Hello all! I've been cruising the internet asking this question in web browsers and reading the answers when others asked this, but I haven't gotten a great answer based on my priorities. So I thought I would ask here.
I am trying to plan my next vacation (in about two years... I need to save for it which means I need to figure out where I am going). I really wanted to go to Iceland, but after doing some research, I am put off by the cost. So I expanded my search to consider Scotland and Ireland. So now I am trying to decide between Iceland, Ireland, and Scotland.
Concerns I have (aside from cost) are two fold. First, my daughter will be going with me. She is vegetarian but also a foodie. So I want to be sure we travel someplace where she will enjoy dining since that's her favorite focus with travel. Second, my mom may or may not go. She has mobility issues and I thought she was done with travel with our trip to Germany last year (she really enjoyed herself and, except for the train stations with steps, it was easy enough getting around with her wheelchair and cane). But she knows I am planning a trip and I've overhead her talking to her other family and mentioning she hopes she's able to go.
Iceland looks stunningly gorgeous! I could rent a car and explore which makes it accessible to mom if she goes. But it is also very expensive and seems like there isn't a lot to do aside from sightseeing nature (which is fine, I like that, but I love historical places too). I worry about food there too, not only for my vegetarian daughter, but my mom won't eat fish or lamb and it seems like that's the main staple. This might be a place I have to go back to alone, later.
Ireland seems like a fun place with a lot to do and a lot of history. My daughter suggested Ireland. But, if we take mom, she's already been there. She will say she doesn't care, she would still want to go. But I hate to repeat things for her this late in her life--I kind of feel like it's my duty to help her live the dream she and dad had to travel the world and see as much as they could. He died before they could do that. I think I will have to rent a car there to get around and driving doesn't look relaxing for me (I hate driving as it is, let alone on the other side of the road, on a narrow road, shifting with my left hand). Plus, I want to have beer if we go there and I am a lightweight so I won't drink a drop if I am driving anywhere. But I wonder if they have bus day trips we could take to save me from driving.
Scotland seems to be a good mix of pretty like Iceland with history like Ireland. As a bonus, I would like to go there because I am Scottish on my dad's side. It sounds like the transportation is better than Ireland and there are more varied options to get around. Plus, they have curry and vegetarian haggis... so the vegetarian issue is solved. There is also the bonus of none of us having been there. It seems like the best pick all around, but is it accessible? If it's similar to Germany, I will be fine. I can push a wheelchair up hills and lug it on to a train. It's heavy, but I've been there, done that. Although in Germany, the men were gentlemen and often offered to help me with the chair (so I did get some help form the locals too).
The other option is a few days in Iceland just to see the highlights and then connecting to Scotland or Ireland. I saw in the same video I mentioned before that Iceland Air does some kind of special like that. It might be a good hybrid. But I think I would need to make the trip longer to make that an option. Speaking of which, I am thinking 7-9 days total (longer if we do the stop in Iceland).
Anyway, for anyone who has been to these places and can shed some insight on things that would help me narrow things down, I would appreciate it. Again, my main concerns are handicap accessibility, cost, and food options. Thanks!