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tamela_j...so, that's basically, like EVERYONE!
In a little less then a month, my niece,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ajavajunky and I will be heading over to Ireland for about a week and then to Scotland/England for another 4 or 5 days. Besides a cruise we took about 8 years ago, a few trips to Canada and one horrific trip to Mexico, I've never really been out of the country.
I HAVE QUESTIONS! MANY, MANY QUESTIONS. Opinions, advice, tips all would be muchly appreciated. If you've been there, live there, thought of going there and have some "Must Dos," all are welcome!
So, we land in Dublin and are staying the first day there, then the next day we are getting in a rental car and touring around for six days. Here's a map I was thinking of using. Take a look and tell me what you think:
View My Saved Places in a larger map
So, I was thinking, two nights in the Cork area, two nights in the Cliffs of Moher area and then two nights in the Northern Ireland/Belfast area.
My questions for this leg of the trip are:
1. What are the MUST SEES here? (ajavajunky wants to see lots of castles, I want to see as many literary landmarks as possible...and the ones that are in pubs are double WIN!)
2. Any opinions in what is over-rated, not worth the tourist time? I mean I want to see all those things, but we are going in the summery, touristy time and I'd like to know what's not worth it.
3. Any advice and tips on driving on thewrong left side of the road for the first time ever? I was thinking of practicing, but besides being terribly dangerous, it really isn't the same as I'm on the wrong side of the car anyway.
4. We're going to be on a budget and also aren't going to want to be lugging lots of luggage with us, so any advice on any of that? Deals we could find? Cheap funs? Things we won't need to bring?
5. Money: would it be better to change it here or there? I'm going to try and avoid using credit cards because of the fees they charge for using it in foreign countries. :(
6. Phone vs. finding WiFi: I think the phone will have to stay home as we don't have the right carrier and I don't feel like dealing with the rental and the different chips for the different countries, and the expensive per minute, per text fees. So, my question is, how easy/hard is it to find places with access to the internet? I can't imagine not having any access to family/friends back home or here in the webz.
After the week in Ireland, we get to the part of our vacation that I don't really have planned at all with the exception that we have like 5 days to get to London where we fly out of to come home.
I was thinking of taking the ferry from Belfast to Stranraer and then the train from there to Glasgow, staying there a day, then to Edinburgh for a day before taking the train to London and trying to find a relatively cheap place there for a night or two.
So, my questions for this leg:
1. I will be car-less in this part, so any fun things in these areas, or tips on transportation would be helpful.
2. Are these selected places the best places to get a snapshot of this country? I only have this small window and would like to see as much as I can. Also, the same question as above about things to skip...is Stonehenge really super cool?
3. Also, any literary landmarks here that NEED to be seen--other then Platform 9 3/4 natch! :)
4. How hard is it to find a reasonably priced place to stay in London? Would it be easier/better to stay outside of London, or would transportation in and out of the city make it not worth it?
5. Any tips on places to stay in Glasgow/Edinburgh? We have vouchers for the Ireland leg, but this part is totally on us. I've looked at some hostels and they look okay, but don't know if they need to be booked ahead of time?
6. Finally, any of you living in the area want to get together for a drink or something?
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND HOPEFULLY FOR GIVING ME SOME AWESOME IDEAS! Any thing I forgot, assume I don't know and tell me anyway! ♥
In a little less then a month, my niece,
ajavajunky and I will be heading over to Ireland for about a week and then to Scotland/England for another 4 or 5 days. Besides a cruise we took about 8 years ago, a few trips to Canada and one horrific trip to Mexico, I've never really been out of the country.I HAVE QUESTIONS! MANY, MANY QUESTIONS. Opinions, advice, tips all would be muchly appreciated. If you've been there, live there, thought of going there and have some "Must Dos," all are welcome!
So, we land in Dublin and are staying the first day there, then the next day we are getting in a rental car and touring around for six days. Here's a map I was thinking of using. Take a look and tell me what you think:
View My Saved Places in a larger map
So, I was thinking, two nights in the Cork area, two nights in the Cliffs of Moher area and then two nights in the Northern Ireland/Belfast area.
My questions for this leg of the trip are:
1. What are the MUST SEES here? (
ajavajunky wants to see lots of castles, I want to see as many literary landmarks as possible...and the ones that are in pubs are double WIN!)2. Any opinions in what is over-rated, not worth the tourist time? I mean I want to see all those things, but we are going in the summery, touristy time and I'd like to know what's not worth it.
