Why the Guinness Storehouse is the #1 Tourist Attraction in Dublin

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019Leave a comment

If you have ever visited Dublin one of the things every cab driver and tour guide will ask is if you plan on touring the Guinness Storehouse. If you have an upcoming trip to Dublin and you have not booked your tickets, you absolutely should. I have visited Dublin twice in the last 10 years and one of the coolest things to see and do in the city is the Guinness Tour.

St. James’s Gate

Guinness is arguably one of the most well known beers in the world. The dark ruby red stout is rich and unique in taste. I won’t get into details (because that would ruin the tour!) but even if you aren’t a fan of Guinness you need to see this place. The storehouse is any stories high with bars throughout the 4-6th floor, but you should save your free drink tickets for the Gravity Bar and I will explain why.

Ringing the bell at the Tasting Experience!

The tour starts out on the ground floor and explains the process of making beer from the beginning. As you climb your way up the steps (or if you take the escalator or elevator) you will see the process from start to finish, you will be able to watch how the barrels are made, and watch how shipping changed over the years. You should also take advantage of the free Tasting Experience which instructs you on how to taste the beer properly (plus you get a free sample). You do not need to use your free drink at this location and you can still get your free Guinness after this. Brandon was excited because he was chosen to ring the bell at the end of the tasting since it was his birthday.

Wall of Guinness Bottles over the years

There is an entire floor dedicated to advertisements through the years. Different mascots they have had and their marketing campaigns. There are life size sculptures you can take photographs with and a large surround sound movie theater you can watch a continuous loop of their commercials on. I recommend taking a few minutes to sit here on the floor or stand and watch a few of the commercials as some of them are moving and worth the time.

Barrel Building

At the end of the tour you can use your tickets for a free pint of Guinness. I recommend taking the stairs if you are able as the elevators take quite a while and there is a long line. There are about 4 flights of stairs to the Gravity Bar just a few steps from the elevator shafts. The Gravity Bar is a small room at the top of the Storehouse with a round bar in the middle and windows all the way around the outside, on a clear day you can see all of Dublin. On the windows are information about famous structures and places you can see through that window. Most days are cloudy and rainy, but if you can swing it so that you are there on a clear day the views are amazing.

Brandon enjoying his 30th birthday at the Guinness Gravity Bar

Here are a few of my recommendations for this location:

Try to arrive early. The view at night with all of the lights is really cool, but it can be very busy around dinner time and lunch times.
Visit during the week if possible. You will fight less crowds and you will not feel like. you are in a cattle car moving from one place to another.
Keep your free drink tickets for the Gravity Bar.
Check out the smaller hidden bars in the front of the building on the way down. They are more or less empty and most people do not even know they are there. If you take the stairs you can find them near the bathrooms and stairwell exits on the top few floors.
If you plan to eat at the Guinness Brewery, eat on the way back down. There is a large cafe on one of the top floors that has decent options. Keep in mind these can be over priced.
Buy your tickets online so that when you get to the front desk you have everything in order, plus you can take the express line. You can buy tickets on the Guinness website.
When you purchase tickets you can do a self guided tour, a tour with headphones, or you can take a guided tour. If you are really interested in how the beer is made, then I recommend the headsets. If you are just there for the Guinness and to enjoy the experience I don’t think the headsets are needed.
Spend some time in the gift shop. It is HUGE and there are a lot of really cool things. My husband is a huge bicycle enthusiast, so he was able to get a Guinness biking jersey and pants so he can show off to his buddies and coworkers.
Take your time, there are a lot of really cool things to see and do. There are a lot of interactive screens and you paid for the experience so you should make the most of it.
Make sure you bring your FEXCO card with you if you are from outside the country. This will save you money and Guinness uses the card, if you do not have one yet, they will also set you up with one and explain how to use it. You just need to set up an account and log all of your receipts and you can claim everything at the airport before you leave. They will send you a check for your tax dollars spent.

If you are going to stop in Dublin for the day or even longer, you will need to make this one of your primary stops. Guinness has an amazing history of the city and you should definitely take the time to ask the employees about the history because there is SO much history there.

If you want to read more about our Ireland trips you can read an over view of it here, and I will have a more in-depth article on Carrick-A-Rede and Trinity College coming up, so stay tuned and subscribe so you get a notification when I post them. If you have visited Guinness and have any recommendations leave a comment below.

“They lived, they laughed, they loved, and left” -Finnegans Wake, 1938

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019Leave a comment

I am a huge fan of Ireland and I have many reasons as to why. I’ve been there twice now, and have seen almost the entire island. We are planning to return in the next few years to explore Cork, Wexford, and Waterford and we will have seen every county. Before I knew how much Irish ancestry I had I was always enamored with the culture. The first time I visited Ireland I had no idea just how much history was in my DNA. Who’s to say this isn’t why I felt such a connection?

Ireland is made up of two countries, the north (Northern Ireland) consists of 6 counties and the south (the republic of Ireland) makes up the rest. Northern Ireland is still under British rule and so you will find a very big difference if you cross the border. The Northern currency is Sterling while the southern currency is Euros. The northern people have a distinct accent that is much more harsh and has somewhat of a Scottish influence. There is a lot of English influence in the food, cars, and just about everything else.

