The coast of Oshima

White sand beaches, turquoise waters, and dolphins usually aren’t the images that come to mind when people envision Tokyo. But just a few hours away from the sprawling metropolis are the Izu Islands, a group of volcanic islands off the coast of the Izu peninsula that are a part of Tokyo Prefecture. A two hour ride by speed boat or an overnight trip by ferry, the Izu islands offer nature lovers a welcome respite from the concrete jungles of urban Japan.

Japan is notoriously expensive but on the Izu Islands you can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, beachcombing, soaks in natural hot spring baths, and much more – all on the cheap or even for free.

The only not-so-cheap part about traveling to the Izu Islands is the cost of the boat tickets but all the freebies and inexpensive activities there make it worthwhile. I have been to both Oshima and Shikinejima so I will highlight those two islands.

Oshima

Oshima is the largest of the Izu Islands. It is famous for its camellia flowers, with which the locals make oil out of for cosmetic use. Oshima is a favorite amongst fisherman but other activities you can enjoy there include a visit to the Camellia oil factory, a hike to see the crater of Mt. Mihara volcano, and swimming at one of the island’s many beaches.

There are a few hot spring hotels on the island where you can spend the night but they are pretty pricey. To stretch your yen, stay in the nature lodge in Oshima Municipal Park, known as Umi-no-furusato-no-mura . With a rate of around $20 per person, per night, Oshima’s nature lodge is a great deal. All of the rooms are dormitories and there is a cafeteria where you can buy food. If you really want to be frugal, you can cook your own food on one of the outdoor grills in the tent camping area. Tent camping costs the same as the lodge accommodations so it makes more sense to stay in the lodge, unless you prefer to rough it for the same cost.

Raw seafood over rice at a local restaurant in Oshima.

View from the nature lodge in Oshima

Hiking trail in the Oshima Municipal Park

The downside to Oshima is the fact that it is so big. It is impossible to get around without renting a car or taking the public bus. The only time the buses run on a regular schedule in Oshima is during the summer and it can get pretty crowded then as people in the mainland go there for summer vacation.

Shikinejima

Shikinejima is my personal favorite. It is a bit farther away than Oshima but going there is well worth the trip. The island is small and for $10 a day, you can rent a bike to get around. Camping on Shikinejima and taking a dip in the natural hot spring baths is completely free of charge. If you want to take a shower, however, you need to pay $5 to use the local hot spring public bath house.

The beaches of Shikinejima are quite beautiful but you should bring your hiking boots because the shorelines are pretty rocky. There are also several hiking trails throughout the island that offer views of the ocean and neighboring islands. The best times to visit Shikinejima are during the spring and fall when it isn’t too hot or too crowded.

Shell-shaped beach in Shikinejima

Mineral-rich waters of Shikinejima's natural hot springs

Shikinejima's coastline and gorgeous blue water

Relevant Links:

Shikinejima Travel Information

Travel Information about Oshima

What is 4^th of July of without fireworks, family, and possibly a road trip?

Travel and Leisure recently released their pick of the top 10 4^th of July Fireworks Displays.  With 4^th of July just around the corner we thought we would put together some travel deals for each of these cities so that you can enjoy one of these spectacular displays without breaking your budget. 

Boston: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

If you weren’t able to secure tickets to the Boston Pops concert on July 4^th, you can see them for free on July 3^rd.  It’s the same concert minus the fireworks.  Don’t worry about missing anything on the 4^th.  The best spots to view the fireworks displays are not at the concert venue.  Make a fun family weekend out of the festivities- see the concert on the 3^rd and the fireworks on the 4^th, walk the Freedom Trail, or take in any other of Boston’s great attractions during the day.

There are several affordable hotel options available in Boston:

The Sheraton Boston, in the historic Back Bay is offering $200 off their regular rates.  This means you can get a room for $139 from June 24^th – July 8^th.  The hotel is near many of Boston’s popular attractions such as Faneuil Hall and the Boston Common.  It also has one of New England’s largest indoor pools- perfect for when the family needs to cool off from a day full of sight-seeing!

The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel  is offering deluxe accommodations and a walking map to guests July 1^st through July 10^th for $149. 

