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After 911, airport and airline security has really increased. What was once allowed is no longer approved on board. Make sure you know what not to bring before you leave the house to avoid an unpleasant experience at the airport.

Don’t bring anything like bats or golf clubs on board. The airlines don’t want you to get mad and be in danger of others and I can’t blame them. Also, something like golf clubs don’t fit in the overheads anyway and it might snap.

Ice is allowed, but only up to four pounds. Don’t bring your whole ice bag and think you can keep your cooler frozen with your own beer. Just bring common sense as the ice allowance is supposed to allow you to pack perishables.

I remember my wife buying a huge knife in Germany because she said you can only get a quality one over there. When we went back, we made sure not to bring it on board or else we would have to throw it away or something when we go through customs. They will never allow shape objects on the plane.

Chemicals are generally banned from airplanes. Bleech, fertilizers etc shouldn’t be brought on board. Lowes is everywhere anything so why bother carrying it?

Really strong magnets are also not allowed so there might be a reason why they don’t let you bring those huge speakers on board the plane.

If you have ammunition, you must declare it before bringing it on board. It also needs to be securely packed in wood, metal or a fiber box. For more information, you better check with your airline (but don’t care the operator when you ask them about guns)

Pressurized containers are not permitted. If you have seen those bags of chips that become super inflated, you can understand why. Something blowing up inside the plane is shall I say… Not Good.

When you plan your family vacation in Ireland it is likely the Holyhead Dublin ferry will feature in your mind. So are you looking for some tips to make your ferry to Dublin experience more enjoyable and memorable? When you travel over the Irish Sea from Holyhead Port on Anglesey, you can either use the small, fast ferry called Dublin Swift or take the Ulysses, the largest car ferry in the world no less.

The Holyhead Dublin route sees the Cruise ferry cover the journey in 3.25 hours while the faster Dublin Swift ploughs across in a staggering 1.75 hours, and between them the two ferries make eight crossings daily. Now you must decide whether you want to go for the fast or slow crossing, though much will depend on when you intend to arrive in Dublin with the fast ferry departing Holyhead at lunchtime and again after five. Remember for the overnight sailing the Cruise ferry has en-suite cabins which may be a consideration for you.

When you go to Ireland you need to decide whether to go by foot, by car or perhaps even taking a bike or caravan; whichever option you go for the ferry company makes things as easy as possible. To begin with it only takes up to 30 minutes to check-in at Holyhead Port and even if you have pets like cats and dogs with you, there is no hassle when arriving in Dublin. Your travel costs include all taxes and there is no fuel surcharge even when fuel prices and carbon footprints are a concern.

It is best to be as flexible as possible with ferry booking dates as this will mean suggested alternative travel dates may turn out to give you cheaper ticket prices. You will find that going for a crossing by Cruise ferry will cost less than the Dublin Swift, while a midweek crossing is usually cheaper than going at the weekend. One thing to really consider is that if you make at least three crossings with the company within a 12 month period, you will be entitled to a discount of up to 20 per cent.

You will also find some very attractive vacation accommodations available when you book your ferry tickets and it is well worth considering to secure either your Dublin hotel or holiday cottage further out in Ireland. Among the offers you can get are free child places and third and sometimes fourth nights free in the quality hotels selected and up to seven nights free for the cottage holidays in places like Limerick, Kerry, County Clare and Wicklow. So just imagine you can book your ferry crossing and your traditional Irish cottage in Tralee from one place.

While onboard the Holyhead Dublin ferry you may want to secure extra comfort and peace and you can do this using the Club Class lounges. The Club Class benefits include priority boarding and you will have a reserved Lounge and exclusive Lounge Bar, along with complimentary refreshments and newspapers, as well as discounts in the onboard shop. Another deal to check out, if you are not taking a car, is Sail Rail, which offers you value and flexibility when booking trains to Holyhead and from Dublin to other parts of Ireland.

Whether you are a car driver, foot passenger, or travelling by bicycle or motorcycle or a motor home, once you know you are going to Ireland from Holyhead it pays to book early online to maximise your choice and get the best deals. Once you get on board the ferries there is plenty of entertainment if you prefer not to rest during the voyage. This route is not a particularly long crossing and you will discover that the Holyhead Dublin ferry, fast or Cruise, will offer you a comfortable and relaxing start to your vacation.