Packing Tips

First just let me say that I started a board on Pinterest.  So for all you pinners - check it out.  My username is dinanick so you can find me @dinanick.  The board is "25 Years Together Europe 2016".

I just returned from an overseas trip to Sicily and Ireland.  I think earlier in the blog I shared some packing tips and I just wanted to share them again.

I never use luggage larger than a carry-on size.  I try to stay at or under the standard of 22 inches.  I always choose luggage that has a zipper compartment on the side that opens.  See example below.

 

When you use larger luggage you tend to pack more and that increases the weight.  Most budget airlines only allow 44 pounds on checked luggage and 22 pounds on cabin luggage.

 

I always use freshener sheets.  They keep my clothes and luggage smelling fresh.  I also save the clear zipper bags from when I purchase sheet sets.  I roll my clothes by type and place them in the clear zipper bags.  You can buy packing cubes on Amazon but the clear zipper bags work really well and are a good size.  Rolling clothes saves a ton of space.  I do a zipper bag for each type of item like shirts, dresses, shorts, and skirts.  I use gallon baggies for the small items like delicates, swimsuits, undies, socks, etc.   The only items I normally do not place in the zipper bags are my long pants, jeans, or jackets.  Then I place the full zipper bags in the luggage and they stack very nicely.  As I use my clothes I start to consolidate and move the dirty clothes together in the zipper bags and then the clean clothes together.  I also use one side of the luggage for dirty clothes and the other side for clean.  Referring to the picture above - if you had more clean clothes the clean clothes would go in the main compartment and the dirty clothes would go in the zipped top compartment.  Then as the dirty clothes grow I swap.  I find this keeps my clean clothes smelling fresh.

 

If I am staying in one place for any length of time or traveling by car I always bring a large shopping bag for dirty laundry.  I can always use the bag going home for any souvenirs I purchased that won't fit in my luggage.

 

I always recommend a good smaller cabin bag.  One that your purse can easily drop into and can hold items such as earbuds, medicine, IPad or tablet, book or kindle, paperwork, socks, etc.  Anything you want easy access to and then keep it at your feet.  Note - if you checked all bags you might want to throw a change of clothes in the small bag in case the checked luggage gets lost.  We have a small TUMI bag that works great and slides right onto the luggage.  Backpacks or totes are very popular also.  Normally the airline will let you take a small bag as a personal item so keep it small enough that they do not consider it a cabin bag.

 

I prefer luggage with 4 wheels.  I always buy expandable luggage but hate when I expand the suit case and then it falls over.  When you have 4 wheels you do not have to worry about the suit case falling over when overfilled. 

 

In closing I just want to say - buy a luggage scale.  You can find them on Amazon for under $10.  They are VERY much worth the investment.  Airlines are getting stricter and stricter with weight restrictions.  They use to make you pay a little extra if the bag was overweight.  Now they refuse the luggage and you find yourself at the counter taking out items.  It can be very embarrassing.  Always know what your luggage weighs!  And yes - that has been me in the past. 

 

See everyone in 213 Days.  :)

Flight from Dublin to Venice

There is a very good chance that I am going to ask everyone to book their flight from Dublin to Venice very soon.  The only affordable option is Aer Lingus and with 50 people traveling together the flight could get booked quickly.  Currently the cost is 110Euro (122US) with a carry on of 10 kilo max.  (10k = 22 pounds)  The cost with a checked bag of 20 kilo is 151Euro (167US).  Aer Lingus is very similar to Allegiant.  It isn't a better deal to fly round trip.  All flights are sold on a segment basis. 

If you are traveling as a pair it might make sense to buy one ticket at the 110Euro rate and one ticket at the 151Euro rate.  The 151Euro rate not only gets a checked bag at 20 kilo but also a carry on at 10 kilo.  Therefore that would give a couple traveling 3 bags.  One at 20 kilo and two at 10 kilo.

I will also send out the request to purchase the ticket in the letter.

Aer Lingus

The only two items I am waiting for before the letter goes out is confirmation of rooms held in Cobh and confirmation from the Coach company. 

Last but not least - remember if you plan to plug in a phone - tablet - anything you will need a travel adapter.  Here are the two needed for Ireland and Italy.  You can find them both on Amazon.  Not the middle prong on the Italy adapter is the ground.  Ones without the middle will work.  I just used one without the middle in Sicily.

Ireland Adapter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy Adapter

 



MORE INFORMATION

This is just a reminder that a letter will be mailed in the next couple of weeks with information regarding the trip.  The number one question has been cost.  We will be covering the bus in Ireland.  We will also be covering the apartment rentals in Venice.  With that said this is what I have so far.  This is a per person estimated cost.

Saturday 5/28 - everyone fly into Dublin.  Accommodations CityNorth Hotel.  Free shuttle from the airport.  For those who want to go into Dublin there is a coach for hire for 12.50Euro per person round trip.  For those up for it plan a trip to Man-O-War pub that evening via taxi.

Sunday 5/29 - breakfast at the hotel.  The bus will pick us up from the Hotel and head to Waterford for the afternoon.  Glen Bar in the evening.  A light dinner will be provided at the Glen Bar.  Accommodations at the Rhu Glenn Hotel in Waterford.

Monday 5/30 - breakfast at the hotel.  Wedding vow renewal followed by celebration party at the Glen Bar.  Dinner will be provided.  Accommodations at the Rhu Glenn Hotel in Waterford.

