5 Must-Read Travel Websites for Planning a Trip to Ireland

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you are well into your second, third, or sixth pint of green beer, feeling giddy from slurping up a McDonald's Shamrock Shake, or still picking out sprinkles from your clothes after starting your day off with a green donut—chances are you might be putting your arm around the person next to you and promising that the lot of you will travel to Ireland together post haste. No? Whenever I talk to people about travel destinations, Ireland holds a sweet spot in travelers' hearts and daydreams. Today is a great day to foster those dreams into reality. Here are five travel websites to help with your pre-trip research and planning.

1. IrishFireside.com — Both a podcast and a destination website focused on helping travelers make the most of a trip to Ireland. Don't miss the Ireland Travel Kit, Remarkable Places in Ireland - a free ebook, the Questions & Answers section, and most importantly, the Getting Started section which links up all the trip-planning resources you could want for a trip to Ireland from "5 Tips for a Self-Drive Tour in Ireland," "Top 10 Castles in Ireland," and "The Best Genealogy Websites for Finding Your Irish Roots." Corey and Liam have lovingly kept this site current for years and have gathered a passionate team to contribute to the site.

2. B&B Ireland Blog—Staying at a B&B in Ireland can be such a memorable experience. Especially if they provide a traditional Irish breakfast. Here is a thorough website to help you choose the right accommodation for you. You'll find pics of the house, the hosts, reviews from travelers, and great lists of Irish B&Bs to consider. Don't miss the descriptions of the different types of B&Bs you can find in Ireland, and the Themed Holidays section that can help you narrow your plans if you are traveling to seek info about your ancestors, want to stay on a farm, are a food lover or have another frequented travel style.

3. Discover Ireland Blog—Tourism Ireland has a strong site for familiarizing the first-time traveler with potential experiences and destinations to consider for their future trip to Ireland. Get trip ideas, itineraries for the Northern Headlands, Southern Peninsulas, Wild Atlantic Way, and much more. Are you curious about Golf in Ireland? There's so much to explore. Use this site as a primer and during your trip palnning. If you are looking for travel packages, don't miss the "Getting to Ireland" section of the site.

4. Farmette—Are you daydreaming of a rural life in the Irish countryside? Take a peek into the life of Imen & Geoffrey McDonnell. This blog is full of detailed photos of Fine Fettle Farm and traditional farm living. Delight in the many recipes pictured here including Raw Honey, Pumpkin & Sage Cake, Sister Mary Custard, and "Smoke | Fire | Feast." It's no surprise that these gems became a book that you can buy, "The Farmette Cookbook: Recipes and Adventures from My Life on an Irish Farm." There are many avenues of inspiration on this site, enjoy!

5. Delightful Dublin—Emily Westbrooks is your tour guide through this insider's look at Dublin. Tourists and expats alike will enjoy getting tips on where to eat, shop, sleep, and more. It is a stunning magazine quatily ebook that can be bought for $12. Find a visual sample that will give you enough confidence before you make your purchase.

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