tomseeley

I'm just starting to think about our short trip to Ireland this July. I have no intention of driving, because even if I leave aside the side-of-the-road issues, when I'm driving I can't watch the scenery, which is what I'm there to see! So for us, it's bus or train based tours. We're most likely to do day tours or maybe 2-days max, out of Dublin. Sadly, we don't have a lot of time!

Obviously, I can and will Google the bazillion companies that offer such tours, but I also value experienced opinions from others, for good or not so good companies.

So what d'ya think? Give me your thoughts, please. And thanx in advance.

Tom

janisj

Rabbies - a very good Scotland-based company that also does small group tours in Ireland.

https://www.rabbies.com/tour_ireland.asp

CIE is a good company -- but they use full sized tour buses and I much MUCH prefer small groups.

janisj

Meant to add -- Rabbies does longer tours - but check if any of the 3-day trips might fit your plans. If so they are HIGHLY recommended.

flpab

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...ty_Dublin.html

small bus, took us to some great locations. I did the tour on a Sunday and we had part of a flight crew and one other couple so great service and fun talking to the flight crew.

I would get a leap pass and then you can use the train to go to Howth for the day which is a beautiful seaside village with great hikes and seafood. You can go south to Dalkey also and get the smaller village experience.

If you don't mind an overnight you can take the go bus to Galway and take a Cliffs tour on http://www.galwaytourcompany.com/gtc/daytours.jsp

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ty_Dublin.html


I also like the Trinity college walking tours of Dublin.

An overnight trip to Belfast is also a good plan. I am not opposed to leaving on an early train and returning on a late on and touring Belfast. Black cab tour, city hall, titanic, great pubs and St George's market

http://www.discovernorthernireland.c...-Belfast-P3230

Tony2phones

It depends what you want to see from Where? There are any number of good local to the locality tour operators but as you aim to spend all your time in Dublin then the only tours I personally recommend would be Wicklow and Glendalough (probably Wild Wicklow tours) to the South, then Newgrange etc to the North (Mary Gibbons, Newgrange Tours)

Paddywagon and Rabbies do longer tours but if you want to see another part of Ireland get on a Bus/train to the area and take a local tour.

Of course I live over here and don't see the point of tours that spend 80% of the time polishing a seat seeing nothing but the roadside.

tomseeley

Agree, tony. I'm looking at getting to Galway and then doing day tours of Connemara and the Burren from there.

Thx, all...