The Antrim coast and the Wild Atlantic Way are the most breathtakingly beautiful coastal drives you can take. If you plan on doing anything on your trip I absolutely recommend doing both. As of now, there is no firm border so you do not need to show your passport, but this could change at any moment with Brexit looming over head.

Giant’s Causeway

The countryside on the Antrim Coast is gorgeous, and I highly recommend going during the late March or early April to see all the lambs. They definitely stole the show on our most recent trip. Giant’s Causeway and BushMills distillery are also located on the Antrim Coast. They are relatively close to one another although not walking distance. If you are comfortable driving abroad then renting a car and hitting both places at once make the most sense. There are also a ton of tours offered from larger cities that will give you enough time at both. Along the Antrim Coast, Dunluce castle is also visible. While you may not be able to get to walk the grounds, there are some stunning shots you can get from the street. If you want more information on Giant’s Causeway you can check my blog post about it here.

Cappuccino at Grove Road

The coffee and chocolate in Ireland (and the rest of Europe) is 100% better than the U.S. The coffee isn’t watered down, it is strong, and they do not use half and half or cream. They do have sweetener but you will need to pick it up from a grocery store because most restaurants do not carry it. You may get lucky and have a waiter who is carrying a dispenser in their pocket and will share with you. The chocolate is richer with much more taste. The food that we picked up for breakfast from the grocery store in Dublin was delicious and had way less sugar than it would have in the states. Speaking of food, Irish soda bread is the best thing I’ve ever had. I might just move to Ireland for the soda bread, chocolate, and coffee. If you know anything about me, you know that I am a avid coffee drinker, chocolate eater, and as long as I have those 2 things and bread, I am happy. So, take me to Ireland and leave me there forever, please.

The LUAS

If you have never been to Europe before, it is very easy to get around if you stay in a city. The public transportation in Dublin is really great. With so many universities in the city there are many options for you to use so you don’t need to rent a car. The dart train will take you out of the city, the Luas will take you north to south, or east to west of Dublin, and the buses are EVERYWHERE. Download “Journey Plan” or “LUAS” apps on your phone to take full advantage of the public transportation. A 7 day pass for the Luas is €24, for students it is even cheaper. Be sure to carry this with you as well as a photo school ID if you are a student as operators can ask you to show your pass at any time. Both times that I have stayed in Dublin I was able to easily use the Luas to get almost anywhere. So I highly recommend buying a week pass, if you use it more than 3 times it pays for itself. Journey plan is great too because it will tell you the best routes to take, the departure times, arrival times, bus stops, Luas stops, and walking distance so you make it to your destination on time. Also, locals told us to try Henry Street for shopping, it is MUCH cheaper. Grafton street is the famous shopping district for tourists and it is adorable, but if you need to pick up a lot of things Henry Street will give you a much better deal.

Kilmacduagh Monastery

If you do not feel comfortable driving, but you want to explore outside of the city you should take a look at travel websites like Viator (my personal favorite!) and Trip Advisor. We use Viator for all of our vacations because it is reliable and we haven’t had a single bad tour. All of the information is displayed for you, they will send you confirmation notifications via text, and are very easy to work with. There are day trips from Dublin City to almost anywhere touristy in Ireland. While some of them are excruciatingly long (14+ hours) they are worth it, the buses are comfortable, and the tour guides are animated, funny, and informative (most of the time). Be sure to read all of the reviews before booking a tour and do your research on the tour companies. You should also contact the company for more information on the tour before booking. I have found that in some cases they do not list everything on the travel site for the tour. Ask about food, the general itinerary, length of time on the bus, and length of time at each stop. Ask if you can bring food onto the bus and ask how frequent stops are where you can use a restroom. Some of the tours have very early pick ups and this means you may need to hit up a grocery store to grab food to eat before you get on the bus or while you are driving. I also keep dramamine in my bag incase I or my fellow travel buddies get motion sick.

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are absolutely stunning, but driving the Wild Atlantic Way is equally stunning. We started on our first day with seeing the cliffs and I did not think much could top them with the breathtaking views. The good thing about Ireland is that there are so many beautiful views that I don’t think any one spot can overshadow the others, but instead each place has a unique beauty you can’t see in anywhere else in the world. Stunning is an understatement and overwhelmingly beautiful does not do the vistas justice. The Antrim Coast and the Wild Atlantic Way both blew us away.

The Burren

The Burren is a National Park in the Republic of Ireland where you can hike. The area is hard, rocky, and looks like dried mud, but it provides some beautiful areas. We made a quick stop along the coast and did not explore much, but the small area that we did see was gorgeous and we were able to get a few photographs before moving on. The area reminded me a lot of some of the hiking trails we came across while traveling in Maui and Kauai. It was equally as hard to walk on! Definitely bring comfortable shoes, already broken in, and lots of band-aids incase of blisters.

