Things to Do Before You Travel........Must read

Airfare,hotel accommodations and rental cars may be the holy trinity of travel preparation, but nailing down these aspects of your vacation is only the beginning of the trip planning process. If you want to achieve a smooth, headache-free trip (and who doesn't?), taking care of essential tasks like researching activities at your destination, managing your finances and getting your home in order is key. Don't leave home without accomplishing the following tasks!

Contact the Kennel and/or House Sitter

Once you have a travel date, your first move should be to contact your pet kennel or house sitter (or any other trustworthy service) to guarantee availability. You may even want to take care of this before booking

Take Care of "Stop" Orders andAdvance Payments

Once your travel is booked, you should look into placing "stop" orders on any regularly occurring deliveries or services. These may include postal mail, newspapers, housecleaners and the like. If you want particular services to continue (such as landscaping), consider paying in advance if this is not your usual arrangement.

Many service providers allow you to place stop orders online; this is particularly the case for mail delivery and most newspapers. As most stop orders require one or two business days' advance notice, make sure you take care of this at least three days before you travel.

Manage Your Cash Flow

If you're traveling domestically, be sure to hit your own bank before leaving for your trip; that way you won't arrive short on cash and have to immediately search for an ATM. Further, you will save on ATM fees at machines run by someone other than your own bank. These fees cost Americans billions of dollars annually, and can be exorbitant if you are forced to use airport or convenience store machines. Go to your bank's Web site and map out any available ATM locations near your destination so you are not forced to use other banks' machines.

If you're traveling overseas, the most economical option is to visit an ATM as soon as you arrive in your destination and make a withdrawal in the local currency. Check the Web site of the airport where you'll be arriving to make sure it has an ATM you can use. Most international airports have several, but if you're flying to a smaller airport in a developing country, there's no guarantee that there will be one (or that it will be working properly). In these cases, you may want to purchase some local currency ahead of time. For more details, see ATM's Abroad.

Call your bank or credit card company and let them know about your travel plans. Most banks and credit card companies keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected overseas purchase as credit card fraud. Your bank or credit card company could lock your account if you use your card in another country without notifying them.

Plan Your First Day 

The first day of your trip is often lost to logistics and unfamiliar surroundings. First you have to haul yourself and your stuff to a resting place. Then you have to figure out exactly where you are, what attractions are nearby and how best to use your limited time. Planning ahead will help you make the most of that first confusing day.

You may want to sketch out a walk near your digs, which can help you get oriented as well as shake off travel fatigue and jet lag. Also, check out any nearby amenities -- like a rooftop lounge nearby, a balcony with a choice view or a heated pool for maximum chill-out at the end of a harried travel day.

Map Out Your First Drive

Similarly, if you're going to be driving during your trip, it may be worth mapping out that first route ahead of time. Figuring out how to get where you are going in an unfamiliar location from a one-page map choked with advertising is risking more than just your afternoon; you could end up driving around with the doors locked and windows sealed in a neighborhood that is anything but tourist- or outsider-friendly. Mapping out your first drive as though you were mapping out an escape route will save you time and anxiety in those first stressful hours of your trip.

Pack Your Cell Phone Earpiece

While we're talking about driving, there is one modern item that has become an essential packing item: the cell phone earpiece. Local laws governing cell phone use while driving vary considerably, sometimes from one municipality to the next. Pack your cell phone earpiece in your carry-on bag and you will not find yourself on the side of the road with a red siren whirling in your rearview mirror.

Do a Web Search of Your Hobbies at Your Destination

You neverknow where you will find the "best of" in any given endeavor; for example, two of the best guitar stores in the world can be found in Staten Island, NY, and Carlsbad, CA. Who knew? The Seattle REI has a stunning indoor climbing wall while Tempe, Arizona has a fantastic rowing club in the middle of the desert. Do a little research and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find at your destination.

Check Public Transit Maps on the Web

On a recent trip to Seattle, a quick Web search on public transit produced two very worthwhile pieces of information: 1) the public monorail system was not working, and 2) the downtown bus system was free for the entire length of downtown. Not surprisingly for Seattle, it rained all weekend, and those buses proved very useful in making short trips of a few blocks, for which you would not want to drive, but neither did you want to slog through in the rain. A bit of research online before you leave will also allow you to check fares, print transit maps and plan your itinerary.

