We're looking to go to Ireland for the first time and are thinking of a bus tour. Can anyone recommend a company? We're thinking of Trafalgar or Colette maybe. Thanks!

Sue

This might be worth investigating:

http://www.irishtourism.com/escorted...ex-ireland.htm

We used CIE tours this past March and we were very happy with our choice. We had a large coach for 21 passengers, our driver was also the tour guide, except for in Dublin and Waterford, the hotels were very nice with great breakfasts and dinners. It was good value as well, as we calculated in the cost of hotel rooms, tours and meals for the 10 days would have cost us much more.

Go to www.cie.ie for more information.

I'm a young at heart septuagenarian and I was looking at PaddyWagon Tours (out of Dublin). They operate tours of varying length & quality: From the description, I like their 10-day Deluxe all-Ireland. For info http://www.PaddyWagonTours.com

The tours all sound wonderful but it seems that they move at such a fast pace that it seems hard to enjoy the island. For instance, the 10 Paddy Wagon tour suggest that in one day, you will leave Cong for Westport (presumably enjoy the town for a while) and then climb Croagh Patrick ... all before lunch! ummm, Croagh Patrick is a roughly 4 hour round trip for the average walker.

I know lots of folks love tour bus trips and if you are scared to death of driving in Irelnad, by all means grab a bus. I just find that most of them give you an opportunity to say you've been somewhere, but I wonder if you've really experienced the country. Just a thought...

Bill

We have used Terry Flynn Tours a couple of times and are quite satisified. They have several tour possibilities. www.terryflynntours.com They also did a small tour using our city schedule, it was excellent.