Galway, River Corrib

We also visited Galway in our most recent trip and the town on the bay was beautiful. The Corrib River, Spanish Arch, and Galway Bay were some of our favorite things we saw. The street performers are great and the locals, piss drunk, and yelling “WHAT THE FECK ARE YOU LOOKING AT” and “FECK OFF” were a great way to start our day in Galway, hehe. Did I mention you will need a sense of humor? We loved Galway and will 100% be staying here the next time we travel to Ireland. There was so much character, beauty, and simplicity in the city that you just can’t ignore it. I’m already planning our next trip back.

The Brazen Head

The oldest pub in Ireland, The Brazen Head is one of my favorite places to eat. The Irish stew is by far my favorite dish. It is located in Dublin and is definitely worth the wait if you can’t find a place to sit. On nice days you can enjoy yourself at the bar in the courtyard or sitting in the courtyard at a table. You can also find a seat inside one of the many rooms inside this tiny pub. Don’t let is fool you though, the food is amazing, the staff is great, and food comes out quite quickly. You won’t be disappointed.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

Of all of the places we stopped Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge was my absolute favorite with the Titanic Museum coming in to a close second (I have always been weirdly obsessed with everything Titanic related since I was 6 years old). After about a mile walk of mildly difficult terrain you come to a rope bridge that dangles over the cliff side. It is a very windy, thrilling adventure to cross (by the way, you need to cross twice if you want to get home). We had so much fun and the scenery surrounding it is absolutely gorgeous. If you time it right you will not have to wait in a very long line, but if you do have to wait in line the views will keep you occupied so you do not get bored. I am saving our rope bridge story for another post so stayed tuned and subscribe for that story.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

There are tons of places to visit, distilleries and breweries to explore, and tiny pubs hidden all over the country of Ireland. Wherever you visit, whether it is Galway, Dublin, Kilkenny, Belfast or anywhere in between try to talk to locals. More often then not, they will give you advice, tell you a great story, or lend a helping hand (or maybe all three!). If you have a favorite place to visit in Ireland comment below so we can add it to our list for the next adventure.

Top 5 Countries to Visit for U.S. Passport Holders

December 11, 2018December 11, 20181 Comment

The United States currently sits #5 on the list for most powerful passport, with 110 countries available to visit without a visa (for the full list click here). Singapore is #1 with 162 countries available to their citizens. Today, a lot of young adults are taking time after school or during school to travel abroad. Visa’s can be extremely pricey, so I have compiled a list of Top 5 countries that U.S. citizens can either obtain a visa VERY easily and cheap or don’t need one at all.

Morocco

Well known for it’s brightly colored mosaic buildings, mosques and markets, and home to Casablanca Morocco is a must see travel destination. For women, you may not want to solo travel to the region, and if you do travel with a group be sure to cover yourself and always carry a scarf. Although many tourists will walk around wearing whatever they want, you will be subjected to less stares and groping if you are covered from head to toe and stay respectful to the culture.

From the Sahara desert, Majorelle Garden, and the Hassan II Mosque, among many other beautiful must see places in this country everything seems picturesque. You will want to explore the Medina (the market), stay in a Riad (small home made into a hotel) and take in all of the things going on around you.

Nepal

You will need a visa for Nepal, but it is one of about 50 countries that U.S. citizens can obtain easily and cheaper than other visas. If you plan to go outside the tourist season (October – December) you can save 50% of your money you would spend in peak tourist season. Nepal is home to Kathmandu and has some of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world. Travel to the north and see the Himalayas and the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Every year people attempt to climb to the top and many times not everyone will make it back. However, you can plan to hike only to the base camp which is where it tends to get more dangerous.

Nepal is a great place for hikers. There are many guided and self guided hikes available in the country. One of the most famous hikes is called the Annapurna Circuit. The hike lasts 21 days and has some of the most amazing views of the Himalayas. Most hikers plan to only hike part of the trail as Annapurna is almost as dangerous and almost as challenging as Mount Everest.

If you aren’t a hiker, the food and spirit of the locals around you will be enough culture to make you want to return for more year after year.

Iceland

Whether you are looking to go in the dead of winter for a chance at seeing the northern lights, go in the summer to hike in Reykjavik, or you just want to swim in a natural hot springs with turquoise blue Instagramable water; Iceland is perfect. Iceland has become a hot spot of Instagram models in the last year, and for good reason.

Iceland offers some of the most jaw dropping frozen waterfalls and hikes anywhere you have ever been. Winter or summer there is something for everyone. Flights from the U.S. are pretty affordable too. Flights can be as low as $500 per person depending on the time of year and price drops. If you are itching to get out of the U.S. and within a budget, this might be one of the most affordable options out there.

Japan

Unlike Youtube celeb Logan Paul, avoid the Suicide Forest and instead explore Mt. Fuji, Tokyo see the Cherry Blossom Festival in Hirosaki. Japan has millions of things to do that are nothing like what you could experience in the U.S. Go to the Tokyo robot restaurant where you will watch a Cabaret run by robots, girls dancing in colorful outfits and fun upbeat music. Make friends with the birds at an owl cafe or visit Mickey in Disneyland.