Check the Local Entertainment Listings

Most cities and even medium-sized towns have some kind of weekly entertainment rag, such as Time Out New York in New York City, The Stranger in Seattle or even The Ticket entertainment insert in Montgomery Township, PA.

These are excellent sources for entertainment listings, reviews, city "best-of" lists and more. It is best to check these from home, as you can then purchase advance tickets where necessary, make restaurant reservations, etc.

Check the Weather

The weather is the single factor most likely to affect your trip positively or negatively, and one of the things many people most take for granted. Of course it is going to be warm in Key West during the spring -- but there are always exceptions to prevailing weather patterns, especially during transitional seasons. A weather forecast can guide your packing strategy, and failure to check the weather can result in unprepared, unhappy and very soggy travelers.

Top 10 Reasons, why you Visit Ireland Once...Must Read.

Ireland has over 80 million diaspora worldwide.  We can’t go anywhere without hearing “Oh my God!  I’M Irish too,” followed closely by, “I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland but I never have”.  Recently, I’ve managed to convince some people I’ve met abroad to come to the famed Emerald Isle, and now I want to provide you with some of what I believe to be the best reasons to come visit my native land.

1.  Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair

The cliffs of Moher are listed as one of the seven natural wonders of Ireland, and are a protected Geo park. Peaking at over 700 feet tall, the cliffs range for about 8 kilometers (roughly 5 miles).  The cliffs are famous not only for their height, but also for the extreme weather it experiences, brought in by the Atlantic.

Many of you will actually have seen an example of this already.  The cliffs are featured in Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, in the scene where Dumbledore and Harry go to the cave where Voldemort has hidden the locket.  Because of the weather, the ten-second shot took three weeks to film.  Watch the scene, and you can see why this is such a tourist hotspot and, scarily enough, one of the most popular places in the country to surf.

2.  Oxegen

Although not taking place this year, Oxegen is an annual music festival that takes place every summer.  Now I know every country has its music festivals but, since starting up in 2004, Oxegen has shot its way up to being widely regarded as one of the best music festivals in the world.  In 2011, it won Best Line-Up at the European Festival Awards.  More than 80,000 people attend Oxegen, and the line-up frequently includes a wide variety of acts, with artists such as Beyoncé, Muse, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, The Who, and many more.

The general philosophy taken towards Oxegen is to buy the cheapest, most outrageous clothes you can find, stock up on alcohol, spend three days drunk and listening to your favourite artists, then leave with very little, and no parental-friendly, photographic evidence.  Oxegen returns in July 2013.

3.  Connemara (Conamara)

Connemara is another area on the coast of the Atlantic, although the region itself is not properly defined.  The location is world-famous for its marble, although that’s not why I’m including it in this list (seriously, Ireland’s not THAT boring).  No, the reason I’ve included Connemara in my top ten is because it’s one of the best places to go in the country if you’re looking to hike or take part in watersports.  



There are plenty of lakes and rivers that are among the most popular places to fish, kayak, etc., and the landscape is one of the most beautiful in the country.  The landscape is so famous, that part of one of Jupiter’s moons (Europa) is named after it.

4.  Book of Kells (Leabhar Cheanannais)

This book was written around the year 800, and is a Latin manuscript containing the Gospels of the New Testament, as well as a large amount of artwork.  This is one of the most famous historical artifacts in Ireland because of the extremely elaborate and artistic calligraphy.  Like most manuscripts from that era, 





the book is written on vellum (calf skin), and was written by monks.  Its most iconic feature is that the first letter of each page is the biggest and most elaborate on that page, taking up a large chunk of the top left.  And of course, life being as cruel as it is, one of the monks once started a new page and, upon finishing the elaborate first letter (which could take days), realised he’d done the wrong one.

5.  Giants Causeway (Clochán na bh Fomhórach)

Although this is located in Northern Ireland, which is currently a separate country and part of the United Kingdom, it is still on the Island of Ireland, and is a part of Native Irish folklore.  The Giants Causeway is another one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Ireland.  It’s an incredible area created by a volcanic eruption where the lava cooled almost instantly,





 leaving about 40,000, mostly hexagonal, columns.  The area derives its name from an old Irish legend, in which a warrior named Fionn MacCumhaill built the columns so that giants could step over to Scotland without getting their feet wet, presumably because they had just bought new shoes or something.  But I’m pretty sure it was really the volcano thing.