The Omni Parker House is offering a July 4^th Boston Pops package for $172.   This package includes deluxe accommodations, a full daily breakfast buffet for up to 2 adults and 2 children at the Parker House restaurant, a Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops cd, 2 small American flags, and a brochure with harbor and July 4^th activities.

Washington, DC: A Capitol Fourth

Washington, DC hosts one of the biggest fireworks displays in the nation.  It incorporates the whole National Mall.  What better place to celebrate than the nation’s capital!

You will find some of the best hotel deals across the river in Alexandria.  Don’t worry though it’s just a quick and easy metro ride into DC.  Plus there are a lot of great restaurants and shopping in Old Towne!

The Hawthorn Suites, Alexandria, is offering rates as low as $69 including breakfast this summer.  This rate includes the July 4^th weekend.

The Westin, Alexandria, is offering $99 rates on traditional rooms Fridays, Saturdays and holidays through September 12^th. 

If you want to stay right in DC you can still find some great prices. 

The Normandy Hotel, a luxurious hotel located in the heart of Washington, DC is offering rates as low as $99 Thursday to Sunday and $149 Monday through Wednesday in a superior room. 

Lake Tahoe: Lights on the Lake

Lake Tahoe hosts a spectacular fireworks display on the lake.  They also offer some great lodging deals.

The Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge is offering a “Stay 2 Nights get the 3^rd Night Free Package” starting at $149 a night.  This package includes comfortable accommodations, a hearty daily breakfast buffet, a western style BBQ, and access to an on-site heated outdoor pool, hot tub and sauna. The Granlibakken is within walking distance of the lake.

Lake Tahoe Forest Suites Resort is offering rates starting at $172 for the July 4^th holiday weekend.   If you book 2 nights or more you will get 33% off your stay.

The Embassy Suites offers a Family Break Package starting at $209.  This package includes a spacious 2 room suite, complimentary breakfast cooked to order daily, Complimentary cooked to order breakfast daily, evening managers reception daily, around Lake Tahoe self guided tour CD, with map, history, cool spots, legends, and more!, Tahoeopoly board game, fun for the whole family, 2 hours of in-suite video games, 2 in-suite movies of your choice, a Pizza Dinner for the family featuring 2, 10 inch Pizza’s, salad and sodas for 4, and popcorn to enjoy your games and movies.

New York City: Macy’s Fireworks Display

This year in honor of the 400^th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s trip up the Hudson River the Macy’s fireworks display will be shown over the Hudson instead of the East River.

The New Yorker Hotel offers a package for $399 that includes overnight room accommodations and entry into their special July 4^th suite on the 38^th floor with a balcony overlooking all the action.  They will also be serving a special 4^th of July barbeque. 

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel offers rooms overlooking the Hudson- perfect for viewing the fireworks.  Packages starting at $695 include breakfast daily and a late 6 pm check out.

Philadelphia: Sunoco Welcome America Festival

Celebrate the 4^th where it all started!  There are some great rates available in the heart of the festivities.

The Comfort Inn Downtown Historic Area is offering rates starting as $159 July 2-5^th.

The Omni Hotel at Independence Park is offering rates starting at $209 July 2-5^th. 

New Orleans: Go  4^th on the River

The Big Easy knows how to throw a great party and the 4^th of July is no different.  “Dueling Barges” send up fireworks over the water resulting in an amazing display. 

If you stay closer the airport- just 12 miles from the French Quarter you can score a rate of $59 a night at the New Orleans Crowne Plaza Airport.

If you want to be closer to the action you can stay at the historic Queen and Crescent Hotel for just $159.  The hotel is just steps away from Bourbon Street and the French Quarter.

Mount Rushmore, SD

Mount Rushmore’s fireworks display offers a dramatic backdrop.  The Fireworks are lowered into the canyon behind the monument so they illuminate the sculpture.

North West Airlines offers a great air and hotel package for the 4^th.  Prices start at $650 for roundtrip airfare into Rapid City.  This includes 4 nights at the Deadwood Gulch Resort.

Addison, TX: Kaboom Town

The name says it all! This fireworks display included flyovers from commemorative planes and the latest firework technology.  Due to the flat landscape the fireworks can be viewed from miles away.

Some of the best 4^th of July hotel deals can be found in the Addison, TX area. 

The Hampton Inn Dallas-Addison is offering rates as low as $45 for the 4^th of July weekend and the Marriott Courtyard Dallas/Addison is offering rates as low as $59 through July 5^th.

