If a short break is on your agenda for St. Valentine’s Day, perhaps you need a push from the man himself — St. Valentine. Wouldn’t you know it? The Irish actually have relics (some of the remains) of the patron saint of lovers.
You need to head to Dublin for this. The St. Valentine’s Shrine is in Whitefriar Carmelite Church, Aungier Street, a few minutes walk from Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green and the famous Temple Bar, the center of Dublin’s shopping, culture and craic in the Irish capital.
If you can, visit St. Valentine’s Shrine on February 14 itself—the saint’s actual feast day, and the origin of the annual celebration of love, although it’s still a place of pilgrimage for those celebrating love at any time.
You can do a lot in Dublin on a long weekend. In Europe’s friendliest city; you can talk to anyone. It’s said the city is as intimate as a pub. But it’s probably better not to over-prepare for Dublin, or anywhere in Ireland. Be ready to go with the flow, build in one or two key activities and expect the locals to throw a surprise or two your way.
Dublin hotels and restaurants will be pulling out the stops to create a traditional romantic atmosphere on Valentine’s night, so candle-lit dinners will be the norm. Flowers are no problem either— Smithfield Flower Market — and one Dublin temple to the art of all things— chocolate— is actually not far from St. Valentines’ Shrine. Chocolatier Cocoa Atelier on Drury Street oozes handmade Irish chocolate deliciousness.
Finally, the all-important card.The Emerald Isle’s charm is more along the style of literary son Sheridan: “Won’t you come into the garden? My roses should like to meet you.”
Ireland is a land that reaches deep into the heart, lifts spirits and stirs you to your very core.
An imprint of the global publishing giant Wiley, Frommer’s is one of the travel market’s leading authorities and most trusted online content and guide book producers. Every year its editors, authors and experts from around the world select the best cities, islands, beaches and other vacation destinations and decide on the destinations that are going to be big news for travelers in the coming year.
Its Top Destinations list aims to steer travelers clear of too-hot spots or places so under the radar that travelers could find themselves lost. The list also includes the Frommer’s Readers’ Favorite Destination.
“Last year’s favorite Paris was beat out this year by the very tourist-friendly nation of Ireland,” the company says. “During the nominations process, supporters told us why they were putting the Emerald Isle on their wish lists for the following year.”
Those reasons were comments praising Ireland’s rugged beauty, the people, the history, lush countryside and opportunities to ramble and explore.
Ireland received 29% of the overall vote from the 10 destinations up for nomination and pipped Paris in the readers’ vote for best destination by just 1%.
The other places up for nomination were Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Egypt, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Greece and Paris. More than 7,300 ballots were cast for the awards.
ET: Are there certain countries where an average tipping amount differs greatly from other countries? Can you point out the countries where tipping procedures are quite a bit different than other countries?
Tipping customs can be very different in other countries, so it’s important to do your homework and get to know the culture you’re visiting before you take off. In some countries, tipping is not expected for most services. In Italy, you’d tip the same as you would tip for a taxi in the States—about 15% to 20% of the fare. But in restaurants over there and in most of Europe, you’d leave a lot less for the waiter than you would here in the U.S. It’s customary to leave just the change from your bill or up to 5% of your pretax bill.
ET: In which country or countries do you believe that waiters, cab drivers, etc. expect the largest tip?
I’m not familiar with enough countries’ customs to say definitively, but the U.S. is pretty generous when it comes to tipping.
ET: Some countries include the tip in the bill. Can you point out which countries do this?
In the U.S., in certain instance, tips are included in the bill. Many hotels, for example, include a tip in the room service bill. And many cruise lines, including Carnival and Celebrity, automatically add daily tips onto your onboard account. You can opt to change the tips at the guest services desk onboard.
ET: Do you have any personal tipping instances or funny stories about tipping from other people that you would like share?
When I went on my honeymoon a few years ago, my husband and I really hadn’t prepared properly for all the little indulgences we were giving ourselves to celebrate. We ordered room service, poolside service, took surf lessons, did a horseback-riding tour, used valet parking when we rented a car one day, ordered show tickets through the concierge, etc.—and wound up overtipping almost everyone we encountered. We even tipped the maintenance guy who came to our room a few times to fix a clogged drain. I wish we had been more familiar with standard tipping policies then and had budgeted for all of it beforehand.
ET: Is there a difference in the amount that you would tip a cab driver versus a waiter?
In the U.S., it’s standard to tip a cab driver 15% to 20% of the fare and a waiter 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill. You might also tip the driver extra for assistance with any luggage—$1 or $2 each bag.
ET: If you don’t like the service, should you tip at all?
