Been on RS Ireland Trip? feedback

May 2010: This has unexpected wows because it's Ireland. I booked a single and paid the supplement. After you book the tour, e-mail ETBD for the first night's hotel and tell them you want to do a pre-tour stay. As a solo traveler I negotiate a price between the single room rate and the double room rate, and I always ask for a double room. Some times you get one, sometimes you don't. This is a separate function from taking the tour. I added 2 pre-tour nights in Dublin wanting more time there. St.Stephen's Green, Sunday Mass, and ambling along side streets from the shopping areas was how I spent my time. There were many "Wows". Like they say "It's as green as green as thee eyes can see". I enjoyed the cultural visits to the Aran Islands and to the gentleman's farm in The Burren. Evening pub times were awesome and another intro to Irish culture. I didn't do enough of them as I was worn out coming onto the trip. There were lovely gardens and opportunities to be outside, too. There is a free day in Dingle which is good for a laundry drop the night before and to set yourself free. You can rent bikes there, and trail walk along the Dingle Bay. Derry was emotionally moving. Our guide was born and lives there so he has personal knowledge and memories of the Troubles and other issues concerning Ireland. I had to cut my tour short so I spent one night in Portrush and I didn't do the Antrium coast activities or ride tour through Belfast. The tour to me was like telling us a love story of Ireland. He weaved events of our day and current events along with Ireland's past using facts, poetry, music, story telling song, singing,& sports. Best Tip: No matter what season you go, wear layers and have a light or medium water proof rain jacket with you. We had a mixed group of singles and couples and no grumps.
Happy travels!

I went as a single woman on the Ireland tour the last two weeks in June 2011 and it was a great time. I agree wear layers and bring a rain jacket with a hood. Wear jeans, and bring two pairs of shoes, one pair sneakers and another pair of sneakers or walking shoes. My shoes were soaked and I had to dry them out and had my sneakers to wear. The scenery was a wow and the rope bridge in Northern Ireland was a big wow. Lots of pubs, music and walking. I stayed in Dublin a few days before my tour and went to see a play at the Abbey theatre and I went to see Riverdance after the tour. You are not in Dublin long so if you can stay before or after the tour in Dublin for a few days. Easy city to get around. Wow was the rope bridge and the rocks and ocean and the pubs. Read Trinity by Leon Uris so that you can understand Ireland better. Have a great time!!!

Apparantly my first reply did not go through. Will try again. RS Ireland was our 1st RS tour in Aug 2011. We loved it. Your interests may differ but here were some of our "finds" Dublin-plan for an extra day either before or after the tour. We enjoyed the National Museum: Archaeology and History and the National Gallery. Both are free and close to each other. St Stephen's Green (park) was a nice rest stop with a lot of beautiful flowers (my wife keeps her camera busy!) If you like theater, check out what it playing at Gaiety Theatre. We watched Lord of the Dance with an all Irish crowda lot of fun. Spend time on Grafton Street watching the many street performers. Ate at Bewley's Oriental Café on the upstairs balcony and watched the people on the pedestrian walk. In Kinsale take the path (Scilly Walk) from Charles Fort back to town. Good photo ops along the way. Eat at The White House and wander back to the bathroom. In the hall is a display case with a NY fireman's jacket (relative of the owner) who was at the Twin Towers on 9/11 and many momentos. An Seanachai Pub also had good music. If you visit Ashford Castle explore the grounds-beautiful! In Dingle there is a Pitch & Putt 18 hole golf course if you like golf about 20 min walk west of town. An Canteen Restaurant was a good lunch stop. Live in the pubs at night-John Benny Moriarty's and Dingle Pub were two favorites. In Galway enjoyed visiting the Cathedral of St Nicholas. The pub Tig Coili had great music. In Derry try to visit the Museum of Free Derry. We found it very interesting.
Hope you get Stephen McPhilemy as a guide. He was great!

I haven't been on the RS Ireland Tour but can recommend the walking tour with Trinity College about 10am which is a good intro to Dublin...and
don't ask or mention Frank McCourt.