Ireland Tour Groups

[The Mayor]

We are in the early stages of planning a trip to Ireland. It's one of my bucket list trips and while I've been to England and Scotland quite a few times for business, I've never been to Ireland.

We're thinking May/June for the trip and what we'd like to do is fly over, I have a bazilion miles for free flights, and hook up with a tour group in Ireland. I've done some searches online but here are so many companies that offer tours that it's boggled my mind.

So my question is...does anyone here have any experiences or recommendations for a tour group we could look into. We don't have to many wish list visit items other than sleeping in a castle, Guinness, Jamesons and generally seeing the countryside and ocean views.

Thanks

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

We are in the early stages of planning a trip to Ireland. It's one of my bucket list trips and while I've been to England and Scotland quite a few times for business, I've never been to Ireland.

We're thinking May/June for the trip and what we'd like to do is fly over, I have a bazilion miles for free flights, and hook up with a tour group in Ireland. I've done some searches online but here are so many companies that offer tours that it's boggled my mind.

So my question is...does anyone here have any experiences or recommendations for a tour group we could look into. We don't have to many wish list visit items other than sleeping in a castle, Guinness, Jamesons and generally seeing the countryside and ocean views.

Thanks

Hi from Dublin Ireland.

Ive lived and worked all over Ireland and Ive visited family and done staycations in almost every part of Ireland.

To be very honest, the tour groups loved by Americans are to me a bit of a rip off. Your bucket list of "sleeping in a castle, Guinness, Jamesons and generally seeing the countryside and ocean views." is very very easy to do on your own, either hiring a car or by pubic transport.

Ireland is an island nation roughly about the size of the State of Indiana. You are never more than 4 hours maximum from the coast in any direction.

You can be in green fields, mountains and rivers within 1 hour of Dublin city centre, even less for the other cities like Cork, Galway etc.

Castle hotels are everywhere and are big business for weddings in Ireland. Its very easy to book direct with them.

Guinness and Jamesons are served in every pub and bar in Ireland. The Guinness Storehouse is a bit of a rip off, not worth the money and just ugh in my opinion. Also Guinness is not the only stout in Ireland, Murphys and Beamish are two other less well known brands.

May would be the best time to come to Ireland. Its just before the main tourist season and Irish schools are still in term. Irish secondary schools start their summer holidays on 1st June as the Irish State exams are in the middle of June. The weather is usually good in May, not too rainy and we usually get some sun.

Its really very easy to do a DIY tour and get a much better real Irish experience for far less money than booking a tour.

 

[lovesmurfs]

My daughter and I just did a "chicks' trip" to Ireland. Flew into Dublin, rented a car, then drove to Wexford, stopping for views and Hook Head lighthouse. Next day we went to Waterford (my only request for the trip). We drove to Cobh, stayed two nights, then to Kenmare for two nights, and did day trips. Then to Galway for three nights, then back to Dublin -- we stayed in the Clontarf Castle Hotel (Handel stayed there when the Messiah premiered).

DD loved the prehistory stuff, so we went three standing circles. We did more touristy stuff than we'd planned originally - Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Trinity College, Spike Island in Cobh. We wanted to do the Dingle Peninsula, but weather and time didn't make it happen. We did go to two of the Aran Islands for two day trips -- it was a great time.

On our Trinity College day (be sure you get tickets ahead of time!), we also went to the Irish Whiskey Museum. It was good and close to the college.

Driving was not nearly as bad as I'd thought it'd be -- mostly it was the narrow roads. We did do a full day bus tour to the Cliffs, so it was a day free from driving.

Enjoy!