Oahu, HI: Al Moana Fireworks

Fireworks and Hawaii- need we say more?

 The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is offering rates as low as $179 checking in on July 2nd and checking out on July 6th.  Waikiki Beach is a great location to view the Al Moana fireworks display.

Falmouth, MA

Cape Cod is the perfect family vacation spot and what better time to go than 4^th of July. 

The Green Harbor Waterfront Hotel in Falmouth is offering rates starting at $189 July 2- 5^th. All rentals overlook the water.

The Hyannis Harbor Hotel, Hyannis’s premier harbor front resort hotel is also offering rates starting at $189 July 2-5^th. 

Looking for a 4^th of July deal or event closer to home, in another destination, or at a specific price point?  Check out all of the 4^th of July deals using our new Stay Local and Price Navigation Features.

Jet Blue, the airline that consistenly offers great deals, just announced some great new promotions.  You don’t want to miss out on these deals!

They are offering a $20 credit to you your paypal account if you pay using paypal.

They are also offering flights as low as $29 from some of their most popular airports; New York City, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, to multiple destinations in the Caribbean as part of their Life Is A Beach Sale.    You must book by June 26th.

When doing the touristy thing in Buenos Aires it’s easy to get surreptitiously slammed by entrance fees that you didn’t foresee when planning your budget. If you’re hitting up clubs every night I don’t think there’s much you can do to get out of those cover charges, however, most museums offer free or at least reduced admissions on certain days of the week that are worth making note of.

MALBA, or the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires charges 5 pesos for general admission, 3 for teachers and seniors, and students with proper identification (which doesn’t have to be an ISIC) get in free every Wednesday from 12:00-9:00 pm. This is one of the most famous and impressive modern art museums in the country and houses works by Frida Khalo, Pablo Reinoso and Fernando Botero amongst other notables. It’s worth the price of admission any day of the week, but at least on Wednesdays you feel like you’re getting something for nothing.

The second museum on everybody’s list of things to see in BsAs is the MNBA, Museo Nacional de Belles Artes. Good news here, it’s always free. There is a suggested donation of two pesos, and unless you’re seriously scrimping, why not pony up? But just because it’s free doesn’t mean the collection isn’t worth seeing. They’ve got a room full of Goyas, including some cartoon-like sketches of his you don’t often see, and their donated galleries are an antiquities hoarder’s fantasy. If you tire easily of Monets and Manets and Pissarros, then the donated galleries are sure to impress with their displays from the private collections of eccentrics who never met a painting or a nicknack they didn’t like.

Those are the two main museums in Buenos Aires, the Guggenheim and Met of Argentina if you will, but there’s one place you can’t leave without seeing and that’s the Evita Museum. Open from Tuesday to Sunday and on holidays from 2:00 pm to 7:30pm this is another museum that’s always free (with a suggested donation of 2 pesos). No other person, besides Mother Theresa perhaps, has amassed such a devoted and loyal following as Eva Peron and you cannot come to Buenos Aires without paying some homage to her. Even today she is remembered by the Peronists as a woman worthy of sainthood. There is even a Catholic sect native to the city that feels so strongly about it that they picket the archdiocese every week to have her canonized. To come to Buenos Aires and not pay any attention to Eva would be like going to London and not at least driving by Buckingham Palace.

But if you’re not the museum type, don’t worry, Buenos Aires itself is an ever changing canvas, displaying the works of some of the most respected and famous graffiti artists in South America. Unlike in the U.K. and the U.S.A., graffiti artists here in Argentina are not criminals and are therefore freer to develop and display their art for everyone to see. To see some of the best wall art in town (for free) head over to the Palermo neighborhood and start walking around.

~Alexandra

Father’s Day Getaway

It was nearly a hundred years ago when the first Father’s Day was celebrated. Today it feels like a tradition we cannot live without. Dad’s special day is just around the corner and what do you give to dear old dad who seems to have everything? Another tie, dress shirt or scarf just won’t do. The best dads in the world have also received too many electronic gadgets.

After a hundred years, we seem to be running out of ways to show dads how much we love them. Don’t panic. As the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts. You might consider some non-traditional ideas that are inexpensive and will put a smile on your father’s face. Perhaps a day of wine tasting at a great resort or a trip to Vegas might be just what he’s looking for.

