I find Ireland to be very conveniently located when traveling between Boston and destinations of the European variety. It’s always nice when planning a trip to try to throw in a bonus destination or two. Flying through Dublin and Shannon airports, I’ve had a chance to venture to the city of Dublin where I drank some beers and to Galway and The Burren where I drove around and saw some scenery.

The real issue with this strategy is the possibility of a missed connection. When you purchase your flights separately, a delay in your first flight could leave you stranded. In any case, Ireland is a beautiful country. A worthy destination in its own right. But for me, for now, just a stopover.