One of the best ways to explore Ireland is by car on an exciting road trip, as it allows you to travel at your own pace and take in all the surroundings. If you’re a fan of films and TV shows then you should discover some of the best filming locations that Chill Insurance has put together for their #IrelandOnCamera campaign. Check out the map of locations you need to explore on your Irish adventure.

Dublin

Dublin has featured in many popular films over the years, from the opening prison scene in The Italian Job at the Kilmainham Gaol to providing the interior shots of the cell block in Paddington 2. Whelan’s pub on Wexford Street makes an appearance in P.S I Love You, and the British-American horror drama Penny Dreadful features Dublin Castle.

Belfast

Popular TV drama Line of Duty often uses various Belfast locations throughout the show’s five seasons, including shots of the Obel Tower at Donegall Quay. New Barnsley Park features in Derry Girls while The Lost City of Z filmed in and around Belfast, including the Belfast City Hall.

Kerry

Fans of the Star Wars franchise may already know that the Skellig Islands off the Kerry coast was among the filming locations of the latest films, The Last Jedi and The Force Awakens. However, getting to Skellig Michael isn’t easy and the sea crossing is only possible during the summer.

Clare

Movies such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Princess Bride used The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare as a backdrop. Although Father Ted portrayed a fictional location called Craggy Island, the show was actually filmed in Cloon and a nearby market town called Ennistymon.

Wicklow

The county town of Wicklow features in a number of TV shows including Little Women and Ballykissangel, while Humewood Castle in Kiltegan features in the film Ella Enchanted.  Wicklow also makes an appearance in the Hollywood hit, Braveheart featuring Mel Gibson. Kippure Holiday Village which is in the middle of the Wicklow Mountains is one of the main locations of the film.

If you’re planning on visiting Ireland soon then check out the full map to see if any of your favourite films and TV shows make the cut, or if you’ve visited any of these filming locations we’d love to hear your thoughts on them.

Whether you’re a talented chef destined for a glittering restaurant career, or simply a gastronome looking to make a living from a love of good food, these three careers could be the key to combining your passions and travelling the world!

1. Food writing

If you have a way with words, this might be the job for you.

Food writing comes in all shapes and sizes. From cookbook to travel memoirs, and digital blogs to print reviews, there are thousands of like-minded food lovers just like you who live vicariously through mouth-watering descriptions of enchanting entrees and dazzling desserts.

And while they say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, this rule tends not to apply to food critics, who are paid to sample Michelin-worthy menus in return for honest reviews.

Alternatively, many travel writing positions will require an ability to write about broader topics but will almost always present a few opportunities to detail your most delicious dinners on the road.

The tricky part for the travelling connoisseur is finding the right role – whilst in-house positions at publications may limit your opportunities for international adventure, freelance writing can be a great way to fund your travels whilst chronicling your passion.

2. Food stylist

Like all things you see on-screen, the delicious feasts lining the dinner tables of TV characters have been painstakingly put together by a professional to perfect the moment.

But be warned – this role is more complicated than it sounds.

When it comes to cooking for the silver screen, taste tends to take a backseat in priorities. These dishes not only have to look picture-perfect but will need to survive for hours at a time under bright, hot lights whilst still maintaining an oven-fresh appearance.

Not to mention, shows and films require many, many takes to get the scene right, meaning food has to be prepared in large quantities for each individual take.

3. Street food chef

Street food is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and locals alike all over the world.

And with a truck, these businesses can be mobile, travelling across the country and even attending events for hire.

If you’re a talented chef planning on starting such an enterprise, you’ll need a little business knowhow as well as some good recipes. Courses such as Business Administration from ARU Distance Learning can be a major help in getting your ambitions off the ground.

This solution is the perfect compromise for those who like the idea of running their own restaurant but don’t want to be tied down to any one place.

These are just three culinary careers that could enable you to achieve your travel dreams.

In conjunction with Panasonic Avionics, travelers can now stay connected with the world during their flight via eXTV. This exciting phenomenon in digital broadcasting is now offered as a free service to Thai Airways customers.

What is Panasonic Aviation?

