Probably one of my favorite experiences to have when traveling is to share a meal with a local. The conversation cannot be matched by a tour guide. Your meal partner will likely know about as much about the touristy things in their city as you know about the ones in yours, which is usually almost nothing.
What they can tell you is what its like to live and work there. Their worries, their fears, their challenges, hopes and dreams. Given all that, you can really get an insight as to what life is like in that country. You'll eventually forget the statues, the buildings, and tours. You'll rarely forget the friends, the times you've spent with them, and the things you've learned from them. Its because of that which is why I always recommend that everyone use CouchSurfing in some capacity on their trips! Some of the most memorable meals I've ever had in my travels were breaking Ramadan fast for the evening with a friend's family in Istanbul, dining at the neighborhood pub with a friend in small-town England, sharing school lunch with a class of students in Japan, eating the late night grub after a night of clubbing with friends in Barcelona, or trying French pastries in Paris with friends you made at the Louvre.
However, if you really just want something a little more concrete, check out EatWith.com
http://www.eatwith.com/
This interesting site gives you the opportunity to dine in homes around the world, meet locals, enjoy local food, and these usually make for some amazing memories. I've never used the site before, but as long as the keep adding new countries (and they are), I'll definitely be using it! If you've got a limited amount of time in a city, but don't have the time to make a friend on CouchSurfing (and hope they are nice enough to invite you for dinner, provided they can cook at all), just use EatWith.com!
For example, check this out:
http://www.eatwith.com/#!/offering/3170
Look at that kitchen! Look at that table and chairs! You simply cannot get more authentic than that! It actually reminds me of meals at my Italian Grandmother's house. The prices are very reasonable. Keep in mind, this is NOT a restaurant. You are a guest in someone's house. You are there to experience the meal with them. You're not going to walk in there, eat, leave a few bucks on the table next to your dirty dish. It would probably be polite to bring some bread, wine, dessert, or small gift of some sort. It would also be nice to help clean the table afterwards.
I really hope this EatWith.com website grows. There was another site a while back that offered something similar, but it was Italy only, was marketed poorly, and was kind of expensive. Let's hope EatWith.com grows! Maybe you could make a few extra dollars and friends as a host in your area. Maybe you make some good baked desserts? Maybe you're good at making hamburgers on the grill? Even if you think its just average and typical of your culture, it might not be average for a traveler from another part of the world and they are out there wanting to try your food and get to know you!
Plus, its insured...whatever that means:
http://www.eatwith.com/#!/brand/safety
-Jason of TWiBT
Showing posts with label Travel Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Tips. Show all posts
How to never get lost again!
Now, I know that getting lost is half the fun of travel, but not always. I knew I would constantly be getting lost in Japan & South Korea, but after 18 hours of flying the only thing I want to do is find my hotel and sleep. When you first get into a new city, you're most tired and most disoriented. That is the perfect time to use one (or both) of these awesome tools!
If you are paying for a data plan on your smartphone while overseas, this post won't be useful for you. If you want the same GPS functionality without having to spend any money on it, then read on!
This should work on pretty much any Android phone and most likely the iPhone (although I've never tried on the iPhone). Here's how it worked for me.
I brought my Android phone to Japan & South Korea, put it on airplane mode to avoid any roaming voice/text/data charges. These phones generally have a SEPARATE GPS chip in them that works on satellite only and doesn't use any data to work. When connected to data plan, it can locate you in a matter of seconds. Satellite only takes a little bit longer and needs a clear view of the sky. When first arriving in a new country, it needs a couple minutes for it to figure out where it is. To check if your phone has this capability, disconnect it from Wi-Fi and put it in airplane mode. Then open any maps program and have it try and detect your current location. If it does, you're halfway there.
Just because it can locate you while being offline doesn't mean it can download map data offline (or via satellite). You need to pre-download maps for your destinations. For this, there are a variety of solutions such as OruxMaps, Google Maps Offline, Navigon, etc. Personally, I would suggest you try out MapsWithMe (or MapsWithMe Pro $4.99). These let you download entire countries ahead of time and while I use multiple apps for GPS, this is really my "Go-To" app for GPS. It could even accurately tell me which direction I was facing.
The Pro version has a few extra features, such as allowing you to bookmark locations ahead of time. I splurged and spent the $5 to buy it. After 18 hours of flying, landing in Osaka, I loaded this app up, went to my pre-bookmarked hotel icon, and navigated the maze of Japanese streets to find it.
Check it out
http://www.mapswithme.com/en/home
-Jason of TWiBT
If you are paying for a data plan on your smartphone while overseas, this post won't be useful for you. If you want the same GPS functionality without having to spend any money on it, then read on!
This should work on pretty much any Android phone and most likely the iPhone (although I've never tried on the iPhone). Here's how it worked for me.
I brought my Android phone to Japan & South Korea, put it on airplane mode to avoid any roaming voice/text/data charges. These phones generally have a SEPARATE GPS chip in them that works on satellite only and doesn't use any data to work. When connected to data plan, it can locate you in a matter of seconds. Satellite only takes a little bit longer and needs a clear view of the sky. When first arriving in a new country, it needs a couple minutes for it to figure out where it is. To check if your phone has this capability, disconnect it from Wi-Fi and put it in airplane mode. Then open any maps program and have it try and detect your current location. If it does, you're halfway there.
