Hear, hear for PM's questions

IT'S A FREE WORLD:IF YOU'VE ever had an ambition to shout "Hear, Hear!" or "Shame!" in the House of Commons during prime minister's question time, it's possible for overseas visitors to get into the public gallery. Visit parliament.uk.

The gallery is open to the public when the house is sitting from Monday to Thursday and on sitting Fridays.

Catch: a wait of one to two hours is common (although it's usually less for the House of Lords). UK residents with tickets arranged through their local MP get first dibs while overseas visitors have to wait to see what spaces are left after ticket-holders.

Take note:You might see enough of Irish politicians on the nine o'clock news but there are free tours of Leinster House led by an Oireachtas usher and if the Dáil is in session you might get to sit in the public gallery. You have to be sponsored by a TD or senator or an embassy if you aren't resident in Ireland. Tel: 01-6183781 or email event.desk@oireachtas.ie.

IF YOU’RE thinking of heading west for a break with the kids, it might be worth getting a copy of a free booklet called Family Time, which has over 70 pages of things to do in Galway including lots of suggestions for interesting day trips.

The brainchild of David Curran who believes Galway has “everything you could possibly want to keep you and your children happily occupied”, he recommends jumping into a car and heading west to Spiddal and on to Carraroe where there’s a coral beach.

“There are lots of great beaches along the way, many without any signpost or facilities, so you might have a beach all to yourself,” says the guide. The coral beach is beyond Carraroe village. “Follow the road, don’t be tempted to turn off until you reach the point of no return,” it advises.

Other places mentioned include Portumna Forest Park where there’s up to 16 species of wild mammal from pygmy shrews to fallow deer and otters.

Coole Park two miles north of Gort has a family trail and a seven woods trail, or you could climb Diamond Mountain in Connemara National Park outside Letterfrack.

Catch:the soft west of Ireland weather could scupper your plans unless you go prepared.

Take note: the booklet also offers discounts on other attractions, including €10 off a family ticket for Ailwee caves and 10 per cent family discount with Corrib Cruises. For more email familytime@eircom.net.

TRIPPING.COM is an online global network that connects travellers. It’s a little less structured than other sites, like globalgreeternetwork.info and couchsurfing.com, in that it’s about hooking up with the locals on your travels whether that’s for a cup of coffee, a night out with their friends, a tour of the place or a home stay.

People going on holiday join because they want to connect with locals or host other holidaymakers.

Catch:a very cheesy website with lots of references to " wanting to make the world a better place" and encouraging understanding beyond borders.

Take note:it operates a "Beta TripSafe Program" which it says is "pretty basic at the moment" but "we're working on developing multiple ways for you to reach us any time, day or night.

And we will always do our very best to help you however we can.” Reassuring (not).

* Found a freebie on holiday? Email emorgan@irishtimes.com