If you are into history, visit Hiroshima and experience the devastation first hand left over from WWII. There are a lot of beautiful canyons to hike and visit for the perfect Instagram photo.

Namibia

One of the newest up and coming places to visit in the world is Namibia. Known for its sand dunes Namibia is becoming known as “Africa for Beginners”. The welcoming spirit of it’s people and the exotic (and delicious) food make this a great place for first time travelers to Africa.

Visit Etosha National Park in a Safari, where you can experience the wildlife up-close. Travel to Fish River Canyon where you can hike the trails for breathtaking views, or strip down in a hot spring. Namibia has so much and more to offer. If you are a foodie or someone with exotic taste, Namibia has lots of local game dishes to offer. Things like antelope, giraffe, and zebra are served at their restaurants.

Planning your next trip?

Check out wanderlust for information on your next travel destination. Trying to plan the trip of your dreams? Check out these budget tips.

Need stock photos for your blog? try Pexel stock photos for free. They give credit to all of their photographers and link their photos to their Instagram so you can follow and give them the support and love they deserve.

Five Types of Suitcases You Absolutely Must Have

November 27, 2018Leave a comment

Different trips call for different luggage. Here are a few suitcases I own that I adore and how I decide which I will use:

Duffel bag. An overnight bag is like a little black dress for travelers. Everyone should have at least one. I like to use a duffel bag for this, I have three different ones. The key is to find one that has enough storage space as well as pockets on the inside and out to fit everything you need and keep it organized. In addition you can also use a large back pack or oversized purse.
15″ rolling under the seat luggage. For longer weekend trips, whether you are driving somewhere nearby, or flying out on business, a small rolling suitcase that can fit under an airplane seat is my favorite thing in the world. It is slightly smaller than carry on bags and fits under all airplane seats. Brandon and I both have one for short trips back to NJ to visit our families. The suitcase is roomy enough to fit everything we need yet compact enough to fit on smaller commercial airlines.
Standard carry-on rolling bag. If you are like me and need to bring 3 pairs of shoes on every trip longer than 24 hours, the standard sized rolling bag is a great addition to your luggage collection. One reason I love this is because a standard sized commercial aircraft has room above your seat to store these. Modern technology has made me so lazy. I only fly on airlines I can check in from my phone so I can skip the lines at the gate. Very rarely do I ever check a bag. I hate standing in lines with people who don’t know how to navigate an airport or hardly ever fly. I am inpatient and love being able to get out of my car and walk directly to security so I can grab my Starbucks and relax once I get to the gate. I hate standing in baggage claim waiting for airport employees to unload the plane and get me my luggage. I’ve also seen one too many suitcases lost or contents stolen in airports. If I can keep my possessions with me at all times I am a happy gal.
Large sized luggage. Buy a nice large luggage bag with a good lock, and don’t skip out on the toiletry bag. When I am going on longer vacations like when we were in Hawaii for 2 weeks, I like to bring a large enough suitcase that I have everything I would need for one week including shoes. You’ll have to check your bag, unless you are lucky enough to live near an airport with curbside check in. In addition, you will need to stand around and wait for your luggage to get off the plane and you’ll run the risk of items being stolen. As long as you are careful, have a good lock on your bag, and pack smart you should be alright. Finger crossed and let’s hope that everything makes it home with you! Luggage sets are nice because they are usually roomy are made well, and come in a matching set which makes it easier to spot on the conveyer belt.
Laptop bag. If you’re like me you’ll want to bring your laptop on the flight with you. I have a laptop bag in the form of a backpack which I found on Amazon. There is a ton of cushion so your laptop doesn’t get damaged and they are really nice and well made. I own the HFSX Vintage Laptop Backpack. You can buy ones with built in phone chargers and a place to store your phone, keys, wallet, and passport. Plus, it will fit under your seat.

Geniuspack.com is my favorite place to shop for luggage. They have great luggage that makes travel easy and organizing natural. Their hard side carryon is amazing. You can also find packing tips and lots of travel related gear other than luggage. You can all of the above INCLUDING universal travel adapters which work in 150 different countries. Another great thing to do if you can invest is to buy a luggage set that includes all of the pieces above. You will save money in the long run and everything will match (if you have OCD like me than that’s really important). Don’t forget to comment below with links to your favorite pieces of luggage and why.

Happy travels!