Tuesday 5/31 - breakfast at the hotel.  Head to Cobh.  Bus will drop off people not interested in Blarney Castle and Cork.  Bus will go on to Blarney castle with a stop in Cork on the way back to Cobh.  Plan to do some shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills.  Cobh has attractions such as the Titanic museum.  Cobh is where the Titanic set sail.  Accommodations at Bella Vista Hotel & Self Catering Suites.

Wednesday 6/1 - breakfast at the hotel.  Head to Dingle located out on Dingle Peninsula.  If the weather is permitting we will offer a bus trip around the ring of Kerry for those interested.  Dingle is one of our favorite areas.  It is beautiful.  Accommodations split at 3 B&Bs.  Dingle Brewery Gate, Murphy's Pub and B&B, and Quayside B&B.

Thursday 6/2 - breakfast at the B&Bs.  We will head directly back to Dublin so those who did not get to visit Dublin on arrival will have plenty of time.  Lots to see and do in Dublin.  Evening trip planned to Man-O-War pub again for those interested.  Accommodations at Staycity Serviced Apartments.  All apartments are two bedroom apartments. 

Friday 6/3 - Flight to Venice departs Dublin at 7:20am on Aer Lingus.  Bus will pick everyone up early and we will head to the airport.  Plan to pickup breakfast at the airport.  Flight arrives Venice at 11:00am.  Venice is an hour ahead of Dublin.  We will catch a bus to Piazza Roma.  From there we suggest everyone buys a 3 day pass on the public water bus and we will take the public water bus to meet with the apartment people.  Accommodations will be one of the 5 apartments rented.  You can see these under popular links.  We will take our luggage to the apartments and then meet up to do a little grocery shopping so you have access to quick meals and snacks at the apartments.

Saturday 6/4 - Venice at your leisure.  We will provide you with things to see in Venice to give you an idea of some of the things we liked.  Accommodations will the same apartment as the night before.

Sunday 6/5  - Venice at your leisure.  Accommodations will be the same apartment as the night before.

Monday 6/6 - everyone will leave.  If you are flying out of Venice San Marco airport you will take the public water bus back to Piazza Roma and then a normal bus on to the airport.  If you are flying back to Dublin and will be using Ryan Air then you will need to take the public bus back to Piazza Roma and take the ATVO bus line to Venice Treviso airport.  it is about an hour ride.
If you are going on from Venice and plan to take the train you will be able to take the public bus straight to the train station. 

Again - this and a lot more will be included in the letter. 

If you every have any questions please drop me a line at d.nicodemus@comcast.net

Fun Fact

With Halloween drawing close and Ireland on our mind - here is an interesting fact.

MORE INFORMATION

Hello everyone,

I have been pricing Hotel's with breakfast in Ireland.  Our first night will be in Dublin while everyone arrives.  The next two nights will be just outside Waterford at the Rhu Glenn Country Club Hotel.  There are too many of us to do Bed & Breakfasts'. 

Rhu Glenn Country Club Hotel

I have worked out a price with them for 75 Euro per person for two nights including a full Irish Breakfast.  So for a party of 2 the cost would be 150 Euro for Sunday and Monday night.  That is $170 US.  Currently the exchange is 1.13 US to a 1.00 Euro.  I hope it gets better. 

This is just a reminder that I plan to send a letter out in the next few weeks with pricing, itinerary, information, etc.

I also ask again that if you have not RSVP'd please do so.  I plan to email people close to booking time to let them know the best airline fares. 

ANOTHER CHANGE

I have another change to post.  We will not be using Ryan Airlines to fly from Dublin to Venice.  Instead we will be using Aer Lingus.  Now that the schedules are out for next year I found that Ryan does not fly to Venice on Fridays.  Now for the other bit of news.  Some might think it is a good thing and some bad.  The Aer Lingus flight is early so we will get to Venice early.  For those late sleepers - sorry.  Also they fly into Venice San Marco so there is about a quarter mile walk to get to the water bus taxi.  (NOTE:  it is less expensive to take a bus to Piazza Roma so we will do that.)  If we flew into Venice Treviso then we would have had to take a 50 minute bus ride to Venice.

You will see how the pricing is in the pic below.  If you can keep your luggage carry-on size and under 22 pounds then you can fly cheaper.  I am pretty sure with Aer Lingus you can carry on a backpack or a purse in addition. 

I highly suggest if you travel at all to purchase a luggage scale.  I use mine every trip.  You can find them on Amazon for under $15.  The last thing you want to do is repack when checking in at the airport because your luggage is too heavy.  And trust me - they weight it!!!!

Again - please RSVP with your email address.  I want to make sure everyone coming gets an updated letter in the next month.  VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

Back from Ireland

Hello everyone,

We are back from Ireland and everything is shaping up beautifully.  We have changed our route in Ireland a bit due to suggestions from our Irish friends.  We will not be spending the night in Limerick like originally stated.  Instead we will stick to the coast so that we can do Dingle.  Please RSVP like asked previously.  I want to send out a follow up letter at the end of the month with rough costs.  Remember we will be covering the bus travel in Ireland, the party Monday evening, and all accommodations in Venice.  I will let you know if more will be covered once I work something out with the hotels in Ireland and get a head count. 

I happened to leave my phone in Dublin Monday so it is in-route to me now.  I will share some pictures of Ireland as soon as it is in hand. 

We cannot wait to share this special event with all of our friends and family.  Also, plan on quite a few of our Irish friends to attend the party after the vow renewal. 

Can't wait!!!!!

Slante