We have already booked a 14 day Ireland tour and are thinking of adding the 7 day London tour. The Ireland tour ends on the 7th and the London tour starts on the 8th. Just wondering if anybody has done this before and if there are any pros or cons.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
Sounds good to me! The advantage is that with the London tour you'd be in one place the whole time after the 2 weeks of moving quite a bit.
I do not think there are any disadvantages. I've done a number of back to backs. I did the Southern England tour followed by the Scotland tour and that was kind of too many castle ruins, lol but you will NOT have that same sense with these 2 tours. The Ireland tour is a lot of countryside, London is of course city!
I'd definitely fly between Belfast or Dublin and London and I'd do it on the 7th so you are in place for the start of the tour on the 8th. There is plenty to do in London that is not included on the tour.
Posted by
Connecticut
692 posts
Back to back tours can be great and I schedule them whenever possible. They are especially valuable when countries have a shared history. Even when they are not connected historically or culturally it can provide a great change of pace. I’ve completed at least four of these with RS ETBD and several with another tour company to continents other than Europe. A critical goal I set is to enjoy each tour separately and without comparison. Have tons of fun.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Skyscanner shows British Air and EasyJet with numerous nonstops from Belfast to various London airports on a random day next spring, a little over an hour's flight time. I'm doing the Ireland tour in May, and reading about Belfast leaves me with the impression that there's little reason to stay there after the morning the tour ends. You'll be tired, no doubt, but it will help that the London tour doesn't move around hotels. Try to get into the tour hotel for the night of the 7th if you can.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
I appreciate the input. It looks like we’ll be going to London too!
Posted by
Folsom
2734 posts
As you should! We did that tour after our RS Portugal tour. Even though there was no frequent packing and unpacking, bus time, it was a busy week. One day I clocked 14 miles! But it was a great tour and this from someone who had been to London a few times before. And, if you get Tom Hooper as a guide, jackpot!!
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
"And, if you get Tom Hooper as a guide, jackpot!!"
Oh my word!!!! YES! I had Tom for the Best of England and he was so awesome!
I'll also add that if you head to London on the 7th to the tour hotel, you'll also have time to do some laundry if you are not doing sink wash as you go, lol.