50 Quotes to Fill Your Wanderlust

November 18, 2018Leave a comment

“This gypsy heart just needs to wander. Wander to undiscovered mountains and caves that guard the mysteries of this world. I will upturn every stone, I will drive through the darkest seas, just to discover the secrets that were only meant for me” -Chrissie Pinney
“Jobs will fill your pocket, adventures will fill your soul”
“I have an insane calling to be where I’m not”
“Escape and breathe the air of new places”
“There is no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this”
“I travel because I need to… because my wild, adventurous spirit can’t live according to the “norm.” I travel to regroup, to reinvent myself, to be the best me I can be, to find joy in the ordinary and peace in exploring. I travel to be.”
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us”
“If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad.” – Jane Austen
“Once the travel bug bits there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happy infected until the end of my life.” -Michael Palin
“A mind stretched by new experience can never go back to it’s old dimensions”
“But the world is calling, and I must go hear what it has to say”.
“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” -Anita Desai
“Travel sparks our imagination, feeds our curiosity and reminds us how much we all have in common.” – Deborah Lloyd
“Because in the end you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” -Jack Kerouac
“A person susceptible to wanderlust is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation.” -Pico Iyer
“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” -Rumi
“If we were meant to stay in one place we would have roots instead of feet”
“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” -Susan Sontag
“One travels to run away from routine. That dreadful routine that kills all imagination and all our capacity for enthusiasm.” -Ella Maillart
“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” -Lin Yutang
“Travel, not to find yourself but to remember who you have been all along”
“‘I’m bored’ is a useless thing to say. You live in a great, big, vast world that you’ve seen non percent of.” -Louis C.K. “
“The best education you will ever get is traveling. Nothing teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating experiences.”
“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on. the other side of the world” -Mary Anne Radmacher
“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.”
“Traveling makes one modest, you see the tiny space you occupy in the world. -Gustave Flaubert
“I would gladly live out of a suitcase if it meant I could see the world.”
“The world is too big to stay in one place, and life is too short to do just one thing.”
“If happiness is the goal, and it should be, then adventures should be top priority.” -Richard Branson
“Someday is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.” -Timothy Ferriss
“The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life.” -Agnes Repplier
“And then there is the most dangerous risk of all, the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” -Randy Komisar
“My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” Diane Arbus
“Travel. Because money returns, time doesn’t.”
“I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven’t seen, how much I’m not going to see, and how much I still need to see.”
“Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying “I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.” -Lisa St. Aubin de Teran
“Life is meant for spectacular adventures. Let your feet wander, your eyes marvel, and your soul ignite.”
“When one door closes pack your bags and go where there are no doors.”
“Traveling; it gives you home in a thousand strange places, then leaves you a stranger in your own land. -Ibn Batutta
“Please understand, I have been waiting to leave ever since I figured out that there were roads willing to take me anywhere I wanted to go.”
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock.”
“I travel not to cross countries off a list, but to ignite passionate affairs with destinations.”
“Don’t be the person who is ‘too busy’ when you’re young and ‘too tired’ when you’re old”
“Travel while you’re young and able. Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money ever will be.”
“Take only memories, leave only footprints.”
“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.” -Paula Bendfeldt
“Cover the earth before it covers you.” -Dagobert D. Runes
“If you think adventure is dangerous try routine; it’s lethal.” -Paulo Coleho
“If you want to know the truth of who you are, walk until not a person knows your name. Travel is the great teacher, bitter as medicine, crueler than mirror-glass. A long stretch of road will teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet.” – Patrick Rothfuss

Why Hopper is the Best Travel App

February 4, 2018February 4, 20185 Comments

I have tried a few different travel apps over the last few years. Apps ranging from hiking to airline apps to money saving travel apps. When it comes to apps that will save you money on your flights you should throw all your money at Hopper and I’ll explain why.

Hopper is easy to use:

One of the main reasons I love this app so much is that it is so straight forward and easy to use. It isn’t loaded down with a bunch of distraction junk. The app is easily downloaded and your search options are made ridiculously easy. The main search screen gives you the option of choosing your airports and searching for specific dates, but also gives you the option to input flexible dates. This is my favorite feature because I can plane my trips easily around where and when the best prices are being offered.

Hopper sends updates daily:

Every morning you get a clear update to your phone on whether or not it is the best time to pay for your flights. I was able to find tickets to my local airport using this feature. Normally prices to fly to visit my family range between $600-$800 per person. I was able to find flights for $314 using the app. As you can see in the screen shot above, Hopper also will let you know if you should keep waiting. The app will even tell you the date you will need to buy your tickets before to avoid a huge price increase just before the flight.

Hopper doesn’t leave the “guessing” up to you:

The language on Hopper is clear and easy to understand. You will know right away whether you should buy the tickets or not without a clear understanding of when your flights will increase or decrease in price. Hopper makes it very easy to know exactly when you are getting the best deal possible. Other travel apps like Skyscanner, which I was a huge advocate for before stumbling upon Hopper, leave the guessing up to the user. Since most of us aren’t travel gurus, and do not travel on planes constantly. It is hard to pull the trigger on flights knowing you got the best deal. With Hopper, you don’t have to worry about playing the “guessing” game.

Hopper allows you to search multiple destinations AND dates:

One feature I am crazy about is that I can make my search as flexible or as confined as I need to. Google is a good tool to use if you know exactly what you want, but if you just want to go on a vacation to the cheapest place possible and are flexible on dates, then you can! You can check daily on the best prices and locations to visit. The app will tell you the time frame that the prices are as low as possible. Three days ago I found flights to Iceland for $300. Tell me seriously, who can beat that? I would love to know.

