Travel and Explore with Joan Scales
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Newsletter

Lost or stolen credit cards - what to do

26/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

Our dependence on credit and debits cards nowadays means that when your card is lost of stolen abroad it can be a disaster. Sometimes it is not even lost or stolen but a block can be put on a card by an issuer if there are unusual transactions.

Before you travel, it is a good idea to contact your card issuer and let them know where you are going, for how long and give them your mobile number.
AIB have introduced a text service for verifying transactions out of the ordinary. You only have to text back Y or N to clarify that it is you. Always make copies of your cards and keep that information separate and safe when travelling.

Also bring the helpline number with you and put in your telephone for safe-keeping. Chip and PIN cards have reduced the level of abuse of cards, but do be careful using cards in places like internet cafes, where Spyware can be tracking your numbers.

Banks operate a 24-hour service for reporting stolen or lost cards and arrangements can be made to replace your card quickly. The speedier the replacement the more it will cost. In some cases it may be possible to get money to you via bank transfer or wire transfer services such as Western Union. It depends on where you are travelling in the world.

​ Hotels will often allow someone else to pay your bill. Generally they will need a third-party authorisation signed by the person lending their card for the transaction and in some cases copies of the front and back of the card. Some travel insurance will cover your for the replacement cost of your credit and debit cards. It is always useful to have more than one card to rely on.

See Ask Joan online at irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel Send queries to jscales@irishtimes.com 

0 Comments

Food festival season in Ireland kicks off from Easter

23/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

Galway Food Festival, Galway City, March 24 - 28
The city of the Tribes boasts several of the country’s finest restaurants and has long been a foodie destination. This five-day festival coincides with Easter week and, in honour of the centenary of the Rising, aims to celebrate 100 years of Irish food through open-air food markets, epicurean trails and the involvement of some of the West’s greatest chefs.
 
West Waterford Food Festival, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, April 15 - 17
Celebrity chef Paul Flynn helped put the Waterford coastal town on the culinary map thanks to his restaurant and cookery school and this annual festival is ensuring it stays there. With demos about healthy food to special gin-distilling classes in the mix this year, and with plenty of markets and food trails to enjoy, there’s something to savour for all the family.
 
Taste the Wild Atlantic Way Street Food Festival, Kinsale, Co Cork, April 22
The 2,500km Wild Atlantic Way offers innumerable quality food options, and Kinsale has long been a destination for gourmands. Several food festivals are held in the West Cork town every year and this one celebrates food that’s removed from stuffiness and formality, but loses nothing in taste and panache. Think open-air food markets and stalls and lashings of live music.
 
Connemara Mussel Festival, Tullycross, Co Galway, April 29 - May 2
They’re proud of their seafood in the West - and for very good reason: the Atlantic oysters and muscles that grow along the Irish coastline are among the world’s best. But this festival does far more than merely showcase the magnificent molluscs from Killary Harbour: it celebrates the abundant food produce of the area and its ‘cooking with kids’ classes are highly recommended.
 
Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine, Ballymaloe, Co Cork, May 20 - 22
Three generations of the Allen family helped make Ballymaloe House globally famous among food lovers and this festival is now etched on the calendars of serious food lovers everywhere. Besides the best of West Cork’s greatest ingredients, the festival boasts talks from some of the finest food writers on the planet, including chef Yotam Ottolenghi and ‘Master of Wine’ Jancis Robinson.
 
Wexford Food & Wine Festival, Wexford town, May 27 - 29
The centuries-old streets in the heart of Wexford town are given over to all things food and drink for the last weekend in May and if the sun is shining in this part of the sunny south east, it will be a summer festival to remember. Besides a cornucopia of food stalls showcasing cuisine from around the world, there will be wine-tasting sessions and a real ale trail.
 
Killarney Beerfest, Killarney, Co Kerry, May 28 - 29
Irish craft beer is most definitely having a moment right now and the huge range and variety of local brews can be enjoyed in an open-air setting. Several bands, including Mongrel State, will be on hand to generate a safe and memorable festival atmosphere, while beer-tasting sessions, brewing masterclasses and food stalls will enhance the experience.
 
Burren Slow Food Festival, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, May 28 - 29
A food festival with a polemical message, this annual celebration of the best of Irish produce argues that the food we put into our bodies should be local, seasonal and grown and raised without recourse to chemicals and intensive farming. It’s location in the heart of the Burren is apt - it’s a unique part of Ireland that encourages the visitor to slow down and take stock of their surrounds.
 
Westport Food Festival, Westport, Co Mayo, June 24 - 26
Moving forward to June from its usual September berth, the hugely popular festival will feature foodie tours, mushroom foraging and children’s pizza-making classes. As before, a food village showcasing the best of local artisanal produce will take place at the Octagon - Westport’s picturesque market square.
 
