GUIDE TO IRELAND / NORTHERN IRELAND!!

If you're here it's surely because you're thinking of going to Ireland or still dreaming about it! I wrote this little guide to help you plan your trip across the Irish countryside!

So here I'll explain what companies are the best (according to me) about airplanes, how to move around, hostels...

PLANE TICKETS

RYANAIR

• Checked paying baggage up to 20kg (15 to 50€  if you buy online otherwise it's 25 to 50€)
• Cabin baggage up to 10kg + purse
• Low-cost airline
• Irish airline

AER LINGUS

• Checked paying baggage up to 40kg (60 to 85€, cheaper for 15, 20 or 25kg) within Europ
• Checked baggage up to 23kg (free) 
• Cabin baggage up to 10kg + purse
• Low-cost airline
• Irish airline

FROM FRANCE TO IRELAND

• Air France
• Air Corsica
• Transavia France

OTHER COMPANIES THAT GOES TO IRELAND

• British Airways
• Flybe
• Luxair
• KLM
• Iberia
• SAS
• Lufthansa
• Vueling Airlines
• City Jet
• Swiss

TRANSPORT

BUSES

• Bus Eireann
• Ulsterbus
• Translink

CARS AND VANS (Careful you're driving on the left side of the road)

• Sixt (I took that one, but be careful if you're under 25, it'll be more expensive and you've got to have your driving license for more than 2 years 25 years old or not)
• Avis
• Hertz
• Europcar
• Car hire
• Budget
• Entreprise

FERRY

• Brittany Ferries
• Stena Line
• Irish Ferries
• P&O Ferries
• Kintyre Express
• The Isle of Man 

(Convenient if you want to take your own car while visit Ireland/Northern Ireland)

HOSTELS

I have to admit I didn't do much of hotels or youth hostels, most of my trip to Ireland was with Airbnb and I think that was the best.

PADDY'S PALACE

• BELFAST
• Kinda nice
• Nice staff
• Small dormitory
• Not too far from the city center
• More information

THE HIDEOUT HOSTEL

• DINGLE
• Small dormitory
• Nice staff
• Near the city center
• In the lonely planet
• More information

ASHFIELD YOUTH HOSTEL

• DUBLIN
• Crazy 
• Nice place
• In the city center
• Super staff
• Highly recommended
• More information

AIRBNB

• Charles in Malin Head (Best seafood I've ever had is in Malin Head)!!
• Paul & Susan on Sligo
• Joseph in Westport, Mayo ("sight"...Joseph...it was just Amazing to stay at his Airbnb)
• Anna Marie in Cork
• Duncan in Kilkenny (I love Kilkenny like if you're into cats and witches this is your place!)

FOOD

SEAVIEW 

• MALIN HEAD
• Best seafood ever
• Not to expensive
• Great view 
• Nice staff
• More information

ST GEORGE'S MARKET

• BELFAST
• Great food
• Amazing place to enjoy yourself
• Any kind of food
• Every prices
• Lots of entertainment
• Not just food
• More information

MURPHY'S ICE CREAM

• DINGLE
• It's Ice Cream
• One of the best I've ever tasted
• "Unlike anything you've ever tasted" 
• Said by the National Geographic Traveler not me
• Handmade
• More information

MUST DO!!

I hope you'll enjoy those places like I did!!

• Croagh Patrick (climb it when it's not raining...small advice)
• The Giant's Causeway
• Malin Head...find the Hell's Hole
• Kylemore Abbey
• The Cliff of Moher
• Slieve League
• Dingle Peninsula (take a tour in Dingle to see Fungie the Dolphin)
• The gap of Dunloe
• Fair Head
• Dublin
• Kilkenny (GO TO THE KYTELER'S INN) 
• Killarney
• Corks
• Enjoy the many Pubs of Galway (go buy a ring in Claddagh!)
• Walk through the famous Connemara  
• If you're lucky enough and the weather is in your favor go to Skellig Island
• Go to Killarney kiss the Blarney Stone
• Eat the best seafood at Malin Head
• Visit Belfast
• Go to the Guinness Storehouse (please when you'll pass the test of the Guinness don't do like me...don't forget your diploma on the table while leaving the storehouse!)
• Trinity College and the BOOK OF  KELLS ( that is not something you want to miss)

SPECIAL FAN OF GOT (GAME OF THRONES)

• The Dark Hedges
• Cushendun Caves
• Tollymore Forest
• Ballintoy Harbour
• Inch Abbey
• Then the last but not the least Winterfell (north of Belfast, Winterfell tour, Castle, and Demesne)
• Sleep in their Glamping Cabin and wear Sansa's Cloak or John's
• Learn how to shoot the white walkers with a Bow and Arrow with a special trainer
• Live in Winterfell for a night or two!!

