sjbisanz1

Can give 1 or 2 days to these areas. And any suggestions for these locations from those who have been? Thanks in advance!

Clifton

Heading back already? I'm jealous

I haven't been to Wexford yet, but I guess we'll have to go sometime, as our cousins just moved down there. So you're leaving Kilkenny and ultimately heading... west?

Waterford City is very near the Co. Wexford line. I'll start there since that's what I know. I'd have to say you may not spend as much time in Waterford as you'd figure. There's Reginalds Tower on the riverfront (east) and there's the crystal factory tour on the west side of town. Beyond that, we walked through the old town looking for traces of the Viking walls, had a pretty good dinner at a pub (sorry, I never remember the names of eats places). We stayed over night at a B&B there, but it was a bit noisy and I wouldn't recommend it.

From there, we drove down the Waterford coast towards Dungarven. The coast line there is not so dramatic as the west coast. It's very rolling, peaceful and non-touristed. Picture waving green grass and cows grazing in front of sparkling sea.

Take a detailed map and take the chance to leave the main road. We'd trundle down little lanes on the seaward side, keeping the shore to our left. We stumbled on some castle ruins off one of these roads, sitting high on a hill, cover in ivy and deserted. The tiny sign on the main road just said "castle ->" so you have to keep an eye out. No attendant, no charge, just pull over on this gravel road and climb to the top (through a bit of farmers field, no less).

Great little cafe and bake shop with tables right on the main square in Dungarven, looking out on the boats. We veered off towards Tipperary after that and then returned back to Cobh via Lismore a few days later.

We've stayed several nights at the Waterfront Hotel in Cobh, right next to the Queenstown exhibit. We'd sit in their great little restaurant and watch the sailboats practice en-mass in May. This little hotel was a bit of a splurge compared to the usual B&B, but we had a large immaculate room with a deck suspended over Cork Harbor with a wall of glass windows and a sliding glass door (lower floor only).

http://www.watersedgehotel.ie/

sss

Good point Clifton. Which way are you headed? That would make all the difference in advise given.

sjbisanz1

That is so weird; I didn't think I sent this and when I checked on it later, it showed it hadn't gone thru. That was on the 15th. Then today I see it went anyway, on the 17th! Has that happened to anyone else before?

Clifton, thank you so much for all the advice. I really wish this was for me and the reason I didn't send it (or thought I didn't), was because it is for a client and I wanted to make sure I put that in there in case someone didn't feel like replying due to that. I posted the itinerary that I have managed to get her to slim down; but noted immediately this is not for me. Can you tell me, am I committing a faux pas by asking this for a client? I don't want to take advantage of this forum by doing so. Since my return, I have been designated the "Ireland Specialist". A title I am not comfortable with after only one trip. So I keep reading the reports here and gleam as much information as I can to help my clients with. Guess I will have to go back to get some firsthand knowledge! Clifton, you would be a great guide!! When are you going next? If I can convince my husband to do it, I will go back.

The information you gave is wonderful; as usual! She is only planning on visiting the factory and Reginald's Tower in Waterford, so that helps alot.

Sorry again this went out with my "TA disclaimer". Hope you aren't mad; it was not intended. And thank you again for the advice!

Shelly

Clifton

Hi Shelly,

Nah, it doesn't bother me at all that it's asked on behalf of a client. Helping is helping. As far as if it's a faux pas on the board, I'm not sure. LOL I've seen people get bent out of shape over everything in the world on here, so I suppose it would depend on who you asked.

That's about the agenda on Waterford, for us. It's not horrible, but it didn't "embrace us", or we it, if that makes sense.

And I'd be a *horrible* guide the first time I got someone along who didn't know why they were there. I can hear them saying "but I don't WANT to go back and look at that wall again! I don't caaaaare!". I wouldn't wish that on a person with checked luggage.

We'll go back to Ireland again but the question right now is more "where" than "when". My wife is ready now, but lately I'm in the mood to stick colored pins in large world maps with abandon. I'm in new place mode and it's a dead heat 'tween Italy, Bhutan or Romania (as a dark horse).

sjbisanz1

Clifton - That is so funny you say that... I had a client call a short time ago and say he wanted to leave either that night or the next day on a family trip. When I asked where, he replied "Anywhere in the world". I kid you not! I can't remember where I gave him quotes to, but it was just so funny to me at the time. Especially for a family trip. Oh well, not for us, that's for sure!

Didn't you just return from a trip here recently? How did it go?

Shelly

Clifton

Hee hee. I think I'd have sent them to Mongolia. Then they'd have some questions, I bet.

The trip? Went very well, thanks for asking! We were in Melbourne, Australia over Christmas. Hung with my wife's family mostly. Wandered around the city, wined and dined in the Yarra Valley, hit the Dandenongs and took a drive up the Great Ocean Rd, moseying along and spotting koalas and echidnas out in the wild. Lots of fun and an intriguing invite to come to visit the Indonesian side of her family at their house in western Java sometime soon. Hmmmmm.... I think we'll take them up on that sometime. They made a tremendous authentic Javanese meal for us and were so kind to point out the dishes with milder spices, thank goodness!

sjbisanz1

It sounds like a great trip! My sister is dying to go to Australia, but I told her she really shouldn't go unless she can commit to at least 10 days. With so much time lost traveling, you hate to spend so much money and not have the time to really enjoy it. I really think 2 weeks sounds better. How long were you there?

Shelly

Clifton

I think you're giving her good advice. Australia is great and I do think she'd love it. Not sure where she'd fly out from, but we leave from the midwest. It's around 4 hours to LA, then 15 hours to Melbourne, not counting layovers. You cross the international dateline on the way, so you lose a day there. The really weird part is that you gain a day on the way back, so you technically land in LA a few hours before you take off.

