Thoughts on back to back Ireland - Scotland tours

I’ve done both 14 day tours but both were before the current itinerary iterations.

I’ve also done a number of back to back tours although not these two. I’m glad you enjoyed the 21 day tour as it was a favorite.

One thing I loved about the 21 day tour was the change of cultures. I realize Scotland and Ireland are different countries but for me there was a certain sameness that ran thru them. I did Best of Scotland after the Southern England tour and i was shocked that I was “castled” out by the time I got north. Your experience may be different but there are a certain amount of ruins on the Ireland tour as well. Just something to think about.

I found I enjoy back to back tours more when I have a complete change of culture. A particularly successful combo for me was Best of England/Britain followed by Paris and the Heart of France. In a discussion with other tour members others have found that this strategy works for them too.

As to which tour to make longer, pick the one you are unlikely to return to, then do the short taste tour to one you are more likely to go back to….says the person who has been back to certain parts of Scotland several more times, lol.

Any genealogical ties to either?

Thanks for your insights. It is very helpful, and makes sense. We had a similar experience when we were in Asia, as we started to find many similarities between different countries. I think that Ireland and Scotland would be even more so.
Part of what we loved about the 21 day euro tour was, as you mentioned, the diversity and differences in each country.
I do have genealogy ties in Ireland and England. But no relatives there that I’m aware of still. There are many more places we still want to visit in Europe, so perhaps we will mix it up a bit on this trip. France and Paris were highlights for us, but having just been there we will save our return for a few years.

both Ireland and Scotland have similar size populations, both have Celtic cultures, each has a version of (but not the same) Gaelic language used alongside English (which itself may come with an impenetrable accent in either country!). Both are in the fore for Atlantic weather systems and can be equally wet. Both claim to make the best whisk(e)y and have the best pipe bands.

But in terms of modern tourism there is one key difference. The Republic of Ireland does NOT have a new preregistration system for foreign visitors to grapple with. Go to Scotland (or anywhere else in UK) and you will need to do ETA registration, go to most of continental Euope and you will need both the troublesome EES plus the soon to be launched and payable ETIAS.

Fortunately we didn’t have any issues with the ETA when we visited the UK this spring, nor the latest requirements for Europe or any issues at airports that were widely reported on news channels. I just applied online and it was pretty easy. Perhaps the requirements for us Canadians are different, as we are part of the Monarchy.

"I just applied online and it was pretty easy. Perhaps the requirements for us Canadians are different, as we are part of the Monarchy."

No, the ETA was just as easy for me as a US citizen to apply and get approved. It was WAY easier than doing the Pass Sanitaire for France during Covid times! Quick, easy online, not expensive.

I also was channeled thru an open EES lane when I landed at CDG in April. It took about 5 minutes and most of that time was me trying to get my very old fingerprints to scan.

We are all entitled to our opinions and experiences but for myself I would not even consider the ETA or EES as a factors.

I am glad you understood what I was trying to communicate regarding similarities. I did not want to be dismissive of either country or culture.