Just because it can locate you while being offline doesn't mean it can download map data offline (or via satellite). You need to pre-download maps for your destinations. For this, there are a variety of solutions such as OruxMaps, Google Maps Offline, Navigon, etc. Personally, I would suggest you try out MapsWithMe (or MapsWithMe Pro $4.99). These let you download entire countries ahead of time and while I use multiple apps for GPS, this is really my "Go-To" app for GPS. It could even accurately tell me which direction I was facing.
The Pro version has a few extra features, such as allowing you to bookmark locations ahead of time. I splurged and spent the $5 to buy it. After 18 hours of flying, landing in Osaka, I loaded this app up, went to my pre-bookmarked hotel icon, and navigated the maze of Japanese streets to find it.
Check it out
http://www.mapswithme.com/en/home
-Jason of TWiBT
2013 World Cities Price Index
One of the most USEFUL blogs I can recommend to anyone planning international travel is Price of Travel. This guy has such detailed lists analyzing the estimated daily costs of visiting any particular destination. In fact, his list last year showed that Sofia, Bulgaria was one of Europe's least expensive capitals and that it was definitely worth checking out. So, what was once a destination I would rarely have ever considered, I visited as you saw in the last video and it was great!
It was nice to feel rich in Europe! We went out to nice restaurants every night and didn't ever worry about the bill, we took taxis whenever we felt like it, we hired private guides, and we didn't skip any attractions because of price! Plus, it was nice to tip service staff with large tips and know that you were really helping them out.
Anyways, that site releases a list of destinations around the world organized by the average price for backpacker-style travel. You'll see how the cheapest destinations are again in Southeast Asia, and the most expensive destinations are in Europe. Sure everyone's travel style may vary, but this will definitely help you next time you're spinning the globe on where to visit next.
Check it this year's list:
http://www.priceoftravel.com/2222/world-cities-by-price-backpacker-index/
-Jason
It was nice to feel rich in Europe! We went out to nice restaurants every night and didn't ever worry about the bill, we took taxis whenever we felt like it, we hired private guides, and we didn't skip any attractions because of price! Plus, it was nice to tip service staff with large tips and know that you were really helping them out.
Anyways, that site releases a list of destinations around the world organized by the average price for backpacker-style travel. You'll see how the cheapest destinations are again in Southeast Asia, and the most expensive destinations are in Europe. Sure everyone's travel style may vary, but this will definitely help you next time you're spinning the globe on where to visit next.
Check it this year's list:
http://www.priceoftravel.com/2222/world-cities-by-price-backpacker-index/
-Jason
How long can you travel on $100?
How long can you travel on $100? Of course that depends on where you are going! Costs vary from place to place. For example:
-1 day of transportation in Venice = 20 days of transportation in Kiev
-1 night in New York = 7 nights in Kuala Lumpur
Tripomatic.com made this excellent graphic comparing costs around the world and identifying the most and least expensive places. Check it out!
http://www.tripomatic.com/lp/Shoestring-Budget-Travel-Guide-in-USD-%5BInfographic%5D/
Enjoy!
-Jason of TWiBT
-1 day of transportation in Venice = 20 days of transportation in Kiev
-1 night in New York = 7 nights in Kuala Lumpur
Tripomatic.com made this excellent graphic comparing costs around the world and identifying the most and least expensive places. Check it out!
http://www.tripomatic.com/lp/Shoestring-Budget-Travel-Guide-in-USD-%5BInfographic%5D/
Enjoy!
-Jason of TWiBT
Paid in dollars, Play in Leva
I have just returned from an amazing trip to Turkey & Bulgaria. Here are some of my thoughts on Bulgaria.
Unfortunately, I'm not old enough to remember the days when the dollar was stronger than the currencies of Western Europe. By the time I made my first trip to Europe, they were already using the Euro and the exchange rate was not in my favor. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that if I wanted to travel and spend money like it was nothing, I'd pretty much have to rule out Europe for sure.
That was before I came across this article on one of my favorite blogs:
http://www.priceoftravel.com/69/bulgaria/sofia-prices
That site indexes various cities around the world based on prices, so you can compare cities to each other or just get an idea of costs. When I saw that Sofia was the cheapest city in Europe, I had to make a visit!
Prior to visiting, I wasn't sure what to expect from Bulgaria. I'd heard some horror stories about how little they've advanced from the Soviet era, they were Nazi sympathizers, or that 'Resident Evil' took place near there. I found it hard to believe that this was a country of politically conflicted flesh-eating zombies and that it was probably just like anywhere else in the sense that it was filled with normal people just trying to make a living.
That's exactly what it was. Good people, trying to make a living, trying to modernize and provide a better future for their country. In terms of sense of safety, I felt safer there than I did in parts of Western Europe.
Costs were unheard of for Europe. We took taxis everywhere and RARELY spent more than $5 on a ride. The average cab ride was about $2.50, with the most expensive being $6 to get to the airport. Food was EXCELLENT and also very cheap. We ate at all sit down restaurants. Nothing 5-star, but leaning more towards upper-scale dining, rather than family-casual restaurants. Meals rarely exceeded $7 per person, and keep in mind these are the fancier restaurants in the city even in the tourist section of town.