Of course, there are some aspects of the app that I think could be improved upon. I think it would be great to have a place to enter your airline rewards number when you are booking on an airline you use frequently. I also would love for them to add a feature for rental cars and hotels (which is a feature that sky scanner has built in). I am hoping that down the road Hopper is able to grow and partner with some of these bigger corporations so they can add even more helpful features.

Check out more money saving tips

5 Beautiful Places in the USA

January 14, 2018Leave a comment

Americans travel all over the world looking for a piece of paradise. One of the most popular places to travel are tropical climates and I am here to tell you NOT to do that. If you have never been to a tropical island, go. I’m not telling you by any means to never see the tropics because there is so much beauty and culture that you would miss. However, if you only visit the tropics and you never venture elsewhere, you are missing out on so much of what makes the world what it is. The United States is huge and there are beautiful sites to see and roads to travel right here in the good ole U S of A. Here are 5 beautiful places you need to see before you die.

The Grand Canyon

Experience one of the grandest and most beautiful places on the entire planet in America’s great south west. Take in the desert and enjoy the picture perfect 360 degree views. There are probably thousands of things to do and see at this location. You can fly above it in a small plane, white water raft through the canyon, take a donkey ride, hike the rim to rim trail, camp, see the planetarium, and more. The walls tell a billion year old story of how the Earth was made and there is nothing like seeing the colorful layers surrounding you when you are paddling through the canyon.

Route 70 in Colorado near Vail

One of the most jaw dropping scenery I have ever witnessed in my entire life is on Route 70 driving from Denver to Las Vegas. My family and I stumbled upon this beautiful canyon on our cross country trip when we were diverted due to an insane snow storm. I was so bummed that we couldn’t see Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Redwood forest. In the end though I got to discover something we were not expecting in the least. In my quick thinking I snapped a photograph which does not do it any justice. If you ever find yourself in this area, look for it. I have no clue what mile marker this is at, so if you happen to know please comment below.

Cabbage Key

One of the coolest places to visit in the United States is Cabbage Key. You can only get there by boat or private plane and they have been known to host very important people including Jimmy Buffet and former presidents of the United States. One rumor (true or untrue) is that Jimmy Buffet actually wrote “Cheeseburger in Paradise” after the restaurant on the island. Located in the Gulf of Mexico about 30 miles off the coast of southwest Florida sits a small island with only a handful of residents. The restaurant is covered in signed dollar bills and their cheeseburgers and seafood is amazing. You can even take a small hike around this miniature island, take the small trail just behind the restaurant it leads you to the landing strip for the planes and their water tower.

Haleakala National Park (Maui)

Hawaii is generally just a very beautiful place to see and explore, but this specific park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen before. There are 2 locations in this park which are awe inducing. The first is sunrise at Haleakala Crater, but make sure you dress warm since temperatures can drop to below twenty degrees. I continuously talk about this one because it was so ridiculously beautiful that I hardly believe I witnessed it. The second is the Kuloa Point trail which is a half mile loop with a beautiful overlook. The beautiful waterfalls meet the ocean and black rock cliffs. My husband and I sat at this location for almost an hour enjoying the amazing views.

Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore Estate is the home of the Vanderbilt family and is open to the public to view year-round. One of the most popular times to visit this location is during the holiday season. The employees start to put decorations up at the beginning of October and it takes about a month to complete the look. The estate has also turned the stables into a restaurant with amazing food. This place has a swimming pool in the basement and a garden inside. There is even an office that was used to hide some of the world’s most expensive and well known pieces of art during World War II when most of Europe was in turmoil. Plus, the views of the mountains from the balcony are absolutely stunning. This is one spot you definitely need to add to your travel list.

5 Must See Places In Maui

December 28, 2017Leave a comment

Aloha! There are so many fun things to do and see on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Since you can travel anywhere on the island within a day it is easy to see and do a lot in only a few days. My husband and I traveled to Maui for the first week of our honeymoon. We fell in love with the picture perfect sunsets and island spirit. Maui doesn’t have big sky scrapers, but does have plenty to keep you occupied. Below is a list of 5 of our favorite things to see on the island.

The Nakalele Blowhole

The Nakalele Blowhole is found on the north end of the island at Nakalele Point. The blowhole is just past a road side hut for Julia’s Banana Bread. There is a small hut with refreshments by the entrance of the hiking trail to the blowhole. You will hike up a hill and then down into the basin towards the bay where the blowhole is active. For best views, make sure to head over when the ocean starts to kick up and be a little more rough. The blowhole is most active around that time.

Once you get down into the basin you will also find the heart shaped rock. Many honeymooners and couples stop here to take a photo with the heart or kissing next to the heart. The easy part is getting down to the blow hole. Take heed of the warning signs posted in the area and DO NOT jump into the blow hole or stand over it. When the blowhole goes off it can suck you down into the ocean and many people are killed here yearly. Nevertheless, this is a stop you will for sure need to make on your next trip to Maui. The views are beautiful and you can’t take a bad picture at any angle.

