Destination: Northern Ireland

World Travel Watch: Plague in Bolivia and Peru, Warnings in Northern Ireland and More

Larry Habegger rounds up global travel news

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World Travel Watch: Flesh Fines in France, Medical Tourism Risks in South Asia and More

Larry Habegger rounds up global travel news

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World Travel Watch: Safari Robbers in Tanzania, the ‘Real IRA’ in Belfast and More

Larry Habegger rounds up global travel news

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Mapped: The Cheeses of Britain and Ireland

Another tasty bite of geographical fun—and more proof that British food is worth defending. (Via @LPUSAstaff)


Check-in Time at Northern Ireland’s Oldest Prison

Check-in Time at Northern Ireland’s Oldest Prison Photo by psd via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Photo by psd via Flickr (Creative Commons)

The Armagh Jail, a 230-year-old prison that served as a women’s detention center during Northern Ireland’s Troubles, will be converted into a luxury hotel, the Independent reports. The City Council will retain ownership of the site, and the developers who’ve leased it have apparently committed to maintaining its historical integrity during the renovations. Said one ex-inmate: “I just hope the food is better there now.”

Armagh may not be the only prison with turn-down service in its future, either. The story notes that The Maze—the infamous Troubles-era prison where 10 hunger-strikers died in the 1980s—is up for redevelopment, too.


County Antrim, Northern Ireland

County Antrim, Northern Ireland REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

A farmer checks on his crop of maize in Crumlin, County Antrim

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This Just In: Britain Doesn’t Have to be Expensive

Durham Cathedral Photo by Neil T via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Photo of Durham Cathedral by Neil T via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Sure, London can be one of the world’s most expensive cities, and the pound has offered a punishing exchange rate with most other currencies over the past few years. But, having done the “starving student” thing there in my grad school days, I’ve always believed that the U.K. remains a prime destination for travelers on a budget. For every pricey West End stage production there’s a free, world-class museum, and for every swank celebrity-helmed restaurant there’s a tasty meal in a cozy pub. Don’t believe me? Here’s proof: 10 free cultural gems, courtesy of the Guardian, and, from the Independent, the country’s 50 best cheap eats. Both are good lists—the Guardian’s in particular gets bonus points for avoiding the best-known London freebies, like the Tate Modern, in favor of more obscure (and more geographically diverse) cultural institutions.

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Morning Links: Road Tripping ‘Amexica,’ Titty Ho and More

Morning Links: Road Tripping ‘Amexica,’ Titty Ho and More Photo by Ian Muttoo via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Photo of Toronto by Ian Muttoo via Flickr (Creative Commons)

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Has Sauvignon Blanc Trumped Stout in Belfast?

Has Sauvignon Blanc Trumped Stout in Belfast? Photo by birdies-perch via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Photo by birdies-perch via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Well, not yet, but it’s getting there. In a country that relishes its working-class brew, oenophiles have often been dismissed as effete elitists. But lately foreign travel, among other things, has fueled a marked interest in wine in Northern Ireland. Peter McBride, owner of the Gapwines chain, which recently held a wine-tasting at Belfast Castle, says he’s noticed that travelers often want to re-create the tastes they’ve experienced abroad at home. “And wine is one of them,” he told the BBC.


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