The food was excellent! After spending the full day hiking, we went to a traditional Bulgarian cuisine sit-down restaurant. Sort of a Mom & Pop style restaurant, with homestyle cooking. When the bill came, which included full meals for 8 people with drinks, the total was $35. Another time, we went to a fancy Italian restaurant and ordered 3 appetizers, soups, salads, two entrees, and 6 bottles of water. Total was somewhere around $15.
With the amount of traveling I do, I usually have to be pretty careful in my budget. It is not as if this is my one big trip per year or something. In fact, this was the 3rd or 4th international trip this year that exceeded 2 weeks in length. Needless to say, it was nice to save some money. I'm going to need it when I go to Japan in March.
Turkey was a little bit more expensive than Bulgaria, but not on the level of Western Europe by any means. If you're considering a trip to that region of the world, go to Turkey. It is quite possibly the most amazing country I've ever been to. More about that later! If you want to go to Europe and be rich, go to Bulgaria! I could even see living there at some point, as long as I could be paid in dollars and play in leva!
-Jason
Unfortunately, I'm not old enough to remember the days when the dollar was stronger than the currencies of Western Europe. By the time I made my first trip to Europe, they were already using the Euro and the exchange rate was not in my favor. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that if I wanted to travel and spend money like it was nothing, I'd pretty much have to rule out Europe for sure.
That was before I came across this article on one of my favorite blogs:
http://www.priceoftravel.com/69/bulgaria/sofia-prices
That site indexes various cities around the world based on prices, so you can compare cities to each other or just get an idea of costs. When I saw that Sofia was the cheapest city in Europe, I had to make a visit!
Prior to visiting, I wasn't sure what to expect from Bulgaria. I'd heard some horror stories about how little they've advanced from the Soviet era, they were Nazi sympathizers, or that 'Resident Evil' took place near there. I found it hard to believe that this was a country of politically conflicted flesh-eating zombies and that it was probably just like anywhere else in the sense that it was filled with normal people just trying to make a living.
That's exactly what it was. Good people, trying to make a living, trying to modernize and provide a better future for their country. In terms of sense of safety, I felt safer there than I did in parts of Western Europe.
Costs were unheard of for Europe. We took taxis everywhere and RARELY spent more than $5 on a ride. The average cab ride was about $2.50, with the most expensive being $6 to get to the airport. Food was EXCELLENT and also very cheap. We ate at all sit down restaurants. Nothing 5-star, but leaning more towards upper-scale dining, rather than family-casual restaurants. Meals rarely exceeded $7 per person, and keep in mind these are the fancier restaurants in the city even in the tourist section of town.
The food was excellent! After spending the full day hiking, we went to a traditional Bulgarian cuisine sit-down restaurant. Sort of a Mom & Pop style restaurant, with homestyle cooking. When the bill came, which included full meals for 8 people with drinks, the total was $35. Another time, we went to a fancy Italian restaurant and ordered 3 appetizers, soups, salads, two entrees, and 6 bottles of water. Total was somewhere around $15.
With the amount of traveling I do, I usually have to be pretty careful in my budget. It is not as if this is my one big trip per year or something. In fact, this was the 3rd or 4th international trip this year that exceeded 2 weeks in length. Needless to say, it was nice to save some money. I'm going to need it when I go to Japan in March.
Turkey was a little bit more expensive than Bulgaria, but not on the level of Western Europe by any means. If you're considering a trip to that region of the world, go to Turkey. It is quite possibly the most amazing country I've ever been to. More about that later! If you want to go to Europe and be rich, go to Bulgaria! I could even see living there at some point, as long as I could be paid in dollars and play in leva!
-Jason
Where to eat when you travel?
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Amazing Sandwiches at Bó de B - Barri Gòtic - Barcelona"]
[/caption]
When I travel, my appetite kicks into high gear! All the moving around and constant change makes me hungry. However, getting good food in an unfamiliar city can be challenging to say the least. Everyone has different standards of dining when they travel. Personally, I'm not crazy about fancy restaurants at all. Paying high prices for small portions that look pretty and don't fill me up doesn't excite me. In addition, I don't drink alcohol, so the whole wine pairing thing means nothing to me.
What I like to eat is what some would refer to as street food or counter service place. Good food, cooked up fresh, cheap prices, and filling. Recently when we were in Barcelona, there were tons of fancy restaurants with expensive food. After asking around, a couple backpackers had turned me on to a little place called "Bo de Be". We got the address and found it tucked away in the corner of a winding little street. You ordered outside at the window, picked it up inside, and grabbed a table in the small (but cozy) dining area. You picked your meats, watched them grilled up right in front of you, then after the guy puts them in a warm fresh baguette, he loads it up with any fresh vegetables you want, and then puts in a variety of sauces and dressings bursting with flavor. Best part? The meals were only 2-3 Euros! We went back everyday!
So how do you find good places to eat when you travel? Not just the top ultra-expensive fancy restaurants, but the local favorites that aren't in the business of ripping off tourists. You've got a couple of options.
1.) Ask around! This is the simplest and easiest way to find out. How better to find out where the locals eat than to just ask one? Cab drivers, hotel clerks, store owners/cashiers, and even backpackers! Chefs are a good source of information also.