Hope I've not forgotten places...but it can be the case I have like people say "my head int he clouds", still I'm hoping these will help you plan your trip! don't hesitate in leaving a comment if you want more information or just to ask me anything! 

MY OTHER POSTS ABOUT IRELAND:

• 10 PLACES YOU MUST VISIT IN IRELAND
• PLANNING MY ROADTRIP TO IRELAND
• IRELAND PHOTO DIARY

PLEINS DES BISOUS

GUIDE TO SCOTLAND!!!

If you're here it's surely because you're thinking of going to Scotland or still dreaming about it! I wrote this little guide to help you plan your trip with the Scots.
So in here, I'll explain what companies are the best (according to me) about airplanes, how to move around, hostels...

PLANE TICKETS

FLYBE

• Checked baggage up to 40kg
• Cabin baggage up to 10kg + purse
• Cheap airlines
• Small airplanes
• Pretty good company for a low cost

BRITISH AIRWAYS

• Checked baggage up to 2 baggage of 32kg
• Cabin baggage up to 23kg (40x30x15cm)
• Good company
• Really great when it comes to repayment when a flight is canceled (from my experience)

I only know those ones really, but there are others like:

FROM FRANCE TO SCOTLAND

• Air France
• VuelAirlinesines
• Transavia
• Easyjet
• Ryanair
• Jet2
• Thomson Airways

OTHER COMPANIES THAT GOES TO SCOTLAND

• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Brussel airways
• Air Lingus
• Hop!
• SAS
• Iberia
• BMI regional
• Finnair

TRANSPORT

BUSES

• Scottish Citylink (I took this one, and it was perfect)
• Stagecoach
• Mega Bus
• National Express (Also took this one and it was great)

CARS AND VANS

• Alamo rent a car
• Europcar & Van hire
• Avis
• Arnold Clark
• Easycar
• Enterprise rent a car
• Hertz
• National car hire
• Rhino 
• Nation Wide
• Sixt
• Thrifty

Always be careful to your age and driving license (if you're not 25 or if your driving license is not older that 2 years old some rental can refuse you a car!)

FERRY

• Calmac (Le Firth of Clyde and the inner and outer Hebrides)
• Argyll Ferries (Runs a regular service between Dunoon and Gourock)
• Northlink Ferries (Ferries to Orkneys and Shetland Islands)
• Pentland Ferries (Also goes to Orkneys and runs a car ferry from Gills Bay near John'o Groats to St Magaret's Hope, South Ronaldsay)
• John'o Groats Ferries (In summertime, from John'o Groats to Burwick, South Ronaldsay)
• Orkneys Ferries

HOSTELS

INVERNESS TOURIST HOSTEL

• INVERNESS
• Kind people
• Best Youth Hostel I've been in Scotland
• Living room always full of people playing music or watching tv
• Dormitory very quite and clean
• Kitchen was amazing
• Make yourself a cup of tea or Coffee
• Great bathrooms and toilets
• More information

ST CHRISTOPHER'S INN

• EDINBURGH
• Well place, city center
• Free Wifi
• Huge rooms
• Nice Chilling room
• Cafeteria/ restaurant in the Hostel
• Fun people
• Great view over Edinburgh
• More information

BLUESKY HOTEL

• GLASGOW
• DON'T GO
• DON'T GO
• Dormitory is awful, across the street
• No cafeteria
• Little Kitchen 
• Don't really feel welcomed
• Bathroom is in the basement
• Cheap £10 per night

I've heard that the TARTAN LODGE (More information)was great in GLASGOW.