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala is the volcano that formed part of the island of Maui. The summit of the volcano is now a national park and they offer many types of tours. You can always hike the park for the beautiful views of the ocean and waterfalls, but you can also watch sunrise or sunset at the summit over the crater.

There are so many beautiful hiking trails in this park, but one of the most amazing views you can get is the first glimpse of sunlight over Haleakala crater at sunrise. The summit can drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit at certain points of the year, so you might need to pack a winter coat if you plan on visiting this location in the tropics. Cheer as the sun reaches over the clouds and watch the sunrise while natives sing welcoming the new day. You will need tickets for both sunrise and sunset to get into the park so check out their site. You can also book a sunrise downhill bike tour and get your pass into the park that way.

The Road to Hana

The Road to Hana is one of the most famous road trips to complete in Hawaii. The road itself has some of the most beautiful landscapes and dangerous twists and turns on the entire island. You will need to make sure you have a travel guide book with notes for gas stops along the way since you could run out of gas without stopping at the last station before Hana. Tons of tourists run out of gas on their way around the island.

Depending on the time of year, you may or may not want to continue to drive around the island completely. if you continue be sure there hasn’t been a lot of rain or once you get into the Haleakala national park the road may be completely covered with water in certain areas. So be prepare and aware of your surroundings and the dangers. The road gets much more narrow once you pass Hana and it goes on for miles as a grated dirt road. If you are not driving a four-wheel vehicle you might want to rethink your rental car.

The road to Hana has so much for all ages. There are stands every mile or two with tons of different types of food, from BBQ to juice stands, to shave ice, and so much more. Make sure you bring cash and enjoy the ride by stopping as much as you want along the way. If you love hiking there are over 20 hiking trails along the Road to Hana. Some are harder than others so make sure you have a good guide book to tell you where to pull over since some trails aren’t even marked with a sign.

Lahaina

Lahaina was the capital of the kingdom of Hawaii from 1820-1845 and there is so much history to the city. The old courthouse building and some of the original homes are still standing. You can read all about the history as you walk the avenue. There are a ton of shops, art galleries, and restaurants that line the streets. They have a park full of Banyon trees that provide a nice shady spot to rest in front of the old courthouse. Shave ice is a big thing in Hawaii and it’s basically “water ice” or “Italian ice”, but the ice is shaved instead of crushed. It’s really refreshing, especially in the Hawaiian sun.

You will enjoy every minute of your time in this quaint and beautiful town.

Black Sand Beaches

One of the coolest things to do and see in Maui are the black sand beaches. There are a few of them on the island and they are magnificent and beautiful. There is one black sand beach you can see on the way to Hana that many people stop at. The black sand beaches are not small course sand, but instead large pebbles. Be sure to wear water shoes and bring a beach chair if you plan on staying for a while since walking and sitting on the beaches can be pretty painful. These beaches are mostly flocked with tourists who are passing through. Not many people spend their entire day lounging here so be ready to see a lot of people hiking through in a steady line.

Either way, the beaches are a must see. They have a unique beauty that set them apart from beaches in other places on the island.

Maui includes so many fun and relaxing things to do for people of all ages. Make sure you check out my post about tricks to save money in Maui!

Somewhat Langered and Not Sorry.

October 12, 2017November 25, 20181 Comment

In March of 2012 I was a junior in college and I was completely miserable. I kept myself busy by being an active member of my sorority and studying for organic chemistry (which despite my perseverance, I would not pass that semester). I had met Brandon, my husband, about 4 months prior playing beer pong in a college dorm room, but we still didn’t have a label and it had been 5 months of seeing each other. My roommates bailed on me for my midnight 21st birthday plans and I was devastated that I wouldn’t have any plans. I was going to be missing my entire 21st birthday because of the time change flying to Ireland with my study abroad class, so I really wanted to do something over night in Atlantic City. Luckily, my friends from home pulled off a great night despite all the set backs.

One thing I don’t recommend doing is getting on a 7 hour plane ride to Ireland hung over. I puked at least 7 times on what was arguably the worst plane ride of my life. Since my roommates bailed I had a few friends from home that promised to take me out. I got plastered and ended up face down in a plate of chicken tenders double fisting margaritas in a buffet in Atlantic City at 4am. We ended up stuck in the city because there was a storm and the road leaving the city to go home was underwater. Upon hearing this from my friend who was a bit frantic I yelled, “YOLO” and continued to chug my margaritas. Needless to say I felt like death for the 24 hours that followed. I tried to sleep on the plane but that was not working because I was puking every 45 minutes. I barely remember the airport in Dublin. The first vivid memory I remember having was on the bus to the first hotel. I looked out my window and saw a side street, the sun barely past the tops of the row homes, and I felt like I was in a movie because it looked so cliché Europe. I snapped a photo so I wouldn’t forget and posted it to my Instagram account with an embarrassingly terrible filter.

