Brenda

Has anyone taken the "Introduction to Ireland" tour with Globus? Considering booking this tour and just needed input. Thanks

justine

Don't go on a tour ...Buy a travel guide..buy a bus pass... and you will have the greatest time of your life, I went on a Globus tour ..never again will I go on a tour..be an independent traveler be you who decides where to go and where to eat and what to visit, try it you will like it ...

Graziella

Thank you , Justine, I have always been an independent traveler, however for a brief moment I was considering some kind of a tour to Ireland. Guess i have been being lazy, considering that off hand I know very little about Ireland...but you have brought me to my senses, I would not be able to take any tour.....thank you again.

Maureen

We just returned from a 2 week trip to Austria and Switzerland with Globus and were extremely happy with our tour and we had a great group of people from all over the U.S. to share our adventures with.<BR>May I also suggest CIE Tours--we talked to several people who said they enjoyed their tours to Ireland. You can get information online.

KellyG

We took a 2-week tour around the coast of Ireland with Globus in 2000. I thought it would be awful but it was grand! I made friendships with people from the US to Australia, learned a ton of stuff, didn't have to "watch the road", and didn't want to come home. We had a very friendly group of passengers (overall), a great tour guide and bus driver. I feel more prepared to go on our own, which we will be doing the spring of 2003.

Traveler

Brenda:<BR>I have taken a Globus in Ireland--9 days many years ago. In fact it was my first solo trip to Europe. I have since taken a dozen more Globus Tours. They do a marvelous job. Everything is taken care of for you. Just be sure to READ the days' itinerary. What it says is what they WILL do. Literally! Ex. See castle means "see it", not visit or tour it. Check out mileage for each days traveling. Not so much in Ireland, but some tours have a whole day of traveling with just 3-4 short stops.<BR> <BR>The Ireland tour was very leisure with short drives and many things to do and see each day. It is not fast paced. Check on what sites you want to see then see if Globus meets those needs. In my case, they generally met them--that's why I choose Globus!<BR> I also agree that Ireland would be an easy country to drive yourself. Bed and Breakfasts on "every corner". The people are very helpful and friendly. <BR> I enjoy meeting and talking with people of each country, but I also enjoy my fellow tour partners (most of them). As I travel solo a lot, taking escorted tours is a safe and easy option for me to see the world.<BR> Enjoy your planning. Keep traveling!!

Brenda

Thanks everyone for your varied responses, still trying to decide!

allison

I took the "Introduction to Ireland" tour with Globus several years ago and enjoyed it very much. It was a great way to see a lot of the country in a short period of time.

Vicky

i took this trip in may 1996 when i first started traveling again after many years. i spent 4 days in london on my own then joined the globus tour. i had fun and enjoyed the company of travelers from all over including Australia and New Zealand but got sick from getting up early and rushing from one town to another. never really got the feel of any town cause we only spent a couple hours in each one. now i travel independently cause i can spend mroe time in one place. i also took a tour - TWA GEtaway in 1977 but we stayed in major cities for 4-5 days each and flew to the next destination - covered london, paris, Rome, Geneva and madrid. That worked out better.

Leslie

Note who people meet on tours:<BR>Americans, Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders...nice people I'm sure. But of all countries to miss out on meeting the locals, I surely wouldn't want to miss this in Ireland!<BR><BR>I am entranced by their gift of gab and sense of humor. On a tour you cannot hang out in small pubs or chat with your B & B hosts as you'll be staying in large hotels and traveling in a pack. <BR><BR>Admittedly, driving in Ireland is not that easy and certainly not advisable if you are traveling solo. If you must have the convenience and efficiency of a tour, then I'd consider Pat Preston's tour before Globus, though haven't been on either. There have been some very positive comments here about Pat's website:<BR><BR>www.irelandexpert.com

Traveler

If you don't want to drive yourself, there are also the gypsy wagons. They looked rather interesting (atleast for a day or two!) I never checked into the prices.