Hi. Just registered for this site, so please forgive me if my msg is posted under the wrong topic. I am a young (very young! early 50's woman who is tired of playing it "safe" and want to "abandon" friends and travel companions and "do" Ireland solo. Well, not exactly, solo, but on an escorted tour. I guess solo as in "I won't know anyone." I've looked into CIE Tours and the prices and itinerary look solid to me. Am curious as to whether anyone has taken one of their Irish tours - particularly if you have gone "alone" on one of their escorted tours. I've never travelled alone, but a voice is calling out to me to at least try. I really want to do an escorted tour, as it is important to me that someone take a count each a.m. to make sure we're all accounted for and since I believe that one learns much more on an escorted tour and since it will be my first trip to Ireland. I'd love to hear suggestions/experiences about females travelling "solo," Ireland, travel groups (I'm already aware of Women Traveling Together). Thanks so much! Now, if only I'll recall how to get back to this site to see if I get any responses! Judi P.S. My email address (is this a no no?) is [email protected] for private responses.

Hi
I haven't been to Ireland and I haven't taken an escorted tour. BUT I will add some hearsay information. Some friends of mine did a CIE drive tour last year, where vouchers were provided for B&Bs along the route. They reported that the B&Bs varied quite a bit in cleanliness and other qualities. I only provide this in the sense that accommdations offered by CIE may not always be to every traveler's liking.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...o_go&fid=2

This thread will give you all the encouragement you need. It really helped me. Have fun. You can do it.

I haven't been to Ireland (although it is on my list of to-go's) but I encourage you to take the plunge. I have traveled solo several times (on my own and on tour) and have enjoyed it. No "I don't want to do that" or " I can't believe you want to go off by yourself", you just do what you want. Do it, whether with this company or another.
Hope someone else can speak to CIE tours.

Well I've never been to Ireland or taken gone with a tour group anywhere, but I am female and of your age group. I LOVE traveling solo and have been 25 trips abroad, probably half of then on my own. I wouldn't want a schedule to keep or anyone checking up on me, but for you sounds like a group of some sort is more what you need to feel comfortable. So have at it! Just wanted to give you a big *hurrah* and words of encouragement.

topping for Judiz

I too have never been to Ireland but I have several suggestions for you to explore. First, if you do a text search here--for example type ireland AND solo in the "search this forum" box above and then click find, you'll find lots of previous threads to read. One that I thought you'd be interested in describes a Tauk tour for Ireland. Most posters on this site would rather travel without a tour, but Tauk seems to get high marks as one of the best, although I gather they're a bit expensive. Here's the link to that thread.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1310438

Also, another poster "Mina" otherwise known as crazy Mina, traveled solo to Ireland on her own and did a trip report although her escapades might discourage you

My other thought...there are tours and organizations that do women only tours if that's something that would interest you. I can't recommend any in particular, but by doing a web search of
travel tours for women alone I found lots of websites and info.