2.) Email a food blogger. There are bloggers out there who give in-depth reviews to all the food places in their city. Some newspapers even have a person dedicated to reviewing this.
3.) Make a friend. This is a little nontraditional. If you make a friend on Couchsurfing.org or another travel social network site, you might get invited over for dinner!
4.) www.localeats.com Excellent resource to see reviews of where the locals eat!
5.) www.roadfood.com Another excellent resource for restaurants that exemplify the regional cuisine.
6.) www.tvfoodmaps.com Has a restaurant in the area been reviewed on a TV show? Check it out.
Half the battle is knowing what you are looking for. If you're looking for a specific type of food, specific budget, or area, start looking from there!
Enjoy your meal!
-Jason of TWiBT
[/caption]When I travel, my appetite kicks into high gear! All the moving around and constant change makes me hungry. However, getting good food in an unfamiliar city can be challenging to say the least. Everyone has different standards of dining when they travel. Personally, I'm not crazy about fancy restaurants at all. Paying high prices for small portions that look pretty and don't fill me up doesn't excite me. In addition, I don't drink alcohol, so the whole wine pairing thing means nothing to me.
What I like to eat is what some would refer to as street food or counter service place. Good food, cooked up fresh, cheap prices, and filling. Recently when we were in Barcelona, there were tons of fancy restaurants with expensive food. After asking around, a couple backpackers had turned me on to a little place called "Bo de Be". We got the address and found it tucked away in the corner of a winding little street. You ordered outside at the window, picked it up inside, and grabbed a table in the small (but cozy) dining area. You picked your meats, watched them grilled up right in front of you, then after the guy puts them in a warm fresh baguette, he loads it up with any fresh vegetables you want, and then puts in a variety of sauces and dressings bursting with flavor. Best part? The meals were only 2-3 Euros! We went back everyday!
So how do you find good places to eat when you travel? Not just the top ultra-expensive fancy restaurants, but the local favorites that aren't in the business of ripping off tourists. You've got a couple of options.
1.) Ask around! This is the simplest and easiest way to find out. How better to find out where the locals eat than to just ask one? Cab drivers, hotel clerks, store owners/cashiers, and even backpackers! Chefs are a good source of information also.
2.) Email a food blogger. There are bloggers out there who give in-depth reviews to all the food places in their city. Some newspapers even have a person dedicated to reviewing this.
3.) Make a friend. This is a little nontraditional. If you make a friend on Couchsurfing.org or another travel social network site, you might get invited over for dinner!
4.) www.localeats.com Excellent resource to see reviews of where the locals eat!
5.) www.roadfood.com Another excellent resource for restaurants that exemplify the regional cuisine.
6.) www.tvfoodmaps.com Has a restaurant in the area been reviewed on a TV show? Check it out.
Half the battle is knowing what you are looking for. If you're looking for a specific type of food, specific budget, or area, start looking from there!
Enjoy your meal!
-Jason of TWiBT
Travel Guide: Ireland in a week
TWiBT Presents
Travel Guides
Due to the recent $379 Fare to Ireland (dates still available for Jan & Feb), it is only fitting that TWiBT help you make the most of your trip. The way I routed my flight was to go in to Dublin and out of London, so I'll be visiting both countries. First, we'll talk about a few basics of Ireland, then I'll hit you with a pretty solid itinerary to consider.
The Basics
Ireland is a small country, roughly the size of Indiana (but vastly more interesting). English is the main language, but you may be able to encounter people speaking Irish Gaelic along the western coast of the country. It sounds pretty different from English, so don't expect them to understand you, although most people there are bilingual. Learn a few words, impress someone, maybe even yourself. Their currency is the Euro. Throughout history Ireland was a relatively poor country until recently. Their economy boomed in recent years and crashed hard during this past recession.
The Itinerary
Ireland is not just Dublin and Dublin is hardly representative of Ireland. Seeing just the capital city may work in some places (such as Indiana), but not in Ireland. In fact, much of what you think of as true Ireland is most likely outside of Dublin. I'll be in Ireland for a week and then London for a few days, but here's my tentative itinerary for Ireland. You'll need to bring a Dublin street map, Ireland Road Map, both of which will be in any good Ireland Travel Guide. I like Fodor's, Frommer's, and sometimes Lonely Planet guides.
Day 1 - The Must See's
Start out relatively early, but be rested. Start walking and hit these sites, you may want to highlight them on a walking route with your Dublin street map.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Dublin Castle"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="St. Patrick's Cathedral"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Trinity College"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="National Museum of Ireland - Free Admission too!"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Stop off at St Patrick's Green with some food for a picnic lunch!"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="After having your rest, check out Grafton Street."]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Temple Bar area is a good place to start."]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="O'Donoghue's - Be sure to stay for some live Irish music"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Ryan's Pub"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Brazen Head - Dublin's Oldest Pub since 1198"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Powerscourt Estate"]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kilkenny Castle"]
[/caption]
Bed down anywhere in Kilkenny after that and enjoy your first Irish village on foot. Again, don't be afraid to interact with the locals. Try making some friends with some people or bloggers before you set out there.
