Discount Tours Ireland
Unforgettable Adventure, College Student Budget
By the time my junior year in college started I was mentally exhausted from listening to my fellow classmates indulge about their Caribbean cruises, Mexican vacations, and spring break trips to Florida. I am a working, fulltime student but my paycheck never seems to stretch as far as I want it to.
So after several caffeine induced all-nighters I carefully devised a plan to backpack the west coast of Ireland for 8 days over summer break. In order for this to happen I had to put myself on a strict budget which meant no fancy hotels and tours. I wasn't about to let it ruin my plans, in fact I was going to embrace it. If I was going to have an unforgettable, safe trip I knew that I had to bring my best friend. Together we would create an adventure everyone would envy. Preparing to Leave: The easiest way to obtain a passport is to apply at your local post office. There is an application fee and the proper paperwork must be filed. The time it takes to be processed varies so it is best to check the government's website (www.travel.state.gov) for any passport questions you may have. It is important to contact your bank and credit card company in advance to let them know the dates and locations of your trip so they do not lock your account on fraud alert. For several weeks we watched as air fare prices fluctuated. This was the most expensive purchase for the trip. We purchased our tickets 5 months in advance for $835 round trip through American Airlines. You can use student discount websites (www. studentuniverse.com) to purchase tickets, but after doing some research we found that buying the tickets through the airline was actually over a hundred dollars cheaper. Packing your belongings: As I crammed the fourth pair of jeans into my backpack I sighed in disbelief because I realized that everything was not going to fit. The backpack that once looked so big on the rack in the sporting goods store was ready to bust at the seams. I had read in a travel magazine that it is crucial that you pack as light as possible. The whole trip I remember thinking that I could have packed less. I realized there is no room to pack the latest fashion trends; in fact I never even wore the heels I took. The most important things I took were an umbrella and a camera. Laundry services are available for a small fee at most hostels so you don't have to worry about running out of clothes. Getting From Here to There: The Hertz rent-a-car booth was our first stop as we came out of customs at Dublin Airport. After reviewing the $600 bill the clerk handed us we decided to check the bus station for prices. They conveniently also have a booth located in the airport. Although we dreaded the idea of taking the bus because we didn't want to be held back by departure times, it was much cheaper. Looking back Bus irann, the national coach bus system in Ireland, ended up saving a significant amount of our time. We were able to nap after a long night and plan for the day. For fewer than 25 Euros a person, we could get to almost any city we wanted. On one bus ride I met a friendly Irish couple that told me all about how half of their family migrated to the United States during the great potato famine. Of course a tour guide could tell you the same information but for me, hearing it from everyday people was more interesting and genuine. Reserving Somewhere to Sleep: Before we left for our trip we created a basic outline of what cities we wanted to visit and we explored several sleeping options. Hostels offered a variety of options including everything from bunk beds to individual rooms. We booked our hostels for the trip in advance using the website (www.hostelworld.com) and not one of them cost over $15 a night per person. The website provides in depth room details and pictures. By Jena Dines - I am a college student studing journalism in Indiana. I love to travel, and collect antiques.Old Head Golf Links, Ireland, Hidden Links Golf Tours
6 Jun 2008 at 11:23am
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