FOOD

THE MUSTARD SEED

• INVERNESS
• Amazingly good
• Really delightful
• Great staff
• Not too expensive
• 3 plates £15
• Beautiful place
• More information

CHEZ JULES

• EDINBURGH
• French restaurant
• City center
• Cute place
• Nice staff
• Some Frenchies in the staff
• More information

THE DOME

• EDINBURGH
• Great restaurant
• Looks expensive
• Isn't expensive
• Great look
• City Center
• More information

BAGELMANIA

• GLASGOW
• Good place to eat bagels
• Not expensive
• Really good
• Changes from the usuals

MUST DO!!

Well like every time I have some places that I think you have to go if you go to Scotland!! Here are some of them!!

• Loch Ness
• Loch Lomond
• Hike in the Highlands
• Visit Castles ( Dunvegan, Elcho, St Andrews, Drumlanrig, Edinburgh Castle, Ballindalloch, Dunnotar...and I'm surely missing many but you got the idea...visit Castles!!)
• The Island of Skye
• cycling
• Take a picture with a Piper
• Go to a Pub
• Buy a Tartan
• Walk through the streets
• Visit a university (Glasgow University is just WOW)
• The museums
• Taste Whisky in the many Distilleries there is
• Go on an Island
• Explore sea life

There is really so much to do in Scotland if you are interested here is VISITSCOTLAND.

Have fun in Scotland!!!!

I hope this little guide will help you if you have more questions I've written other posts on Scotland and you can ask me anything by email or on my social media...or just leave me a comment!

MY OTHER POSTS ABOUT SCOTLAND:

• SCOTLAND-EDINBURGH
• SCOTLAND-INVERNESS
• SCOTLAND-GLASGOW

PLEINS DES BISOUS

GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA!

If you're here it's probably because you're thinking about going to Australia soon or still dreaming about it! I wrote this little guide to help you plan your trip in Oz.
So, n here I'll explain what companies are the best (according to me) about airplanes, campervan, youth hostels....

Plane Tickets

EMIRATES

• Checked Baggage up to 35kg 
• Cabin Baggage 7kg (handbag + purse)
• One stop (mandatory) in Dubaï
• Meal (pretty much all the time)
• Tv, music, video games, and counting...
• They give you a pack of toothpaste, toothbrush, socks, blanket and a night mask.
• More information

ETIHAD

• Checked Baggage up to 2 baggages - 23kg each 
• Cabin Baggage 7kg (handbag + purse)
• One stop (mandatory) in Abu Dhabi
• Meal (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Tv, music, video games, and counting...
• They give you a pack of socks, blanket and that thing to block the light while sleeping (don't know its name in any language!)
• More information

QANTAS

• Checked Baggage up to 23kg  
• Cabin Baggage 7kg (handbag + purse)
• One stop Dubaï or London
• Meal (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Tv, music, video games, and counting...
• They give you a pack of toothpaste, toothbrush, socks, blanket and a night mask.
• More information

These, of course, aren't the cheapest companies but I think that for a 24h flight or more...being comfortable and entertained is quite important!

CAMPER VANS

Since I can't really tell you much about those vans, I'm gonna just...link them below! That's if you rent a Mini Van...

• WICKED CAMPERS
• Best to have fun
• Colorful vans
• Good fit
• One of the most famous
• More information

• SPACESHIPS
• Orange Van
• One of the must appreciate companies
• Not that expensive
• Good fit
• More information

• JUCY RENTALS
• Famous Green and purple van
• Really good fit
• One of the must rented van
• More information

 HOSTELS

TROPIC DAYS

• CAIRNS
• Backpackers hotel
• BBQ every Thursday (discovery of Australian meat, Kangaroo, Crocodile, Emu, and lot of others..) you can also go to the club after the BBQ!
• two bathrooms (one really is amazing)
• plenty of rooms, although you will share your room if you're not at least three or four)
• Great people
• More information

NEWTOWN HOTEL SPACE

• SYDNEY
• Backpackers hotel 
• Inside Wesley College
• Near a park
• About 30min on foot to the City Center
• Hotel looks like Hogwarts
• Shared showers
• Nothing to eat inside the hotel
• Great atmosphere
• More information

RIVERVIEW MOTEL

• BRISBANE
• 15min of foot to the City Center
• can arrive at any time at the motel (I arrived at 1 am)
• microwave, shower...all the advantage of a motel
• not too expensive
• quite
• nice view
• More information