Tipping is always at your discretion. These suggested amounts are just that—suggestions… that are in line with what people typically leave. But before you opt out of tipping, you should keep in mind that the people you are tipping count on those gratuities to make a livable wage. Also remember that a lot of people may be involved with providing your services. So, for example, if your food takes a long time to get to you in a restaurant, there may be a backup in the kitchen for some reason, which is totally out of the control of your waiter. So by not leaving a tip, you may be punishing someone who was not at fault.
ET: Many tip advice columns suggest tipping housekeeping but only 30% of guests do. This is one of the few instances where a guest tips before a service is given, rather than on the quality of a service. Housekeepers are also not front of the house nor a tip-based profession. Could you elaborate a bit on that advice?
Housekeepers are often overlooked because you don’t always see them performing their service like you do with a bellhop or concierge. But they do provide an important service, and many rely on tips to supplement their lower hourly wages. Of course, tipping is always at your discretion. Stories and advice such as mine are just meant as suggested amounts outlining standard protocol.
I’m not really sure how to respond to your point about tips being given prior to services being rendered. But it’s recommended that you leave a daily tip because housekeepers may change shifts, so you want to ensure that you’re tipping each person who tidies up your room. If you’d rather minimize your housekeeping tip, you should avoid receiving the services by putting out the Do Not Disturb sign and then just tip the morning you check out.
ET: What are some of the biggest tipping mistakes and how does tipping differ between cultures?
The biggest tipping mistake people make, I think, is just not thinking about it beforehand. You should be prepared to tip by budgeting it into your travel costs and getting to know the customs of the place you are visiting. Tipping standards vary greatly between different cultures. In Italy and much of Europe, the 15% to 20% tip you’d leave your waiter at a U.S. restaurant would be considered extravagant; it’s more common to leave just the change from your bill, up to 5%. So you could save some money just by getting to know the culture you are visiting better.
ET: What can travelers do to minimize feeling like a slot machine constantly spitting out dollars when traveling?
If you’d rather skip the tip, you can avoid services for which they are expected, such as the housekeeping example I gave above. Or you can pack lightly and plan to carry your own bags, avoiding assistance from bellhops, skycaps and drivers. Or you can opt to vacation to places where tips are included, such as at some all-inclusive resorts or aboard certain cruise lines.
ET: Is there additional information you’d like to share with our readers about tipping in general?
I’d just like to emphasize how important it is to budget for tipping. It’s part of the cost of services, whether it’s included automatically or not. So you should be prepared for it and make sure you can afford it without busting your budget. Stacy Rapacon, Kiplinger Channel Editor
Travel to Scotland can hardly get more luxurious than aboard the Royal Scotsman, the private train that takes its passengers through some of the most spectacular scenery in the British Isles.
In June 2009, join respected British gardening writer Sue Chivers and photographer Patsy Floyd on a memorable journey around some of Scotland’s finest country homes and gardens.
The Royal Scotsman departs from Edinburgh on June 5, and meanders north across the Forth Railway Bridge to Montrose and Edzell Castle. From there the train heads up the east coast to Aberdeen and the whiskey region. Day two takes travelers west towards Inverness, capital of the Highlands, passing through Dingwall before continuing north to Invergordon, where passengers disembark for a visit to Foulis Castle.
The train heads south on Day Three to Carrbridge, where travelers disembark for a visit to Logie House. This estate is privately-owned by Mr & Mrs Alastair Laing, who will conduct a tour of their home and gardens and discuss how they run their estate.
On Day Four, passengers disembark the train at Boat of Garten and take a motorcoach to Rothiemurchus Estate. This estate has been owned by the Grant family for almost 450 years. Philippa and Johnnie Grant, the 17th Laird of Rothiemurchus, invite passengers into their hunting lodge.
The next day the train returns to Edinburgh’s Waverly Station through the former Kingdom of Fife. Price for this rail journey is $7210 and includes all table d’hôte meals and accommodation on board based on two people sharing a twin compartment or one person in a single. Follow this link for more information or to order tickets.
By Marilyn Heimburger Photos by Don Heimburger and courtesy Munich Tourist Office
I have always liked Munich. Actually, it’s more than just liking the city. I feel moved by its vibrant life, its stimulating nature and its friendly people. Apparently many more feel the way I do, since it is Germany’s most-visited city.
Last year, during Munich’s 850th birthday, the city of 1.3 million hosted the following:
City Foundation Festival in June in the heart of the city, featuring traditional Bavarian culture and international folk culture. A highlight of the fest was a Gaufest, or regional festival, of the many associations for folk culture where dancing and costumes from the Isargau region were prominent. As many as 10,000 participants were involved in this. A group of 100 rafters from the Oberland region showed how to build a raft. Dance masters showed how to learn the “Munich-Francaise” dance.
