Travel Blog
Around Ireland
Around Ireland
By Ginny - West Side Travel
I arrived in Dublin with a broken little toe. Not an ideal way to start a 7-day journey in Ireland. Another problem was that Aer Lingus was having a baggage handlers strike so I could not change to a pair of shoes that would accommodate my injured toe. How I broke that toe is another story for another time. I finally got my bags after a couple of days and with better shoes and my toe taped up, I enjoyed the land of forty shades of green. They are not kidding about that and the scenery is beautiful. We visited medieval castles and thoroughly enjoyed the Cliffs of Mohr and Ring of Kerry. Both places leave you breathless with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. When we went to Galloway I remembered my uncle singing ”When the sun goes down on Galway Bay" when I was a small child. I never thought that I would one day visit. The Waterford glass factory was very impressive and watching the glass blowers do their thing was something to see but still not believe. I tried to come up with a Limerick when I visited Limerick but it is a darn hard thing to do and finally gave up. This is another charming place with very unusual shops. The people of Ireland are friendly and helpful so you feel quite at home. The next stop was Blarney where you can shop until you drop at Blarney Woolen Mills and then climb to the top of Blarney Castle. Once you make it up to the top of the castle you find out that to kiss the stone you have to bend over backwards with your back lying on a small ledge and kind of hang down to kiss the stone which is behind you. Along the side there are handles to hold on to and a gentleman is also there to hold on to you so you won’t fall. It is very safe and yet exciting and I honestly believe it did give me the gift of gab.Kind of by accident, I wound up in a little fishing village called Passage East in Waterford Harbor. It was where the Irish emigrants started their journey to America. It was a charming place without a fast food place in sight. There was little to do but enjoy the local pub. The owner’s great, great, great, grandfather was John Baldwin of the Baldwin piano company. They sure did have a Baldwin piano there and everyone enjoyed the local brew and sang along with the local folks young and old. It was like taking a step back in time when everyone was not electronically connected to some device or other. It was all about the joy of just having fun with new found friends. By the time I got back to Dublin my toe had settled down a bit but I think it was more that it did not matter after the wonderful experience of visiting Ireland and getting to know the land and the people up close.We are all connected on this little planet and when we travel we find out how much we have in common with people of different lands and cultures. Get up and go whenever you can. You won't regret it.Magnificent Italy
Magnificent Italy
by Ginny - West Side Travel
I just wanted to chat a bit about one of my very favorite cities in the world... Rome, Italy.I always throw a coin in Trevi fountain to make sure that I will return to this beautiful place.The first time I visited Rome I was awe-struck by everything I saw and would find myself standing in the middle of a piazza and looking around trying to decide where I wanted to start. I found out soon enough that it really did not matter because no matter which way I went I would find the most amazing places. To me, Rome does not seem to be a gigantic city because each area has a piazza at its center and the neighborhoods fan out from there. You can start out in the morning and have your breakfast pastry and coffee, in one piazza and then your lunch along the way, maybe by the Parthenon and, of course, you will need to have a gelato or Italian ice for your afternoon treat. Most Europeans eat very late as they have a siesta during the afternoon and the shops are closed. You still have plenty to do and see during this time. After a cup, or two, of espresso you are ready to face the afternoon and late night activities of this bustling city. A guided tour of the Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel are great choices although, the list is long of the things to see and do. Next you have to pick a place for your evening meal. This is not a problem as the choices are unlimited. It is nice to do something by your hotel because dinner in Italy is an "event", not just a meal so plan to be there at least two hours as you slowly savor each course. By now you are ready for a stroll back to your hotel for a good nights sleep so you can be up bright and early so you can continue your journey thought the Eternal City.Arrivederci, for now.
Destination Weddings 101
This week West Side Travel presents Destination Weddings 101. Destination weddings have grown in popularity by 400% in the last 5 years. While this type of wedding may not be right for everyone it is certainly worth a look.With the dramatic increase in the cost of the “average” wedding in the United States a destination wedding can offer a much bigger more dramatic event for ½ the cost. In most cases the price of the wedding includes the honeymoon as well making this option even more attractive. While many brides envision a romantic beachfront service a destination wedding can take place anywhere, Europe, ski resorts, cruise ships just to name a few . Destination weddings can be far less stressful during the planning phase especially if you have the right travel professional to assist you will all the planning andarrangements. If your destination wedding includes guests a travel professional is a must! Below are the questions you should ask your travel consultant to make sure you find the correct person to handle your arrangements, doing this will make the destination wedding and honeymoon planning a very easy process.10 Questions you should ask:1. Please describe the process you use for designing honeymoon trips2. Can you create customized trips according to my interests or do you primarily sell package vacations?3. What travel services can you provide – flights, lodging, rental cars, local activities, restaurants reservationsinsurance, currency, etc.?4. Do you have specific experience putting together honeymoons?5. Will you be readily available for consultation?6. Will you be available while we are actually traveling? Even after hours?7. Can you help me choose a destination if I'm unsure?8. Do your travel consultants travel regularly?9. Do you charge any service fees? If so, what are they and what do they include?10. What forms of payment do you accept? Do you take credit cards?Nowadays, most high quality travel agencies charge service fees of some sort (it's no different than any other professional service). Some will charge a la carte for individual services like booking airline tickets or providing planning assistance. Others will charge a set fee, or a percentage of the total trip cost.Girlfriends Getaway
Girlfriends Getaway – Join us May 20 -23, 2010 for 3 nights at the 5 StarAzul Sensatori.Rates for this fabulous trip are $1100.00 per person, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy. This special getaway includes 3 nights in a deluxe Jacuzzi junior suite, round trip airfare from DFW to Cancun, round trip airport transfers, all meals, drinks, activities and entertainment.You will also enjoy a welcome cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, private Kayak tour and cooking lesson, $50 per room spa credit and 20% discount on spa services, as well as private water aerobics and / or Pilates lead by fitness instructor Chris Exner.Space is limited, rates and amenities are based on availability and subject to change until deposit is in place, so please call as soon as possible to book your room.