CAPE TRIBULATION CAMPING

• CAPE TRIBULATION
• Great spot
• Near the great Barrier Reef
• Inside the Daintree Forest
• Camping ground
• Good bar
• Good restaurant
• A rooster named Obama
• Shared showers and toilets
• THE BEST PLACE YOU'LL EVER GO!
• Even though I've been told that it moved to another place since I've been there!
• More information

FOOD

FOUR BIRDS

• DARWIN
• Breakfast spot (Can be for lunch but I never tasted it other than for breakfast)
• Homemade muffins (flavor changes every day)
• Great coffee, hot cocoa, cappuccino...basically everything you like
• Not too expensive
• places to eat outside
• In the City Center
• Not too busy 
• Just great (I had my breakfast there almost every morning while in Darwin)
• More information

LENTIL AS ANYTHING

• MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY (mostly Melbourne)
• Pay as you feel...or become a volunteer
• Vegetarian food
• Breakfast/lunch/dinner
• Eat with people you don't know (make friends)
• Take as much food as you want
• A la carte for breakfast and dinner
• Buffet for lunch
• Can be reserved
• More information

GARDENER'S LODGE CAFE

• SYDNEY (Victoria Park)
• Great view over the park
• Good food
• Amazing cocoa (tasted it, loved it), coffee (for what I've heard)
• Flavor of the Bush...as they say
• It's really good even though it's expensive 
• More information

DARWIN'S NIGHT MARKET

• DARWIN
• Only on Thursdays and Sundays
• Great food from all over the world
• Great atmosphere
• Not only about food
• Over the beach to eat while watching the sunset
• Just a must do
• More information

ZAM ZAM CAFE

• MELBOURNE
• Indian food
• Really cheap
• Good food
• Small cafe
• Lots of people
• Really fast service
• Not too many tourists
• More information

MUST DO!!

There are a few places I think are mandatory when you go to Australia, some of the most famous and others that I think are less touristic!

• Great barrier reef
• ULURU - KATA-TJUTA
• Daintree Forest
• Cape Tribulation
• Visiting Sydney on foot
• Observing the Three sister and Walking in the Blue Mountains
• Visiting Wolf Creek (if you like scary stories)
• Surfing and visiting Byron Bay 
• Walking 12km to find the Butterfly river in Gorge nature park
• Doing canoeing in Mataranka with the crocodiles
• Sleeping in the Bush (inside your protected van)
• Visiting or working (choose what you like) in the vineyard in Adelaïde
• Swimming with the Shark-Whales in Western Australia
• Going on a road trip on the Ocean Road 
• Tracking in the Grampians National Park and sleeping in the only free camping there is
• Jumping on the sand in Port-Douglas near St Mary's by the Sea
• Swinging on a liana by the sea in Cape Tribulation
• Driving along the Bruce Hgw and playing the game of question-answer they have installed along the road
• Going the night market in Darwin
• Walking through the wilderness of Fraser Island
• Observing the penguins in St Kilda Melbourne or on Philip Island
• Swimming in the Murray River near Albury
• Walking to the beach of the Sand Dune adventure (Quad biking) near Newcastle NSW
• Finding the remote Tropical forest of Yarram
• Taking crazy pictures at the Balconies at the Grampians NP
• Visiting Melbourne city
• Going to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Sure there is a lot more to do but I think for now it's enough, once you've done all of these come back to me and I will tell you about lots of others amazing place I've discovered during my time in Oz!!

I hope this Little guide will help you if you have more questions I've written other posts about Australia, I just thought that a guide with direct information would be more effective for those of you who just look for places to go or stuff to do without reading my entire life!! 

MY OTHER POSTS ABOUT AUSTRALIA:

• 8PLACES YOU MUST VISIT IN QUEENSLAND AND NORTHERN TERRITORY
• BECAUSE THIS IS AUSTRALIA
• WHERE TO GO IN SYDNEY
• MELBOURNE: THE CITY TO SEE
• SO NOT A GOOD DAY
• BUSY DAYS 2
• BUSY DAYS
• BRISBANE 1ST DAY
• LUNA PARK
• FEEL LIKE A NAP IN AUSTRALIA
• LOOKING FOR SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
• SYDNEY 1ST DAY

PLEINS DES BISOUS