Hello!
My parents would like to take a tour of Ireland this spring. They will be 66 and 71 and are not comfortable driving alone. They are very social and excited to enjoy some whiskey and Guinness and history - suggestions on tour companies for people who low-ish mobility but are social butterflies? Thank you.
Erin :)
There are lots of day trips available, especially from the Dublin area. The thing of Ireland is you really need a car to get out in the back roads and little towns. A couple people here have noted drivers/tour guides for different areas, perhaps they will chime in.
The Southwest (Dingle in particular) is often cited as people's favorite region. There is a good tourist information center there where they can likely arrange tours of the local sights, though they have to get to Dingle first. Public transport is not great in Ireland.
From Dublin a day trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland is easy via train, and they can arrange a Black Cab driver to meet them there at the station and tour them through The Troubles areas and more. Belfast cabbies are great tour guides. Your "social butterfly" parents will fit in well in Ireland!
Tell them to take the Rural Pub Tour , out of Dublin.. its excellent.. we have done it twice, a few years ago we took the 7-8 hour one, and this past May we took the 4-5 hour one. Its a small company, owner is tour guide! Lovely fellow by the name Shane, social, engaging, interesting and funny.
The tour is NOT a drunken party tour, its a small van bus( about 15 people max) and he takes you out of the city into the countryside ( so beautiful) of the Wicklow Mountains, to smaller local older pubs. You visit three or four pubs, you will meet locals and chat , and its Shane gives tidbits of interesting information along the way as well as facilitating a great fun group to mingle with , locals and your fellow tour mates.
We are in our mid 50s and loved it.
We loved the experience so much, that we would take the tour again, just for the fun of it.
If you google for reviews you will find hundreds, all excellent.
Erin,
How "low-ish" are they mobility wise? I'm guessing you reference that, just to indicate that an active Rick Steves tour would not be a good fit.
But, would they be huffing/puffing after or have a hard time walking a slow half mile? Would they have a hard time climbing into a tour bus?
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being someone who could run a mile (and keep going afterward), and then 1 being someone who would need help climbing into a tour bus and would be winded after walking 50 feet, where would you place them on the mobility meter?
If they would be 5 or 6, then a Tauck Tour might be perfect for them. They would likely enjoy the fellow tour-goers, and Tauck (unlike the Rick Steves' tours, handle all luggage for their guests, would stay in places where it would not require someone climbing stairs to get to their overnight room, and they stay in lovely hotels, have great meals, etc. They might particularly enjoy one of the Tauck Tours that stay at Ashford Castle (the previous home of the Guinness family).
Once someone goes on a Tauck Tour, there is a very high likelihood they would become repeat customers. Tauck's greatest promotion is the wonderful word-of-mouth from happy past customers. You can check out their Ireland tours at www.tauck.com
But, if your parents might not be up for being on a group tour for multiple days, then I do know a wonderful private driver (who we used for a last-minute trip to Ireland a few years ago. Tony McGann of Doolin Taxi is wonderful. Very personable, great sense of humor, reliable, on-time, safe, and he also served as a bit of a tour guide for us. I had a basic itinerary in mind, but I also told him to just show us the beauty of his country, and he sure did deliver!!! We recommended him to friends, and they absolutely adored him, too.
Vagabond tours of Ireland are an excellent tour company and pricing is reasonable. There are two offering with this company. Vagabond and driftwood tours. Driftwood tours are less active and I think would be ideal for your parents. They are a small group tour (use a mini bus) and use good hotels. I was so impressed with the tour we took in 2015. The driver is the guide and our guide was outstanding. I have just help book a friend of mine and her husband on the 11 day tour for next summer (62 and 65).
We did Vagabond tours as well and loved it! Driftwood is the less active and they'd probably really enjoy it.
Take a look at the Rick Steves Heart of Ireland tour. There really isn't a lot of walking. The only semi-difficult walk was at the Rock of Cashel as it was all uphill. They can opt out if they feel it is too much.
If they prefer to be more pampered, then Tauck is an excellent suggestion. They truly pamper their guests with complete service.
I've not taken the RS Ireland tour but have taken many RS tours. I'm not sure what "lowish mobility" entails but read the physical requirements of these tours carefully. Yes, they could opt out of a particular activity, but there will be no help carrying bags into hotels and up stairs, there will be walking every day. We have seen many seniors flagging on these tours and one notable slip and fall. We are upper 60"s, walk 3-5 miles every day, gym 4-5 days a week. Even so, at times we are bushed on these tours.
Greetings from Ireland, these are all great recommendations. What month exactly are they going? Will they be here for St. Patricks Day?
le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland tour-guide
Dingle & Derry
From Galway, a day trip to the Aran Islands is a good way to meet people. Once off the ferry, it's a short stroll to a number of local guides who use vans to drive people around the island. They do allow time to walk to Dun Aengus which is not difficult, but if your parents aren't up to the walk, they can hang around several nice shops and eating establishments.
Aran Island Ferries is a good starting point for this.
Thank you, everyone, so much for your suggestions!!! The info and ideas are very helpful and enlightening!
