It is early December and Holiday Season is once again upon us. For those of us who are travel enthusiasts, this time of year usually means two things – an excuse to take a road-trip to visit family and friends (preferably in warmer climates) as well as the yearly challenge of coming up with gift ideas for those on our gift list who happen to share our passion for travel.

Our team at TCR was recently introduced to a company with a unique take on gift giving for friends or family who love travel. This company – Tinggly – allows its customers to gift a package of travel experiences to the travel lovers on their list.  It is, literally, travel experience in a box.

Tinggly presents a wide selection of packages – organized by occasion – such as holidays, birthdays, weddings. Each experience gift box allows the gift recipients to choose the perfect experience from one of hundreds available (famous landmarks, fascinating tours and more) –  from all around the world.

 

 

A few examples of experiences offered include a romantic cruise on River Seine in Paris,  a classic car tour of Havana, Cuba, an evening food and wine tour in Venice, Italy. Hundreds more are available to choose from.

Another cool feature of the Tinggly travel packages is that recipients have 2 years to book their dream experience, giving them plenty of time to plan and prepare for their adventure

What better gift to give to someone who loves travel, than the gift of travel experience itself?

Have you always wanted to travel the world? Is it your life-long dream to explore new territories and experience what other people feel in their place of comfort? If this is the case, then you are among friends. But as you well know by now, the further you want to travel, the more difficult it gets because the costs increase exponentially.

 

 

So, is there any other way to see the world then winning your very own Mega Millions jackpot and putting these plans into practice? Fortunately for us, those bitten by the travel big, yes there are some sound methods that can help you see the world without actually becoming a millionaire. Let us tell you abit abou the best ones.

1. Work and Travel Programs

Work and Travel programs are the most accessible form of travelling the world because you will get help for finding a job in the country you want to go visit. As the name suggests, this will not be a vacation in the traditional sense of the word, as you will have to work for most of the time.

But think about it, if you stay home, you are bound to work at least eight hours a day and then go home to the same place every single day. If you move your workplace to all the corners of the world you want to see, you get to explore your passion at the same time. Another advantage of this type of program is that you can do it for a limited amount of time, which makes it perfect for summer vacations for students.

2. Teaching Programs All Over the World

English is the most spoken language on the planet, that’s true, but this means that there are people all over the world who want to learn it. And since you are a native, there are always teaching positions that you would be perfect for.

Explore your options, and choose the best destination and program for you. You can opt between short-term projects and ones extended over a longer period of time. If you are interested in getting to know one specific country extremely well, then look for teaching positions there and start planning. 

3. Mix and Match and Go on Your Very Own Adventure

If there are no available programs to fit all of your needs, but your heart tells you that you have to travel, all you have to do is find the courage and the minimal amount of resources to start your trip. Then, you can apply for jobs once you get there, but this comes with a significant amount of risk.

On the other hand, you will get a first-hand experience of what it feels like to live in those places that you’ve wanted to see for ages. Keep an eye out for teaching jobs, but explore all your options once you get there. All you need for this to work is a safety net, like emergency money and a friend you can up if you need a helping hand.

 

1. Staying in Dublin for more than a few days

I really love Dublin, but there’s really nothing to do here for more than two or three days. The first trip I took to Ireland, I spent a great deal of time planning how I would go from Patrick’s Cathedral to Dublin , how I would visit the many city bars, the Guinness Museum and how I would spend a whole day at Temple Bar.

Who knew that the Cathedral to the museum is only a 7 minutes walk, and the entire Temple Bar can be bypassed in 15 minutes? So, if you have a trip for 3-4 days, I would recommend two days for Dublin, one for Hout and one for a trip to the Glendalough National Park or Powerscourt Gardens.

 

2. Refusing to rent a car

A car in Ireland is an absolute necessity. I know there are many wonderful stories about how people have had a great vacation in Ireland , traveling by boat, bicycle, bus or on foot. But this is rather an exception, not a rule. If you are traveling only to Dublin, Cork or Limerick , it is really quite easy to do without a car. But to get to any more or less remote location, prepare to fairly tormented.

Another question is “why NOT” rent a car? With a car you do not depend on anyone or anything, and can save significant time getting from point A to point B. You are free to reshape your route as you like, and change your plans if and when unexpected circumstances arise. Gas is also very affordable on the island.

 

3. Dining only at pubs

Restaurant business in Ireland is now experiencing its heyday. Today in Ireland it is possible to eat so deliciously and beautifully, that it seems to me a crime to have dinner or have supper just anywhere in a random pub.

Tripadvisor in this case will be very handy and really help to choose the best restaurants, if you will be based not only on the rating, but also on the number of positive reviews.Because sometimes it happens that an excellent restaurant with 500-600 good reviews takes 10-12 positions on the list.

Also pay attention to the “early bird” dinner menu – available in many restaurants.This menu is usually available from about 5PM to 7PM. It includes two or three courses of choice at a more modest price than if you ordered each item separately – off of a regular menu. For example, at FXBuckleys you can try arguably the best steak in the city (if not on the whole island), an appetizer and a dessert for only € 30.50. This is taking into account the fact that the steak itself on the regular menu costs € 34.

Many restaurants partner with local farmers and acquire only local and organic products. Believe me, the gastronomic pleasure from such dishes will be much more than from the world famous Irish stew at the nearest eatery.

As a side-note, if you like playing the lottery and decide to play the lotto while in Ireland, you can check your powerball lottery results online, while you wait for your meal to arrive.

 

-by TCR team member Jason