In the third episode of Ambassadors for Spain we are delighted to chat with Ian Byrne, originally from Monkstown Co. Dublin.  The manager of two Irish bars in Benidorm, The Tavern and The Church, Ian is well known locally as a Stand Up Comedian and also manages a property agency and was previously an english teacher in Valencia.   In this episode Ian tells us why he loves living in Benidorm and what it has to offer.   Once a quiet fishing village, Benidorm has been transformed by mass tourism over recent years and today the "NEW" Benidorm  has launched itself as a new Hub for Digital Nomads.   

“Live in Benidorm; work from Paradise” is the motto of the new campaign. 

The new campaign seeks to rebrand the city from its usual sun, sea and sand image to one which is best suited as the headquarters for people working remotely.   Did you know that Benidorm is also known as BeniYork in Spain?  The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated a trend which was already gaining considerable ground in recent years. We are talking about the practice of remote working or working from any spot in the world armed with a laptop and a wi-fi connection. People who have made it possible to have their work bound to them rather than vice versa are known as digital nomads.  Ian tells us about some great value apartments to rent in the area at pretty incredible rates.  Benidorm has experienced The Good, The Bad and The Ugly but today is firmly on the way to attracting a whole new swathe of new travellers keen to experience the "New" look Benidorm -  A Big thanks to Ian Byrne, the Jerry Seinfeld of Benidorm for being our very entertaining ambassador on this podcast...  For all things Spain visit - www.spain.info  - You can now visit Spain without any PCR test with the EU Digital Covid Certificate.  For info on Benidorm please visit - www.visitbenidorm.es 

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Our second guest on The Ambassadors for Spain series is Irish Expat Brendan Dwyer who lives in Murcia and works as GM in the 5 star award winning La Finca Resort in Alicante, Spain.  Brendan has worked for over 20 years in some of the most iconic hotels and brands including Vice President Global of Sales EMEA for Hyatt Hotels.  Brendan really captures the essence of Murcia in this week's podcast and he shares his top tips and the insiders guide to discovering this wonderful region.   Murcia is known as the garden of Europe, producing first-rate fresh produce all year round. It's a cooking enthusiast's dream,  as every good cook knows, you just can't go wrong with top-quality ingredients.    Murcia has some of the most beautiful scenery in Spain - with the placid, welcoming waters of Mar Menor,  a lagoon cut off from the Mediterranean by the lido-style sandbank of La Manga,  hugging the rugged cliffs and coves of Calblanque, with its secluded beaches.  You can happily lose yourself in the meandering streets of wonderful historic towns like Cartagena and Lorca.  The glories of Murcia city grow on you as pedestrian-only, shop-lined lanes lead into one enticing café-lined square after another, each with its own architectural gems, whether it's the imposing 15th-century cathedral or the impressively ornate Church of San Juan de Dios.  #VisitSpain #RegiónDeMurcia @murciaturistica

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We are delighted to be partnering up with the Spanish Tourism Office for our new Ambassadors for Spain series - Every week we will interview some terrific Irish guests who have made Spain their home.  We will get their unique perspective and the insiders track on what to do and see in each region from Valencia to Murcia, from Tenerife to Galicia.   In the Podcast you will hear about incredible Irish connections to Spain and where to go for the best value tapas and discover where all the locals like to go....plus some great tips on our Ambassadors favourite beaches and top sights not to miss in each area.   Today we start off the series with the editor of The Valencian Magazine,  Eugene Costello.   Two decades of bold development have given Spain’s third largest city some of the most striking architecture in the country, adding to the wealth of elegant Art Nouveau buildings that line the streets, as well as Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance monuments.   Located by the sea and surrounded by Mediterranean  style market gardens makes Valencia one of the top places in Spain for eating out.  It has a flourishing restaurant scene and gastronomic events all year round.  Don't miss the Aqua de Valencia.  www.spain.info

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With many people travelling over Christmas, we answer the question on everyone's mind - do you need to quarantine if you show a negative PCR test on arrival in Ireland? We make sense of the new EU Traffic Light system for travel and discuss why a trip to the Canary Islands might be the best chance of some winter sun. We also talk about some great ideas for holidaying at home over the festive season, and the super hotel deals that are available from January - April in Ireland. 

