Ireland Travel Tips

A year ago my family went to southern Ireland for a week. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, while Southern Ireland is part of the European Union.  The only things we booked before arriving was our first and last night hotel stays and a rental car.  Other than that we decided to take it day by day based on what we liked and how our 11 month old did.  Here are five travel tips to help your vacation in Ireland go smoothly and save you money. You can travel to Ireland with a baby.

1. Book a rental car in the US online.  It is generally cheaper to book a rental car online before arriving at the airport.  One thing to consider is most auto insurance companies (and credit cards) do not cover car rental insurance in Ireland because you drive on the left side of the road.  Therefore, plan on spending about as much for insurance as you do to rent the car.  We paid around 150 Euros for a week for a manual transmission compact car.  Automatic cars are more expensive to rent but worth it if you are uncomfortable shifting with your left hand.

2. Bed & Breakfasts are plentiful.  We had no problem finding a B&B while in Ireland.  In fact, we were able to be picky if we got to a town early enough.  Every B&B we stayed at had a crib for our baby and served a delicious breakfast.

3. Slow down.  Ireland is a beautiful country, so take some time to relax, enjoy the locals, and the natural beauty.

4. Save money.  There are many grocery stores that are similar to the ones in the States.  One way we saved money was buying prepared sandwiches, sliced fruits and vegetables from a grocery store.

5. Pubs aren't just for night life.  Most pubs serve lunch.  While the menu is limited you can still get a decent sandwich or hamburger at most pubs.  Families are often welcomed during lunch.

Family Camping

If your vacation budget is tight this year why not consider camping?  Most kids love camping.  If you have never taken your kids camping you may consider packing your car and heading out for a weekend or longer camping trip.  Camping is usually a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel.  If you don't own a tent you can buy a new one for under $100.  The views are generally a lot better too.  Spring and Fall are usually the best times to go camping, depending on where you camp of course.

Many campsites charge by the site.  So if you have more than one tent you can share one campsite and have two tents depending on your children's ages.

Some people like myself cringe at the thought of using the bathroom in the woods.  Thankfully many campsites have restrooms and shower facilities.  But if you prefer to go more "natural" there are plenty of campsites that do not have restroom and shower facilities nearby as well.

If camping in a tent is not your thing, many campsites also offer cabins for rent.  If you camp during a rainy season this might be a good choice anyway.

America is blessed with many parks, forests, mountains, and beaches.  Here are some useful websites to help you plan your next camping trip.

National Parks

National Parks by State
Search National Parks by Interests and Activities
Geographic National Park Search

State Parks

Search Parks by State
Find a Park by name, location, or activity

USDA Forest Service

Search national forests and grasslands

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Parks

Corps of Engineers Parks

Beach Camping

Great resource for Beach Camping Parks
Where does your family like to camp?

Airline Shopping Tips

Summer will be here before you know it.  Depending on where you plan to take your family vacation this year, you may need to buy plane tickets.  While many airlines offer “special prices,” there are tips to get the best price.  Here are some tips to getting the most out of your dollar when buying airplane tickets.
To get the best price on airplane tickets for your next family vacation follow these 5 tips from Harry R. Weber.

1. The sweet spot: Buy early in the week. 

According to Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com, airlines are doing more short-lived sales, with three-day sales becoming the norm. These deals are typically put in the system on Monday nights, so you need to shop from Tuesday through Thursday to get the cheapest prices, he said. 

2. Do the comparisons. 

Many airlines offer "special weekend" rates but exclude Friday and Sunday for the best fares.  Consider taking off an extra day or two and leave on a Thursday and return on a Monday or Tuesday.

3. Be mindful of your location. 

Airlines may more frequently hawk fare sales from their hub cities. For instance, Chicago is a hub for United Airlines, while Miami is a hub for American Airlines. More flights into and out of those cities means more seats to fill. This can lead to more chances for discounts, depending on season and other factors. 

Veteran Minneapolis travel industry expert Terry Trippler advises people in a non-hub city to be ready to buy just about anytime a sale is offered. 

Those in hub cities can be more patient. 

4. Pay your fees up front. 

Some of the good feeling generated from scoring a great deal can dissipate if you get hit with more than $50 in bag fees. So, pack light and use all that space in your carry-on bags. 

When you do check bags, be aware that some airlines charge more if you pay the fee at the airport. You can pay up front on your airline's Web site and save some money. 

US Airways, for instance, charges $23 to check your first bag online, but $25 at the airport. For a second checked bag, US Airways gets $32 online or $35 at the airport. 

If you have a lot of bags, consider shipping them to your destination.  See more on shipping your bags early here. 

5. Wait, but not too long. 

You don't have to book months in advance to get the best deals. Many airlines are recycling similar sales over and over again as they seek to fill planes amid a turnaround in demand for air travel. 

While some airlines offer last-minute deals to certain points on certain days, in general for leisure travel it is a good idea to give yourself a cushion of at least a month from the time you buy your ticket to the time you plan to travel. 

Hopefully these tips will help save you money on your next flight.
If you're traveling with a baby you can find some helpful travel tips here.
There are several great websites to help you compare prices on air travel.  While my favorite website to buy airplane tickets and compare prices is Kayak, FareCompare is a good resource too.