3. Any advice and tips on driving on the
4. We're going to be on a budget and also aren't going to want to be lugging lots of luggage with us, so any advice on any of that? Deals we could find? Cheap funs? Things we won't need to bring?
5. Money: would it be better to change it here or there? I'm going to try and avoid using credit cards because of the fees they charge for using it in foreign countries. :(
6. Phone vs. finding WiFi: I think the phone will have to stay home as we don't have the right carrier and I don't feel like dealing with the rental and the different chips for the different countries, and the expensive per minute, per text fees. So, my question is, how easy/hard is it to find places with access to the internet? I can't imagine not having any access to family/friends back home or here in the webz.
After the week in Ireland, we get to the part of our vacation that I don't really have planned at all with the exception that we have like 5 days to get to London where we fly out of to come home.
I was thinking of taking the ferry from Belfast to Stranraer and then the train from there to Glasgow, staying there a day, then to Edinburgh for a day before taking the train to London and trying to find a relatively cheap place there for a night or two.
So, my questions for this leg:
1. I will be car-less in this part, so any fun things in these areas, or tips on transportation would be helpful.
2. Are these selected places the best places to get a snapshot of this country? I only have this small window and would like to see as much as I can. Also, the same question as above about things to skip...is Stonehenge really super cool?
3. Also, any literary landmarks here that NEED to be seen--other then Platform 9 3/4 natch! :)
4. How hard is it to find a reasonably priced place to stay in London? Would it be easier/better to stay outside of London, or would transportation in and out of the city make it not worth it?
5. Any tips on places to stay in Glasgow/Edinburgh? We have vouchers for the Ireland leg, but this part is totally on us. I've looked at some hostels and they look okay, but don't know if they need to be booked ahead of time?
6. Finally, any of you living in the area want to get together for a drink or something?
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND HOPEFULLY FOR GIVING ME SOME AWESOME IDEAS! Any thing I forgot, assume I don't know and tell me anyway! ♥
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Date: 2010-07-05 01:09 pm (UTC)I've never been to these places, but as a frequent traveler, I just had to speak up! :)
1) On the subject of money: ATMs are the best way to go, especially if you are banking with a big bank, like Citi or HSBC. Even if you're not, the conversion rates are pretty decent, much better than credit cards and definitely better than most money lenders. The trick would be to know how much you plan to spend in one place, so you only have to draw the money once or twice. If you keep drawing money you'll be hit with fees, and that would be really defeating the purpose.
2) On accommodation: I don't know what you're budget is, but I would check out backpacker hostels that offer private rooms that are a step up from shared rooms. Shared accom is all good, but when you're tired and grimy at the end of the day, you would wish that you had paid for that extra privacy.
I would also pay a premium for location because when I'm touring and have limited time, I don't want to have to commute back and forth from a hotel in BFE.
3) On luggage: Bring a lightweight backpack for anything, and something like a fanny pack or a small sling pouch for your documents and money. Be really, really tough on yourself when packing. You don't need lotion, hair conditioner, hair dryers, bath towels, baby powder, four pairs of shoes and several books "to read when I'm bored." THESE WILL WEIGH YOU DOWN. There's no argument at all. You are traveling with your niece you will not be bored and will not need those dress shoes and that hair gel in the event there is a nice fancy party to go to. You will not be bored because in the plane you will be tired and zonked out, and the rest of the time you will be touring.
Bring: one or two sets of lightweight pants with LOTS OF POCKETS, a couple of shirts, underwear, and some socks. If you have a sari/sarong or a similar sized piece of cloth, bring it. These are immensely useful and multipurpose (some uses: sling, sling shot, blanket, divider, net for catching fish, hammock, blindfold, trap for enemies, skirt, towel, religious headgear, makeshift parachute, etc.)
And don't ever bring a duffel bag as your luggage. You will ruin your shoulders and get mad at yourself for not listening to me. I can't be more emphatic about this and will tell you I told you so if you don't listen!!!!
4) On food and drink. Ask if the country you are going to has potable tap water. You should ask this way: "do you drink water from the tap?" and not in some vague random way like "is water here safe?" If they drink from the tap, then buy/bring a bottle and drink from the tap as well. Take this advice with a grain of salt because I am now living in Singapore where stuff are super clean or the really long arm of the law will do something about it.
Strive to eat as local as you can. Ask the cab/bus drivers where they have their lunch, and eat there. Cabbies have the best inside info on the city, trufax.
5) I can't think of a number 5. Sorry.