Tag Archives: Vacation

Dr. Wilda Reviews: Ireland as a value vacation destination

31 Dec

Moi was invited to the “Jump into Ireland” presentation which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle. The presentation included a complimentary no host bar including Guinness and other beers along with dinner which showcased Irish food and consisting of:

Salmon Irish Soda Bread Scones Lamb Stew Roasted Potatoes Cabbage Corned Beef An assortment of Irish Cheese and Butter An assortment of deserts including Guinness Chocolate and Cheese Cake

Information about Ireland can be found at “Jump into Ireland”: http://www.ireland.com/en-us/campaign/jump-into-ireland/

The headline of the presentation was no matter the number of stars one wants for their accommodation, Ireland delivers value from three stars to five stars at a price which is lower than continental Europe or Britain. A three star bed and breakfast starts at about $80 a night. The presentation emphasized the different regions of Ireland and the”Wild Atlantic Way” which is the longest designated driving route in the world. Another Highlight was Irish Design 2015 which is described as:

Irish Design 2015 is the start of a job creation journey exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design and designers through events and activities on the island of Ireland and internationally…. http://www.dccoi.ie/year-of-irish-design-2015

Irish Design 2015 is a year of activities and presentations. Another interesting tidbit was Belfast’s association with the Titanic. Both Waterford Crystal and Guinness have stunning visitor centers. Belleek Pottery is one of the oldest working potteries in the world and has been in operation since 1857.

Getting to Ireland from the West Coast is easy with non-stop Aer Lingus service to Dublin from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Dublin service on Ethiopian Airlines. Ireland is a perfect vacation for the value conscious who want the European experience with great value and a choice of venues from urban sophistication, village, rural, or a golf experience. For those interested in fishing and hunting, one can also have those experiences. Accommodation ranges from bed and breakfast to castles and everything in between. The key word is value.

Because of the value, no matter how many stars wants for their accommodation, Dr. Wilda gives the presentation a thumbs up.

YouTube Videos:

There are several US partners to the “Jump into Ireland” campaign:

Brendan Vacations – Whitney Ramirez wramirez@brendanvacations.com l (800) 687-1002 l http://www.brendanvacations.com

CIE Tours International – Angela Restivo a.viscito@cietours.com l (214) 809-6257 l http://www.cietours.com

Isle Inn Tours – Michael Hawe mike@isleinntours.com l (703) 683-4800 l http://www.isleinntours.com

Sceptre Tours – Bonnie Garret bgarrett@sceptretours.com l (800) 221-0924 l http://www.sceptretours.com

Premier Golf – Bill Hogan bill.hogan@premiergolf.com l (866) 260-4409 l premiergolf.com

Specialized Travel Services – Katie Daly Katie.Daly@special-ireland.com l (800) 664-7474 l http://www.special-ireland.com

Island of Ireland Based Partners:

Ballinahinch Castle – Carol Hinch carol@ballynahinch-castle.com l +353 (95) 31006 l http://www.ballynahinch-castle.com

B&B Ireland – Helena Healy hhealy@bandbireland.com l +353 (71) 98 22222 l http://www.bandbireland.com

Guinness Storehouse – Fiona Herald Fiona.herald@diageo.com l http://www.diageo.com

Shelbourne Hotel – Sheila O’Sullivan sheila.osullivan@renaissancehotels.com l +353 (1) 663 4500 l http://www.renaissancehotels.com

Adams & Butler – Hallmark of Luxury Travel – Siobhan Byrne Learat Siobhan@adamsandbutler.com l +353 (1) 288 9355 l http://www.adamsandbutler.com

House of Waterford Crystal – David Mc Coy david.mccoy@wwrd.com l http://www.wwrd.com

Secret Ireland Escapes – Mark O’Dwyer mark@luxuryyachtingireland.com l http://www.luxuryyachtingireland.com

Ireland’s Blue Book – Michelle Maguire Michelle@irelandsbluebook.com l +353 (1) 676 9914 l http://www.irelandsbluebook.com

Ashford Castle – Regina O’Donoghue Sales@ashfordcastle.com l +353 (94) 9546003 l http://www.ashfordcastle.com

