Ciphering on doing the "Best Of Ireland" (14 days) and the "Heart of Scotland" (8 days) as a combo tour next April / May. Interested in any that have done the same, or either one, for any impressions, or general information you care to share. Main interests are history. culture, photography, and architecture. Not a foodie, but have yet to starve. Flying out Omaha Nebraska, relation in Germany - may go before or after - so air-flights, up in the air. I've learned to ask the smart kids in class. Thank you.
Posted by
Twin Cities, Minnesota
2001 posts
Loved Ireland tour in 2018. One of the best of the 8 I've taken. Took the previous Scotland tour when only 1 was offered & it was 9 or 10 days. Great guides on both tours. Loved the scenery and the people. They were just great trips. Your interests are similar to mine. Have a grand time.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8879 posts
I took my first back to back tours in September (Best of Adriatic/Heart of Italy) and I found that it was (much to my surprise) a bit much for me to do one right after another. Some people really enjoy back to back tours and you may be one of them. However, I found that the touring pace of a RS tour sustained over almost a month was just a bit more than I expected. Walking 5-8 miles a day over 3.5 weeks started to create pain in places where there wasn't usually pain. I found myself dreading just one more walking ( usually means standing) tour by a local guide. I starting wishing I was home before it was "time" to go home. It was a great learning experience for me and I wouldn't know how I would react to Back to Back if I hadn't tried them.
Your experience may certainly vary from mine. But I did want to mention that there may be some unexpected side effects from back to back tours.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I don't have Carol's experience but I sure can relate. I did the Ireland tour last spring and several of my tourmates were going on to Scotland for one of those RS tours. I don't know what they'd say, but I would have wanted to build in a few days between the two, just to rest, take care of laundry, get to the other place, and see some things in the end city of the first and/or start city of the second that I wouldn't see otherwise.
I think that's what the smart kids would do (even the young vigorous ones) if time and budget allowed.
Posted by
CA
2141 posts
We did back to back with Portugal and the 8 day Barcelona, Madrid last month. We had two days to rest up in between the tours. My feet hurt but I made it. I had to wear one pair of shoes that were not the best because of rain. On days it was nice, my walking sandals helped a lot. So, wear good comfy shoes.