6.  Guinness Storehouse (Stóras Guinness)

Most of you will be familiar with Guinness.  It’s the most famous Irish drink, and we’re recognised for both it, and its record book, the world over.  But here are a few things most of you probably don’t know about our native stout, and the story surrounding it.  It was first made in 1759, making it 253 years old.  In 2009, the Guinness corporation celebrated the first “Arthur’s Day”, to commemorate Arthur Guinness.  





The holiday quickly caught on, with the tradition being to raise your pint at 17:59 on September 23rd, and toast “To Arthur”.

But one of the most unique things about the Guinness storehouse is that Arthur Guinness leased the site for 9,000 years, for a moderate fee of £45.  Another thing most people don’t know, which can be very annoying for Irish people ordering the drink abroad, is that the drink is supposed to be poured from tap until the glass is 3/4s full, left to settle, and then topped up off.

7.  Newgrange (Sí anBhrú)

One of the things that irks me most about Irish tourism is how much less well-known Newgrange is than Stonehenge.  Newgrange is far more impressive architecturally, aesthetically & functionally.  The site was built around 3200 BC, making it older than not only Stonehenge, but also every one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  When built, Newgrange was used for many reasons, including storage, burial, and (albeit disputed) religious ceremonies.

But its most important & famous use is that the site was designed and built in such a way that, on the day of the winter solstice, the sun shines through a small opening above the entrance, and reflects off a number of quartzite passages, which illuminates the whole chamber.  This is when the days of the year start to get longer, and would let the people know that it is time to start a new harvest year.

8.  The SkelligIslands (Na Scealaga)

The Skellig Islands are two small Islands off the coast of Country Kerry, in the Southwest of Ireland.  The islands are famous for a number of reasons, one of which is that they are extremely steep and jagged.  The islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, meaning the water can be extremely unstable.  For this reason, the islands are only accessible when the water is calm, usually in the summer period of the year, as any boats attempting to dock in the rough water could be rising and falling as much as 30 feet.

The larger island, Great Skellig, is home to a 6th century monastery, with many of the buildings having the iconic look of resembling stone igloos.  The islands are also known for the wide range of birds that can be found here, as well as seals, sharks, whales and dolphins that live in the water.

9.  Gaeltachts(Irish-Speaking Areas)

Some people think we only speak English in Ireland.  Others think we don’t speak English at all.  Some think our language is called “Gaelic” (it’s not, nor is Gaelic any one language at all).  One person I met even thought that, by saying I can speak Irish, I meant that I speak English with an Irish accent.

The truth is, for the majority of us, English is our first language.  But over a quarter of the population is fluent in Irish, and Gaeltachts are designated areas, protected by the Government, that live life through Irish on a day-to-day basis.  These are mostly on the west coast, as this was where Irish families were forced when Cromwell invaded from Britain.  The reason I have the English in parentheses is because nobody refers to them by anything other than “Gaeltacht”.

For an example of the Irish Language (called Gaeilge), watch this weather report.

And here are some written pronunciations to give you an idea of how unlike English it really is:

Glendalough (“Glen da lock”)

Ranelagh (“Wren a la”)

Dun Laoghaire (“Done Leary”)

Saibhne ó Gríobhthá (“Sev nah Oh Gree Oh Faw”)

10.  National Leprechaun Museum (Músaem Náisiúntana Leipreacháin)

Yes, you read that correctly.  In Dublin City centre, we have a museum devoted entirely to leprechauns.  Being a self-respecting Irishman myself, I have, of course, never been to this establishment, and was mortified when I read it was opening.  But we’re all tourists somewhere, and the same way I’m sure every New Yorker sighs each time an out-of-town visitor asks to go see Central Park, The Statue of Liberty,





 The Empire State Building, etc., I know that this is a huge attraction for North Americans of Irish heritage.  Featuring pots o’ gold and rooms filled with giant furniture to make you feel like a leprechaun, it would be a shame to travel to Ireland and not stop in.  At least ironically.