Here are some gift ideas on www.BestTravelDeals.net your father will surely appreciate.

Free Greek Festival — Vancouver, Canada
The street Festival kicks off Sunday, June 21st on West Broadway in Vancouver, Canada. Events Include: Carnavon Street Music, Trutch Street Entertainment, Culinary Cooking Tent, Krinos Mediterranean Tent, Hellenic Experience Tent, Free Children’s Arts and Crafts and Rides, Young Teens Photo Project, Family Fun and So Much More!

Adirondack Wineries Free Wine Tasting – Lake George, NY
To treat your dad, bring him with to the Adirondack Winery at 285 Canada St, Lake George, NY. The event takes place on Sunday, June 21, 2009 between12pm – 5pm.

Free Father’s Day Pops Concern – Albany, NY
Albany’s annual Father’s Day celebration hosts a highly acclaimed theatrical performance of Broadway Rhapsody, featuring renowned pianist and vocalist Kevin Cole & the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Saturday June 21, 2009 at Albany Riverfront Park Amphitheatre.

Monte Carlo Resort – Las Vegas, NV
Send your father to Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas Strip. Rooms start at at $55.95 with $10 free slot play from Jun 18, 2009 to Jun 22, 2009. You have to book by Jun 19, 2009.

Around the World in 80 Miles – Harriman Woodbury, NY
Start your day at the wineries and end your day with the Hampton Inn Harriman Woodbury! Each of the 11 wineries along the trail becomes a different wine producing country. Maybe its France, Italy, Chili, Spain or Greece; you never know where you might land. At each winery, savor the foods and atmosphere of that “country” end of quote while you sample the regional wines that make each winery unique. Packages start at $224.00.

Free Admission to Balboa Park – San Diego, CA
Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most visited attractions with admission to many of the parks features free. The park has 13 museums most of which are housed in buildings from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Balboa Park also has several gardens including the Alcazar Garden, Botanical Building, Cactus Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden and the Palm Canyon.

Even if you can’t find anything that works for your dad on Father’s Day weekend, nothing would please him more than to spend quality time with the family. You could surprise him by booking a vacation for the whole family this summer and take advantage of some extraordinary deals on BestTravelDeals.net.

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-400feb4e9550c4eb02d7a23d674a3355}

As the newest contributor to the blog here at traveldeals.net I’m thrilled to be sharing with you all my knowledge for saving money and finding deals in South America. I’m currently based out of Buenos Aires, Argentina where I teach English as a second language. It’s not the most lucrative job but it affords me a lot of spare time for exploring the city and taking adventures around the country and beyond. Again, it’s not the most lucrative job, so you can be sure that if there’s a deal to be had in this city I’m working on it.
For me, the best way to travel is to move to another country and to stay there from anywhere between 4 months to a year. Prior to my stint here I lived in Italy for a year, spending four months in Sicily, four in Florence and four more in Rome. In this style of travel I think one really gets to know a city or country; one can explore every corner, try every dish and leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the host culture and country. But I’m not made of money, and neither are most of you, so half the adventure is to do as much as possible for as little as possible without sacrificing any must-do or -see experiences.
I’m lucky enough (at the moment) to not be burdened by a real career and am therefore granted the freedom to get up and go, however I realize that most people over 18 do have responsibilities and obligations so it’s my pleasure to disseminate some hard-learned lessons with all of you.
I’ve developed a list of tips and tricks for saving money in and around the city that I’ll be periodically posting up, starting with my post on how to get around as quickly as possible on the public transportation system (which is surprisingly not as simple as you might expect it to be) and you can find it below.
Some people think that to travel comfortably is to spend copious amounts of money and to travel on a budget means lugging around a heavy backpack and sleeping in rooms full of strangers. For those of you who cherish your privacy, I’m right there with you and with a little extra planning and a decent amount of patience you can stretch even the smallest budget pretty far, all the while ensuring that you’ve got good food to eat and a comfy bed to sleep in, sans strangers. My goal is to show you through my own experiences great places to see and things to do without sacrificing comfort or fun for cost. Keep checking back with the blog and the website to find inspiration for your next trip!

