We are planning on traveling to Ireland in either March or April of 2015. (I know many places close for the winter but I assume most places reopen in March for St Patrick's Day?) I was wondering if most travelers on this forum used a travel agency or just did the booking themselves? I have contacted both Sceptre and Enchanted Ireland Tours. I am leaning towards Sceptre, but neither have been overly easy to work with.....The only reason I am considering using a travel agency is the event we need assistance or have a problem with our hotel and B&B bookings. Any thoughts?

IME there is absolutely no reason to use a TA for a trip to Ireland. Plus most TAs don't deal w/ B&Bs.

And don't pt opt for the so called drive/stay packages where you get a rental car and B&B vouchers. Vouchers don't save you €€/$$ and will limit your options where you can stay.

very easy to DIY---book air, car(we used Dan dooley twice)
B&B's are so easy to book yourself. Check this site and Trip Advisor.
I agree, don't use vouchers.
It may take time, but it's fun and easy.. On our 2 trips(see my trip reports) in Sept. and 8 mo. later in May we had no problems whatsoever.

All the planning just adds to your trip memories.

http://www.bandbireland.com/destinations The big green shamrock means they are tourist board approved but have even stayed at some that did not have the big green shamrock. We had a travel book for our first visit and would follow the directions and show up at the door to see if there was a room. Back in the day we got a book from Ireland tourism with all the approved listings. The internet had very little to offer then. They pay to be in their approved listing. Janis and TPAYT are correct, so easy now.

Gosh I haven't used a travel agent in almost 20 years.. they are simply not good enough compared to what you can do yourself. Its so easy to research and book everything yourself.. within the budget range you want and finding non chain hotels.. most TAs book in places where they get paid a commission .. and most B@Bs do not want to pay that.. so the TAs send you to chain hotels .. yuck.. or at best they google and find places.. something you could do yourself.

I really can't think of a good reason to use a TA ESPECIALLY in an English speaking country.

The value of boards like Fodors, is that there are many experienced travelers here. They do not have the numbers of Trip Advisor, but TA has many people who have no idea of which they speak or make one trip and make a career of it. Also 1/2 the people on TA know nothing about the cuisine of the country they visited even after they return.

To be honest we rarely stay at B & B's. But when we chose a hotel there are a number of sites such as Booking.Com, Hotels.Com, and Expedia, which offer reviews but you can get a good consensus. You can see what bothers others, bothers you.

The biggest mistake first time planners make, is that they cram to many places into too few days, because they do not realize how much time is lost in packing, unpacking, checking out, checking in, getting to the bus, train, or plane, and waiting time and then getting to the new hotel. If you drive you can be assured of least getting lost once. This can be a most enjoyable and fortuitous experience.

Do not rely on any guide book and try to get them from the library for sense of where you want to go to.

Like others, we have not used a travel agent in years. The problem, I have seen on these boards about travel agents, even if they have not visited a place, it will stop them from making a recommendation. Maybe those you have cited above, however, are knowledgeable and honest.

Since I have only spent a week of my life in Ireland, and that was two years ago, I am loath to offer suggestions, other than the people were absolutely delightful and friendly.

My husband does not like B&Bs and prefers hotels, guesthouses and apartments which Ireland has many to pick from. I have even had a room in a hostel in Galway. It was great. Two big events were going on that week and my friend and I got a private room plus discounts on Galway tours. 20 euro for a day's tour. They have hospitality down and never have I been unhappy. Try and lean towards April. I think Easter is the fifth this year. Work around that.

All the above advice to DIY would be my take as well.. If you do consider using an Agent.. find one who will work for/with you, one with Personal Knowledge of the island (not via computer console) and avoid those like the two you have named who will do you a really great deal (on unsold coach tour rooms scattered around the place)..

My last trip to Ireland was too long ago for me to have any specific information for you.

However, as a solo traveller who does her own bookings but has friends who have had good & bad experiences with Travel Agents. I'd offer the following.

1) What exactly is it that you think the TA can do that you cannot?

2) Why would you put a 3rd party, almost certainly in a different time zone between you & the source/ resolution of the problem.

It's 16:20 here in Sydney. 02:20 in New York.
You're at the airport/hotel and there's a glich with your flight/ hotel booking. "Who're you 'gonna' call?" The TA is unlikely to answer & the airline / hotel says " not our problem - your TA booked it".

3) Ask your TA when were they personally last at the destination/ hotel/ restaurant / whatever they are recommending to you. Not someone else in the Agency, or group - the person making the recommendation & doing the booking.

Ask supplementary questions about their time there.

4. Never, ever buy Travel Insurance from a Travel Agent. It's the same as buying finance or insurance from a car dealer - and I hope no one would so that!

If you're a new/ infrequent/ traveller with a very complex itinerary & without the time or confidence to research routes, I can see some value in getting an experienced TA to work out a flight schedule for you - and pay them for it & do your own bookings.

Anyone can research accommodation and even if you do use a TA, it often pays handsome dividends to see what else in the area might suit you as we'll/ better - and to check the prices of the recommendations made.

I don't expect TA's to work without a profit, there's no reason for anyone to do that. But I expect the same degree of expertise from them as I would from my Accountant, Solicitor or any other professional. And that seems to be a pretty rare commodity, unfortunately.