Where NOT to go on holidays

New York for Independence Day, Dublin for St Patrick's Day and a Royal Wedding in England. 

These are locations and events that go together, that you should experience once.

But what about – wrong place, wrong time?

Here is my list Where not to be during your holidays.

New Year – Rural China

December 31/ January 1 – Time to ring out the old year and herald the New Year? Not in China – Chinese New Year is in February silly.

Outback, Australia
C) fifiheavey

Australia Day – Outback

“Stick another shrimp on the Barbie” and lets open and tinnie and celebrate Australia Day. Not in the outback of Western Oz – they look strangely at you and wonder what all the commotion is about!

Valentines Day – Iran

Want to declare your love on February 14. not in Iran: “Symbols of hearts, half-hearts, red roses, and any activities promoting this day are banned," announced state media last month. "Authorities will take legal action against those who ignore the ban."

St Patrick's Day- Saudi Arabia

Bethlehem
(c) fifiheavey

Ah a day to don the green and drown a shamrock. Nope not here the state completely bans the production, importation or consumption of alcohol and imposes strict penalties on those violating the ban, including weeks to months of imprisonment, and possible lashes.

Christmas Day, Bethlehem

It might be a day for peace and love all over the world, but it could turn ugly in Bethlehem as different religious denominations fight to mark the day.

Also avoid any country where a member of the monarch has recently died – it usually disrupts everything, including transport.

And do not go near New Zealand when the lose the rugby.

Wrong place, wrong time – any stories?

Take a trip for love

Is Valentine's Day an overblown hallmark event to buy cards, presents and spend a week's wages on a dinner for two? Yes.

But the idea of taking one day in the year to tell those who mean the most to you how much you love them is beautiful. So take the time out to say how you feel and do be romantic. But romance doe not mean spending a fortune on red hearts and it is not about showing off your love in front of others at a swanky restaurant.

Instead, today take the time to plan a romantic day, weekend or holiday. Planning something romantic is a perfect way to spend quality time together, have something special to look forward to and get away with your special someone.

Need some inspiration for a romantic trip?

IRELAND:

Glencar Waterfall, Co Leitrim

Glencar Waterfall, Co Leitrim

Ever heard of it? Want to know what it is all about? Take your romantic ass there, marvel at nature
and be inspired as the great Irish poet WB Yeats was. (Print off 'The Stolen Child')

Romantic tick, poetic tick tick.

Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare

Why the cliffs? You are on the edge of Ireland the next land mass is America. Feel the breeze – hold on tight to your loved on and make some beautiful declarations! Ladies bring some hair spray and maybe a raincoat.

Carrauntoohil, Co Kerry

Yep, the mountain. The highest peak in Ireland. Climb past deep mountain lakes, along ice-carved ridges until you reach the breathtaking summit. If your partner is still with you (maybe stay together on the way up) take a look around the legendary landscape and pledge your allegiance to Ireland and to (insert name here).

A LITTLE FURTHER:

Paris, France

You cannot bypass Paris. It is the most romantic city in the world. It is beautiful, the buildings, the landmarks, the language (if they are not shouting at you!) Eat a baguette and cheese, climb to the top

Fiji island

of the Effie Tower and say “J'Adore.”

Venice, Italy

Smelly, yes. Dirty, yes. Wet, yes.

Still romantic. A mid night stroll, a gondola ride, share a pizza or pasta and sip some chianti. Bliss.

Fiji islands

Get away, really far away. Stop off at the beautiful and romantic Bounty/ Love Island, or just keep going – until you reach the last island. Then relax and tell your partner “if I was on a deserted island all I would want is you ...”

You are Welcome – now go forth and love!

Romantic, relaxing, hectic weekend planned

I spent Valentine's evening hovering the house, putting a washing on and sitting down to watch the Irish election leaders debate. But don't feel sorry for me because I am heading away this weekend for a romantic break with my boyfriend.

Well we are not so sure if it is going to be a romantic weekend, we haven't decided on the category of weekend it is yet.