Day 4 - Southern Coast
A lot of people would say to hit Waterford, but personally I'd say skip it for anything more than just a lunch. Chances are by this time you'll need some more variety than just castles and villages and that is why you're driving to Ardmore.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Spend the first half of the day in the beach town of Ardmore."]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="To provide a nice contrast to all these small towns, spend the second half of the day and the night in Cork."]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Cliffs of Moher"]
[/caption]
Spend the evening in Galway. Treat yourself to a nice dinner and/or a show such as Trad on the Prom before you head back to Dublin in the morning. If you have extra time, consider visiting the Aran Islands.
Day 7 - Back to Dublin
There will be many small towns on the drive from Galway to Dublin, so be sure to leave enough time to stop into some for lunch.
So there you have it, one week in Ireland and getting in a lot of sites without overdoing it. Sure, I could've squeezed in Belfast, but that would've been way too much for one week. When it comes to finding places to sleep, be sure to read these two articles to save money, whatever your style:
-Hotels
-Alternative Accommodations
Enjoy your trip!
-Jason of TWiBT
Travel Guides
Ireland
Due to the recent $379 Fare to Ireland (dates still available for Jan & Feb), it is only fitting that TWiBT help you make the most of your trip. The way I routed my flight was to go in to Dublin and out of London, so I'll be visiting both countries. First, we'll talk about a few basics of Ireland, then I'll hit you with a pretty solid itinerary to consider.
The Basics
Ireland is a small country, roughly the size of Indiana (but vastly more interesting). English is the main language, but you may be able to encounter people speaking Irish Gaelic along the western coast of the country. It sounds pretty different from English, so don't expect them to understand you, although most people there are bilingual. Learn a few words, impress someone, maybe even yourself. Their currency is the Euro. Throughout history Ireland was a relatively poor country until recently. Their economy boomed in recent years and crashed hard during this past recession.
The Itinerary
Ireland is not just Dublin and Dublin is hardly representative of Ireland. Seeing just the capital city may work in some places (such as Indiana), but not in Ireland. In fact, much of what you think of as true Ireland is most likely outside of Dublin. I'll be in Ireland for a week and then London for a few days, but here's my tentative itinerary for Ireland. You'll need to bring a Dublin street map, Ireland Road Map, both of which will be in any good Ireland Travel Guide. I like Fodor's, Frommer's, and sometimes Lonely Planet guides.
Day 1 - The Must See's
Start out relatively early, but be rested. Start walking and hit these sites, you may want to highlight them on a walking route with your Dublin street map.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Dublin Castle"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="St. Patrick's Cathedral"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Trinity College"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="National Museum of Ireland - Free Admission too!"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Stop off at St Patrick's Green with some food for a picnic lunch!"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="After having your rest, check out Grafton Street."]
[/caption]Day 2 - Dublin Night life
Free during the day. Find something that interests you, I'll likely be renting a bike and exploring the rest of the city on two wheels. Pack a lunch and take a nap in the late afternoon. Then...Pub Crawl! Whether you're a heavy drinker or not, it might be a fun experience to visit some of Ireland's most lively pubs. Don't be afraid to make a friend on CouchSurfing or another cultural exchange site and have them join you. If not, routing out on your Dublin Street map the following pubs:
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Temple Bar area is a good place to start."]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="O'Donoghue's - Be sure to stay for some live Irish music"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Ryan's Pub"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Brazen Head - Dublin's Oldest Pub since 1198"]
[/caption]Day 3 - Hit the road
You'll find a car rental on Kayak.com from Dublin VERY cheap! If you're travelling with more than one person, this might be a better option than the bus or rail system if you are limited on time also. This is where you're Irish road map comes into use, or just rent a GPS too. Keep in mind, your car will likely be a manual transmission, so you might want to become comfortable driving one before leaving home. Besides, you may not even be able to reach all these places without a car.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Powerscourt Estate"]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Kilkenny Castle"]
[/caption]Bed down anywhere in Kilkenny after that and enjoy your first Irish village on foot. Again, don't be afraid to interact with the locals. Try making some friends with some people or bloggers before you set out there.
Day 4 - Southern Coast
A lot of people would say to hit Waterford, but personally I'd say skip it for anything more than just a lunch. Chances are by this time you'll need some more variety than just castles and villages and that is why you're driving to Ardmore.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Spend the first half of the day in the beach town of Ardmore."]
[/caption][caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="To provide a nice contrast to all these small towns, spend the second half of the day and the night in Cork."]
[/caption]Day 5 - Free Day & Get Lost!
Instead of hitting the tourist trail, you might want to either consider spending the day in Cork (possibly taking a cooking class) or just start driving off to your next destination and stop along the way at whatever looks interesting. Part of the appeal of an Irish vacation is getting lost. Your next destination is the Cliffs of Moher, so try driving in that direction and make a few wrong turns intentionally! Sleep somewhere along the way or arrive in either Limerick or Shannon.
Day 6 - The Edge of Ireland
After having breakfast in wherever it is you ended up, head over to see the Cliffs of Moher. The visitor's center is actually built into the cliffs, so keep an eye out for it. Consider taking a ferry ride to see these cliffs from sea level. After having your fill of the cliffs, head on up to Galway
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Cliffs of Moher"]
[/caption]Spend the evening in Galway. Treat yourself to a nice dinner and/or a show such as Trad on the Prom before you head back to Dublin in the morning. If you have extra time, consider visiting the Aran Islands.