We always go a minimum of 2 weeks, even if we aren't traveling around much. And to hit the big ticket places like the Barrier Reef and Sydney and Tasmania and Uluru, there's a lot of flying internally. Big as the lower 48 states, and just the places I listed would be like trying to see Florida, NYC, Maine and Yellowstone on the same trip. Got to allow for the time to get there and to get around!

sjbisanz1

I've always loved that about the time difference. It's really a hoot sometimes talking to clients and trying to explain to them why the flight is "shorter" returning. I've laughed and told them the pilot was anxious to get home too.

There are so many places I would love to see, Australia and the South Pacific are definitely on the list. So is Alaska, Egypt, Russia, Scotland, Asia.... oh boy, could I go on. I'm forever coming home from work telling my husband about some exciting itinerary I am putting together for someone. With a 3 yr old, I knew travel would slow to a crawl; I still can't believe I was "excused" to go to Ireland. But that's ok, I live vicariously (sp.?) through my clients. Given the choice, I still choose my son; most days!

Clifton

Your list looks much like mine, but if I were given the choice, I'd make the same one you've made! No question.

And you still learn a lot for the future, even in those armchair traveler periods, in between trips. I know I do, just reading here and there.

mexicobeachbum

We've stayed in Wexford with our two daughters, then aged 10 and 14. We'll return there this summer. We stayed at the Blue Door B&B and it was nice, clean, well decorated, with a very good breakfast. It's a great town to walk, as it's not very large. Went to a great pub for dinner, with an excellent traditional session in the evening. I don't remember the name of the pub, but the restaurant was upstairs, and the bar below.

sjbisanz1

mexicobeachbum - Thanks for the heads-up. Wexford sounds like a great town to stay in. The name of the B&B helps alot as well! Thank you!

Clifton - I am attending an event tomorrow put on by the Irish Tourist Board in conjunction with many of the tour operators. I am hoping to glean as much information from them as well. I really was amazed how much I got out of all my research here and how comfortable I was with the country upon arriving there. I know it was all due to the information I picked up here. I would definitely suggest to friends and family they do their own research here for future travel. Just not clients!! Have to do what I can to keep my job security!! And I do so love my job. BTW, are you retired? You seem to travel a great deal as well. That is envy you detect!!

Shelly

Clifton

I think being a TA and getting to focus on travel all day sounds like a bunch of fun. Envy works both ways.

No, I don't think I've traveled as much as all that. Certainly not nearly as much as many who use this board. We've just been fairly narrow in our destinations until recently. Retired? I wish. I've got at least 25 yrs until I hit that mark. Ah, to be free....

sjbisanz1

to be free and wealthy enough to enjoy it... that would be ideal.

You sound a great deal more mature than some of the retired individuals here; or maybe just more laid back and less wrapped up in the trivial. In either case, you are a joy to talk to and I really appreciate your offers of assistance. Thank you!

BTW, have you decided between Romania, Italy or Bhutan?

Shelly

Clifton

Aw shucks...

Just laid back, I guess. Not enough sense to know when to worry and not enough $ to try to figure out what to do with them.

Yep, it's been a nice thread. Best accidental thread I've seen to date!

But I still haven't decided for sure. Bhutan was always my pick, but I think it's out for 2004. Budget and all that. $1400 per person for air at least, plus $230 per person, per day to be in the country - they control tourism heavily in order to maintain their traditional ways. Part of what draws me there but also the reason it's gonna take another year to get there and do it up right.

So it's down to 2... ok, maybe three - my wife would really like to see Germany. I'm really beginning to see why people create these running road trip vacations...

sjbisanz1

$1400 for air; ouch! Don't know where you fly from, but is it possible to use miles for a free ticket? Even if it's not avaialble for the whole way, it might be for most of it. Lot's of different airline alliances nowadays.

I just looked up Bhutan on the Atlas. Quite the hub isn't it?! Seriously, what made you decide you wanted to go there; besides the lack of tourism? I always love hearing from my own clients their "desires". It helps when putting them with the right itinerary as well.

Shelly

Clifton

Not enough OneWorld miles rebuilt just yet to get to Bangkok, Delhi or Kathmandu. From one of those, you have to take the privately owned royal airline of Bhutan, DrukAir, to get into Bhutan. No partnerships there and a fixed price (two planes in their fleet, total).

Why Bhutan? You had to ask....

I guess because it just looks so amazing. There are zero non-traditional structures in the country, even small homes and in new construction. The traditional Buddhist culture. The king has declared he's more concerned with gross national happiness, than profits. Then there's the fact that it's nestled in the Himalayas. It's still 72 percent wooded as they don't believe in cutting forests on religious reasons. Giant Tibetan style castle/temples built on hillsides. I see it often described by past visitors as "The Last Shangri-La".

Odd stuff: Thimphu is the only national capital in the world that doesn't have a traffic light. They apparently had one, but the people complained that it was too impersonal, so they took it out and built a gazebo to shelter a policeman who directs traffic. And they have the only nature reserve in the world that's set aside to house the Yeti. They just have faith that he's there! How cool is that? Plus there are other wildlife reserves sheltering populations of rhino, tigers and elephants.

The place just seems to have captured my imagination! Plus, no crime, no touts, no begging and most people speak English (king's decision, plus a history of British connections).

This is the website for the kingdom, in case you ever have a client who asks

http://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/

It's a fun read and the pictures (with others I've found) really sold me.

sjbisanz1

Wow, you've about sold me! It is way late, so I will check your website tomorrow. I wish I had known of this place when I had the caller that wanted to go "anywhere". This would've knocked his socks off! Thanks for info.

(I still find if funny when a client asks to be sent to Kathmandu, or Timbuktu for that matter!)

Shelly