Where to Book and Play Golf In Ireland

With St. Patrick’s Day a few weeks away, all thoughts turn to Ireland. Can you just picture the rolling green vistas spilling down to the sea? And many of us can’t think about all that glorious emerald turf without wistfully dreaming about a game of golf. Perhaps nowhere else on earth is golf loved quite as much as it is in Ireland. With over 440 courses across the country, Ireland boasts fully one third of all links courses in the world! And almost as famous as their magnificent fairways, are the 19th hole watering stops to tip a pint in the clubhouse with the locals. There will surely be smiles all around.

Here’s where to turn to get your golf vacation in the works:
Ireland Golf Resorts and Tour Companies
Adare Manor
Atlantic Golf
Absolutely Golf & Travel
Celtic Golf Read more

Find Free WiFi Hot Spots Around the World

We all love to be connected every minute of the day, even when we’re traveling. Some of us tote our ultra light laptops, while others rely on their trusty Blackberries and PDA devices. And quite a few of us techno addicts (you know who you are) go for redundancy by always having multiple devices in tow. This means we go through our days on the road hunting for connectivity – and hopefully for free. As luck would have it, there are some terrific sources for finding free WiFi hot spots all around the globe. Here are two of the best: JiWire.com and WifiFreeSpot.com. My recommendation is to look up the city you will be traveling to in advance and save a copy of available hot spots on your desktop for quick access, or print it out and slip into your travel bag.

Do you have a tip or two about staying connected while traveling? Send them along in the comments section and we’ll share your brilliance!

Victoria British Columbia’s Secret Walking Tours

Like whispered tales of an infamous mistress, grand Victorian cities harbor legendary fables of life among gas lit streets. Victoria, capital city of British Columbia, offers to reveal its hidden history and mysterious secrets in four self-guided historic walking tours. So forget the traditional tourist sites and immerse yourself in this city’s grand and illustrious past.

Fools Rush In – Tales from the gold rush era “takes you through the rollicking times in the city’s history when the promise of fortune made a boomtown of the sleepy little trading post.” Read more

Details About New US Passport Card

The US State Department has begun accepting applications for its new passport card, and will begin distribution in the Spring of 2008. Specifically intended for travelers who will be making frequent land border crossings between the United States and Canada or Mexico, the wallet size plastic card costs just $45 rather than the $100 fee for a traditional US Passport. The card may also be used for port entry by sea in the Caribbean and Bermuda as well as Mexico and Canada. It is important to understand this card cannot be used for travel by air.

For folks who already have a US Passport, the fee for the Passport Card is reduced to $20 and the card remains valid for 10 years for adults. A similar card is available for children for a fee of $35 for a first time passport. For information on the application process and answers to frequently asked questions for this new type of passport, visit the website of the US State Deparment/Passport Division.

Virgin Atlantic Offers Incentives to Join Flying Club

It’s a great time to join Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club. Extra incentives are being offered by Virgin Atlantic and American Express to anyone who joins Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club by February 29, 2008. Joining the club is easy and free and can be accomplished with a few key strokes on their website.

Once you sign up you will be instantly elevated to Silver Membership (bypassing the Red level altogether!) So why is that important? Well for starters, Silver level membership allows you to use Premium Economy Checkin regardless of your class of travel. You’ll earn 25% extra miles whenever flying Virgin Atlantic in any class of service and you’ll be able to go on the priority wait list on sold out flights. And there’s more; you’ll receive four First Class upgrade vouchers for the Heathrow and Gatwick express trains as well as a complimentary strap and luggage tag.

And if that’s not enough, American Express jumps into the mix with a bonus of an additional 2,500 miles for each ticket purchased and flown between now and August 31, 2008. Check out all the benefits for yourself at Virgin Atlantic.

Ancient Rome Comes Alive in New Virtual Museum

The ancient world meets the virtual world in the famous Diocletian Baths in Rome. Open for just a month, this new venture invites visitors to immerse themselves in a virtual world where they walk the streets of ancient Rome while exploring public buildings and a regal villa. The virtual reconstruction, which cost more than $1.1 million, is a compilation of the efforts a team of 20 archaeologists, architects and computer animators. Read more

Where to Find Blissfully Child-Free, Adults Only Caribbean Resorts

Now that winter school vacation week is half over, and your little darlings and bouncing off the walls, your thoughts are probably turning to a quiet getaway for just you and your spouse. Or perhaps you’re planning a honeymoon, and prefer to be at an adults only resort. Or dare I say, maybe you’re just old and cranky and want a quiet beach haven to curl up with a good book and no kids to kick sand in your pina colada. So where do you turn to find adult only or adult preferred resorts? Fear not – we’ve got you covered – here are the best online resources for finding child free resorts:

#1 – Vacations To Go (Adults Only Resorts)
#2 – CM Travel (Exclusive Adults Only Resorts)
#3 – Caribbean Journey (Adults Only Resorts)

Auto Europe – Cars Rentals and a Whole Lot More

If you’ve always dreamed of renting a red Ferrari and tooling down the curvaceous lanes of Monaco like a formula one race car driver, this is the company for you! Vvvvrrrrrrmmmm, can’t you just hear that motor purring now? But, renting prestigious automobiles and sports cars is only a fraction of the comprehensive reservation services this company provides. The friendly travel savvy folks at AutoEurope can easily handle all the major components of your trip to Europe and beyond.

Here are some of the reservation services available:
- Low cost airfares from all major US Cities (they often have low specially negotiated rates with major airlines serving European destinations)
– Hotel Reservations Worldwide at negotiated rates
- Chauffeur and Airport Transfer Services
- Private Touring and Ports of Call Shore Excursions
- Rail Passes
- Campers, Motorhome, and RV rentals Read more

Pack Light Or Pay Up – United’s New Baggage Policy

United Airlines has announced a new baggage policy to take effect in early May. There will now be a $25 fee for a second piece of checked luggage and a $100 fee for a 3 or 4th bag for everyone except their elite fliers. Give me a break! First I can’t carry my ‘good stuff’ in a carry on, so I’d better put it in my suitcase. Then if my suitcase weighs too much, I have to pay extra – so I’d better break it down into two bags. Now they’re going to charge me for that extra bag ($50 additional on my roundtrip ticket price)! aarrrggghhhh.

And to make matters worse, whenever you have a second bag to check, you can’t use curbside checkin. You must bring your bags inside to check in at the counter or kiosk. Read more

New Zealand Tourism Guides

New Zealand, the youngest country on earth, will enliven your spirit, steal your heart, and have you hankering to visit again and again. It’s only appropriate that the youngest country attracts young, energetic, fun loving adventurers with an ‘I’m ready to live’ attitude. Kiwis, as New Zealanders call themselves are some of the most friendly folks on earth. Allow lots of time to explore both the North and South Island where the changing topography and dramatic views will have you snapping pictures a mile a minute . Trust me, you’ll see so many wonderful spots you may never want to leave.

Begin your trip planning with a visit to the New Zealand Tourist Bureau site. Then take a look at the local regional and city sites:

North Island
Auckland
Bay of Islands
The Coromandel
Helensville
Lake Taupo
Rotorua
Turangi-Tongariro
Wanganui
Wellington
Read more

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