Day 7 - Back to Dublin
There will be many small towns on the drive from Galway to Dublin, so be sure to leave enough time to stop into some for lunch.
So there you have it, one week in Ireland and getting in a lot of sites without overdoing it. Sure, I could've squeezed in Belfast, but that would've been way too much for one week. When it comes to finding places to sleep, be sure to read these two articles to save money, whatever your style:
-Hotels
-Alternative Accommodations
Enjoy your trip!
-Jason of TWiBT
Epcot Food & Wine Festival – Is it too much?
TWiBT Presents
Travel Review
Epcot Food & Wine Festival – Is it too much?
Roller coasters make me sick, so therefore it probably comes as no surprise that despite living in Florida my whole life, I’ve never ventured outside of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Epcot is an awesome place to visit. When I was a kid, it was the closest I could get to actually traveling the world. I’d do anything I could to visit there, so I could see their exhibits of countries in the World Showcase section of the park. The World Showcase section of the park doesn’t open until 11am, so I’m usually killing time in the main section of the park until it opens.
When I heard about the Food & Wine festival, I had to go check it out! Aside from the usual countries exhibited in the World Showcase, Epcot brings in samplings of food and wine from a variety of cuisines and cultures from around the world! What’s not to love!? Here’s my take on it.
The Food
The food ranges from good to amazing. There was nothing I had at the festival that I didn’t like very much. The problem is how it is served. There are small little food stands (kinda like the ones you’d expect to get an ice cream at), but everyone has a massive line of people waiting to order. I knew the food wasn’t going to be cheap. I paid about $5 two inches of sausage and a tablespoon of sauerkraut on it. I also paid about $8 for piece of manicotti about half the size you’d see in a small frozen dinner. It tasted good yes, but was it worth paying that much for such a small piece and having to wait in line for a while….questionable.
The Wine
Similar issue. Small portions, long wait, expensive.
The Festival
Going to the food and wine festival in Epcot and expecting to fill up on the samples of food alone will easily cost you a ton of money. We got so tired of trying to get in at each of these tiny carts which were squeezed into the most random parts of the world showcase. I remember one food stand was shoved in between a bathroom and Japan. Another seemed almost in the middle of the sidewalk with the lines causing a human traffic jam.
After a couple hours of this, we decided to simply just go eat at one of the restaurants in the World Showcase. My fiancé chose Morocco, and for $16 each we had a delicious, 3 course meal, in a nice restaurant with air conditioning, and it was not crowded at all. As I was paying the bill, I was thinking how Epcot is nice enough on its own, and that it doesn’t need the food and wine festival. I feel that the festival and Epcot are actually doing a disservice to each other.
My Two Cents
The festival would be much better if it were done at a separate location. Food vendors could spread out, people wouldn’t be sitting on curbs, railings, and trash cans eating their tiny food samples. There would be room for tables. Vendors could sell gifts and have bigger displays representing their cultures, rather than trying to portion them out through an ice cream stand. Besides, Epcot doesn’t really need the festival. It has enough to offer on its own. My advice to Disney, keep the festival, but don’t try to shove it into the already crowded area of the World Showcase. My advice to TWiBT readers, skip the festival, but definitely visit Epcot. It really is an awesome place! Where else can you see 11 countries for under $100? Also, the Orlando area is an extremely over saturated hotel market, so you should have no difficulty getting an amazing hotel deal.
-Jason of TWiBT
Travel Review
Epcot Food & Wine Festival – Is it too much?
Roller coasters make me sick, so therefore it probably comes as no surprise that despite living in Florida my whole life, I’ve never ventured outside of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Epcot is an awesome place to visit. When I was a kid, it was the closest I could get to actually traveling the world. I’d do anything I could to visit there, so I could see their exhibits of countries in the World Showcase section of the park. The World Showcase section of the park doesn’t open until 11am, so I’m usually killing time in the main section of the park until it opens.When I heard about the Food & Wine festival, I had to go check it out! Aside from the usual countries exhibited in the World Showcase, Epcot brings in samplings of food and wine from a variety of cuisines and cultures from around the world! What’s not to love!? Here’s my take on it.
The Food
The food ranges from good to amazing. There was nothing I had at the festival that I didn’t like very much. The problem is how it is served. There are small little food stands (kinda like the ones you’d expect to get an ice cream at), but everyone has a massive line of people waiting to order. I knew the food wasn’t going to be cheap. I paid about $5 two inches of sausage and a tablespoon of sauerkraut on it. I also paid about $8 for piece of manicotti about half the size you’d see in a small frozen dinner. It tasted good yes, but was it worth paying that much for such a small piece and having to wait in line for a while….questionable.
The Wine
Similar issue. Small portions, long wait, expensive.
The Festival
Going to the food and wine festival in Epcot and expecting to fill up on the samples of food alone will easily cost you a ton of money. We got so tired of trying to get in at each of these tiny carts which were squeezed into the most random parts of the world showcase. I remember one food stand was shoved in between a bathroom and Japan. Another seemed almost in the middle of the sidewalk with the lines causing a human traffic jam.