Railtours Ireland First Class – Jim Deegan jim@railtoursireland.com l +353 (1) 856 0045 l http://www.railtoursireland.com

Lough Eske Castle, A Solis Hotel & SPA – Sean Carney sean.carney@solishotels.com l +353 (74) 97 25100 l http://www.solishotels.com

Monart Hotel & SPA Liam Anthony Griffin liamagriffin@griffingroup.ie l +353 (53) 92 38999 l http://www.griffingroup.ie

Northern Ireland Based Partners:

Fermanagh Lakelands Tourism/Lough Erne Golf Resort – Andrew Phelan & Tanya Cathcart apelan@Loughernresort.com l tanya@fermananaghlakelands.com +44 (0) 28 6632 3110 http://www.fermanaghlakelands.com

National Trust Northern Ireland – Gillian Little gillian.little@nationaltrust.org.uk l +44 (0) 28 9751 2365 l http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ni

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The 10/30/13 Joy Jar

1 Nov

Moi is looking forward to being on two weeks of vacation at Christmas. Just to have time to relax and just read and go to movies will be welcome. Today’s deposit into the ‘Joy Jar’ is a much needed vacation.

“The only problem with politicians taking two week vacations every year is it’s about 50 weeks too short.
”
Jarod Kintz, The Days of Yay are Here! Wake Me Up When They’re Over.

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”
Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now

“In matters of healing the body or the mind, vacation is a true genius!”
Mehmet Murat ildan

“What shall you do all your vacation?’, asked Amy. “I shall lie abed and do nothing”, replied Meg.”
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Laughter is an instant vacation.
Milton Berle

A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.
Earl Wilson

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.
Robert Orben

If we would only give, just once, the same amount of reflection to what we want to get out of life that we give to the question of what to do with a two weeks’ vacation, we would be startled at our false standards and the aimless procession of our busy days.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher

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The 07/03/13 Joy Jar

3 Jul

Tomorrow is the 4th of July and aside from celebrating this country and all it represents, moi is turning the 4th into a day of rest. She is going to the Seattle Art Museums which are FREE, going to read and get a big ice cream cone. Today’s deposit into the ‘Joy Jar’ are days of rest.

“Rest and be thankful.”
William Wordsworth

“Silence

It has a sound, a fullness.
It’s heavy with sigh of tree,
and space between breaths.
It’s ripe with pause between birdsong
and crash of surf.
It’s golden they say.
But no one tells us it’s addictive.”
Angela Long

“I make no secret of the fact that I would rather lie on a sofa than sweep beneath it.”
Shirley Conran

“There are hours for rest, and hours for wakefulness; nights for sobriety and nights for drunkenness—(if only so that possession of the former allows us to discern the latter when we have it; for sad as it is, no human body can be happily drunk all the time).”
Roman Payne, Rooftop Soliloquy

“God never asked us to meet life’s pressures and demands on our own terms or by relying upon our own strength. Nor did He demands that we win His favor by assembling an impressive portfolio of good deeds. Instead, He invites us to enter His rest.”
Charles R. Swindoll

“If I’d waited until I was well rested to read, I never would have read anything.”
Will Schwalbe, The End of Your Life Book Club

“Everything needs a break.”
Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity

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The 05/23/13 Joy Jar

23 May

 

Moi is anticipating the Loooong Memorial Day Weekend. She needs the rest. Today’s deposit into the ‘Joy Jar is the anticipation of a restful Memorial Day Weekend which heralds the anticipation of Summer.

After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working.
Kenneth Grahame

The only way to go on holiday is with your expectations at ground level. Convince yourself before you go that the weather’s going to be dreadful and there will be nylon sheets. You’ll then be pleasantly surprised.
Jenny Eclair

I’m a minimalist. I don’t really need much to enjoy a good holiday – just my family and the bare essentials. Jean Reno

Thank God its friday, thank God for the long weekend, thank God for my BED. Unknown

Working hours are never long enough. Each day is a holiday, and ordinary holidays are grudged as enforced interruptions in an absorbing vocation. Unknown

“A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours.” John B. Priestly

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