Eat, Love, Live Goa in ONE WEEK......!

Yes, I wonder at the irony of it too. Who would in their better senses wish to know - how to spend a week in Goa! One would rather be keen as to how to stop the time racing by or perhaps invent a whole new time measurement system when it comes to hours ticking and days passing.

I’m sure the millions of enthusiasts who land here through the year would swear by their flip flops and beach shorts; the to-do list, if you really insist on one at all – is quite simple. Eat, lounge, drink, lounge, party, and lounge some more. And do that in repeat mode on the beach!

But then again, if a week is all you have and you wish to spend each day experiencing life before getting back to the same old boardroom meetings and traffic jams, well I take no qualms admitting,  I lived each of those seven days doing what every stereotype in the travel book raves about. Here goes my recommendation of living it up in Goa-ah!

Day 1: Sunday

Set high standards for yourself; kick off your trip in the lala-land with lounging at Club Cubana, Arpora.  Unarguably the hottest nightspot, you step in and you know why.  You could opt to pay for the cover charges of Rs 1200 per couple or head to the cash bar. With only veg/non-veg pizzas as dining options – make sure it’s not food that’s on your mind. Fabulous music and free flowing drinks makes this place a hit and the crowd is great. With the lights luring ‘party animals’ of the town, the place truly lives up to its tag line, ‘The Club in the Sky’.

Baga Beach


Day 2: Monday

Needless to say, partying till the wee hours of the morning, kicks starts a laid-back Monday. Better still, beat the life in the fast lane and hire a two wheeler. For Rs 300 (petrol costs an extra Rs 80-90 per litre if bought loose) you buy yourself an all access pass to freedom. Well whoever told you money can’t buy you happiness – can go fly a kite! 

Moving onto more important matters, like a king-size breakfast! I’m told nothing beats the one at Brittos on Baga Beach, a hearty meal of scrambled eggs and fresh juice. To make sure you get your exercise after the heavy-duty eating, do window shop at the Baga beach market for trinkets, summer dresses, beach wears, hats and flip-flops. The bargaining can't get any more satisfying than this!

Talking of exercise , water sports at the adjoining Calangute Beach would be on the itinerary ( Rs 500 per person for 4 water rides on the banana boat , bumper boat, parasailing ( a dip costs Rs 150 extra) , water scooter would be the perfect dash of adventure that you can add to your otherwise ‘easy as a breeze Monday’ . The thought that you are getting all this fun at half the prize of what you would have otherwise got at the more commercial Baga Beach – Priceless!

Fort Aguada

That done, ride away to Fort Aguada for a dreamy sunset sojourn. Cross the little cafés and many bars and luxury resorts like the Kingfisher Villa along the way wondering how the city can be all pompous and humdrum all at the same time!

Post numerous touristy clicks, head back just in time for a quick cup of tea and a hot shower—and you are all set to party the night away at St Anthony’s on Baga Beach. With undoubtedly the best Karaoke in town, it’s a Monday night and yet the beach shacks run a packed house. 

Day 3: Tuesday

After the action packed, over ambitious Monday, time to slow things down a bit. Explore the quiet and serene beaches of Arambol. Scenic ride through narrow roads, traversing through small Goan villages and lush green patches, you can spot Arambol’s pearly white & blue shore line from a distance. As you come closer, the colorful shops with everything ranging from clothes to tattoo shops greet you. After an elaborate breakfast at one of the shacks, head to the sweet water lake stretch and laze for the better part of the day in beachwear that you can pick along the way.

King-size breakfast at Brittos

The valiant can tryout paragliding (Rs 1,400 per person for half an hour of soaring with the winds) and the impulsive can go for the mud bath with a dip in the ‘once’ sweet water lake. End the day on a perfect note as the sun sets into the quiet waves. Well not as yet, because another night of exploring the culinary trail on Baga Beach follows.

Choose a fine dining option at Cavalla (a very exclusive vintage restaurant, but a bit disappointing for the vegetarians) or go for a quiet one with live music to wind up the action packed day. Heaven!