After a couple hours of this, we decided to simply just go eat at one of the restaurants in the World Showcase. My fiancé chose Morocco, and for $16 each we had a delicious, 3 course meal, in a nice restaurant with air conditioning, and it was not crowded at all. As I was paying the bill, I was thinking how Epcot is nice enough on its own, and that it doesn’t need the food and wine festival. I feel that the festival and Epcot are actually doing a disservice to each other.
My Two Cents
The festival would be much better if it were done at a separate location. Food vendors could spread out, people wouldn’t be sitting on curbs, railings, and trash cans eating their tiny food samples. There would be room for tables. Vendors could sell gifts and have bigger displays representing their cultures, rather than trying to portion them out through an ice cream stand. Besides, Epcot doesn’t really need the festival. It has enough to offer on its own. My advice to Disney, keep the festival, but don’t try to shove it into the already crowded area of the World Showcase. My advice to TWiBT readers, skip the festival, but definitely visit Epcot. It really is an awesome place! Where else can you see 11 countries for under $100? Also, the Orlando area is an extremely over saturated hotel market, so you should have no difficulty getting an amazing hotel deal.
-Jason of TWiBT
TWiBT's 5 Favorite Travel Scams!
TWiBT Presents
You could devote an entire blog to travel scams, but we’re only going to focus on a few. Due to their unfamiliarity with foreign culture, currency, law, or countless other factors, tourists tend to fall prey to a wide variety of scams. No matter how much any seasoned traveler brags they can, there is no way to avoid every scam out there. However, carrying an obvious money belt, wearing your backpack on the front, and distrusting everyone you encounter is not the best way to experience a culture either. If you travel for hours and hours on a plane to see a new culture, don’t assume their all thieves as soon as you land. I now bring you my favorite travel scams! Favorite??? Well, if I was a scammer, these would be what I would do as the old “hold my baby, while I pickpocket you” is so played out!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Gimme yo money!"]
[/caption]
TWiBT’s Best of Travel Scams!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Don't get taken for a ride!"]
[/caption]
While an efficient, sometimes expensive, way to get around, the taxi provides ample scamming opportunity. If the driver is not going to set the meter, which they probably should, agree on a price before you roll out. Know generally how many miles/km your destination is, so you aren’t taken on a tour. The worst is when you put your baggage in the trunk and they demand gas money, good luck getting your bag out when you piss them off. Use metered cabs, keep your stuff on you, and don’t be afraid to slap the back of the cabbie’s head if he’s jerkin you around. Just kidding. Take public transit instead if available.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Free candy? Seems legit."]
[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Wow! What an easy way to get rich!"]
[/caption]
This one is my favorite as I have a personal experience with it. I once was invited to a friend’s house for what she called a “networking party.” When I arrived at the party, I was immediately offered samples of miracle vitamin water in a wine bottle, some detox stuff, gold investor toolkits, and other stuff that I was just dying to get involved with. Basically, it was a bunch of idiots who were all involved in some multi-level marketing pyramid trying to establish another link in their web. They all had a chance to speak and pitch their stuff to my friends and I while we gobbled down the free juice and snacks. As high school kids at the time, you could tell how interested we really were. My favorite part was when one woman told us how we could each have our own travel agency. She said it would be a turn-key business and we could work from home. She put on a short video from the company YTB Travel which opened with the line “When Bill Gates said that in the future every home would have a computer, people thought he was crazy. I’m here to tell you that in the future, every home will have a travel agency.” After hearing this I realized I was surrounded by idiots and resumed eating the snacks. Basically, you pay these companies money, they set you up with a site that has a way to book already overpriced travel, and you get a tiny commission off of it. Take it from someone who runs a travel website, there are too many of us out there already. Save your money!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Don't fall for this!"]
[/caption]
This one can be very dangerous. Generally speaking, travelers are not sexy. Khaki shorts, teva sandals, sweaty t-shirts, and safari hats do not scream out in sex appeal. If someone other than a fellow sweaty traveler is being overly flirtatious towards you, be wary. In many parts of the world, attractive women may approach a single male traveler and flatter him in an attempt to get him alone. Once you are in a seemingly alone area, SURPRISE!!! The surprise could be a gang of thugs to shake you down, a kidnapping, or maybe even the woman just stole your sweaty money belt. Check your possessions and don’t be too sexy for your wallet! Check your pockets regularly if planning to make a new friend in this manner. Depending on how far East you travel, check to see your kidneys are still there also.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Imagine 20 of these guys, when they were 8."]
[/caption]
I’ve actually seen this happen once and I didn’t know whether to laugh or help the guy. This dude was just standing around snapping photos when like a whole field trip of little kids just swarmed him and stole everything. I think the funniest part was how long the robbery lasted. I’m assuming the first 5 kids got everything out of his pocket, but after another 10 raided this guy’s pants he started this weak and confused scream. “GGYYYYAAAAAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhuuhhh???” I really have no idea on how to beat off a swarm of kids, but if you’ve ever taken karate and wanted a chance to fight off a crowd of bad guys. Have at it.