In July, the Old Town Ring, which was free from automobile traffic, served as the center for a celebration of theater, music, dance, games and sports on many stages. Scenes from peasant life in Munich with markets, street theater and beer gardens were staged. There also was music from international bands and more.
In August, the three-day Isar Bridges Festival, centered around the Cornelius, Ludwig and Maximilian bridges, highlighted the Isar River (which flows through the city) as the city’s life-giving artery. There was music under the bridge, dancing along its banks, glittering lights on the water, and with this came Munich’s famous culinary delights. An action theater group, which encouraged audience participation, also presented skits. There were also night-time water and laser shows
Additional highlights included the world premier of a work commissioned from composer Victoria Borisova-Ollas especially for the 850th anniversary. In June the Cuvillies Theater, one of German’s most elegant Rococo theaters, reopened after a spectacular renovation. In the newly re-designed St. Jakobs-Platz, many of the local museums and community organizations held programs of music ranging from classical to klezmer (a musical genre), dancing and creative street theater, exhibitions, tours and more.
Many of Munich museums featured exhibits of famous Munich artists, writers and Munich’s cultural heritage.
As Munich’s Lord Mayor Christian Ude said, “(Munich’s) celebrating its 850th foundation day…is nothing exceptional. What is remarkable is the city’s rapid growth from a monastery on a hill to a European metropolis with over a million inhabitants and a high-tech hub.”
As Ude says, the city is special because of its enduring and much-praised flair as a place with a zest for life.
The settlement of Munichen was originally granted the right to market goods and mint coins in June of 1158. In 1214 it was granted status as a town, and in 1255 it became the seat of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Under Kind Ludwig I, many famous buildings were erected, making Munich a major cultural center, and in 1918 the Free State of Bavaria was formed.
For travelers, the city offers 355 hotels and pensions with 45,500 hotel beds available. In 2006, 4.4. million tourists booked nearly nine million overnight stays, with 47% of them from overseas, with the USA bringing in the most, followed by Italy, Great Britain, Austria and Switzerland.
The city boasts three universities and eight colleges, 60 theaters and an opera house, 45 major museums, three symphony orchestras—and it hosts the famous 16-day Octoberfest beginning on the Saturday two weeks before October.
Favorites for visitors to see in Munich include:
The city’s twin onion-domed towers of the Frauenkirche, Church of our Lady, Frauenplatz 1, is the city’s best-known landmark.
Marienplatz and the glockenspiel on the Marienplatz in the city center displays the mechanical dancers in the tower of the Rathaus (Town Hall) at 11 a.m. and noon (and 5 p.m. in the summer).
Schloss Nymphenburg is the impressive Baroque palace built as the summer residence for the Bavarian Electors. Today the main building houses a museum.
The Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s oldest market, originally begun as a farmer’s market and now a favorite place for a wide range of produce, Bavarian specialties and more.
The Hofbrauhaus deserves a visit, as its one of Munich’s best-known restaurant-breweries at Am Platz 9. Great dining is available, or just casual drinking and listening to oom-pah music. For information on the Hofbrauhaus, visit www.hofbraeuhaus.de.
There are many churches to visit, including the Asamkirche built by the Asam brothers in the 18th century with its spectacular interior at Sendlinger Strasse 62; Church of the Sacred Heart, a cubed-shaped structure with an innovative facade at Romanstrasse 6; and Saint Peter’s, Munich’s oldest parish at Rindermarkt 1.
The Deutsches Museum at Museumsinsel 1 houses sailboats, windmills, space probes, robots, ships, trains, planes and much more. Allot a whole day for this attraction.
Octoberfest Museum, at Sterneckerstrasse 2, will tell you all about the history of beer including how it started as a drink at monasteries, and all about the city’s famous Octoberfest celebration.
The expanded BMW Museum is a must-see if you are fascinated with automobiles and engineering. Tours are available.
Munich is waiting to wow you.
IF YOU GO… You can arrive at Munich’s Airport, which is like a city within itself. Flights from numerous major hubs arrive and depart from here daily. Train is another good option if you are coming from another European city.
If you’ll be in town for at least a day, pick up the City Tour Card (one- and three-day tickets are available), which is good not only for all public transportation, but also includes discounts of up to 50% on more than 30 attractions such as sights, bike rentals, museums, theaters and restaurants. www.citytourcard.com.
A close-in, convenient four-star hotel is the Platzl Hotel at Sparkassenstrasse 10. It is located near the Hofbrauhaus and is within a a couple of minutes walk of the Marienplatz. Visit www.platzl.de.
Guided tours of Munich are available. Visit www.muenchen.de for more information. The tourism office is located in the Rathaus, first floor, at Marienplatz.
European Traveler 