Travel is Always an Experience and Adventure!

When my daughter graduated from High School, I decided to take her on a mother-daughter trip before she went on to bigger things; college, work, home and social demands, and decreased ability to take time off for two weeks. She had done well in High School, kept her grades up, been a good "citizen", and though we had taken a trip to Thailand the previous summer with our church, it was definitely a working trip. I wanted to reward all of her hard work and honesty, and spend good, quality, fun time with her. We sat down and decided together where we would like to go - and Ireland was on the top of the list. Rolling green hills, friendly faces, and adorable accents - we were ready for the happy-go-lucky Irish.

We flew out of Phoenix, two hours from our home in Tucson. It was an early flight, so we spent the night before at a hotel near the airport. They kept your car safely in a parking lot while you were away. We went out to dinner and did a little "last minute" shopping at the mall. I don't know how it happened, but somehow the car keys got lost at the mall. After two hours of looking to no avail, we finally gave up and my parents (the saints that they are) drove two hours with my spare set. I should have known this was a premonition of things to come. We ended up with little sleep, but thrilled for our adventure to come.

The next glitch came when the flight was delayed by an hour. When they finally let us on the plane, we sat on the runway for half an hour, then we were told to get off the plane. Can they do that? Yep, they can. We were advised to go to the airline counter to be rescheduled. So, all the people from the plane were quickly scurrying to the counter. We were fifth in line (long legs have an advantage here). It still took an hour to get to first in line. The ticket agent had to re-route us through Chicago, then to London (with a 6 hour layover), then on to Ireland - total time: 25 hours. This was starting to feel very unlucky. I asked the reservation agent if our baggage would follow us correctly. She reassured us that it was all computerized and not to worry. To make this long 25 hour part of the story shorter, I will summarize it: cold airports, long lines at each airport for re-checking in, passport checks, and major fatigue. We finally got to our destination and, I am sure you guessed it - no baggage. By the way, my luggage didn't show up for 5 days, my daughter's for 11 (out of 14) days. We had to call and check with the airlines every day. We had no clothing, very few toiletries or personal items, and no warm gear for the rainy Irish skies.

We had purchased a package deal that included vouchers for bed and breakfasts for each day. The travel agency said that it was not difficult to find places that accepted these vouchers. They assured us that there were literally "thousands of B&B's in Ireland, and most of them accept vouchers". Generally, this is not a true statement, maybe one third of them do, and it is best to make reservations ahead of time. We did not have reservations either, because we wanted to roam the countryside and stop when the mood hit. The travel agency made it sound like this was all easy and feasible. I will say the places that we did stay were wonderful. But, we spent so much time trying to find clothing and shelter that we just didn't get to relax and enjoy the atmosphere like we should have.

When I finally did get my piece of luggage, it was pretty well destroyed. They found my daughter's bag in New York (no, we never went through New York). I shared all my clothing and makeup with my daughter (luckily, we are the same size). Being girls, we had brought a curling iron and a converter. It blew up (I am not kidding, with smoke, sparks and all). Fortunately, I have natural wave to my hair, and the humidity did all sorts of fabulous things to the natural wave. I felt like I fit right in with my wavy, red hair. My daughter, on the other hand, was not feeling the love with her hairstyle.

We had one mishap after another, and really had moments where we wondered what all the hype was about with the "Luck O' the Irish". But, all things said and done, it was probably THE most beautiful place I have ever seen. The Irish people are warm and caring, and very relaxed about life. They went out of their way to give directions and advice, tell stories, and were just wonderful in every way. We spent one night in a castle that was magical. And, given the opportunity, I would go back in a second; just hoping that all my bad luck was used up! Anyone that has the opportunity to go to Ireland, GO. Just make sure that you bring a carry-on that has enough clothes for a few days, and bring your own luck!

www.SleepingInAirports.net - This is a website all about sleeping in airports. However, it is funny, interesting, and amazing. A must read!

www.go-today.com - These internet travel specialists have amazing Europe specials. Always check them out before booking anything.

www.HostelWorld.com - Budget travelers who don't mind sharing or staying in frugal digs, this is the place to start. Search over 20,000 Hostels in over 170 Countries, from Athens, to Dublin, to Florence. Consider it.

www.Family.com - If you are planning a family vaca, this is the best way to find out about the best roller coasters, museums, national parks, and other destinations. They also list local events, summer camps, and lots of kid-friendly eating places.

www.eLanguageSchool.net - Going to a foreign country? Learn some of the language before you go. This is a free resource with 10 different languages.

www.TripAdvisor.com - Travel reviews and advice from 15 million people. Lots of good information.

I used to think that just any suitcase would do for my trips. I would grab one, fill it up, and go on my way. Trekking down the airport, I realized that a wheel was off: or while weighing at the reservation counter, I realized it was over limit in size or weight; or finding the shape awkward to work with in narrow hallways of B and B's.

Also, I have gone on day trips and decided to use a small backpack. I decided on a smart little leather one. It looked attractive, but I did not think through all angles of the opening/closing capabilities. I ended up losing several very important pieces because the zipper just opened easily and let things drop out without me even knowing.

I have learned my lesson. I evaluate how long my trip is for. I pick a size bag or bags accordingly. I check out the condition of the bag (wheels, zippers, etc). I consider all situations I might be in BEFORE I leave on the trip. Even if it is a long trip, I do not recommend getting too large a bag. Airlines are getting very strict about weight restrictions now.

Lastly, consider the quality of the bag. You want it to last for a long time. Do not just buy a "cute" bag that will fall apart in a trip or two. It is worth a little extra time and money to look for a quality bag that will last you many travels and adventures. Don't learn lessons the hard way! Happy traveling..... Tracey

P.S. Below is a link for a company that sells great luggage, backpacks, totes, laptop cases, travel accessories, and almost anything you may need for a getaway. Check it out!