We are planning our first trip to Ireland in May, 2017. It'll be my husband, son and me. We just came from the travel agent, and she gave us a booklet for C.I.E. tours. We need some kind of a guided tour, but the C.I.E. tours look as if they have you on some bus every day at 8 AM, and not returning until 4 PM. This seems a little overwhelming. It also looks like most of the travelers are retirees or older, which may make our son feel a little weird. Is there some kind of 10-12 day tour where you can see a lot, but not be "go go go" every minute of the vacation? Also, not sure what would be must sees... Cliffs or Moher, Killarney, Ballyhoura, Connemara, Dingle Peninsula, Giant's Causeway and Bunratty Castle have all been mentioned. We are not shoppers or pub hoppers, so I think maybe time in Dublin should be limited. Any suggestions?
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1172 posts
There is a lot more to Dublin than shopping and pub hopping... I would not leave it out of your itinerary. What do you like to do? The places that you have listed above are all great but, in my opinion not doable in a10 day itinerary especially if you do not want to be go, go, go
Would you be willing to drive yourself? You would be better able to tailor your itinerary to the speed that you want.
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Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2189 posts
Have you taken a look at the Rick Steves 8-day Heart of Ireland tour? Check the itinerary, reviews and the tour scrapbook archives to get a feel for it (14 day tour, too). Last June we had a mom and her two sons on our tour and they were in their early 20s. The tour guides are excellent and integrating all ages. Ireland has a strong music culture, so that is what you see at most pubs. Don't discount Dublin as only pubs and shopping. It has Kilmainham Gaol, Trinity College with its Book of Kelly's and breathtaking library, Glasnevin Cemetary where so many of the historical figures of Ireland are buried (this is particularly meaningful if you see the jail as well). There is the Guinness Storehouse, Jeanie Johnson Tall Ship and Famine Museum as well as Irish football and hurling matches. Gaelic football is all amateur, with the funds going back to communities to support local programs. Seeing a match or even just heading out to the area around Crome Park Stadium is pretty fun. You're also an 45 min. from Bru Na Boinne (Newgrange and Knowth).
With the 8-day tour you could arrive a day or two early and see Bunratty and/or Connemara & Galway. It would be doable to add on time at the tend to see Giants Causeway and/or Belfast. There is so much to see that you won't get everything, so decided what's of greatest interest for you.