#93 Trip Planning like a Pro

I'm an organised person. And by organised, I mean it sometimes borderlines control freak, and this becomes much more apparent when I go on trips or try plan something with friends. I like to know the following before I go: the exact location, how long it will take to get there, the exact time, the exact price, the exact duration etc etc. And when I say 'I like to know', I actually mean 'I need to know'.

This sometimes annoys people I travel with when I shout at them because we need to hurry up and catch the 10.11 bus because the 10.14 bus would completely ruin our schedule. But they appreciate it when we save time and stress because we know exactly where to go, or when we stay at a great hostel in a convenient location for a good price.

Plan In Advance
I am a firm believer that if you plan your trip in advance, it will ultimately go much more smoothly and the experience will be more enjoyable because you will be saving time and money while getting the absolute best out of your trip.

However, I will also concede that plans should be flexible, and if you get delayed and can't catch a certain bus or visit a certain museum, all is not lost. Stressing because everything didn't go 100% as planned will mean you won't have a good time either, so relax!

Know Where You're Going
I think one of the most important things is knowing where you are going. I personally have a terrible sense of direction, so if at all possible I will designate someone else to be in charge of the map. Before I go on a trip, I will go on Google street view and examine the area around the hostel, for example, and certain areas along the route so they will be familiar when I get there. Up until recently I didn't have a smartphone, so I used to go on street view a few days before and take pictures of the screen on my phone, so when I arrived I could go back and check we were in the right direction.


Getting lost, for me anyway, is really stressful. It means you waste a lot of time that could have been spent doing something else. That's not to say that you won't have an adventure and come across some hidden gems off the tourist route, but especially if you're travelling alone I think it's vital you know exactly where you're going.


Money, money, money
I'm a total cheapo, which you may or may not have noticed. So when looking for a hostel, I have to reconcile the following: price, location and safety. If there's a big group safety becomes slightly less important, which leaves price and location.

I can spend hours on websites like Hostel World in search of the perfect hostel, constantly comparing ones closer to the city but slightly more expensive etc. A well researched and thoughtfully picked hostel should have all the things you're looking for. For me, that means a cheap hostel in a good location, with no hidden fees for breakfast, bed linen etc.

Regarding food, it's obvious that restaurants and cafés on the main tourist strips are going to be much more expensive. This can't always be avoided, but try not to make yourself a victim either. If you want to check out some places in advance, reading through Trip Advisor recent reviews is always a help. But beware of those restaurants marked 5 stars that have only been reviewed by six people, as opposed to the restaurants marked 4 stars reviewed by 3,000 people.

There are such things as free meals. . .well maybe
So we know where to go and where to stay, but what should we do when we get there? I always look up the best things to see, especially free things. It upsets me if I visit a place, come home and a few weeks later realise there was something really cool that I missed out on because I didn't research it in advance. Thanks to the internet there is an abundance of lists of best things to do etc, so there's no excuse not to research it in advance!

As a general rule, most major cities have free walking tours (well they expect a tip, but since you won't ever see them again that is entirely up to you. . .) and there are usually places where you can get a good view of the city for free - if you know where to look.

Also, be wary of paying entrance fees into places. Do you really need to go inside? Is the national gallery something you genuinely have an interest in, or is it just a 'must see' attraction you found on a list? Think it over before handing out the admission fee.

Take a chill pill
Well, not an actual pill. But you should relax and have a good time, it's a holiday after all!

#87 Staycation Ireland: Wexford

Wexford, known as the 'Sunny South East' and home of the 'yellow bellies'. The latter makes us sound quite cowardly, but as you'll see we have fought many historic battles over the years!

County Wexford is in the South-East of Ireland, just a little below Dublin on the map in the corner. It is a coastal area with many popular beaches, and the town is situated on an estuary where the river Slaney flows into the Irish sea.

New Ross
This is very close to County Waterford to the east. There is quite an old fashioned little town, but the highlight is the newly refurbished quay-front. There is a statue of US President John F Kennedy whose ancestors were from the area (and he visited there 50 years ago), and not far away is a park and arboretum dedicated to him. Also on the quay is the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the 'coffin ships' that were used to bring Irish people to America during the Great Famine. It is very interactive and a great exhibit to visit. Finally, there is an 'Emmigrant Flame', similar to the Olympic or Amnesty flame it never extinguishes, but burns brightly for all those who have left this country.
I should think that one day or even a few hours would be enough time to spend here.

Enniscorthy
This topsy-turvy town is full of hills and slopes, and character! It's home to Enniscorthy Castle and Vinegar Hill, where one of Ireland's many historic battles was fought. Every summer there's a Strawberry Festival with Irish music and cuisine, and in August there is a re-enactment of the Battle of Vinegar Hill which is interactive for the whole family.

Gorey
Yes, it is pronounced just like the word 'gory', but don't let this put you off a visit! North of the county, Gorey is a popular town bustling with charm. It has almost none of the commercialised chain stores you will find elsewhere, and instead has one long street filled with local small businesses. It is even starting to gain some fame nationally for it's large array of boutique shops! Coming from Dublin, this will likely be your first stop in the county.