Day 4: Wednesday

By now, the routine is growing on you! You are halfway through your much cherished vacation and you have had enough beach action – so it’s time to go beyond the ordinary. Head out to the Goan Capital—the vibrant Panjim. Act all touristy at the Dona Paula or spend time walking or cruising along the busy market place. Before the sun sets down, head to Casino Royale. A three deck cruise liner with a full-fledged casino, an entertainment zone which offers entertainment and dining options. For Rs 3,400 per person (with chips worth Rs 2,000 thrown in to get you started), you get drinks and snacks on the house. Enjoy performances by Russian dancers and popular performers and sway to an in-house DJ belting out numbers for you. Do check out their open terrace to watch in awe the glittering city at night after a three course buffet dinner. Casino Royale is a not-to-be-missed experience which no one should rush up, so make sure you have enough time on your hands and enough moolah in your pockets.

But like someone I know said – Goa is for everyone. Those seeking value can head for a cruise at the sparkling and beautifully lit up Mandovi River with cheaper options to suit your mood and pocket. At Rs 100 per ticket you can try the 600-seater Paradise Cruise, which has song and dance performances creating a complete carnival feel. With Goan dances and Bollywood music to keep you entertained, there cannot be a better way to spend an hour in a hundred bucks after which try out an elaborate Goan three course meal at Viva Panjim. A quiet little restaurant run out of the home of Ms Linda– this place is as unpretentious as it can get. Try out the recommendations by the owner who literally sits and supervises the staff and comes and exchanges greetings with everyone who comes around – eating authentic Goan ‘home made’ food here is an experience that lives beyond your pleasure of discovering ‘dining at a highly recommended place by the likes of lonely planet’- doesn’t always bring a dent to your pocket.

Day 5: Thursday

Give your overworked glutton-glands a rest and enjoy the simple pleasures of life by trying out a cutting chai and an anda-pav at a roadside store. Eat to your heart’s content as the food is served hot right out of the kitchen as you watch the lazy city coming back to life.

It’s time to wear your floaters and apply sun-block before getting on your bikes to  head to Anjuna and Vagator – two more popular beaches. Try out a motor boat ride( Rs 100 per person) complete with all the twists and turns – enjoy the deep blue sea as you tumble away in your yellow ‘sea pirate’ boat. The proverbial – wind in the face and sand in my feet – can’t get truer than this.

Stop at one of the many French bakeries to try an apple crumble or honey almond cake or anything else that leaps out of the inviting shelves and catches your eye. Pick up a ‘flip-flop’ shaped fridge magnet as a curio & it’s worth your while to negotiate it to half the cost that’s being quoted.

A couple of more minutes of riding uphill and you are in Greece for a lazy lunch overlooking the sea. Yes, I am not mixing up places here in my utter state of deliria. Step into Thallassa, literary meaning ‘sea’ – a vision in breezy- white and melancholic-blue. Soak in the gorgeous ambience – wooden cottages named after Greek gods like Zeus, tavern like seating overlooking the blue expanse, a menu that promises Greek delicacies for a wholesome meal. Romance is in the air and you are on top of the world.

Greek inspired hotel Thallassa

Once you land back on earth and if are still upto it, you could resume the club hopping at ‘Capetown & stop by at Titos for old time’s sake!

Day 6: Friday

After the tiring week, time to say TGIF. And after five days of beach hopping— it’s time to slow things down and move towards the quieter beaches of Arpora and Candolim. You may wonder if you are still in India—amazed at the number of foreigners sunbathing and surfing. You can spend the day lounging under a beach umbrella sipping some lemonade and reading that 500 page-turner you’ve been struggling to finish for a year now.

The rest of the day is dedicated to acting touristy – with the customary visit to the Church and the adjoining Museum. It’s Friday so next up on your agenda will be the not-to-be missed, famous flea market. From clothes to food to those literally ‘sweet-nothings’, fill up your bags with all the junk you can handle and more!

As you fly off on day seven back into the monotony of the daily trivialities – you can’t help but wonder about all the unexplored acres and acres of heaven that a week in Goa wasn’t enough to explore. The Rudrasagar falls and the luxury hotel line up of South Goa. But then that would make up for yet another travel-tale – the one that talks about ‘a month in Goa’.  Till then, the memories of the refreshing week can take you through.