Hi everyone. I am planning a trip to Ireland for my husband and me. He is 100% Irish, and I want to make sure that we see and experience as much as we can, as thoroughly as we can. He is less interested in tourist sights, and more interested in experiencing small town life. I'd like to also spend a couple of days in Scotland. Would 2 weeks be enough for all of this? Just don't want to sell ourselves short....We're novices, so any advice is appreciated!

Hi Sarah: <BR>Well, two weeks is a start. You will want to return again and again to this enchanting place. The west of Ireland seens to be just what you husband is looking for. Scotland for a few days would be a tease. Why not save that wonderful country for another visit!

365 days minimum.

I travelled to Ireland with my 100% Irish boyfriend last year. 2 Weeks is a good start, especially if you also want to see Scotland. We ended up touring the Coastal Cities of Southern Ireland. Northern Ireland will have to be a whole new trip.

Sarah, <BR> <BR>Liam is a bit pessimistic. I'd say if you try you could do it in 325 days. <BR> <BR>I spent two weeks in Ireland this Spring. It's enough to see part of Ireland, but you're obviously not going to cover it all. In fact, if you really want to "experience" small town life, you'll probably want to pick two or three (at most) places to stay. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't include Scotland for only two days. That would be unfair to both countries. You would be able to say you've "been to Scotland", but you wouldn't really be able to see enough to count. <BR> <BR>You might consider spending a few days in Dingle. The surrounding countryside is not only beautiful but has literally thousands of ancient buildings and monuments, including the famous Gallarus Oratory. Dingle Town is big enough (pop = 1500?) to have enough shops, restaurants and pubs to be interesting, but you can still walk from one end of town to the other in about 5 minutes. You can also walk up to the beginnings of Connor Pass (great views) in about 45 minutes! There are boat rides on Dingle Bay, and several guided tours of the area. Dingle even has a small but interesting aquarium. <BR> <BR>Dave <BR> <BR>

For our honeymoon, the wife and I toured Ireland for a week in a rented car doing the B&B circuit. Glad I did it that way but wouldn't do it again. Most of the spots in Ireland you'd want to visit take a bit of traveling through country roads and can be time consuming. Take two weeks and go to 3 or 4 places at the most.

We had 11 days in Ireland. This was time to see a small share of that beautiful island. We had the most enjoyment in the Dingle peninsula. Dingle town is very pleasant and is centrally located for touring that area, 4 days would be a nice amount of time. Don't miss the Cliffs of Mohr and Doolin for some great pubs and music. We also did Galway, a fun city and toured up to the connemara region. Clifden and Kylemore Abbey were very nice. Take your time and do a few things, but do them well!

Hi, <BR> <BR>I think 2 weeks is a nice start, but you really won't see all that much - though small, there is SOO much packed into that little island! <BR> <BR>case in point: I spent a week there earlier this summer. I was on a biking trip. We concentrated on the Connemara region. Of course on a bike trip you see things up close and personal - you are going slowly enough! however, I would have liked to slow down even more - we saw a lot, biked all day, but I don't feel that I EXPERIENCED a lot of the culture - after biking 6-8 hours a day, you don't feel like going out late at night (to sample some of the craic) and the next day - up and off you go on the bike again! <BR> <BR>what I am trying to say is this: for that little teeny part of Ireland I saw, I would have liked to have spent two weeks there at least, not one. one day to bike, one day to sit and explore. one day to bike, one day to stay put and explore. <BR> <BR>if you are using a car/train you will of course cover more ground, but will you see/experience more? dunno. <BR> <BR>try it and see - just do NOT spread yourself too thin. Don't go to Scotland this trip - save it for its own trip. For two weeks, try to minimize the major traveling you will do, once you get there. (major as in - crossing a body of water to get to another country.) <BR> <BR>read up on it, pick out the 3-4 areas you really want to explore, and plan to spend 3-4 days in each area. make a simple itinerary but don't be its slave. <BR> <BR>and if you can, I do highly recommend renting a bike even if only for bits and pieces of your trip. (another good reason to stay put in an area for a few days - the last thing you want to do is bike all day and then have to find another place to sleep that night before even showering/changing after the bike ride...) <BR> <BR>have fun! <BR> <BR>Beth

Just to point out to at least one respondent that there is no country called "Southern Ireland". <BR> <BR>Chris <BR>Sheffield