Saturday was the Santa Barbara Vintners Festival in Buellton, California. This is such a fun event! It was a beautiful day, down by the Santa Ynez river in a park surrounded by flowers in full bloom and lots of greenery. The venue was perfect for the event. This festival happens twice a year, in the Spring (usually the second Saturday of April) it is in Buellton, Solvang or Lompoc. In the Fall it is at Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Maria, Ca.(usually the second Saturday of October). More information on http://www.sbvintnersweekend.com.
This event does attract people from all over the world. It is a nice event to add to your itinerary if you are traveling to California or the Central Coast. I find it to be a great value, with all you can drink and eat (pick up 2 for 1 coupons for tasting rooms). This makes a for a very nice day.

I met some very nice people from Southern California Wine Lovers, Scott Smith http://www.socalwinelovers.com. The lovely gals from Fish talk radio and Cork & Fork talk radio http://www.corkandfork.com. These are some great websites which showcase the Santa Barbara wines.

All the wineries and many restaurants are in one location for sampling. Everyone is so friendly. I met so many nice people and tasted many yummy wines.

I am very thankful for Point Conception Winery for inviting me to help pour their wines and experience this great event.You can visit their beautiful tasting room in Buellton, Ca on Hwy 246 next to the Hitching Post. Bring a picnic and enjoy their wines. http://www.pointconcepcionwines.com

.

Tripadvisors list of the 25 top places to see in 2014 is available:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Destinations-g1-a_Mode.expanded#

I have been to about a third of them, but I would love to hit them all. Istanbul, Lisbon, Prague, Marrakech, Berlin, Barcelona and Dubai are high on my list. Which ones have you been to? What is your opinion, do you think they are right on the mark?

This weekend I got a dollar off per gallon up to 25 gal. You can bet I got the full 25 gallon.

Check out your local markets for incentives for cheaper gas. I put the $25 savings in my (money) stash for future travel. Then when a great deal comes up, I am prepared to grab the deal and pack my bags.

The deal of the day is a Groupon deal. I have been wanting a “Twist and Shout mop”, these mops are normally $49.99-$65 per mop set. Today I found this deal on Groupon https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-magic-spin-mop-and-replacement-mop-heads-2.

I took it one step further and went to my local grocery store, they are offering 4 times the rewards points for gift cards. I used my rewards credit card and earned some sky mileage. Plus, Groupon is offering free shipping for purchases over $19.99. I ended up with 4 deals!

Check out the deals and let me know the great ones you find.

I saw this great deal for an under the bed shoe organizer at https://www.livingsocial.com/products/us/tag/home-goods/66205-under-the-bed-shoe-organizer.

I am going to get organized and donate (for the tax write-off) or sell all my unwanted items and make some money!This will be saved for some future trips. Yay! I love saving money, just as much as traveling. This way I get to do both.

When I was checking out I saw this deal for a 10 pk of neutral colored camis for $29 plus free shipping at https://www.livingsocial.com/products/us/69239-10-pack-of-women-s-neutral-camis?index=2. That is $2.90 a piece. I always use these. I usually pay $5.99 plus tax each for them. If you do not need ten and you have a friend the same size, split it with her.

Know of any good deals? Everyone is always on the hunt for a good deal.

To tip or not tip, that is the question?TIPS means to insure proper service. The money would be placed at the end of the table and if the service was bad, it would be taken away. It seems some places I go there is a hand out expecting a tip. I hate being nickel and dimed. So where do you draw the line? I know in the States the wait staff at restaurants are taxed on their food sales, so tipping is taking from them. I want to her your opinion on this subject.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on or around March 17th to remember St. Patrick who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many countries, Ireland, England, Australia, Canada and United States to name a few. Some of the biggest celebrations are in the United States. Celebrations include traditional Irish foods, parades, wearing green, and of course drinking green beer. A lot of people are not even Irish, it is just a great excuse to have some fun.St. Patrick’s Day is becoming just as big of a celebration as New Years Eve. I am featuring my top ten places I want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. They are not in any particular order, if it is a great deal, then it will become number one.

1. Dublin,Ireland: Dublin made the list for obvious reasons, its part of Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day started, of course I want to go there. I think Dublin’s celebrations would be really a life event with a parade, festival, food, music, beer and a lot of laughs. Many popular bands play at the festival and all the traditional Irish food is served. They light up many historical buildings with green lights and have history walks. The festivities last for three days.

