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A Family Guide to Exploring Dublin

By U.S. News & World Report

About a six-hour flight from the East Coast, Dublin makes a great family-friendly destination with its friendly people, walkable streets and central location to explore the rest of the country.

Families can fly there entirely on miles by booking with Aer Lingus, the national airline of Ireland, which offers flights for 26,000 miles per person during their “off peak” dates that run two-thirds of the year. These include January through March, the end of April through mid-June and September 11 through December 15.

Dublin is also a great starting point for exploring other major European cities, to which you can fly on British Airways or Aer Lingus using miles or on discount airlines like Ryanair.

[See: 12 Great Destinations in Europe You Can Afford.]

Pint-Size Fun

A must-do in Dublin is the Guinness Storehouse, which has become the country’s most-visited attraction. Guinness beer, the dark brew made in Ireland and once thought to be a panacea, is the pride of the Irish, and the Storehouse reveals the beer in all its glory. You’ll learn its history, how it’s made, how to pour a pint and, most importantly, how to drink it properly. (Hint: Don’t drink the foam!)

The capstone to the tour is a stop at the Gravity Bar located on the highest level with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer 360-degree views of Dublin. Kids are welcome on this tour, and stopping for lunch at the 1837 Bar & Brasserie is a great way to break up the day with a meal of beef stew and a pint, of course.

A History Lesson

Dublin offers plenty of fantastic architecture, including some historic buildings like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the only remaining medieval structures in the city. Jonathan Swift, author of “Gulliver’s Travels,” is laid to rest there along with hundreds of others. Visitors should also stop at the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin’s oldest building, which is also within the city’s historic center.

Step onto the campus of Trinity College, one of the oldest colleges in Western Europe, for a peek at the Book of Kells, housed in the college’s library. The book is an elaborately handwritten and illustrated manuscript of the four gospels in Latin dating to 800 AD. Check library hours to be sure you don’t arrive too late for a look.

For a quick overview of the city, consider a Dublin hop-on, hop-off tour, which takes you to all the key sites and lets you to get off to explore and then catch the bus again when you’re ready to head to the next stop. It’s very helpful when traveling with little ones who may tire of walking quickly.

[See: 10 Secret European Spots to Visit This Year.]

Dublin’s Outdoors

While Dublin is prone to rainy gray days, if the sun happens to emerge, a trip to one of Dublin’s incredibly green parks is in order. Catherine Reilly, managing director of Brendan Vacations, a Dublin company that helps visitors plan vacations in Ireland and Scotland, recommends visiting Phoenix Park.

One of the largest urban parks in Europe at more than 1,700 acres, Phoenix Park offers biking and walking paths, its own herd of deer, the president of Ireland’s residence and the fourth-oldest zoo in the world. “Make friends with the local deer, go biking, a long walk or even visit the Dublin Zoo,” says Reilly.

Another lovely Dublin park where the locals head on a sunny day is St. Stephen’s Green. Located on the edge of Dublin’s prime shopping district Grafton Street, the park is filled with flowers, ponds, bridges and waterfalls along with many a couple in love and features lunchtime concerts during the summer months.

Shopping and Entertainment

A visit to Dublin would not be complete without a stroll down Grafton Street, a public thoroughfare closed to traffic and dotted with stores, including the Ireland’s own Brown Thomas department store, as well as historic buildings, cafes and hotels. You may just happen upon a local musician performing some classic Irish tunes as you meander about in search of a souvenir.

To entertain the whole family, Reilly recommends taking in “Celtic Nights,” a traditional Irish show located in Dublin’s historic City Centre that includes dinner to experience local fare, music and dancing. Running seven nights a week, the show incorporates the audience and features world championship Irish dancers.

Dublin is also known for its Temple Bar district, which is filled with pubs and is the hotspot for the city’s nightlife. You may want to skip a visit with the kids at night, but it’s a fun stroll during the day. For great fish and chips, Reilly recommends Beshoff’s, SMS Cervi on Drury Street, and Leo Burdock restaurants.

[See: 9 Ways to Travel Better.]

Kid-Friendly Hotels

Dublin offers a variety of accommodations for families, including some within the City Centre and others in more upscale suburbs. The lovely InterContinental Dublin makes a luxurious stay for families in the outskirts of town in Ballsbridge, which offers its own village complete with pubs and restaurants. The hotel offers the comforts of America, including an American-style breakfast, an indoor pool and easy access by city bus, Uber or taxi to the City Centre.

For families who want to stay in the heart of the action, consider the Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre. The property includes breakfast with your stay, modern decor, free Wi-Fi and a cafe open until 10 p.m. each day.

Comfortable hotels close to the airport include the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport and the Maldron Hotel Dublin Airport, which offers spacious rooms and a kids club.

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A Family Guide to Exploring Dublin originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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