First trip to Ireland

maychild · Newbie

First trip to Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

maychild,

Welcome to the forum! Are you going to be on an organized tour of Ireland? Are these separate day tours that you can choose from on certain days? Do you have to choose in advance or can you choose while you are there? What are the prices you have been given for the tours?

Michele

maychild · Newbie

Hi Michelle, I just ordered your book but appreciate your quick response as we do have to choose the tours we want tonight and register tomorrow.We will be on an all expense paid trip with organized tours courtesy of a business associate and are extremely grateful and excited.So,we won't be paying for the tours but can only choose one tour each day from those I listed on that particular day. Our first 3 nights will be in Killarney at the Hotel Europe,then 2 nights in Dublin at the Conrad Dublin.I heard these are nice hotels.Looking forward to your response.Thanks so much!

Michele Erdvig · Host

maychild,

Thanks for ordering my book. It will be in the mail to you tomorrow. Looking over your choices this is what I think:

Day 1- Kilarney Lake Cruise, Muckross house tour or shopping in Kilarney. * I would choose the Muckross House tour. I'm sure it will probably include the gardens and Muckross Traditional Farms. Perhaps even a jaunting car ride. You can very easily go into town later for shopping on your own.

Day 2- Blarney Castle tour, Gap of Dunloe tour or Ring of Kerry tour. * This is a more difficult choice. The Gap of Dunloe tour is for those who don't mind a bit of a hike, traveling by jaunting car or horseback and small boats. It is all outside and I would not like to do it in the pouring rain. Blarney Castle is very tourist oriented and the castle itself is a ruin. In order to kiss the stone you must go up over 100 tiny steps to the top of the battlements. The grounds are lovely and things will be starting to bloom in April. There is also good shopping at Blarney Woolen Mills. The ROK is a day-long bus tour through Ireland's scenic rural countryside and coastline.

Day 3-Dublin city tour, Dublin North Coast tour or the Old Jameson Distillery tour. * I would choose the Dublin City tour. After all, that is why you are in Dublin!

Have fun on your trip and do let us know how it goes when you return.

Michele

maychild · Newbie

Thanks for your advice.I hadn't considered the rain issue during the outside tour though I'm aware that it rains frequently in Ireland.Now I'm stuck between the Dublin City tour or the Dublin North Coast tour.These are the choices-St.Patrick's Cathedral with the Dublin Castle(city tour)or the Malahide Castle with the Newbridge House(north coast tour.)Still think the city tour is best?I have heard the North Coast is beautiful but looking for advice anyway.Guess I'll have to go back to see more someday.Thanks

Michele Erdvig · Host

maychild,

Exactly how much time will you have in Ireland? If it is 1 1/2 or 2 days there you could do the hop-on hop-off bus tour of the city yourself. Then you could do the North Coast Tour with your tour group.

Michele