2. New York City, NY: New York City has the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade which runs down Fifth Ave. and passes in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This is even bigger then in Dublin. The parade has run every year since 1762. Besides the largest parade with two million spectators, there is also the St. Patty’s Day Scavenger hunt, Irish bands playing, and the famous Irish pub crawl. Just watch out and do not step in green puddles. I love New York and I have a t-shirt to prove it, I think it would be a lot of fun to participate in their festivities.

3. Savannah, Georgia: Savannah will host the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in out nation on Monday, March 17, 2014. They are expecting over 300, 000 spectators and 350 floats. There will be a festival at the River Park from March 14th-17th. The festival will feature live bands, games, food and of course green beer and other Irish drinks. They are going to “paint the town green”. This is the largest celebration in the Southeast. Savannah residents are known for their big and fun parties, it is legal to walk around with alcoholic beverages. I am sure with all the fun of St. Patrick’s Day and the southern hospitality combined will be a festival you will remember forever!

4.Boston, Massachusetts: Boston, Ma has the biggest Irish population in the United States.Boston was the first to have a St. Patrick’s day parade in 1737. In addition to the parade there will be live bands playing, the Irish Heritage Trail, Irish film festival and of course the Irish pubs for some traditional Irish food and drinks. Just don’t throw your green tea in the harbor.

5.Chicago, Illinois: Chicago’s number one symbol of celebration is dying the Chicago river green. They also celebrate with a parade on the Saturday closest to St. Patrick’s Day. All of the Irish restaurants and pubs are buzzing with people in search of traditional Irish food and drinks. There is also the St. Paddy’s Day race, the Fitzgerald’s St. Paddy’s Day festival (food, music and games). I have actually been here for St. Patrick’s Day, it is great!

6. Toronto, Canada: Toronto celebrates mostly like the United States cities do with a parade. They also have the traditional Irish food and drinks, a few pub crawls and bands playing. What makes Toronto different is they turn the Niagara Falls green (with lights, not dye). Niagara Falls would be spectacular to see in the first place, but green, makes it even better.

7.Montserrat: Montserrat is a Caribbean Island known as the ‘Emerald Island of the Caribbean’. Canada, the ROI and Montserrat are the only place in the world that have made St.Patrick’s Day a public holiday. The festivities include a parade, International Fishing Tournament, restaurants will participate in ‘A Taste of the Two Emerald Isles’, and the Skits and Short Plays Festival. It’s in the Caribbean, I think that says it all, no excuse needed to visit.

8. New Orleans, La: St. Patrick’s Day falls very close to Mardi gras, therefore the party continues. The Italians and Irish celebrate together and combine St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day. Of course there is a huge parade (New Orleans loves to have parades) and a pub crawl. This is one of the cities you can take you alcohol in to go cups and drink it while walking around. The city is one big party!

9. Sydney, Australia: Sydney’s celebration is the largest Irish event in the Southern Hemisphere. It is organized and funded by the Irish community and the Irish government. They have a huge parade with over 80,000 Irish and Irish-Australians attending. A family day is another main focus of the celebration. The festivities include local Irish bands playing, traditional Irish food, games and of course green beer. I believe going “down under” would be a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

10.Birmingham, Alabama: This is really at the top of my places to visit for St. Patrick’s Day. Ever since I read “The Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love” http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com, I have wanted to go to this parade. These woman are full of life and fun. It is a group of woman wearing red bee hive wigs, the shiny dresses and long gloves. The first year they threw sweet potatoes. They quickly decided not to do that because of black eyes and broken windows.I suggest reading the book, especially before you go for St. Patrick’s Day. After the parade the celebration continues with a festival consisting of Irish foods, games, bands, dancing and green Irish drinks.

All of the cities offer similar ways of celebrations, but with their own flair. I cannot wait to experience them all. I am sure there are many other places with great celebrations. My green outfits and passport are ready, where else should I go?

Now that I have been home for several months and made it through the holidays I am finally going to update this page. My motivation is coming from several friends going to Italy soon. I hope my insight will make their trip the best experience.

There are a few things to keep in mind when booking the hotels for your trip:
1. Location: I suggest finding a hotel (or vacation rental) close to the train station or other major sites. This will help cut down cab fees.
2. Ratings: Check on Tripadvisor.com for the ratings and reviews for the hotels you are interested in. This is helpful to see how clean, friendly, size, location and any other issues the property may have.
3. Elevator: Make sure the hotel has an elevator. Even if you have just one large bag and one carry-on it is difficult to get up several flights of stairs.
4. Price: Check for discounts on hotels.com or other websites to get an additional discount. You can find discounts through emails or web searches. It is usually a promotional code to put in during the booking process.
5. Rewards: If your hotel offers a rewards card, sign up for the club benefits.

