Dublin in Feb.

It's warmer than Chicago, generally. (I live downstate and it's warmer here in February than in Chicago, too.) Only one day was really cold, but if you keep some indoor plans in your back pocket (museums, shopping) you'll be fine. The weather has also been unexpectedly warm and sunny, too - you just never know.

Your deal doesn't look bad at all, but you might want to check out Aer Lingus' website. They often have really, really great deals, and they have air/hotel combos, too. The last two times I have flown with them, my fares were $119 each way, and $99 each way in February (don't expect that kind of price, but they do have some good winter fares).

Have you looked at the Harding Hotel? It's centrally located and maybe not as expensive as the ones you listed. I stayed at the Glen Guesthouse in the O'Connell St area on Gardiner St. It was a few blocks' walk to Grafton St from there. Gardiner St has lots of guesthouses and hostels.

There are several great tour companies if you are interested in getting out of town. I would suggest a tour of Newgrange, which would probably include the Hill of Tara (Knowth is closed at that time). You might also want to travel south to the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough. The Tourist Information desk at the airport has all the information, or you can find it at websites like www.discoverireland.com or www.dublintourism.com.

There are lots of things to see in Dublin that might interest you and your mom - Kilmainham Gaol, the tour at 29 Georgian House, theatre. Please feel free to message me if you'd like more specific information.

Tim,

The jetstream keeps Ireland's temperatures (and much of western Europe's) more moderate than Chicago's. It'll be cold, but not Chicago in the winter cold. Temps typically in the upper 30's to low 40's. Because of this, they get much more wintertime rain and much less wintertime snow than Chicago. So it will most likely be very damp.

The best way to deal with the weather in Ireland (other than having indoor alternative plans, as was mentioned above) is to dress in layers. This way, you can respond to changes in the weather, which can happen frequently in Ireland. You generally don't need a parka, just a good waterproof jacket and some sweaters.

There are some great deals with Sceptre Tours. I just spent 8 days in Ireland - a fly/drive/condo pkg for $730 per person. In Feb prices are as low as $399 per person.