California based Panasonic Aviation Corporation is a North American subsidiary of the Panasonic Corporation. Their specific brief is to design and engineer customized in-flight entertainment systems and to undertake the installation directly for the customer. Being able to offer an entire service package, from design concept to installation, is a big plus for airlines giving them a single partner in creating the perfect entertainment package for passengers.

So, what is eXTV?

eXTV is a high-speed satellite connectivity platform, specifically developed with, and for, international airlines by Panasonic Aviation. Thai Airways has always been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of technology to improve safety and passenger experience. Working together with Panasonic, eXTV is another giant leap forward in an innovative approach to an ever-greater customer experience.

Speaking from Panasonic Aviation’s headquarters in Forest Lake, California, Vice President David Bruner, said “We are very excited by the results of our first eXTV test flight because it clearly proves the concept and demonstrates the robust performance of our TV solution”. Following the successful test flights, Thai Airways now offer eXTV to its passengers on international flights.

What Does eXTV offer to Thai Airways Passengers?

For many passengers, missing their favorite sporting events has been a disappointing necessity of flying. Not anymore, not with eXTV and Thai Airways. Be it motor racing or football, all major televised sports events can be accessed live on your personal screen. Passengers can also select their preferred news channel to stay abreast of real time world news. With Thai Airways, passengers are more entertained and informed than ever before.

There’s No Need to Upgrade to Enjoy eXTV with Thai Airways

Across all passenger grades, Thai Airways has always striven to offer the very best in-flight experience to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of its customers. Customer satisfaction creates customer loyalty, and Thai Airways realize that this must be earned by offering and being the best. With this in mind, Thai Airways offer the eXTV experience across all its passenger grades.

Which Flights Offer the eXTV experience?

The eXTV experience has been installed in the Thai Airways Airbus A350-900s which fly to 8 Asian cities, including Singapore, Beijing and Seoul. In Europe the service is available to Brussels, Milan and Rome and Melbourne, Australia.

The airline has eXTV in its Boeing 787-8s flying to 5 Asian cities including Delhi, Hanoi and Manila. The service is also available on flights to Vienna in Europe and in Australia passengers can enjoy eXTV on flights to Perth and Brisbane.

Passengers flying on the Boeing 787-9 to Auckland, Australia and to Taipei can also enjoy the experience of eXTV. Thai Airways have a planned roll out of more flights and destinations where its customers will be able to enjoy the eXTV experience.

Thai Airways have always looked for ways in which to improve its passengers experience, on the ground and in the air, and this will continue. They also realize the importance of keeping people informed of the innovations they invest in. Loyal customers, and prospective ones, can access all that is new with Thai Airways, so stay connected here.

There are plenty of fantastic alternative choices when looking outside of Airbnb, and our staff at www.factotum.co.uk have chosen five of their favourites sites. There may be one here that offers a place that suits your particular holiday style!

1: Booking.com

Booking.com has been long known as a sight for finding great value holiday bookings, but now you can now actually rent apartments through their site. It is very easy to search for luxury apartments listings on the site, but now you can package everything up and book your flight, taxis, car hire and even restaurants too. It saves you a lot of time having to do each booking separately.

2: HomeAway

A great resource for worldwide holiday destinations, HomeAway is stacked with over 2 million holiday homes across more than 190 countries. Whether you are looking for high-end luxury for a truly relaxing break, or for more cost-effective opportunities in offbeat locations, you can discover plenty of options here. Manage your own booking, communicate directly with owners, and share the details with your family and friends.

3: FlipKey

Owned by TripAdvisor Rentals, FlipKey comes across as a bare-bones operation, but you are reassured that they have the backing of a travel-industry expert. Offering more than 300,000 homes for holiday rent, both at home and internationally, FlipKey will surely grow into something that will rival their larger neighbours in the field.

4: TripAdvisor Rentals

TripAdvisor Rentals is a leading holiday rental marketplace. The site boasts over 830,000 holiday options across 190 countries. Most recognised as being a long-standing part of the travel review community, the company have many partners that you can get great deals with. There are also experts on hand that can help you plan your perfect getaway.

5: Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing has always been a favourite of students and young people looking to travel the world on a budget. However, you need not discount the site if you are older or have a family to consider. The idea behind using this site is to enable you to connect with truly authentic destinations in the heart of local communities. There are over 400,000 hosts and 4 million “surfers” currently enjoying their services across 200,000 cities.

