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I have just returned from a 2 week trip to Ireland and yes, it is that green, take a peek at my slide show for proof! It’s been a while since I was in Ireland and boy has it changed! The growth is amazing but the things that haven’t changed are the fun people and the stunning scenery.

I started my journey in Dublin, from there my friend and I picked up a car for a few days of roaming the country roads on our own and yes, even I drove on the other side of the road and only hit one curb! We headed west for a castle stay and a couple nights B&B inland then picked up a tour with Trafalgar Tours.

On our Trafalgar Tour we went north to Belfast and Derry/Londonderry and onto the Northern most tip of Ireland called Malinhead. From there we headed down the west coast for Castlebar, Galway, Limerick and Killarney before heading east towards Waterford and then north back towards Dublin.

All along the way we encountered the famous Irish charm in pubs and restaurants, we saw lots of sheep and rolling green hills with splashes of yellow gorse and stone walls crisscrossing as far as the eye could see. Golf courses were aplenty as were Castles and castle ruins, special monuments to all the Saints and those the Irish would make saints if given the chance. We saw the famous graffiti in Northern Ireland from the times of the ‘Troubles’. We went to the National Stud Farm (Slide Show) in Kildare and the Giants Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher, the Belleek and Waterford Crystal factories (Slide show) and Craggounowen, the discovery park where we learned about life in Ireland in BC, just to name a few of the places and sights.

I am in the process of completing my Shamrock training which will give me the distinction of being an Ireland Expert to go along with my other Destination Specialist certifications such as BritAgent, SCOTSmaster, Bavaria Expert, Spain Specialist, Holland Expert and Certified France Agent. As a travel agent it’s important to see new places and explore the places people are asking about, this year Ireland has been highly requested and it was time for me to return and see all the things Ireland has to offer as a destination and believe me it wasn’t lacking at all!

Keep checking back at TotemTravelBlog.com and you’ll hear all about the sights listed above and more in detail. If you’re interested in help planning your trip to Ireland contact Totem Travel and ask for Jennefer, the Europe Expert or shoot me an email at jennefer@totemtravel.com and I’ll give you the up to date news on travel in Ireland.

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As a lover of sun and sand I’ve been to Mexico dozens of times and visited all the popular vacation spots.  But on the Pacific Coast, I can be disappointed with tiny beaches or dangerous rip tides that relegate swimming to the pool….  

Enter Nuevo Vallarta and it’s lovely long stretch of golden sand!

You can walk the beach for miles, the water is clear and warm and at Paradise Village Resort, the boogie boards are free and loads of fun!  In fact, the beach is one of the best in Mexico and everyone takes full advantage. 

You’ll find jet skis and parasailing for the adventurous and beach palapas for the lazy.  You can swim with the dolphins nearby or skipper a sailboat at the marina.  The waves are perfect for boogie boards and if you have a yen to surf, you’ll find bigger waves farther north. 

Paradise Village has a variety of accommodations ranging from studios to multi bedroom units and budget stretching kitchens for a fantastic family vacation.  There is a huge main pool with water slides and smaller quiet pool.  Games, races, water aerobics and activities are organized throughout the day and offered at no extra charge.

There are a variety of restaurants, bars and grills on site and you’ll always have the choice to dine outdoors or in air conditioned comfort.  The food is very good and you’ll want recipes for specialties like 3 pepper steak and Crazy Guacamole.  The regular restaurant choices are supplemented by theme nights with a mechanical bull for “Cowboy Night”, a full blown Mexican Fiesta with music and dancing, or an elegant seaside buffet. 

Paradise Village offers an all inclusive option or you can pay as you go and mix dining out with cooking in with groceries from a store nearby.  A nightclub is also a short walk away which keeps night owls happy with music and dancing into the wee hours while preserving a quiet evening for others.  Noise rules are strictly enforced at Paradise Village.

All in all I loved Paradise Village and have sent many happy clients.  When I return to Mexico I will be back!