The Main St in Gorey

Wexford Town
This is the hive of activity in Co Wexford, and the huge array of shops and restaurants here have led to a decline in business in the smaller surrounding towns.
There are many things to see and do here; first off is the quay and Wexford Bridge, which welcome you as you enter the town. The area is absolutely beautiful, and you can see fishing boats coming and going regularly. If the weathers right you can also avail of boat tours along the river Slaney and the estuary into the Irish sea. Second is the main street - one long street full of shops, cafés and restaurants. While there are all the popular chain stores and high street brands, there are also many privately owned 'mom & pop' shops too.
There is Wexford Opera House, a new state of the art building which is home to the famous Opera Festival every Autumn, and even if there is no show on during the day, you can avail of tours of the building and views of Wexford and the quay from the café at the top.

Located just outside the town across the bridge is the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve which is home to many wildlife animals and of course birds of all kinds, and on the other side of the town is the Irish National Heritage Park, which is home to many buildings from ancient Irish history.

The black square to the top left is the new Opera House

A look along the quay

A view from across the bridge

Other areas of interest
Of course Wexford isn't all about the towns and urban living! Down south of the county Kilmore Quay is a popular fishing destination and therefore top notch for fresh seafood, while Hook Lighthouse is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world!
The 'R742' coastal drive takes you through many small villages, including Curracloe (whose beach was used for filming in Saving Private Ryan), Blackwater and Courtown Harbour.

A wet day out at Hook Lighthouse

Wexford is about 2 and a half hours drive from Dublin, and is home to Rosslare Europort, which has ferries to Britain and France. It is a popular destination for Dubliners, with many of them having summer houses there, but it also has a lot to offer for international tourists as well.

Map of Wexford

Links:
visitwexford.ie
facebook.com/visitwexford
wexford.ie
discoverireland.ie/Places-To-Go/Wexford

#83 The Travel Show 11/3 - New York

Last week I was discussing fabulous New York city with self-proclaimed expert Tom Horan.

Listen back here:

The Travel Show 11-3-14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

#81 The Travel Show Podcast 25/2

This week, discussing Amusement parks with special guest Luke Hogg!

The Travel Show 25 Feb 14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

We discussed some of our favourite theme parks, including places in America and Japan, and parks like Six Flags and Disneyland.

Also in the show we had 'Tuesday's Travel Trivia' where you have 5 hints and have to guess where we're talking about, our top Irish Destination of the Week, and some top tips for the best amusement park experience!

#75 Croatia: The Travel Show

Unfortunately Croatia is still just a place on the list to visit for my great travels! When I was studying in Sweden I met some fantastic Croatians and they definitely encouraged me to visit their country, as well as telling me some great information.

From my experience, Croatia isn't one of the most famous countries so, if you're not sure, it's situated right across the Adriatic sea from Italy. Here's a map to help you out.

Croatia

The currency is the Kuna (pronounced a bit like 'ko-na' I think) and the exchange rate is about 7.5kn to €1. Croatia in Croatian language is 'Hrvatska', so that's why you'll sometimes see abbreviations like 'HRV' or 'HRK'. It's a cheap country in terms of prices, especially in comparison to the rest of Europe, but be careful as the recent surge in tourism along the coast means prices there for hotels, bars and restaurants are much higher, especially during the summer.

The capital city is Zagreb, which is located in the North. However, it is coastal cities such as Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik that are raising the profile of the country and bringing most of the tourists. 

Politically, Croatia is a young country, having been formed after the break up of Yugoslavia in 1991. It only entered the European Union earlier this year.

Dubrovnik, in the far south, is an ancient city which reminds me of places like Greece or Turkey. It has recently rose to fame in TV show Game of Thrones, in which some scenes were filmed here. 

Dubrovnik

Zadar has an airport, and is a likely place to fly into. There is a 'sea organ', in which waves crashing into the harbour makes tunes like an organ, and nearby is colorful a light up display built into the ground. I found a video on YouTube which demonstrates both better than words: Zadar Sea Organ

Croatia is becoming popular with party goers and young people, because alcohol prices are much cheaper than Ireland or the UK, and clubs often stay open until sunrise during the summer. The hot weather and clear seas make it popular with those looking for a cheap sun holiday, but Croatia has a lot to offer in terms of cultural capital and indigenous activities.

Blue Cave, located on the island of Bisevo

Also important to note, travel is cheap between neighbouring countries Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so a visit to Croatia doesn't have to just be a visit to Croatia, you could make it a wider travelling experience.

You can get flights with Ryanair to Zadar, and travel within the country is cheap, but I've been told that some buses (especially local transport) aren't air conditioned, so it can get a little stuffy in the soaring temperatures!

This article is linked to my radio show - The Travel Show. However, due to technical issues there is no recording available for this particular show. You can still go to the website and check out previous shows though. www.ulfm.ie/listen-back/