~Alexandra

When traveling in a new city I find my biggest temptation and most guilty pleasure is the use of taxis. It’s a temptation because it’s the fastest and easiest way to get to where you’re going without the possibility of getting lost, and it’s a guilty pleasure because with every taxi ride I’m spending money that could otherwise be better spent on such necessities like food, drink and housing.
But mastering the use of the public transportation system in a foreign city can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned world travelers, so here I’ve written down a few insider tips for you to use on your first adventures in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

1. Coins are as precious as gold (almost literally)
A few years ago people started noticing that coins were becoming harder and harder to come by. No one knew why but it was almost impossible to break a 2 peso bill; bad news in a city of 10 million, of which the vast majority use the bus system, because the buses are equipped with machines that accept only coins. Before long there was a full-fledged coin crisis going on. People started lining up at the bus stations to change a 100-peso bill into 100 pesos of coins, and for this handy service the bus companies took a healthy commission. Realizing the lucrative business they had stumbled upon the bus companies began hoarding their coins, effectively removing them from the economy and perpetuating the crisis further. This practice has since been discovered by the appropriate authorities and they were forced to give it up, however the damage has been done because now there is a culture of coin-hoarding pervasive throughout the population. Furthermore, the devaluation of the currency has worsened the proliferation of hoarders in that the actual value of the metal of the coin is worth more than the denomination printed on it. So in short and in the words of a native Portena, “Hold onto your coins and never let them go!”

2. Don’t be afraid of the bus

Many people find it difficult to give up on a subway system because you always know exactly what the next stop is and where you are and when to get off, but if the subway system in Buenos Aires seems poorly planned to you, that’s because it is. With four lines traversing the city from east to west, meeting up in the east at one north-south line, it leaves a lot of in-between areas that require a lot of walking. Save yourself the grief and pick up a ‘Guia T’ for 4 pesos at a magazine stand. This is the Yellow Pages of bus lines and contains gridded maps of the entire city with a cross-reference for every bus that runs through each grid. With more than 100 bus lines this may seem a little overwhelming at first but remember, your legs will thank you for putting aside the time to figure it out.
Also, after 10:30 pm on weeknights, and earlier on weekends, the subway shuts down, so sooner or later you’re going to have to get on a bus anyway.

3. Walk the walk, talk the talk

If you’re used to clearly marked bus stops with thoughtful overhangs for rainy days then this may come as a sorry surprise to you, but in Buenos Aires such luxuries are not so common. Most times the bus stop is a number tacked up on a tree amongst a line of trees, so you need to stay sharp and keep on the lookout because the bus drivers are ruthless men with an agenda. Unless your feet are firmly planted on the ground designated as ‘the bus stop’ then he will happily pass you by as if he wasn’t even aware of your existence. But that’s not all, once you’ve determined where you need to wait you must hail the bus as soon as it comes into view, as you would with a taxi. This is because the bus drivers don’t want to take the time to stop unless they know for sure that someone is getting on. They get a coffee break at the end of each line and these unnecessary pauses really cut into their ‘me-time’.
Once you’ve accomplished the feat of getting on the bus you have to say the name of the street you wish to get off at. He’ll punch a couple of buttons on his dashboard and the trick is to steal a glance at its screen to see how much you need to feed into the ticket machine. If you’re not sure of the name of the street you need, or worse, you don’t speak Spanish and all of a sudden the bus driver starts asking you questions, just say ‘Uno, diez’ (one, ten) which is the typical price of most bus rides. Then take your ticket, grab a seat and give yourself a pat on the back.

So now that you’ve read these insider tips you should consider yourself a well-informed public transportation user in the city of Buenos Aires. So take that money you save on taxis and blow it on something worthwhile, like a vat of dulce de leche ice cream (the national delicacy).

In an interesting move Graves World Hospitality has introduced online bidding to it’s hotel website.

The “Place A Bid!” initiative let’s the traveler bid on a room based on what they are willing to pay and if the bid falls within the hotel’s predetermined range of acceptability, the reservation is automatically confirmed.

“The economy is in flux and we recognise that people are spending less now than they have in the past. This online bidding system empowers consumers and positively engages them in choosing where to spend their dollars,” said Ben Graves, president of Graves World Hospitality, the company that owns and manages the Graves 601 Hotel.