We hope you find these alternatives to Airbnb interesting. Have a lovely holiday!

For instance, if you’re willing to forego first class air travel, you might have more cash to splash out on a luxe hotel at your destination.

Or alternatively, staying in four-star rather than five-star accommodation can free up funds for eating out at fabulous restaurants and catching the hottest shows.

So if you don’t need full-spectrum luxury to satisfy your wanderlust, it might be possible to take fulfilling vacations more often.

With that in mind, here are three luxury trips by plane, boat and train.

1. Cape Town

If you book ahead, you’ll find competitive deals on Cape Town flights departing from the US with carriers like Delta, Air France and Qatar Airways — and from the UK with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

And with luxury hotel options like Kensington Place with its beautiful views of Table Mountain and the antique charm of Cape Grace in the city centre, you’re spoiled for choice.

But for something completely different, stay at The Silo — this instantly iconic Thomas Heatherwick design is crafted from a huge reclaimed grain silo at the V&A Waterfront.

For your fine dining fix, head to The Test Kitchen — renowned chef Luke Dale-Roberts and his team will rustle you up treats like Mauritius coconut langoustine with a selection of the region’s world-famous wines.

2. Northern Lights

The Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis) are wonders of the natural world — a beautiful luminous display created by the effects of sunspots and solar storms on the Earth’s magnetic field.

They’re best viewed by boat from the northern hemisphere and luxury travellers might prefer to experience them in a small select group, rather than feeling crammed in a crowd.

The Small Cruise Ships Collection offers a specialist trip around Norway, Greenland and Iceland with between 40-100 passengers — much more exclusive than the thousands that occupy large cruise liners.

And for something truly special, combine the ambient Northern Lights with a bit of whale spotting from the Noorderlicht — the firm’s 10-cabin refurbished 1910 schooner yacht.

3. Keystone Corridor

Traveling by car between major cities on the US eastern seaboard can get a little hectic and air travel, with its endless document checks, can sometimes seem like a hassle too.

By comparison, a sedate rail journey feels much more civilised — and the Amtrak Keystone service connecting New York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg is one of America’s most enjoyable.

With multiple daily departures, it allows you to enjoy exclusive NYC clubs like Provocateur in the Meatpacker District and unwind in high-end Philadelphia establishments like The Rittenhouse Hotel.

Railway enthusiasts might also enjoy cruising through Pennsylvania Dutch country powered by the Keystone’s overhead catenary wire system — the electric rig’s maintained by crew in a specialist vehicle called a ‘cat car’ and instantly evokes old-school charm.

So there are three luxury trips by plane, boat and train — book one today and tick another box in your travel to-do list.

What’s your favourite way to travel in style? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Dario Franceschini with a public ceremony at the Mibact in Rome explains:

We started off with a bit of skepticism, but this became an important event, which made many things possible, especially a growth path for the city that wins. And not only for the million that is delivered but also for all the projects that gravitate around. In this case, the jury chose unanimously.
Capital of Culture 2020 Parma

The jury chaired by Stefano Baia Curioni announced that Parma would become the Italian Capital of Culture 2010. The project includes the opening to the public of the Ospedale Vecchio, the enhancement of the Center for studies and archives of communication of the University of Parma, the creation of the City of the Muses together with the Arrigo Boito Conservatory, a special edition of the Verdi Festival and much more.

Federico Pizzarotti, mayor of Parma, said he was more excited than when he was elected as the first citizen. He was excited and speechless, also because Parma had already tried in 2016.

On several occasions Italian and foreign artists will be asked to tell the city of Parma from an unprecedented point of view. After having obtained in 2015 the title of Creative City of gastronomy from UNESCO, another great satisfaction!