Email your travel questions and stories to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.
We want to hear what you think about the show so please leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
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This week we chat about the latest update to Ireland's farcical Green List, why we need testing at our airports and ports, as well as ideas for daycations in Dublin. With travel restrictions in place for Dubliners, we chat about how best to be a tourist in our hometown. Ed chats about his recent stay in The Wilder and Sarah about some family days out in Dublin. We also have some inspiration for outdoor dining in the capital.


Email your travel questions and stories to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.
We want to hear what you think about the show so please leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss exclusive content, and the latest updates.

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This week we visit the enchanting county of Kilkenny. Steeped in history, with beautiful countryside and an amazing food scene, Kilkenny has got it all. Back from recent staycations in Kilkenny, Ed and Sarah talk about staying in Mount Juliet and Lyrath Estate, both 5-star luxury hotels. They also chat about the many activities available in Kilkenny including Falconry and canoeing, as well as its top attractions such as Kilkenny Castle, Woodstock Gardens, Highbank Orchards and Jerpoint Abbey. Sarah faces her fears on Ireland's longest zipline in Castlecomer Discovery Park while Ed samples all the culinary delights of Kilkenny. 

Email your travel questions and stories to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.
We want to hear what you think about the show so please leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss exclusive content, and the latest updates.

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“Families across Ireland who booked their summer holidays months ago, before the Covid-19 pandemic ever arrived, have been left in limbo.  "They don't know if they will be permitted to travel or whether they will lose thousands of euro that they have already spent. “The government is giving people no answers. “As other European countries are preparing to welcome tourists later this summer, those who arrive on our shores from overseas are being told to self-isolate for 14 days.   Staying nearer home we discover Ireland's Munster Vales - This is authentic Irish country life, charming villages and vibrant market towns, restaurants, shops, bars and cafés, wonderful accommodations where the breakfast is as hearty as the welcome. Experience legendary Irish evenings, packed full of story and song. Live Ireland in the Munster Vales. - www.munstervales.com

Email your travel questions and stories to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.
We want to hear what you think about the show so please leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss exclusive content, and the latest updates.

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While the coronavirus pandemic has all but devastated the travel industry, most experts agree that travel will rebound — it's just a question of when.  Major airlines have made it clear that losing business for summer is now a challenge to their very survival.  Airlines are scrambling to get travellers flying again, and both airlines and airports are rethinking their safety and health regulations to earn passengers' trust and avoid the virus' spread.  Today we are joined by two guests Matt Tarrant from Qatar Airways and Siobhán O' Donnell from the DAA to discuss how flying and Airports will change forever.  Qatar's inflight crew now wear full-body personal protective equipment suits as well as safety goggles, gloves, and masks.  Matt tells us that this is "to provide even greater reassurance to customers in addition to enhanced hygienic measures already in place."  We wouldn't be surprised if other airlines started adopting similar measures. 

Email your travel questions and queries to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.  We want to hear what you think about the show so please do leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
Subscribe to our podcast and you will receive all our exclusive content plus the latest updates and tips.  

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This week's episode is all about 'Staycations'. We discuss what's happening behind the scenes, as Irish hotels are getting ready to open on the 18th of July.  We chat to Con Horgan proprietor of the 4-star Castlerosse Resort in Killarney and Nicky Logue, the General Manager of the 5-star Intercontinental in Dublin.  We dive into discussing hotel swimming pools and ask when hotel bars can open?  How is the industry going to cope with social distancing, and how do they plan to maintain that legendary Irish hospitality that we all love and hold so dear.  Tune in and subscribe to find out more...

Email your travel questions and queries to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.  We want to hear what you think about the show so please do leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
Subscribe to our podcast and you will receive all our exclusive content plus the latest updates and tips.  

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In this weeks episode our guest is Martina Coogan the Country Sales Manager for Ireland for United Airlines... We talk to Martina about the current state of affairs of the airline industry and also about her favourite places to travel.  We cover the latest developments with the EU and also the easing of restrictions.  When will we travel again?  What countries are opening up now?  What Airlines are flying from June? tune in to find out more...

Email your travel questions and stories to [email protected]
You can follow Ed and Sarah on twitter and Instagram - @edfinntravel and @travelexpert_IE and the_travel_expert.
We want to hear what you think about the show so please leave us a review on apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-travel-lounge/id1508525049 
Subscribe to our podcast so you never miss exclusive content, and the latest updates.

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