My daughter, a high school junior, requested a family trip for her up-coming spring break.
She would very much like to explore southern and western Ireland.
We would like a semi-guided tour but I have not been successful in locating any guided tours scheduled in March.
Our window is March 17-27.
Any suggestions and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Greetings from Ireland, Stephen McPhilemy here, a Rick Steves Ireland Guide.
Ricks tours of Ireland start in April, would you be able to go then?
If not, there is still a reasonable selection of tours available ranging from backpacker style tours to mid-range in price to VIP style tours which would take in Castles and banquets.
Ive led tours in Ireland for 15 years so I know them all, all are good but of course some are better than others. Let me know what types of thins you'd like to see and what size of group you'd want to be in and I can make some recommendations
Le meas/with respect
Stephen
Stephen,
Thank you getting back with me.
Let's see if I can address all your questions.
Ricks tours of Ireland start in April, would you be able to go then?
No, our window, my daughter's spring break, is set, March 17-27.
- there is still a reasonable selection of tours available ranging from backpacker style tours to mid-range in price to VIP style tours which would take in Castles and banquets.
This trip is primarily for my daughter. She has said she has something akin to a photography tour in mind; which is to say, we'd like to have some guidance as to where to go and how, but would pass on the banquets.. - though a good recommendation for a pub or two would be much appreciated.
Let me know what types of thins you'd like to see and what size of group you'd want to be in and I can make some recommendations
So, I think we, my daughter, is interested in more of the rustic scenery than anything else, though her father, me, wouldn't turn his nose up at castle or two. There will be just the three us, my daughter, my wife, and yours truly.
We save up and take a family vacation every other year. My daughter is a junior in high school, so this will be our last family vacation before she goes off to college, thus the deference to her wishes. I can say that all of us are much more interested in the experience than VIP treatment.
Again, I am grateful for whatever insights you can provide.
Brent
Since you mention that you would like a semi-guided tour, I'm thinking that means you would like for someone to show you some of the lovely places in Ireland, but also have some free time, too.
I'd suggest emailing Tony McGann in Doolin at tonyscabdoolin@eircom.net to see if he might be available.
Since you will be there on St. Patrick's Day, I personally don't know how booked hotels/B&Bs would be.
But, we hired Tony to drive us on certain days, and then we had certain days free. I had a general idea of what I thought I wanted to see, but I basically emailed that to Tony and said, suggest changes and just show us the beauty of your country. And, boy did he deliver!!!!
He is a very reliable, kind driver and he acted a a tour guide of sorts along the way.
We arrived at Shannon, and he picked us up, took us through Adare, then to the Rock of Cashel (which is incredible and your daughter would enjoy photographing) and then down to Kinsale (we overnighted at the Old Presbytery Inn in Kinsale....lovely). Then the next day, we traveled along the southern coast thru the Dingle Peninsula (Conor's Pass is incredible), and I would recommend trying to see the beehive huts), up thru Kenmare, stopped at the Muckross House and gardens, then up to Dromoland Castle (for a two-night stay). Then late a.m. on the check-out day at Dromoland, Tony picked us up took us thru Ennis and over to the Cliffs of Moher. He dropped us off at the Cliffs while taking our luggage to the b&b in Doolin. The next a.m., he picked us up and took us thru The Burren, to Galway (where we had a couple of hours on our own to visit Key Street and have lunch, then on thru the lovely Connamera region, stop at Kylemore Abbey and up to Ashford Castle (third-best hotel in the world according to Travel & Leisure magazine and originally the home of the Guinness family) for a 2-night stay. Your daughter (and you and your wife) might really enjoy the Hawk Walk experience thru the Ashford School of Falconry. If you don't stay overnight there (yes, it's even more expensive nowadays) maybe you could arrange to have lunch before/after the falconry experience.
When we checked out of Ashford a cousin met us for the next portion of our trip (so we saw my grandmother's original stone cottage, etc. and family sites). The final night we stayed in Bunratty and enjoyed the Bunratty Folk Park, then flew home.
Since you will have more time, I would recommend adding an overnight on the Dingle Peninsula and maybe an overnight in Kenmare. Galway could also provide a convenient overnight stay. We didn't make it to the Aran Islands, but I understand they are lovely. Michael Skellig (sp?) is the site where the last scene of the new Star Wars film was shot, but I don't know how if or how frequently the ferry runs there (and I believe it is an all-day adventure).
Have you had a chance to consider what sights are on your must-see list?
Be sure to pack warm clothes, gloves, and wear good water-proof shoes. We were in fleece and water-proof jackets at the end of August when we visited, and weather was delightful in the scheme of things. But, wind seems to be normal in many parts of Ireland, especially along the coast.
Thanks Brent, Ill email you through a list of links for tours operating between March 17th and 27th, theres quite a few different choices on offer.
Slainte/to your health
Stephen McPhilemy - Rick Steves Ireland Tour-Guide
My friends have taken a Paddy Wagon tour in Ireland. It was part of a press tour (as they have a travel blog), but they are honest in their assessments: http://wanderlustmarriage.com/tour-around-west-coast/
Also, I would recommend reading Rick Steves Ireland guidebook and consider driving yourself. Ireland is a great place for a self-guided trip: small country with friendly folks....as they say, "you'll be grand!"
I have been to Ireland several times both on guided tours and on our own. With my 3 sons we decided to do a bus tour with CIE and it was worth it as they had to get up in the morning, breakfast and dinner was included and the hotels were very nice. I also did Brendan tours with my mom in March right after 3/17th (weather was good, not too cold or rainy) and had a lovely time as the bus wasn't full and the people were very nice, there probably won't be any teens on your bus trip this time of year though. You will see a lot and it will be stress free. I found both tours great value for money. I would recommend staying in Dublin a few extra days if you can as there is a lot to see.
www.vagabondtoursofireland.ie/vagabond/ (received a National Geographic travel award)
www.irishdaytours.ie
Hello! We are travelling at roughly the same time (3/20-29) and are doing most of the trip on our own. For the Dingle Peninsula we have hired Ireland Walk, Hike, Bike for a custom 2 day tour on 3/26-27. They have been great to work with. http://www.irelandwalkhikebike.com/
