It depends....if you have the time and patience for the online research you may do better than a tour package. Those $799 six night packages look real good but be advised , there may be taxes & fees that aren't reflected in the price. When you add in trip insurance, collision damage waiver, and getting to Kennedy Airport (or wherever the tour package starts) from where you are, the $1598 package for two can easily become a $2500 or more package.

-- Edited by ElrodCod on Tuesday 10th of May 2011 06:03:06 PM

It would have been easier to book a tour and let someone else plan everything and it would have cost less. But we would not be seeing everything that we are going to see. Also we are not on any time schedule. I'm an early riser usually get up when the roosters are crowing. My pace is a little faster than some. One of the problems I had with the tours that I looked at is they stop and go to some places I will skip and go to others that I would have missed. Then there is the waiting for other people. If your on your own you come and go as you please. As far as flights there used to be some great deals on the internet if your schedule was flexable. But I haven't seen anything lately. Good luck with you're planning.

 

Frank

 

 

I used vouchers only once and found them to be more expensive than paying cash. I had minimal trouble locating accommodation, and there is a convenience of not having to withdraw/carry cash money. It did occur to me that the B&B owners were probably being financially compromised with accepting vouchers.

mkay,

As everyone has advised you really need to look at the fine print on each package as it will differ from company to company. Some can be good bargains but in order to know you really have to comparison shop. Bob (Itallian Chauffeur) here on the forum recently did a package that included some time self-catering at Adare Manor villas.

You have the time to shop around. Since you will be traveling in the summer you will want to be careful about B&B vouchers as they can be a problem. If you have the time go to my Blog and I have an article about how much it costs to visit Ireland broken down into pieces.

Let us know if you have any other questions as you proceed.

Michele

Michele,

Never mind!  I found your article under older posts. Ha!  You can tell I'm a newbie.

I have often wondered what the profit margin is on B&B vouchers. I'm sure the B&B owners are taking quite a financial hit on them.

Roy,

as it was explained to me, there is a fee that is taken off the top of the voucher PLUS a percentage when they turn in the vouchers for reimbursment.  It is the same when a merchant accepts credit cards. There are fees incurred by the merchant. That is why some merchants charge a .45 fee for using a debit or credit card or refuse to accept credit cards for under a certain amount. Using that same analogy, B&B owners sometimes make a choice to accept a voucher for PART of a stay, one night out of a two-night stay for example. It is also why, some, will give up a voucher room to a cash paying customer. Most often, this will only occur if the Voucher paying customer is well past their check-in. In the busy season, it isn't unheard of for a Voucher client to be told there are no rooms available even if there are still rooms at the inn.

Elrod, sometimes it comes down to the devil ya know rather than nothing at all. What is better in a slow period, accepting a voucher and taking the hit in income decrease or not having a booking at all? You are right, nobody is forcing them to take the vouchers. However, since vouchers are well hawked and a large percentage of tourists are enticed by their "value and ease of use", again B&B owners look at it as some is better than none

Thanks so much for your response.  After reading about your self-catering stay, I started looking at some of them.  That might be the way for us to go.  Sounds like you got a great deal since airfare alone is $797 right now.  Hoping the rates will get better before our trip.  From things I've read so far, I'm thinking I want to see mostly the southwest.  We are ready for a slower pace, beautiful scenery, and the pubs! Ha!

There are many places which would be suitable for a weeks self catering and the location would of course be your choice. 

I like Adare for an overnight between Galway and Cork but stay at the Woodlands which also has self catering but is not priced quite so selectively. 

Personally I would consider a location to suit your interests and ease of access to surrounding areas.  Many years ago we had a week at the Coastguard station on the Sky Road in Clifden which was a wonderful place and I would recommend the location to anyone.. Apart that is for the simple fact that there are only so many times I can drive along the same road getting too and from anywhere else before boredom takes over.

 

I dont mean to put you off.  Just playing Devils Advocate.

-- Edited by tony2phones on Sunday 15th of May 2011 11:56:37 AM

You have plenty of time to plan your vacation. Heed Michele's advice and check out her self-catering information. We have self-catered in many different locations in Ireland and it has become our preferred method of travel. From our experience we now choose places according to our own criteria. We want to be located so that we can drive to a number of things that interest us - as lovely as the Aran Islands are, I would not spend a week self-catering there. We also like to be located in or within walking distance of a town or village with shops and pubs. When you get further along with your plans there will be plenty of answers available for your location questions.

Stewart

We have stayed in Kenmare a few times, have visited Doolin very briefly. In my opinion Kenmare is a much better spot for a week. Michele has a link to Kenmare Rentals in her "Emerald Awards".

Stewart

I have self-catered in Kenmare a number of times. There is more than enough to do as day trips from there. It would be an excellent base for the SW.

Michele