Registered User
Posts: 9
(5/14/02 6:09 pm)

Back from CIE tour, may 10th

---

Just had a good tour with CIE, most things I like but there some I didn't. For the most part the hotels were good, except The Great Southern in Galway. The food was not good and we had room overlooking the bus parking and maintaince yard, activity all night.
Guide and driver were great with an exceptional since of humor. The great thing about Ireland beside the beautiful country is the people. They are so thoughtful and helpful, honest and they think everyone else is.
Most places we ate and had to pay our own for lunch or drink, you just go to the bar and tell them what you had when you get ready to leave and they take your word for it, think you would ever see that anywhere else in the world?
I also didn't know that CIE tours is owned by the Irish Gov.
CIE provides all the transportation for the Republic of Ireland. I think this is why it is such a well run company. All the tour guides have to pass a 14 week course.
Another negitive for me was so much time is alloted for shopping. I don't go to Europe to shop, I go to meet the natives and see the sights, allthough most of the woman wanted the shopping while 90% of the men stood around and waited for them.
The best hotel was The Kee's in Stranolar. A family run hotel that is just the best on the tour. The tour we did was The Irish Tradition.
All in all I would rate the tour 95 with just a few things that I didn't like personally.
If I can be of help to anyone, let me know, Buck

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 569
(5/15/02 8:21 pm)

Re: Back from CIE tour, may 10th

---

Hi Buck,

Thanks very much for your trip report. I'm glad you enjoyed your tour. Maybe next time you will be able to do it yourself and won't have to spend so much time shopping and more time interacting with the Irish people.

Michele

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 50
(5/28/02 2:26 pm)

Re: Back from CIE tour, may 10th

---

Buck:

I just returned from Ireland and I must admit, I've never taken a bus tour. I did though, get to get swarmed by a few of them. What convinced me forever that a bus tour won't be in the cards for me, (until I'm too old and crazy to know any better) was an incident at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

We got there with only about three cars in the lot and headed out for the bridge. It's about a 10-15 minute hike. It was beautiful (though a bit windy as was a lot of our trip) and then we went to return. When we got back to the bridge a tour bus had just arrived and the group was stacked up the bridge and down the trail, most of them quaking with fear about the trip in front of them. We could not get them to stop coming over and it took about fifteen minutes before we were able to get a turn to cross and we were 1st in line on our side. By the time that we made it, only about 25% of the tour group had crossed. It probably took an hour for them all to cross and then they had to come back. What we suddenly discovered was that, when you are on a tour, everywhere you go is crowded because there are 30-50 other people with you.

The serenity of the Irish countryside is breathtaking and to see it alone with the few people closest to you will bring unbelievable memories. These are not just memories of scenery, but of feelings that can't be explained.

I must admit, I'm glad the busses are there, because I wouldn't want to see that many more people on the roads, but to stay at a quiet B&B overlooking the atlantic ocean and having a long memorable chat with the owner because you are the only one staying there is what traveling is meant to be.

Now that you know the country, drive the next time. You'll be glad you did!!

Glad you had a great time!!

Bill

buckspc
Registered User
Posts: 11
(5/28/02 5:06 pm)

Re: Back from CIE tour, may 10th

---

Hi Bill,
Thanks for your comments, I do agree with alot you have to say, there are trade-offs to be made taking a bus tour. For me the driving would be the most difficult, and knowing the places to go and what is a must see or not. You are right about the busses filling up a place, we overpowered some of the small pubs we went in for lunch on the road, but the Irish economy does depend on these tour busses to bring business as about 50% of the bus people would not be there otherwise, also Aer Lingus would surly go out of business if not for all these bus people don't you think?
Anyway Ireland is beautiful and the people are so warm and friendly. We only encountered one rude waitress on the whole trip, and one not nice salesclerk in Killerny.
If I go back some day would center in a town and take day trips, as we are talking about doing that in Scotland. Any advise for Scotland would be great,
Thanks again, Buck