i found that site and the book looks appealing, but i wanted some feedback. i already have 2 guidebooks, one Fodor's Exploring Ireland and the other Discovery Channel Ireland, actually i have Karen Browns Ireland book too. <BR> <BR>Does it seem like this book by michelle erdvig would add any more info to my planning? <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR>

Hello Edie&gt;I do have the guidebook Best Little Guide to Ireland and I must say that it has helped me with planning my trip so far&gt;It is user friendly compared to some others that I had checked out from the library&gt;I have found it to be in very logical order as it takes me through planning my trip step by step&gt;It starts with a brief overview of Ireland, followed by a section on planning&gt;I especially needed the packing list and have not seen that in any other book I have read so far&gt;Did you know that most hotels and B&Bs do not supply washcloths?&gt;Some other things in it that I did not find in other books were driving on the left, a list of airlines and car rental companies with phone numbers, everything that I could possibly want to know about B&Bs&gt;Do you know what an electric shower is?&gt;Since I am starting my trip in Shannon I especially liked the fact that the book starts with Co. Clare&gt;Every other book starts with Dublin&gt;Each chapter starts out with a sketch of the B&Bs and guest houses that are recommended in that county, followed with a description, contact information and directions and/or a map&gt;Then restaurants are described and recommended, then pubs, then shopping, then sightseeing, then day trips&gt;I hope I have that in the right order&gt;The book does not recommend hotels, only B&Bs and guest houses and the prices seem very reasonable to me&gt;There are also maps of Ireland and each section has a section map of that part of Ireland&gt;I am not going to Ireland until June so I have not actually used the book yet for a trip&gt;I like the personal tone of the book, almost like speaking on the phone with Michelle&gt;I have the feeling that this book is not just a job but a labor of love for her&gt;One thing that was very important to me was the cleanliness of the inns I would be staying at and the book indicates that is a priority when recommending them&gt;I did check out Karen Brown's book from the library (not this year's) and some of the prices seemed to be more than what I wanted to pay&gt;I found the design of Karen's book to be just a little difficult to follow&gt;It has a separate section for the itineraries and places to stay and I found myself flipping back and forth and was lost some of the time&gt;As to whether Michelle's book would add to your planning I am not really sure since I have not read the other two books you mentioned&gt;I did like it better than Karen's book&gt;That is my opinion of Best Little Guide to Ireland at irelandyes.com&gt;I am sure I will have additional comments once I return from Ireland&gt;&gt;&gt;Ruth&gt;&gt;&gt;P.S. I have communicated with Michelle twice by e-mail and have found her to be very friendly and she answered all my questions. I believe that is a very unique thing for an author to do&gt;

Hi Edie--Loved it! couldn't have done my Aug trip to Ireland without Michelle's book. Actually left the others at home and just took hers (limited space when flying standby). Originally found her from my airline newsletter and have been passing the word to everyone. We do get around in this biz. BTW, my trip to the old sod was WONDERFUL. can't wait to get back and do some research on my background. Shannon

Hi All, Used Michelle's Best Little Guide in October. My wife and I had a blast. Waht a great country!! Can't wait to go back to sample more pubs. Getting thirsty just thinking of it. At one of the B&Bs reccomended the host Danny took us on a pub crawl through Killarney. Music, Guiness, dancing, great people. WOW!! The highlight of our trip! Never would have known of that B&b without the Little Guide. Michelle has known Danny and his wife for about 20 yrs and every place we went we heard nothing but good things about Michelle and her book. Only problem was not enough time to visit every pub in the book. Guess that means another trip for us!!! I'm off to the store to buy me some Guiness! Silante!!

Thanks Edie. I looked at the irelandyes.com website and have discovered a gold mine of information! I needed this and I do appreciate your mentioning it here. I've sent off for the book and hope it lives up to the descriptions. Thank you all for being so wonderful on this forum and for sharing your tips and hints for my trip to Ireland. Missy

Great!!

