It’s that time of year again–Amazon Prime Day 2023. For those of you who don’t know, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get some pretty big deals today this week. Other stores big stores, like Walmart, Target and even Bookshop.org are simultaneously running some great deals too. I thought I would pull together a list of my favorites for Amazon Prime Day. (See the very un-fancy list of affiliate links below–I’m no influencer ). Even though these links are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you purchase after clicking through at no extra cost to you, I highly encourage you t ..read more

Discover five unexpected ways to meet locals in Ireland. Table of Contents Cultivating Instant Curiosity Among Locals Head To a Barber Shop to Meet Locals in Ireland Go To a Playground to Meet Locals in Ireland Pop Into a Grocery Store, Deli, or a Market to Meet Locals in Ireland Take a Class or Join a Group to Meet Locals in Ireland Be a Repeat Guest to Meet Locals in Ireland Maximizing Your Experiences (and time) in Ireland –one last tip. After so many years of traveling to Ireland, I realized that some of our most memorable experiences with locals came about from untraditional travel e ..read more

Renting a car in Ireland is one incredible way to get an intimate look at authentic Ireland. You can discover more places, explore the countryside, and meet the people so much more easily if you have a car. Simply put, we have gone places in a rental car that buses and large tour simply groups cannot go. We were able to chat with locals for hours past closing time and we’ve been the only people at some of Ireland’s best attractions. All because we rented a car in Ireland. There are more rules and nuances for renting a car in Ireland than almost anywhere else in the world. It can be challengin ..read more

Irish blessings are like good friends. They can be witty or funny. They can be sweet and comforting. It’s always nice to have an Irish blessing around. Growing up St. Patrick’s Day was simply a day that we wore green in school. If I was lucky enough, sometimes I’d get a Shamrock Shake. Now, I’ve come to understand Saint Patrick’s Day is so much more. It’s a religious holiday, the celebration of a country and heritage, the honoring of a courageous man, and a great excuse to consume traditional Irish food (I’m looking at you soda bread and lamb stew!). Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day & Every Da ..read more

We pack for a week’s worth of clothing regardless of how long we’re in Ireland. So this usually requires doing a wee bit of laundry in Ireland. Where we stay often determines how that laundry gets done. Self-Catering Laundry in Ireland The easiest of course is renting a self-catering apartment or cottage with a washer and dryer so you can do your laundry at your convenience. Airbnb is an option or simple search for self-catering or holiday home in the town you’d like to stay. We once rented a little flat in Ramelton, County Donegal with a washer and dryer. I thought we would wash all of our cl ..read more

The below is a list of 31 tangible and practical Ireland travel tips for how to plan and have a better trip to Ireland. Guidebooks are great for “what to do,” but they often don’t cover “how to.” I’ve got you covered with some of my favorite tips from 15+ years of traveling to Ireland. So grab a cup of tea and settle in: Ireland Travel Tips Before You Go #1. Use a local library to start your Ireland travel planning. Most libraries have an excellent travel section and it’s free to check out as many books as I need. I pour over the sections that describe the areas we want to travel to ..read more

My husband and I been traveling to Ireland for over fifteen years and I use this Ireland packing list every single time we go. On our first trip, I wasn’t exactly sure what to pack. Apparently I wasn’t that good at it, because upon arrival I realized that I forgot my toothbrush. Luckily, toothbrushes are easy enough to come by. :-) Since then, I’ve become a master packer. I am pretty sure I could pack us up and be ready to go in under an hour. Outlined below is the Ultimate Ireland Packing List–the best little list for everything to bring and do before your trip to Ireland. I should ..read more

Do you want to go to Ireland in 2021? Guess what? You can!!! I have been waiting to write that for ages upon ages. Last week, the Irish government announced its updated plans for opening up international travel. There is a bit of nuance in the policy so I thought a brief and understandable summary was in order. Here’s what we know: Starting July 19, all vaccinated travelers from the US and Canada can travel to Ireland without the requirement of a negative Covid-19 test and will not have to quarantine–just land and explore!! If you are not vaccinated, you will have to show proof of a ne ..read more

Six Super Practical Ways to To Fill The Time Before Your Trip (Part 2/6) How much should I budget for Ireland? Or is it expensive to travel to Ireland? They are common questions when you’re first planning a trip. I always hesitate to answer this. Expensive is relative. What is expensive to one person may seem like pennies to another. The reality is that my budget will probably look nothing like your budget. You may not even have to budget at all. But I have never met anyone who wants to spend more money than they have to.  Even the most affluent of travelers aren’t usually willing to thr ..read more

How do you plan a trip when you have a vast, almost insurmountable chasm of time between you and your destination? How do you get excited when it feels like your vacation is eons away? Oh, my dear friend.  Pull up a chair and a cup of tea. Let’s chat. There is so much to do! Those that plan a year or even two years in advance have The. Best. Trips. Seriously. While, yes, Ireland is a quintessential host, and you’d have a great time even on a whim getaway, those who plan a year, two years, or even three years in advance… Eyeries Village, West Cork They can uncover experiences that will ..read more