?

Most people love walking. I know I do and I make a point of getting out for a brisk one every day — come hail or shine! Indeed, from what I can see, walking-based holidays are becoming increasingly popular particularly those routes that combine a bit of history and religion along the way such as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela or the Via Francigena. For years, countries like Austria and Switzerland proved extremely popular

How cultured are you?

When people are asked why they travel abroad on holidays  they usually cite reasons such as weather (if you're Irish!), cuisine, history, scenery, people. The list is obviously longer and more nuanced than that but I think we would all agree that one of the single most important reasons why many people travel abroad is for a taste of that other country's culture and heritage. The Google dictionary defines the word 'culture' as 'The arts

The Lingua Franca that is English

There are tourists and there are travelers. What's the difference between the two?  One blogger has described the difference thus: ' The difference between a tourist and a traveler is that the traveler goes to a place without any preconceptions, whereas the tourist has already decided on how he’s going to experience it. The traveler has an open mind and lets the place happen to him. The tourist brings with him his own environment and expectations, thereby diluting (polluting?)

The Top 10 Destinations in the World in 2013

Let's face it, we all love lists! Compilations of the 10 fastest this, or 10 most expensive or exclusive that appear to exert a magnetic draw on our collective curiosity that has to be satiated! I cam across the following list just today and what amuses me about it is that it claims to indicate the 10 top travel destinations in the world as voted for by Facebook users. How could that be when we're

Hungary? Check out Budapest

Not too long ago, Hungary and more particularly its capital — Budapest — was playing host to modern-day hoards of Irish investors who flocked to the city in search of new fortunes. Sadly, it was not to be as Budapest became victim to the same over inflated property prices like everywhere else around the world. Since then, the city has declined in its popularity as a destination for Irish tourists which is a real shame as the

Shop ’til You Drop!

I know! We've only just gotten over Christmas and I'm on about shopping already when I should be talking about travel. The problem is of course that travel and shopping are tied at the hip. One of the most popular activities that travelers engage in (and look forward to) when on holiday is shopping — whether that be for local handcrafts or for modern consumer items and up-to-date fashion accessories. There is also this myth that we westerners have

Check the small print

There's an old saying in the travel business — 'You're never insured until you're insured'. It may sound like it's stating the bloody obvious but i think that the whole point! Travel insurance can sometimes be one of those things that is left on the long finger by people and often tends to be left until the last minute as if the only cover that it provides is for when you actually commence travelling. Since

Move out of your comfort zone in 2013

Carrying on from last weeks' blog in which I suggested that you combine one of the most typical new year resolutions (getting more exercise!) with that of choosing a destination ideal for walking or trekking, I would like to suggest that even if you don't want to get that energetic in 2013 that you at least take the opportunity to move a little bit outside of your comfort zone this year. This doesn't have to

New Year Resolutions

Well, it's that time of year again when we are now regretting the degree to which we stuffed our faces over the past few days with way too much chocolate, rich cheeses and assorted foodstuffs, not to mention the copious amounts of alcohol. It's like groundhog day this time every year as we contemplate whether or not we're going to subject ourselves to the annual charade that is our new year resolutions. Assuming that you're

The art of getting a quote that is both competitive in price and relevant to your needs starts with gathering all the right information about what you want to do (or think you want to do!).