Travel Reviews

County Donegal, Ireland Road Trip Route

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Many travellers will fly into Dublin and start their Ireland Road Trip from there. Driving from Dublin to County Donegal is literally driving across Ireland. Here’s some things to remember from a traveller who has driven in Ireland. Irish roads are narrow and often wet from rain. You are driving on the left side of the road and driving from the right front seat. There is a bit of a learning curve for most. You’ll need a GPS to not get lost, find small roads and maneuver through roundabouts. But Ireland and Donegal is well worth the trip!

County Donegal is remote even by Irish standards. There are parts of Donegal that are further north than Northern Ireland, as the Inoshowen Peninsula juts out into the Atlantic. A journey across Donegal with a car rental in Ireland and into Northern Ireland is one of the most serene and idyllic Ireland road trips you can take.

A good starting point for your journey is the Slieve League. These are the tallest sea cliffs in the country, as they stand marginally higher than their more famous brethren; the Cliffs of Moher. These cliffs, however, are not overrun by tourists due to their remote location and the lack of traffic makes any time of year a good time to visit Ireland and journey to this iconic destination. From the Slieve League, head north to the village of Glencolumbkille. This gorgeous village was settled over five thousand years ago, with remains of the original inhabitants that can still be seen in the stone tombs they left behind. Irish is still spoken here by most people.

COUNTY DONEGAL, IRELAND ROAD TRIP ROUTE

Glengesh From Glencolumbkille, head west from the coast and into Glengesh Pass. This pass was formed by glaciers, with the road through it following a path between dramatic green peaks. Glengesh Pass delivers you into the village of Ardara. Ardara plays host to several festivals throughout the year and is in close proximity to the Kilclooney dolmen. A dolmen is a megalithic tomb and the Kilclooney dolmen is one of the most impressive in Europe.Next, head southwest to the small village of Pettigoe. Pettigoe sits just south of Lough Derg. Lough Derg is a small lake and is notable for the island it holds. Station Island is a famous pilgrimage site as it is the home of St. Patrick’s Purgatory, the monastery where St. Patrick was said to have done penance.

COUNTY DONEGAL, IRELAND ROAD TRIP ROUTE

After visiting the monastery, cross the border into Northern Ireland and head north to Derry. Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and offers a good opportunity to reconnect with civilization before you get on the road again. The road west from Derry will take you to Ballycastle. The coastline in and around Ballycastle was given the designation of ‘An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty‘ by the government group Natural England and is the perfect place to finish your adventure. At this point, you will have journeyed over 150 miles and seen some of the very best Ireland has to offer.

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How to Have the Most Relaxing Vacation Ever

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Going on holiday can be an exciting experience to say the least. You may feel as though there are so many things to do and that there just isn’t enough time in the day. If this sounds like you, then it helps to make a plan before you go, so that you can enjoy your vacation without becoming too overwhelmed. Here are some tips that will help you.

Make a Plan

It doesn’t matter if you are travelling as a couple, or whether you are going with friends because you need to make a plan that will help you to structure your vacation. Talk with your friends and find out what they want to do as well. When you do this, you can easily avoid cramming your day with things that nobody is interested in. When you have a list of the things that you want to do, you then need to split that list over the days that you are going to be there. Try and make sure that you don’t have to travel too much at any one time, and also give yourself a few hours in-between each activity. When you do this, you can easily stay on track and you can also really help yourself to make the most out of your vacation.

How to Have the Most Relaxing Vacation Ever

Meditate

It’s more than possible for your stress levels to go off the charts when you are on holiday. If you want to avoid this then you need to set 15 minutes aside each day so that you can meditate. Find a comfortable seat, and then close your eyes. When you have done this, focus on your breath and just be in the current moment. This can help you to regain the focus you need to enjoy your holiday and it can also help you to be more in control of your stress. If you want to make the most out of this then it helps to book some luxury accommodation that is a little out of the way. When you do this, you can then get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you want some ideas for accommodation, then why not check out Soho suites KLCC?

Cut Down on Caffeine

Before you are due to go on your vacation, you have to make sure that you cut down on the caffeine. This is especially the case if you drink it every single day. A lot of people don’t drink coffee as much on holiday, and if you stop suddenly then this can be a bit of a shock to your system. You may find that your energy levels are lower too. If you want to avoid this then you need to cut down gradually, a week or two before you go. This will help you to build your natural energy reserve, and it will also stop that caffeine craving first thing in the morning.