For more mouth-watering food festival ideas, please visit www.discoverireland.ie
​

0 Comments

Happy St. Davids' Day - Wales

1/3/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The land of love spoons, leeks and daffodils celebrates its national day today March 1, Dewi Sant, St David’s Day with a parade in Cardiff.  A mass rendition of the national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau will take place outside St. David’s Hall, listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUnCwV3AYE.  Inside the Hall, there will be a concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. 
Traditional music sessions and singing will take place around the country and the national heritage sites will have free entry for the day.  The annual pilgrim’s walk in St. Davids Pembrokeshire will be a procession from St. Non’s Chapel to witness the illumination of the St. David’s Day Stone at noon when it is pierced by a shaft of sunlight shining through the hole in an adjacent rock.
Consider a visit to our near neighbour and do something different. This year Wales encourages you to #FindYourEpic in 2016, http://www.visitwales.com/. 
 
Walk in the footsteps of King Arthur
The Guy Ritchie film, Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur was primarily filmed in North Wales with much of the action around Snowdonia.  King Arthur is heavily associated with Snowdonia and several places bear his name, Cegin Arthur and Ffynnon Arthur.  There is even a stone on the banks of Lake Barfog near Betws y Coed said to bear the hoofprint of his horse Llamrai.
Explore the myth of King Arthur on an underground boat ride through Arthur’s Labyrinth at Corris which will bring alive the locations in the film and the legend. http://www.kingarthurslabyrinth.co.uk/

​Get your adventure on in 2015
This year is the Year of Adventure in Wales and “if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you,” according to Preseli Venture fitness retreat.  Challenge yourself in the wild environment of Pembrokeshire National Park.  Get wet coasteering, sea kayaking or surfing or try hiking and trail running and then relax in a five-star eco lodge.  Weekend retreats at Preseli from £265 per person, and only 30 minutes from Fishguard and Pembroke ports, http://www.preseliventure.co.uk/.   Tamer outdoor activities will be available from a new coastal health resort at Aberdovey, SEAcotherapy, developed by Psychologist Dr. Victoria Galbraith, guests will embrace nature and the power of the sea for wellbeing. http://www.seacotherapy.co.uk/

Star Gaze is the newest Dark Sky Reserve

Snowdonia National Park has become Wales’ second dark sky reserve and joins the Brecon Beacons as one of the ten darkest places worldwide.  Find your spot to watch the stars at the historic Oakeley Arms in the centre of Snowdonia.  The remote location means perfect conditions for gazing at the celestial skies.  Rooms from €89 - €105 per night, http://www.oakeleyarms.co.uk/

Art in Pembrokeshire

The rugged peninsula of St. David’s is where the Twr y Felin Hotel opened last year after a five year renovation project.  The former temperance hotel and windmill has been turned into a luxury property, with a unique collection of commissioned art.  The renovated windmill and gallery will house the works by 18 international artists including father and son John Uzzell Edwards and Charles Uzzell-Edwards aka graffiti artist Pure Evil. Fine dining in Blas Restaurant, which means the same in Welsh as Irish, taste, will use local ingredients.  Dinner bed and breakfast from £180 per night. https://www.twryfelinhotel.com/.

​Love Welsh food

Food tours of Cardiff enable visitors to see the city up close and enjoy a local cuisine like laver bread, and Welsh cakes, and maybe some Brain’s Skull Attack. The tour includes Cardiff Castle, Bute Park, the Civic Centre, the Arcades and the market, 10.30am on Fridays, http://lovingwelshfood.uk/.
Masterchef Finalist Larkin Cen opened his first restaurant in a joint venture with the five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.  The restaurant called CEN serves pan Asian cuisine http://www.celtic-manor.com/
​

0 Comments

    Author

    Joan loves to travel, write about, hear about it, see it, talk about it, anything about travel.

    Archives

    September 2022
    January 2021
    July 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    Fairy Tree At The Hill Of Tara
    NI2012.com
    Northern Ireland
    Titanic

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Images_of_Money, torbakhopper, Sean MacEntee, ~ Lone Wadi ~, piropiro3, Capt' Gorgeous, shahin olakara, Robert S. Donovan, Tyler Merbler, dsearls, Edmond Wells, VnGrijl, Andy_Mitchell_UK, Martin Pettitt, abbilder, Rushen!, piet theisohn, markhillary, Moyan_Brenn, Nite_Owl, EaglebrookSchool, GranniesKitchen, Dark Dwarf, davosmith, bigpresh, wellingtonstravel, National Institutes of Health (NIH), dsearls, Marc Wathieu, DncnH, Sean Pritchard, breezy421, QuidoX, Rafael Gomez-http://micamara.es/, philwirks, redlegsfan21