There's no real way to prevent any of the countless scams out there from happening to you, but I always suggest you have a good credit card with excellent travel services. Hands down, I recommend the American Express Platinum card which I signed up for and got 100k Membership Rewards points. Their Platinum customer service is second to none! Short of that, always be aware, cautious, but don't assume the world is filled with people out to get you. If you look at crime statistics from around the world, you might find that you are at a greater risk in your own country than elsewhere.
Happy Travels!
-Jason of TWiBT
5 Favorite Travel Scams!
You could devote an entire blog to travel scams, but we’re only going to focus on a few. Due to their unfamiliarity with foreign culture, currency, law, or countless other factors, tourists tend to fall prey to a wide variety of scams. No matter how much any seasoned traveler brags they can, there is no way to avoid every scam out there. However, carrying an obvious money belt, wearing your backpack on the front, and distrusting everyone you encounter is not the best way to experience a culture either. If you travel for hours and hours on a plane to see a new culture, don’t assume their all thieves as soon as you land. I now bring you my favorite travel scams! Favorite??? Well, if I was a scammer, these would be what I would do as the old “hold my baby, while I pickpocket you” is so played out!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Gimme yo money!"]
[/caption]TWiBT’s Best of Travel Scams!
1.) Taxis
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Don't get taken for a ride!"]
[/caption]While an efficient, sometimes expensive, way to get around, the taxi provides ample scamming opportunity. If the driver is not going to set the meter, which they probably should, agree on a price before you roll out. Know generally how many miles/km your destination is, so you aren’t taken on a tour. The worst is when you put your baggage in the trunk and they demand gas money, good luck getting your bag out when you piss them off. Use metered cabs, keep your stuff on you, and don’t be afraid to slap the back of the cabbie’s head if he’s jerkin you around. Just kidding. Take public transit instead if available.
2.) FREE
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Free candy? Seems legit."]
[/caption]Isn’t it great that we live in an era where there are companies set up whose sole purpose is to give away free stuff? Free resort/hotel stays, free cruises, free vacation packages! After watching a few episodes of ‘Locked Up Abroad’ it shocks me to see the length some people will go to travel for free. If only they would become a liberated traveler. These free offers always come with some sort of timeshare, scam, or other way to make money off of you. If you really can’t figure out what the company’s product is, then chances are that YOU are the product. They want something from you and they’ll get it.
3.) Your own travel agency
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Wow! What an easy way to get rich!"]
[/caption]This one is my favorite as I have a personal experience with it. I once was invited to a friend’s house for what she called a “networking party.” When I arrived at the party, I was immediately offered samples of miracle vitamin water in a wine bottle, some detox stuff, gold investor toolkits, and other stuff that I was just dying to get involved with. Basically, it was a bunch of idiots who were all involved in some multi-level marketing pyramid trying to establish another link in their web. They all had a chance to speak and pitch their stuff to my friends and I while we gobbled down the free juice and snacks. As high school kids at the time, you could tell how interested we really were. My favorite part was when one woman told us how we could each have our own travel agency. She said it would be a turn-key business and we could work from home. She put on a short video from the company YTB Travel which opened with the line “When Bill Gates said that in the future every home would have a computer, people thought he was crazy. I’m here to tell you that in the future, every home will have a travel agency.” After hearing this I realized I was surrounded by idiots and resumed eating the snacks. Basically, you pay these companies money, they set you up with a site that has a way to book already overpriced travel, and you get a tiny commission off of it. Take it from someone who runs a travel website, there are too many of us out there already. Save your money!
4.) The Flirt
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Don't fall for this!"]
[/caption]This one can be very dangerous. Generally speaking, travelers are not sexy. Khaki shorts, teva sandals, sweaty t-shirts, and safari hats do not scream out in sex appeal. If someone other than a fellow sweaty traveler is being overly flirtatious towards you, be wary. In many parts of the world, attractive women may approach a single male traveler and flatter him in an attempt to get him alone. Once you are in a seemingly alone area, SURPRISE!!! The surprise could be a gang of thugs to shake you down, a kidnapping, or maybe even the woman just stole your sweaty money belt. Check your possessions and don’t be too sexy for your wallet! Check your pockets regularly if planning to make a new friend in this manner. Depending on how far East you travel, check to see your kidneys are still there also.
5.) Swarm of kids
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Imagine 20 of these guys, when they were 8."]
[/caption]I’ve actually seen this happen once and I didn’t know whether to laugh or help the guy. This dude was just standing around snapping photos when like a whole field trip of little kids just swarmed him and stole everything. I think the funniest part was how long the robbery lasted. I’m assuming the first 5 kids got everything out of his pocket, but after another 10 raided this guy’s pants he started this weak and confused scream. “GGYYYYAAAAAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhuuhhh???” I really have no idea on how to beat off a swarm of kids, but if you’ve ever taken karate and wanted a chance to fight off a crowd of bad guys. Have at it.
There's no real way to prevent any of the countless scams out there from happening to you, but I always suggest you have a good credit card with excellent travel services. Hands down, I recommend the American Express Platinum card which I signed up for and got 100k Membership Rewards points. Their Platinum customer service is second to none! Short of that, always be aware, cautious, but don't assume the world is filled with people out to get you. If you look at crime statistics from around the world, you might find that you are at a greater risk in your own country than elsewhere.
Happy Travels!
-Jason of TWiBT
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