This is the list of some of the numerous museums participating in the event:

Capitoline Museums: shows The Treasure of Antiquity. Winckelmann and the Capitoline Museum in eighteenth-century Rome

Centrale Montemartini: Egyptian Etruscan exhibitions. From Eugene Berman to the Golden Scarab Freedom Manifesto

Macro: Dias & Riedweg exhibitions. Other time than here. Other place than now. | I am here! | Reaction Rome (II Edition) | Extended Blue. Mixed Media Installation until December 26th

Mercati di Traiano – Museo dei Fori Imperiali: Trajan exhibition. Building the Empire, creating Europe

Ara Pacis Museum: Hokusai exhibition. In the footsteps of the Master. Extraordinary evening openings from 19.30 to 23.30

Civic Museum of Zoology: exhibit Museum of Zoology … different by nature

Municipal Gallery of Modern Art: shows The essential truth of things. Francesco Trombadori

Pietro Canonica Museum at Villa Borghese: exhibition Realism and Poetry. The gaze of Pietro Canonica on the First World War

Museum of Rome – Palazzo Braschi: exhibition Artists at the Opera. The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma on the art frontier from Picasso to Kentridge1880-2017

Museum of Rome in Trastevere: ’77 exhibitions a story of forty years ago in the works of Tano D’Amico and Pablo Echaurren | Totò Genio

Rome Planetarium – ex Dogana: show OpenSpaces: Planetarium Reloaded! Until January 5th

Sunday, January 7, 2018, also, free entry for residents in Rome and the Metropolitan City for all the museums and exhibitions scheduled (except Hokusai, in the footsteps of the master).

In this post I try to describe it briefly, starting from the position: we are in Ireland, near the west coast, about 30 km north of Galway (map) and its airport. Do not forget that Galway is the ideal starting point for those who want to visit the Cliffs of Moher, so you can combine these two wonderful opportunities.

But we come to the castle: looking at the many photos on the hotel website you will agree with me that it is really spectacular for architecture and location, and that the rooms, from the “base” to the suite passing through two intermediate levels, are just as beautiful. Obviously there is a restaurant and a wellness center and the opportunity to participate in river cruises, fishing sorts, or enjoy a game of golf in the private field of the hotel.

The cost of living is also interesting, with double room costs ranging from 90 to 180 euros per night depending on the period chosen and various promotional offers for spring, weekends, and so on.

These are the current exhibitions: the Permanent Collection of Art and Architecture, Home Beirut Sounding the Neighbors over 100 works by 36 Lebanese artists, Gravity. Imagining the Universe after Einstein the answers of Art and Science to the great questions posed by the Universe, Atlas of Luigi Ghirri a pivotal project of the history of contemporary Italian photography, Zaha Hadid and Italy, tribute to the genius of the great architect and others.

Not only that: there is also a rich program for 2018 with 18 exhibitions and an intense calendar of meetings, events, workshops, film screenings, theater lectures, which you can fully enjoy thanks to the myMAXXI card, a subscription that allows you to enter , visit the exhibitions as often as you want, and many facilities for a whole year.

Why South Africa? Because the children will find themselves for the first time in front of a fascinating wild nature and the famous big five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) that live here. Not only that: since there is no time difference between Italy and South Africa, children will not suffer any jetlag and will be loaded from day one to face the many activities that this beautiful area of ​​Africa offers.

You will be spoiled for choice in deciding what to do, but among the many options, visiting the theme parks is certainly a must, especially if you are traveling with children. The famous Ushaka Marine World, the fifth largest aquarium in the world, is located in Durban, while in Johannesburg one of the main attractions is the Gold Reef City, which stands on a veritable 19th-century gold mine. The Ratanga Junction of Cape Town, with over 30 attractions, completes the list of the best theme parks in the country. In Cape Town, the Two Oceans Aquarium will show your children two different marine environments: the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, or another unmissable place, the Table Mountain – symbol of the city.

And again: whale watching is another unforgettable activity that is worth trying, especially in Hermanus, a city between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas, a destination par excellence where to try this kind of experience and is considered the best place from which watch the whales without having to take a boat. Those interested in whale watching can encounter this incredible animal along the Garden Route or the Wild Coast.

If you like plants and flowers, the Kirstenbosh National Botanical Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and is certainly the most beautiful in all of Africa. It will be interesting to undertake the Treetop Canopy Walkaway, 130m long air bridge surrounded by more than 20,000 wild plants. Finally you can not miss a last stop at Birds of Eden, one of the largest aviary in the world: a unique place to end the South African experience.