The hotel has been testing the bidding feature at its Graves 601 Hotel website since mid-May and has accepted about 49 percent of submitted bids. So far, some bidders have received discounts of up to 25 percent, Graves said.  Bidders must pay for room nights up front as they do on Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline and the other OTA’s rather than simply reserve a room and pay later.

“By offering this directly, we pass savings on to our guests. We allow the market to tell us where the room rate should be,” said Scott Fischburg vice president, sales and marketing for GWH.

Curious to hear if anyone has successfully bid on a room and how they were treated upon arrival. Did the front desk clerk know you used their bid feature?

After my day in Dublin I decided to venture to the Northern Ireland — a place brand new to me. Here I’ll celebrate the convenience and cheap fares of Bus Eireann. After the two and a half hour bus ride I arrived at the Belfast Bus Station. Once again I had to learn another whole city over as best as I can. Oh, I also had a whole different currency to become accustomed with. Since Belfast is part of the United Kingdom as well as the capital of N. Ireland they use the English pound.

This new currency isn’t that much different from the euro. They use the same amount of coins and different size bills, but still try to learn the currency. Different from its southern counterpart, Dublin, buses in Belfast don’t demand exact change, but it’s nice if you’re pretty close to exact. So, again, at the bus station it’s nice to learn the currency as soon as possible.

Once you locate your accommodation, the first thing I would recommend to see would be Belfast City Hall. The building is over a century old and is certainly the most beautiful building in the entire city. In the summer months you can sit and enjoy a picnic or just relax on the enormous yard in front. Much like St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin, the more pleasant the weather is the more people will be there.

But chances are before you notice the city hall, you’re going to notice the 60-meter Ferris wheel first. Originally built there in Oct. of 2007, the wheel was supposed to only remain till Jan. of this year. But rumor has it that the city has extended the tourist attraction another two years.

Belfast City Hall

Ferris Wheel to the left of City Hall

Since it was a nice day in Belfast and my hostel, Arnie’s Backpackers, was quite close I decided to visit the Botanical Gardens at Queen’s University. The Gardens are frequented by locals, students and tourists alike. With resting benches about every 20 feet you can choose to sit at anytime and take in the beautiful scenery.

Arnie’s Backpackers was referred to me by numerous friends and now I finally know why. The hostel staff are some of the most informative and helpful people I have met so far. They will literally go out of their way to book anything for you. Less than a 10 minute walk to the city’s bus station and a short bus ride to the city centre, the hostel is in an ideal location. You can book your room at http://www.arniesbackpackers.co.uk/.

Unfortunately, if you know anything about Irish history, when you think of Belfast you’ll recall the violence that once tarnished the highly populated cities name. If that interests you then the Black Taxi Tours are the only way to go. Catholic or Protestant? It doesn’t matter. Each driver own his or her sides to the entire story but they all try to be as objective as possible. Seeing the murals painted on walls in both of the different sides of West Belfast will give you chills. Depending who your driver is, you’ll be asked to get out and walk around to take a closer look at the murals. Don’t fear, the driver knows what their doing.

Be sure that when you call the book your reservation, ask for Walter. Walter has been conducting these tours the longest and you know after hearing him speak, he’s quite enthusiastic about the Troubles and Belfast. To book visit www.belfasttours.com/about.htm.

Bobby Sands mural

Another mural

If you choose not to take a Black Taxi Tour then you can take a Belfast metro bus around the city for a more general but still informative excursion.

Unlike much the rest of Ireland, Belfast doesn’t have nearly as many pubs. There are a few directly across the street from the Europa Hotel (basically right where the coach drops you off). The pub, Robinson’s, has four different bars in one in a better attempt to appease the tastes of everyone. There is also a Bistro upstairs. But the bistro closes quite early, so if you’re interested show up before five p.m.

Last but not least Belfast is the closest major city to the Giant’s Causeway. Northern Ireland’s most popular attraction has dozens of tours from Belfast and other cities such as Bushmills leaving daily. Don’t expect it to be a quick trip if you’re leaving from Belfast, though. Allen’s Tours runs a Giant’s Causeway tour that leaves at 10 a.m. and returns around 7 p.m — but, it’s worth it. You pass by numerous castles, all which have compelling stories behind them as well as breathtaking scenery. For only £25, it’s one of the best deals going. Book your tour now at http://www.allenstours.co.uk/.

