Did you know that Ireland is one of Europe’s top destinations for whale watching, or that surfing dudes flock to our beaches to catch sky-high waves, or that you can clip-clop along country roads in your own horse-drawn caravan?

And if you don’t like getting intimate with the great outdoors, you can occupy yourself with a diverse range of sightseeing attractions from ancient monuments to multi-media interpretative centres, top theatres and art galleries, and some of the most memorable festivals around the world!

To see all the exciting amenities and attractions that Ireland has to offer, please view www.ireland.ie

Some European travel tips...

1. Fly "open-jaws" (into one city and out of another): Save time and money by avoiding a costly return to your starting point. Try to start your itinerary in "mild" countries (such as England) and work into the places with greater culture shock (such as Turkey). Save countries offering the cheapest shopping for the end of your trip.

2. Use ATMs rather than travelers checks: You will get your cash cheaper and faster using an ATM. Just keep in mind that while ATMs give the best possible rates, they do come with transaction fees.

3. Shop cheap and interesting: Do most of your shopping and gift buying in the cheaper countries where gifts are more interesting and your shopping dollar stretches the farthest.

4. Adapt to European tastes: Cultural chameleons drink tea in England, beer in Prague, red wine in France, and white wine on the Rhine. Going with the local specialties gets you the best quality and service for the best price.

5. Pay with local cash: While credit cards get you a good exchange rate, many places offering Europe's best deals - from craft shops to bed & breakfasts - accept only cash.

6. Explore no-frills flights: Europe's highly competitive no-frills airlines (i.e. Ryanair, Virgin Air) can get you from one city to another faster and cheaper than the train . You generally book the flights yourself by phone or Web. Beware though: cheap airlines often use small airports located far from the city center, which can cost a little extra time and money.

7. Go business: During summer and weekends year-round, you can get a fancy business hotel room at a cheap one-star hotel price . It's not unusual to score a $300 double room for $100.

8. Don't over-tip: Only Americans tip 15 to 20 percent in Europe, even tipping when it is already included or not expected. Ask locals (who are customers rather than employees of a restaurant) for advice.

9. Buy museum passes: Passes save time and money. The Paris Museum pass, for example, pays for itself in three visits and saves you hours by letting you skip long lines. With a pass you can also pop painlessly into sights that might otherwise not be worth the expense.