Perched on the rocks, clinging to the southern ramparts of Dubrovnik’s city walls, Buža I is a not-so-hidden, yet hard to find gem. If you can find the entrance that pierces the city walls you’ll be greeted with unobstructed stunning views in shades of Mediterranean blue. Just limit yourself to a drink or two because there are no bathrooms and few railings.
Love motels often get a bad rap but don’t dismiss them just because they can be rented by the hour. If you find the right one, for less than a tourist hotel you’ll get a room that’s head and shoulders above. Think larger beds, jacuzzi tubs, huge tvs, free minibar and in room PCs for starters.
It was only by chance that I stayed at the Listowel Arms Hotel at all. The fog in Dingle had canceled my plans to drive around the peninsula so my dad and I decided to push on towards Galway that afternoon and stop when it got close to dark. That lucky town was Listowel, Co. Kerry – “the Literary Capital of Ireland”. I noticed a plaque outside noting that the hotel was associated with Daniel O’Connell, The Liberator, and also with C.S. Parnell. If it was good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for us.They had a twin room free for a rather princely sum of 60 euro each but where else were we going to go in the dark? This was the only game in town. The price did include wifi, full Irish breakfast and parking until 9am, so there was that. When I got to the room I noticed that, while the room had two twin beds, they…
Traveling on a budget means different things to different people. For some, it’s traveling as cheaply as possible. For others, it means having a fixed limit in mind and prioritizing where that money is spent. When I travel, I look for somewhere that’s clean, safe and in a good location. Anything else is a bonus. I’ve considered the hostel dorm, but it’s just not my style. What options do I have left?
Sometimes it’s the simple, unplanned things that leave an impression, like the lunch my father and I had in Mullingar, Ireland. It wasn’t a planned stop. We had no list of things to see or places to eat or have a pint. We were simply on our way from Galway to Belfast and in need of food and Mullingar was in the right place at the right time.
Blarney Castle and its famous stone weren’t originally part of my plan when I took my dad to Ireland. However, once we realized how close it was to Cork we thought “What the hell, even if it’s cheesy let’s check it out.” I’m glad we did. We arrived early in the morning and almost had the place to ourselves. Climbing the very narrow spiral staircase was a little nerve-wracking and our moment with the stone was a blur, but we spent lots of time exploring the other rooms and castle grounds. Even if you think the folklore surrounding this castle is a load of blarney, I’d still recommend making a visit if you’re near Cork.
Hi, I'm Melissa! I'm a web designer and digital marketer by trade, a newbie gardener, a shoe lover and a travel junkie. The travel bug hit me hard in 2012 and, ever since, I've been attempting to make the most of it while still working 9-5.
I want to inspire you to get out there and see the world, push your own limits and look good while doing it.
