Since it’s been a while since I have traveled internationally, I have been looking at my pictures of vacations from past years.

In 2017, I told hubs that we were taking an international trip to a new location. I wanted a new stamp in my passport.

He got to pick the country. He chose Ireland.

Not knowing much about the country, I began reading tourist blogs and watching YouTube channels dedicated what to do when visiting the country.

As I reminisce about that trip, here are my top 5 travel tips

-Do go to The Church and sit in the bar area (their food was phenomenal and they used to have live music and Irish dancers Monday-Wednesday). They take pub food to another level. If you get the roast chicken, it is big enough to share. Add on a dessert for a discounted price.

-Do book a bus tour to Cliffs of Moher (it’s a long day but totally worth it). It’s a win-win because you get to see the countryside, relax while someone else drives, and see breathtaking natural beauty.

-Do check buying your tour tickets online for best value (we saved 40% with Darby tours by booking online)

-Do go to Pennys for cute fashion at a value price. They have something for everyone. I bought some comfy pajamas.

Do a hop on-hop off city bus tour to get the layout and history of the whole city (we chose Do Dublin and added the Guinness brewery tour). You can hop off and visit the sites and then hop back in the bus to travel around the rest of the city.

Here are my top three DONT’S in the city

-Don’t be intimidated by riding the Luas aka “the tram” (its easy to navigate and people are generally helpful)

-Don’t believe it when the locals say “tram travel time is about 15 minutes” (whatever travel time estimate they give, you probably better triple that)

-Don’t forget that they drive on the left (be careful when crossing the street or only use crosswalks)

Final thoughts: Ireland is a BEAUTIFUL country and I think everyone should visit at least once.

I can’t wait to return!