Book your train tickets for the high-speed trains before you go on raileurope.com (you can find the link to the left). During the summer especially these can book up. These trains will cut your travel time in half and is well worth the extra cost. Read the difference between the benefits of first class and second class. See if it is worth it to you to pay the higher fee for those benefits.

Things to make sure to bring with you for an enjoyable trip:
1. Shoes: Bring sandals or flip-flops (which ever is most comfortable) with you, no matter what time of year it is. These do not take up much room, when it is unseasonable warm, these are nice and refreshing. Bring comfortable walking shoes in different styles, 3 different pairs to switch out with daily.
2. Clothes: Check with the weather and pack according to the season. Always bring a sweater for the plane. Look online and see what the locals are wearing, try to blend in with the locals and wear similar clothing. Make sure if you are packing a sun dress, you have a scarf or something to cover your shoulders (some places you must have your shoulders covered to enter). Do not over pack! Wear your jeans, pants, shorts or skirts 2 or 3 times. Pack plenty of underwear (this is small and doesn’t take up much room). If you pack in the same colors, you can interchange outfits. Remember if you do not have and you need it, buy it when you get there, if you forgot to pack it.
3. Ear buds: For the plane and your Ipod. Bring the ear buds comfortable for you. Put these in your back pack or purse because you can use them on the city bus tours. I found the head phones offered hurt my ears. Once I plugged in my own it was much more enjoyable.
4. Snacks: Bring small packages of nuts, crackers or granola bars. Carry them in your back pack or purse. If you are in line somewhere and get hungry, this will tie you over until you can stop and eat. Bring a small bottle of water with you. You can refill this bottle at the hotel.
5. Camera: Make sure you pack your adapter for your battery. It is nice to have a small camera that can zoom in and has night-time settings. Your phone works for back up.
6. Adapters: Magellan’s (you can find the link to the left) sells a really nice adapter that can handle curling irons and blow dryers. These generate a lot of heat so you need the heavy-duty kind. The small ones are good for your phones and cameras.
7. Luggage: I have talked about this before, check one bag and bring one carry-on. If you have to purchase luggage for the trip, get the luggage with 4 wheels. These are nice, you can push and do not have to always pull them. Pack all your clothes in the carry-on and leave your checked bag empty as possible. When coming home put all your clothes in your checked bag and your keepsakes in your carry-on (you have to check any liquids).

Before you leave do a little research:
1. Language: Learn the basics of the language. Hello (or typical greeting), please, thank you, goodbye, train station, where is the toilet, do you speak English, and how much? Do not expect people to speak your language. If you try to speak their language, most likely they will speak English and are very helpful.
2. Sites: Write down the sites you want to see. You can maximize your time by seeing all the things on your list while you’re in that area. Check them off as you go. This will make sure you do not miss anything.
3. Food: Look up the food you want to eat. Each region has specialties, research what they are and try them in that particular region. If you have any allergies look up what recipes use that item and what it is in that language.

Part of the excitement of going is actually the travel to get there. The flights to Europe or anywhere overseas is long. Most of the time you are flying overnight and arriving early in the morning. It is important to try to get some sleep. This is not always easy. Try to stay up the first couple of hours. Eat your meal and watch a movie. Then try to sleep the last 4-5 hours. This will make the time go faster and you will feel not so jet lagged when you get there. When you are finally there and checked into your hotel, go out and start exploring. Eat your meals the same time you usually do. This will keep the jet lag at bay.

Enjoy every minute and take lots of pictures. Find out the name of the foods you eat and really loved, write them down. When you get home maybe you can find a recipe and duplicate it, then you can relive that part of your trip. I hope to see pictures and hear about your wonderful travels.

Anywhere can be romantic. I am thinking how romantic Paris is and the “Love Lock Bridge”. I thought I would share a piece of Paris for Valentine’s Day.

Where are you spending Valentine’s Day?

Check the expiration date on your passport. Some countries will not let you in if your passport is going to expire within 6 months. I sent mine out to be renewed and the date was still good. It only had a few months of life left on it. It was difficult, I felt trapped a little. It only took two weeks! It was as if the mail carrier delivered the world to me. The sad part is, I did not get my old passport back. I should have taken the pages out or copied them. I no longer have my stamps. I have to go back to those countries now.

Who would be interested in going? I have many countries to see and many to return to. Planning is part of the fun for me. Where should I go next?