He wants a “relaxing” weekend, you know lie in on Saturday and Sunday, hit the breakfast just before it stops, maybe head for a back massage, a lazy swim and just chill out in the room, making a time for a bit of … before dinner and few drinks.

As usual I want to go see and do. I really want to have a gawk at the Newbridge Museum of Icons (we are staying near by) maybe drop into Kildare Village for a quick look and maybe a spin around to Naas, stopping off for a bite to eat there.

But we are not only celebrating Valentine's Day but also our anniversary (we are not married) – so it has to be romantic.

Problem: the weekend cannot be relaxing, include sightseeing and shopping and also be romantic.
So you see predicament. It is actually a re-occurring situation we seem to find ourselves in.
I love going away for weekend breaks around the country, it is a fun way of discovering the island in small segments, it gets us away from the routine of weekends at home and we actually spend quality time together. But once we get there my lover and I often quarrel over how exactly we should spend the time away!

“Relax and unwind” he tells me as he lies on the massive bed in his boxers flicking through the channels. But I don't want to waste my time sitting around doing nothing, if we are going to relax let's do it at the spa, let's give it a time slot so then at least I know that come a certain time “relaxing” is over with and we can move onto something else … like romancing or eating or sightseeing!
I know loads of couples who go away for a weekend to a hotel and barely step outside the bedroom for the three days, and they come back glowing but I would see that as a wasted opportunity to get out and see what is around.

You may be able to tell but 'Spontaneous' doesn't work for me, I am an organised person I like to know what is going to happen, because leaving it to chance usually means sitting looking at each other doing nothing! The problem with this weekend is that I have way too much to jigsaw together, each of them are fine by themselves, I could even successfully manage two of the above categories – but three, three is a challenge.

Of course I have done out a rough draft of the weekend:
Friday – travel to hotel, have dinner, romance
Saturday – Breakfast, spa/ relaxing time, shopping, eating out, romancing
Sunday – Breakfast, romance, sightseeing, lunch, home

Keeping my boyfriend to my invisible schedule of events could prove difficult though, and if one category runs a lot over time I may have to sing out load to drown out the alarm bells in my head …

You know sometimes it is less stressful to just stay at home!!

Swallow your pride - book a B&B

You are in love and you want to show your other half how much they mean to you. 
Valentine's Day is coming up, you want it to be special but ... moths fly out of your wallet, the bank machine spits out your card and even the euro saver menu at McDonalds is a stretch. So what to do? 
Well before you resort to making your own card out of recycled newspaper and a red pen, how about swallow your pride and book a B&B somewhere romantic?
Okay, it is not a luxurious hotel with chandeliers and a valet service but a B&B will have something you never found in a hotel - genuine character.
 Oh and most B&Bs will look different, which is something hotels seem to forget when decorating - "How will we compete against our neighbouring hotel?" they ask. "Oh yes let's decorate the hotel to look exactly the same as theirs, then maybe vistors will mistake our hotel for theirs and choose us..." well that must be what happens!
So you are dreading the small talk over breakfast with the owners? Think they will have heard every creak in the bed, were counting every giggle and grunt?
Forget the movies, the reviews from the 1950s and your own silly notions. Irish B&Bs are in general modern, clean fresh and friendly, cost a hell of a lot less and usually give you some cosy memories of your break away with that important someone.


For an idea of where to break away for Valentines I suggest:
Glencar Waterfalls, Co Leitrim - If it was good enough for Yeats poetry it is more than perfect for a romantic walk and cuddle beside the powerful water cascades.


Aran Islands, Galway - Get away from the mainland and experience the authentic island treatment. Is tú mo ghrá ... try it where it counts.


Dingle, Co Kerry - Why do all those yankies love Dingle? Probably because it looks like Ireland 60 years ago in the movies with all the pretty scenery to go with it and good craic.


Drogheda, Co Louth - One of the oldest towns in Ireland, but one that has a mischief of youth about it, explore the Boyne Valley and your own adventure here.


Enniskerry, Co Wicklow - The Gateway to the Garden of Island - next door to Powerscourt Estate and the Sugarloaf mountains - escapism and romance!

For some ideas on nice B&Bs check out: http://www.bandbireland.com/