“My first memorable moment of Ireland”

I remembered in middle school my French teacher talked to us about elevators being a luxury in hotels, but I forgot about it until we got to our first hotel in Dublin right on the River Liffey. I hauled my two suitcases up to my room on the 3rd floor while I tried not to vomit. Our professor told us not to go to bed so we would get use to the time change but screw that. I slept for a good six hours until dinner and I was not sorry.

We ate in the hotel that night and the food was better than literally anything I’ve ever eaten in the United States. There aren’t words in the English language that could describe the mashed potatoes I ate. Perfect. God. Delicious. It might have been my hangover talking, but I would trade my arms in for a plate of those mashed potatoes right about now.

After dinner we went out. By “we” I mean about 6 of the girls. We all walked down O’Connell street and found the temple bar district. One thing I learned is to order rounds if you are with a large group because the bartenders are ridiculously overwhelmed. They get really pissed when you order 6 different ones drinks at once. Also, if you can stick to beer and shots, do that. Skip the cocktails. It’s customary to take turns buying the rounds rather than everyone paying separately. So if you’re with a group suck it up and take turns buying rounds, the bar tender will thank you.

After 3 beers and however many slippery nipple shots we ended up in a McDonald’s where we were soon escorted out by police. My friend Megan was (as the Irish would say) langered and jumping and dancing on tables inside. The customers seemed to find it amusing, but the manager and the angry bald headed cop did not. So we finished drunk eating McDonald’s cross legged on the statue out front.

The next few days we walked around the college, saw a few monuments, saw an old prison Kilmainham Gaol (I write a little bit about that here!) which was terrifying and probably haunted by little kids from the famine, St. Patrick’s cathedral (if you haven’t been there, GO.) and went to the Guinness brewery (which is a must see! There is nothing like drinking a Guinness and looking out over all of Dublin!).

Gravity Bar is located at the very top of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin and has 360 degree views of the city.

We went to Belfast next from what I remember. We saw Bushmills distillery and drank 30 year old whiskey and bought a phone cases in a local “pound shop” which is the UK version of a dollar store. Coincidentally it was much nicer than any dollar store I’d ever been in. We also went to a really cool bar/night club there where the ground floor is a pub and the first floor is a night club. I had a beer spilled all over me and we got in a fight with some guy who kept calling us “dumb fat Americans” so he got a few drinks thrown in his face. Around 11pm the lights turned on and we watched as a skinny pale guy ran through the crowd butt naked with 3 policemen struggling to run after him. He was ultimately tackled to the ground. #OnlyInIreland

Bullet holes in the side of a school building in Belfast, residual from the time of the troubles

Titanic Museum being built in the same place the Titanic was built.

We ended up in Derry next which was really cool too. Another thing I learned is that as a tourist just call it Derry. Do not call it Free Derry or London Derry because then you are picking a side in a heated argument you don’t want to be a part of. Most of our teaching moments came here. If you aren’t familiar with Ireland and it’s recent history, Derry is the site of the Battle of the Bogside between the Catholics and Great Britain. This was one of the very first conflicts during “the troubles”. We received a tour starting at the church where the Catholics descended on their march and then ended down to where the blood bath took place and then into a museum which contained artifacts from the battle as well as letters from the British army to the families of those killed. The buildings along this path are painted with controversial and political murals by Bobby Sands who led our tour. The tour was amazing and extremely well done.

On our way back to Dublin we stopped at Giant’s Causeway which is made up of beautiful cliffs and strangely shaped rocks surrounded by legend. There are a few different versions of the story, but the one I was taught says that a giant named Finn McCool was angry at another giant in Scotland Benandonner. Finn decided to take huge chunks of the cliffs and throw them into the water so he could cross and teach him a lesson. Benandonner turns out to be much bigger than Finn and so Finn retreats. When benandonner shows up to challenge him Finn’s wife disguises him as their child and Benandonner leaves assuming that because the child is so large, Finn must be gigantic. The rocks are what was left over of the crossing from centuries ago. In reality, the rocks were probably formed from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, but locals continue to tell the stories and believe the myths. This was, by far, the most amazing part of my travels. There is just something about millions of years old natural rock formations that get me every single time.

We shortly thereafter returned to Dublin and we packed for our journey home the next morning. I was devastated and did not want to leave. We had so much fun with our tour guide, I can’t remember his name for the life of me, but he was fantastic. One of my favorite moments includes him taking a coffin off the wall, jumping inside, pretending to be dead, and reenacting an Irish Funeral in the middle of a restaurant in Dublin. I had fallen in love with the city of Dublin, the people, and the history of Ireland. I knew that I had to return.

Fast forward 8 years later and here I am. Planning a return visit with my Husband Brandon, my parents, and my in-laws for Brandon’s 30th Birthday. I am so overjoyed that I will get the chance to share this country with the people I love. We have a lot of really fun things planned and will even get to explore a little bit of my husband’s ancestry.

If you have had any experience with Galway, Hook Head, or the Cliffs of Moher, OR if you know any really good places to eat in Dublin comment below! We would love to try them.

Check out my gallery of all of my Ireland photographs below. I apologize for the poor quality. It was 2012 and the iPhone camera wasn’t the greatest.