I have been researching a trip planned for next spring or summer. We don't like typical bus tours and travel independently but driving a car in Ireland is too daunting for these two 70 year olds. I have seen tours offered by C.I.E., Brendan and Tennon and Go Ireland. Does anybody have any reviews of any of these companies and can you say which one would be the most like an independent trip? We can take trains and buses and do local van tours if we go on our own but I would like to see if an organized tour would be more cost effective. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2661 posts
You might have a look at Rabbies:
https://www.rabbies.com/en
I have only done one trip with them, in Scotland, but I see they do tours from Dublin, too. They aren't really a fully guided tour, and use 16 passenger mini-buses.
Posted by
Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️
3561 posts
If you like music, I might suggest Inishfree tours. This is a small group, small bus tour. 22 people. Private concerts every night. We went last summer, it was fantastic!! The tours are run by different musicians, but feature local, Irish music.
Google Inishfree tours. You will probably have to book a year in advance as they are very popular.
You can check out my blog of the trip under my profile.
Posted by
Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️
3561 posts
Oh and I hear Rick Steves has a tour as well!😜
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2661 posts
Yes, if the OP hasn't done a Rick Steves tour, I consider them to be unlike most "bus tours", and definitely worth considering. I'll be doing my 5th this fall!
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2787 posts
My wife and I just took our 16th RS tour in May and she swore back in 2001 when we were first considering taking a RS tour, that she did not want to take a typical bus tour that would be full of people. Well, we took that first RS tour and she is a real convert to the "non-tour" tours of RS. We have taken the RS Ireland tour and enjoyed it.