How to Have the Most Relaxing Vacation Ever

Don’t Collapse on the Beach

Sure, staying on the beach all day can feel relaxing, but the dip in adrenaline can really send your mood spiralling. It also won’t help you to release all of the built-up tension in your muscles from flying either. If you want to get around this then you need to go for a walk, or even sign up for a yoga class. Moving around is the best thing that you can do, and you would be surprised at how much it can help you to feel better about yourself. Of course, if you can, you should also try and find ways to stick to your routine as well. This will help you to keep your mind sharp and it will also help your energy levels too. So, if you cycle to work every day, consider renting a bike when you are on vacation and take a ride on the beach.

Zen

When the time does come for you to relax on the beach, you need to focus on getting into that “happy place”. Focus on the sound of the waves around you, and tune into your senses. Think about it, what can you hear? What smells are there? How does the air feel? Doing this can help you to reduce stress and it can also help you to fully enjoy your vacation too. The best time to do this is either in the morning or at night. When you do this, you can then prepare yourself for the day ahead, or you can relax after a long day.

Watch your Diet

Sure, it may be tempting to let go of your normal diet when you go away because it gives you the chance to indulge. This is fine, and you should feel as though you can enjoy the food that your destination has to offer. Relish the taste, and don’t be afraid to try something new. It can be difficult to try something new on a menu because you aren’t sure if you’re going to like it and this can feel like a waste of money. That being said, you’ll never know unless you give it a go and that’s just part of the experience of going away!

Leave your Phone

If possible, you should always leave your phone in your room. You should also only check your messages twice every day. If you need your phone, then put it on silent. This will help you to be way more mindful and it will also help you to be more peaceful as well. It’s understandable if you find this hard to do, but it will work wonders for your stress levels and it will also help you to be more “in the moment”.

Read some Books

Books can really influence your state of mind. For this reason, you shouldn’t immerse yourself in something that is miserable or dark. Focus on happy books instead, and always try and read a magazine or two. This will help you to escape and it will also help you to boost your mood too, which is always a good thing.

Best Museums in Amsterdam

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Amsterdam Museums

Amsterdam is known for many things, but one thing you may not think of when dreaming of this Dutch city is Museums. Few people realize that Amsterdam is actually home to over 50 museums, many of which are very interesting and thought provoking. Some of them are strange. Here is a list of some of the interesting ones you might want to check out the next time (or first time) you travel to Amsterdam.

BEST MUSEUMS IN AMSTERDAM

Het Grachtenhuis Museum
This is a special museum located on one of the most beautiful and upmarket Herengracht canal. It explores the history of the canal district (a world heritage site) with 3D animation, models, projections and an interactive multimedia exhibition. A very modern look at Amsterdam’s history and a great way to start to your visit.

Tulip Museum
The tulip is often used as a symbol of the Netherlands, so this museum is quite popular with locals and tourists alike. If you love botany, history, or tulips in general, this is the museum for you.

Anne Frank House
The hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II is now a museum and is one of the biggest attractions in Amsterdam. See how hard it was and view the original diary on display while at this location. Book a rental car at Schiphol Airport and take the 20 minute drive to the historic museum. This is a must do but get there early because the lines can be long.

Amsterdam Museums - The Anne Frank House

NEMO Science Museum
A hands on museum, NEMO is very popular among children. Science and technology are the themes here, so it’s a must visit if you’re with kids on vacation. Get a Museumkaart or I Amsterdam City Card for free admission. Ask about discounted group rates!

Torture Museum
This place brings out the macabre in everyone. View a collection and learn about some of the oldest cruelest torture methods of the past. Thankfully most of these methods are no longer in use. The fact that most of what’s on display are actual artifacts is particularly disturbing.

Museum of Bags and Purses 
To me, being surrounded by this many handbags and purses seems like a scene from the previous museum!

National Maritime Museum
The museum is dedicated to maritime history and contains many artefacts associated with shipping and sailing. The collection contains, paintings, scale models, weapons and world maps. Moored directly outside the museum is a replica of the Amsterdam, an 18th-century ship which sailed between the Netherlands and the East Indies.

Van Gogh Museum
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Amsterdam, explore the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh work. A must-see for any traveling virtuoso, see his work and learn about his life story. You won’t be disappointed!

The Rijksmuseum
This is the Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam. It showcases national treasurers and artifacts from over 800 years of Dutch history. The museum is located at the Museum Square in the borough Amsterdam South, close to the Van Gogh Museum. Again, a must visit!

There are of course more museums, including the Museum of The Canals, the Costume Museum, the Heineken Experience, the Houseboat Museum and more. They make for an interesting day and a way to quickly immerse yourself in Dutch culture and history.

Can you think of any interesting or strange museums that are in Amsterdam?