Hi,<BR>My husband and I would like to do a 6 night package tour to Ireland, and we have to choose either the week of Thanksgiving or Dec. 26th - Jan. 2nd. <BR><BR>We would be flying to/from Shannon and would have a rental car.<BR><BR>Any thoughts on which would be a better time to visit? Does the weather make a difference?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for any advice,<BR>KEC

I would reccommend thanksgiving. Ireland is VERY quiet around the Christm,as season and some sightsmay be closed. You will probably have better weather in November as well.

Definitely Thanksgiving. I spent Christmas in Dublin 2 years ago and it was dead. Most of the hotels even closed down. My Irish friend said "Oh my God don't go at Christmas, everyone goes home to their families, it's the worst possible time to go" but by then it was too late. I still had fun (going to the races on Boxing Day for instance), but many pubs, restaurants, sights and hotels were closed until the New Year.

Siobhan and Kate,<BR>Thanks for the responses. I actually didn't think about things being closed down at Christmas time. I was thinking more about the weather. Thanks for the advice, it really makes sense now that I think about it more carefully.<BR><BR>KEC

Thanksgiving week would probably be best Days are short at Nov &Dec.Weather reasonably mild. Co Cork and Kerry are good places to visits. Christmas may not be a good time as alot of places of interest to tourists are probably closed at this time. Hope this helps

Fares are much cheaper at Thanksgiving. So many people are flying home to Ireland around Christmas and New Year's that the tickets can go sky high, and it can even be tough sometimes to get a rental car.<BR><BR>The weather will still most likely be bad, but then it usually is.

Thanks for all of the replies. We are waiting to see if my husband can get the extra day off at Thanksgiving that we would need. The price of the package increases by $200 at Christmastime. Hopefully we will be able to go at Thanksgiving because it seems like the better choice.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR>KEC

We booked the trip for Thanksgiving time. Thanks for all of your help...it really helped us to make a decision.<BR><BR>KEC

Have a wonderful time KEC have you been before? If you have not and you are of Irish Ancestory you are in for such a treat!!! Let us know how it goes.

Thanks Sarah!<BR>I have not been to Ireland before, but it has always been at the top of my "list"!<BR><BR>My husband and I both have Irish ancestry. I actually have copies of the documents stating when my ancestors came- they were one of the first Irish settlements in the US. So, it should be very interesting.<BR><BR>I'll post when I get back, and meanwhile I'm sure I'll be asking lots of questions and doing a lot of research.<BR><BR>Thanks!