Usually when something good happens in your life you feel it best if you went out and celebrated or did something necessary to reward yourself. As I have just graduated from the University of Massachusetts I felt it was needed to drop everything and head to Europe!

My trip has/will consist of Ireland, Scotland and possibly France, too. Right now it’s Day 4 of my trip in Ireland and boy, do I have a lot to tell you!

To make this easier I’ll go day-by-day, starting with Dublin.

Depending where you’re going in Ireland the chances are you’re going to land at Dublin International Airport. The first thing I learned after going through customs is that no matter where you are in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland’s capital, you’re going to need correct change. It might not sound that painful but believe me it can get stressful when trying to go on a bus to meet friends.

So, to avoid any headaches or frustrated bus drives make sure you have change (try your best to familiarize yourself with it asap). The bus from the airport to Dublin City Centre is €6. There are signs everywhere that says a bus comes every 10 minutes, but it’s actually more like every five.

Unless you’ve been to Dublin before and if you’re not here on a tour, you will have virtually no idea where you’re going.

So, ask questions.

Tell your bus driver where you’re going and he’ll tell you which stop would be best and a general sense of where to go. Trust me, often you’ll wait in a line to exit the bus because people are asking for advice.

One of the best qualities of Ireland beside the extraordinary scenery is their transportation system. If you get off at the Dublin bus station you can get bus route times for all the local cities and the distant ones as well. You can also talk to a customer service rep. for all the other inner-city info: cost, times and appropriate bus numbers. For city-to-city times you can find that information on http://www.buseireann.ie

Depending how much money you have or how lavishly you like to live you’ll find a number of places suitable for you. For me, a cheap night in a clean hostel will do just fine.

The Kinlay House Dublin is where I stood at for my one-night stay in Dublin. It’s everything you want out of a hostel: clean, private and it has its own lockers! The price range goes anywhere from €12 a night to around €33 depending what type of a room you want. You can find more information here http://www.kinlaydublin.ie/home.php.

Once getting yourself settled in Dublin, the city is yours to navigate.

If you’re into shopping, Grafton Street is where you’ll want to be. Surrounding the popular street is shops, malls and plenty of places to dine. Be sure to visit Saint Stephen’s Green located just off the street if you just want to relax and sit down or take a stroll around the park. In the summer months the park can get quite crowed with natives and tourists looking for a nice way to end the day around the city.

After done relaxing and you decide that you’re hungry you can hop on over to the nifty Porterhouse Central Restaurant located just on the opposite end of Grafton Street. Once there you can enjoy more than easily 100 different beers including over five homemade varietals. The food lets not forget, is of good quantity and quality as well. The Porterhouse burger with chips (fries) and a small plate salad are offered at a reasonable €9.99.

If shopping isn’t quite your thing, but history is, head over to the Dublin General Post Office. I know it doesn’t sound too exciting but the GPO has as much history within its walls as it does outside them. The GPO was the main stage for the 1916 Easter Rising where groups of Irish Republicans insurrected with the aims of ended British rule in Ireland. You can read more about it here http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/. On the outside of the building you can still see bullet holes in the pillars.

You should also check out one of Ireland’s most prestigious schools, Trinity College. They have tours of the college daily and the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s treasures is also there. If you’re a history buff this is a must-see, if not, don’t waste your time in line but still walk around the college. More info on the Book of Kells is available at http://www.fontcraft.com/artype/kells.

Entrance to Trinity College

When you think of Ireland what comes to mind? Green fields, sheep, cliffs and Guinness. While in Dublin another must-see is the Guinness Storehouse. Ever wonder how Guinness gets its pitch-black color? Well, while walking around you can do just that and when you finish the tour, take a elevator or walk to stairs and receive your free pint with an panoramic view of Dublin. You can book your tickets here http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/TicketSelection.aspx or just wait until you get there.

If you want to keep the Guinness flowing and don’t want the night to end too early or you want to cap the night off with a drink, head over to the Temple Bar in its self-titled section of Dublin. The building has been open since 1840 and has won the Irish Music Pub of the Year for seven years in a row. So, if you’re looking for a lively atmosphere and a good craic (time) then the Temple bar is your place to be. Just don’t be looking to save a penny or two there.

Inside view of one of the bars in Temple Bar.

Outside of Temple Bar