The book and the site are appealing. I think I'm going for it! Anyone else have any suggestions? Thnx

Hi All, I e-mailed Michelle recently, and asked if I could buy her book locally, as she lives in Marietta,GA, a few miles from me. She replied back, saying that a new version was being published. She asked me if I needed the book soon, but I did not,(not going till Aug.) and will wait a bit to order the updated version. I like the site too! FYI, Judy ps. I have Karen Brown's book too..I am a travel book junkie...

Judy, I emailed Michelle too and she was so nice. I asked her a lot of questions and she answered every one of them and then invited me to post more on her travel forum where she answers them. I too am waiting for the next edition of the book since I'm not going to Ireland till fall. She said it should be out in march. I think its nice that a book comes out every year so I can have the very latest info. It's also great to find a place where a real live human who knows what they'r talking about helps people out!! I can't reccomend it highly enough. www.irelandyes.com

Edie, <BR> <BR>I have not tried this guide book, but I'm alway willing to get another one. Two guide books that I would highly recommend are Patricia Tunison Preston's 55 Daytrips of Ireland (great website: irelandexpert.com) and the Eyewitness Travel guide by DK which is simply entitled :Ireland. The first book gives wonderful information that I haven't seen in other books (no pictures however), while the second book gives wonderfully accurate pictures, maps, and visual plans for castles, towns, cathedrals etc. Thanks for the new lead!

Hey Mike, took a look at the books you mentioned at the bookstore and they are very good. Liked the photos in the DK book and Day Trips has the whole country covered but does not have acommodations. Also took a look at the website edie mentioned and like the style of the whole thing. Good photos too. May just spring some extra for that one cause I need B&Bs. Thanx everyone. This is great fun here!!

Here's another vote for Michele's book. My husband and I stayed at 9 of the B&B's recommended in her book, and every thing she described was exactly the way it was. We had THE best experiences following her advice. Her itinerary tips, packing advice, car rental advice, just everything, was fabulous. Our book is now well tattered and worn (and well loved). Buy it, you will not regret it. And, when you call to make reservations at the B&B's, be certain to say you are calling on a recommendation from Michele's book, you will get an extra helping of friendliness!! Have a great time!!!

Just got Michele's new 2001 book and it's the greatest! All the info is very well organised and the descriptions are excellent. Can't wait to go! I'm sure my book will be as tattered and well loved as Lisa's before long. The foot and mouth thing can't keep a good pub crawler down.

Oh, how I wish I had found Michele's book before I broke the bank and bought the others!! It is soooo simple and easy to use that it puts the others to shame. I'm really enjoying it very much and so is my husband. For the first time I'm not overwhelmed with planning my trip. But I am glad I heard about it here and got it before my trip. Wish I could take the other guide books back...do you think that Waldenbooks will mind the dogeared pages and underlinings? Guess I'm stuck with them. Can't wait to stay at Sallyport House!!! It sounds fabulous. Woops, better go and make my reservations before it fills up with fodorites! Jenny

Check out http://www.irlguide.com/ folks for a website guide.

John, Lots of links at irlguide but real content is always appreciated...Real humans are even better!!! Also the site is cramped because of the frames (hate em) and that flashing banner ad at the bottom--hate that even more!!!!! Guess I'd better go calm down and have a Guinness!

"The Best Little Guide to Ireland" is a no-brainer! Leave brain at home. Visit Ireland. Take Michelle's book. Follow the book. Have a great vacation. Now I cannot wait to go back! Highly reccommended by me. Two thumbs up...way, way up!!

I agree!

Just back from a great, wonderful, fantastic, super trip to Ireland. I want to go right back again!!! I did use Michele Erdvig's Best Little Guide to Ireland and can't rate it highly enough. We followed it all the way and stayed at perfect B&Bs, ate at wonderful restaurants that didn't cost an arm and a leg, and saw the best sightseeing ever. Ireland is small but waht a lot of fab scenery. The going is slow on many roads but that adds to the charm of the place. My best advise is to not try to do too much cause you can't see it all unless you have the whole summer. And take Michele's book!!!!! Boy, was my wife a happy camper staying at those great guest houses. It was a freeing experience to know that at the end of the day there would be a fantastic room waiting for us. No worries about getting stuck with a dud. I'm definitely going back. So I'd agree with everyone here that the book on www.irelandyes.com is a winner! Shorty

TTT for Suzanne