Dawne-Ann

I just got back last night and thought I would send my fellow travelers a post. I took a 7 day Insight Tours from Dublin to Galway, Ring of Kerry, Tralee, Waterford and back to Dublin. I stayed five days extra and travelled around by myself with and then without a car. Another poster suggested not driving in Dublin--I second that motion. I picked up the car from the town centre, so didn't have a choice. If you are faced with the same dilema, a good navigator is helpful. <BR> <BR>The one area of Ireland that I didn't see was Sligo. Apparently it is the most beautiful of all the island. <BR> <BR>Taking the tour was good as it gave a good overview. Countryside is beautiful, Ring of Kerry was desolate. I wouldn't have gone around by myself as endless miles of rock doesn't interest me. Cliff's of Moher were OK, but again not worth the drive if driving by myself. Nothing there but a small ugly tourist spot, very few bathroom facilites and lots of tour buses. <BR> <BR>Had dinner in a castle, interesting, but the castles that we saw were all very small. There is one a Connemara that is huge in comparison, it is run by nuns and looks like it has an excellent restaurant. I would have liked to see it. <BR> <BR>We didn't go to Shannon, apparently there is nothing there to see (according to the tour director), but if I was going again I'd consider flying into Shannon and going along the west coast and across the bottom and avoid Dublin. They are renovating the airport right now. Aer Lingus is a disaster. As with all tours there are no direct flights--I flew from Toronto to Amsterdam and then back to Ireland. Coming home they flew me to Amsterdam only to miss my plane, then on to London and then home. I spent over 24 hours in various airports in Europe and I'm home with no bags. <BR>If you're doing a tour with extra days--book your overnights from here. B&B's are reasonable. There was a bank holiday in England over the weekend and it was impossible to get a place. I ended up in Enniskerry--very beautiful, Powerscourt Garden is lovely(about 20 minutes outside Dublin--and then three days back in Dublin without the car but at two different places. It was a pain moving from place to place. Used their bus service which was very reasonable, they require exact change and the fare is different depending on how far you're going. <BR> <BR>People are great. Almost everyone was very friendly and always helpful. As the tour director says, everyone will help even if they don't know the answer. <BR> <BR>As with most tours, we stopped at all the touristy places. Banratty Castle and village was interesting. Much like our Black Creek Pioneer Village only Irish style. <BR> <BR>Places to stay--Abbey Gate Court Hotel in Tralee was very nice and I think about 39 punt a night. The tourist information offices are excellent resources and very helpful finding and booking accomodations. <BR> <BR>Happy travelling. <BR>

leslie

How disappointing to hear so many negatives about your trip as I am anticipating mine this month. It sounds as if the "must see" sights I've heard so much about,ie.Ring of Kerry,Cliffs of Moher were not appealing at all to you. The castles were a disappointment except for the one you couldn't see. You mention avoiding Dublin as a recommendation yet the few favorable places you saw are daytrips from there,ie.Powerscourt. I hope I find everything more interesting than you did as I've spent a lot of time planning this trip and will be very disappointed if it's all just a let down.I will have time in my itinerary to see both the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. I've debated doing only the Dingle as many postings have made favorable comments re: that choice and I wonder now if my school aged children will be bored by the "endless miles of rock." Please tell me that the much looked forward to vacation we planned will not be all in vain! I do believe this is the first such negative "review" of Ireland that I've ever come across. And only two weeks before we leave. What a downer!!!Should we have done Disney instead?

shannon

Leslie, <BR> <BR>Definately should not have planned Disney instead. I too am just back from Ireland and am jealous that you are just headed there. We picked Dingle over Kerry, but with my debate. Dingle IS beautiful. Some castles ARE nicer than others or more fun (Bunratty and Cahir allow visitors to climb around in the castle), but I find all the castles so fascinating. The Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking, but wouldn't go out of your way to see them. As for driving in Dublin, I did not find it all that difficult, but I am used to driving in NYC occasionally. I had also prepared myself for the absolute worst traffic from what I was reading on all the posts here. DON'T get down about this trip. It is just beautiful.

JayDee

I agree, don't let one person's pessimism get you down. Forget "it was nice but..." and just have a good time. <BR> <BR>It reminds me of an old story about a man entering a city gate. The man saw an old woman sitting by the gate, and asked her if the people in the city were friendly. The old woman asked the man how the people were in the city he was from, and he told her that the people were grouchy, rude, and unfriendly. The old woman replied that he'd find the people in this city about the same. Then another man entered the gate, and seeing the old woman asked her if the people in the city were friendly. She asked him what the people were like in the city where he was from. The man told her that they were polite, friendly, and helpful. The old woman said that he'd find the people in this city were much the same. <BR> <BR>Have a GREAT trip!! <BR> <BR> <BR>

Stacey

I, too, am envious of your trip. I was there in April and would go back tomorrow given half the chance. It was cloudy and cold(ish) while I was there and it was still amazing. IMO - the Cliffs of Moher are not to be missed if you can get near there. The kids will love the view. Doolin is not far and is another gorgeous area. I was coming from Limerick and somewhere along the way is a town called Lahinch - beautiful beach there and cute spots for lunch. The ring of Kerry can be long and is slightly 'browner' than other areas, but the drive alone can be exhilerating - it's steep and curvy and very cool! I haven't made it to Dingle, but plan to next time. Just some thoughts.

jayne

I've raved about the Dingle Peninsula before in this forum; it was the highlight of our trip two years ago, as it has outstanding scenery, interesting historical sites and even good shopping. We loved Ireland, but I don't think you can expect every single place you visit to meet your expectations. Despite all the reading and research we can do beforehand, there are going to be disappointments, and I think it's best to accept that and relax about it. I think it's especially true when travelling with children, as they get tired and cranky (maybe not yours!)and decide they don't like anything (even Disney World). I've spent the better part of this year planning our trip to France and I feel the same anxieties; but I realize that the best way to travel is to relish the successful parts of the trip and chalk the rest up to experience.

Cynthia

<BR>Dawne-Ann...think positive thoughts and your trip will be wonderful. Did the Ring of Dingle as opposed to Kerry and it was wonderful Dingle is extraordiany and fun. Side trips to Branon's point, etc. The people at Benners Hotel will be most helpful, as will anyone in town. <BR>terrific food. For the children's sake, keep to the simplethings..no DisneyWorld is not better

steve

Leslie - I too did the Ring of Kerry - drove it this spring - and found it somewhat disappointing. It has pleasant, but not spectacular scenery. I don't know what people are talking about when they talk about any scary cliff driving, because there wasn't any as far as I was concerned. <BR> <BR>The most interesting part was the Skellig ring at the very end (it did have one section of difficult driving) and the part nearest Killarney in the National Park. <BR> <BR>Irish Castles are small - many of them were small fortified houses. But they are interesting. I especially liked the one just outside Killarney (sorry the name escapes me now) that has been restored and furnished. I also really liked Blarney Castle <BR> <BR>I thought the Clilffs of Mohr were quite intersting (and actually liked the drive around the coast there better than Kerry) <BR> <BR>I think the post about Dublin was about driving there. I wouldn't do it either, although dirving into Dublin and the parking was no problem to me. It is a relatively small city and more easily walked than driven in. I would certainly recommend the city bus tours where you can hop-on, hop-off all day for the basic price (take the entire tour first to get an idea of what you want to see, then do the hop-on hop-off <BR> <BR>I took my 9 & 11 year old boys last summer to Scotalnd and England and they had a great time.