I almost feel silly posting this question, after having read these many threads...but...

My fiance and I (we are 45yrs old-second time around)are planning a first trip to Ireland this November (19-17) and plan to marry (or have a commitment ceremony after researching the Irish laws). We started looking at self-drive tours, but after speaking with travel agents, thought that a guided tour (CIE) might be less stressful. Now, I'm confused again, because it seems that many of you have had wonderful self drive trips with little to no great mishaps. I know the areas that we'd like to see are from Dublin along the coast up to Shannon and include many of the suggested places y'all have posted here...(these highlights are also on the guided tour).

Please share your thoughts as to whether to go with the self-drive vacation or the guided bus tour.

Sorry, but this sounds so silly. Let me see, a travel agent who can sell you a whole guided tour simply and gain one commission as opposed to helping you find a car, several hotels, and still not getting half the commission suggested that the bus tour would be "less stressful" for whom? Her?

One day on a guided bus tour and my stress level would go through the ceiling. Not for me. Go for the self-drive, but first get yourself a new travel agent. Or better yet, don't get one, you don't need one.

For a honeymoon - even second time around - I would never go with a guided tour. You'll be faced with 6am wake-ups, 7am luggage in the hall departures - and a group that is primarily - if not all - retired folks. Not very romantic!

It is incredibly simple to do it yourself - especially in an english-speaking country. I would never even contemplate a tour in Ireland.

Patrick is right, a TA will always tell you to take an escorted tour. It sounds like you would enjoy an independant driving trip, especially since you already know what you want to see. By going on your own, you can stop the car to take a photo whenever you want or stay an extra day someplace if you want. And you can eat, drink, sleep, and best of all, go to the bathroom whenever you want. When on a tour you will follow a rigid schedule.

Bus tours offer some advantages, such as you don't have to do any of your own planning. Personally, I think planning is part of the fun of the trip, but it does stress out some people. Driving around the Irish countryside is not at all stressful, in fact, it's a real pleasure. Lose the TA.

Self-Drive! Self-Drive! Self-Drive!

Sorry, maybe got a little too excited!

Ireland is the perfect country for a self-drive. Good road system with easy to access sites. Also lots of small hotels and B&B, nice small pubs and restraunts... exactly the kind of stuff you won't be able access if in tour group.

Plus Ireland is just a great country just to drive and play-it-by-ear...

Agree that you don't need/want to sign on to a guided tour. However, do realize that self driving will have it's stressful times. I'm always quick to tell folks that "if I had it to do all over again," I'd rent as small an automatic transmission as my luggage would tolerate. You definitely don't want a big car...roads are just too narrow. Also, the next time I visit Ireland, I won't make ahead my B&B reservations. I had a travel agent make them for me because I thought she'd do a better job than I would. Guess what? We were disappointed in all of them not because they were shabby but because they were located so far away from the "action" of the city. My advice is to rent the automatic and choose your B&B's as you go. In November you shouldn't have any trouble at all. Enjoy a Guinness or two for me!

Lots of good advice here. Self drive of course! As Mkdiebold says, smallest car possible, automatic. After you get the hang of it, I think it's fun (don't drive in Dublin--get the car on the way out of town). In November you'll get some great deals on lodging, and it won't be necessary to book ahead. Play it by ear and you'll have a great time. Lots more fun not to stay on a prescribed schedule. Spend some time on the internet looking at lodging in advance. Then check out comments on tripadvisor.com. Have a great time!

Hello Texan,

I'm from Ireland, and I would like to respectfully give you a couple of thaughts.

To be honest, a lot of posters here are bang on target, I'd opt for self drive, and a small car would be more practical.

Stay clear of Dublin. Very little there. I dislike the City, sorry any Dubliners reading!

Killarney, Galway and the west or Ireland are fantastic, windswept and interesting! Achill Island/Atlantic coast is really scenic and wild.
With a self drive one can get off the beat and track.
Hope you have a nice time.
Regards,
Major.

Agree. I was actually going to suggest (don't know what's already booked) flying in and out of Shannon and forgetting Dublin. It will be far more relaxing not dealing with the "big city." Maybe keep that for a return trip. Staying in the west, Galway and Connemara, and southwest, would be a great week in Ireland for your first trip (or every trip!)

Just one more voice in the chorus telling you to definitely go with the self drive option. Ireland is a place where you want to go at your own pace, stopping at a pub, a vista or a town that strikes your fancy. You want to be able to linger or choose which fork in the road to take, to take the suggestion of the fellow in the pub who tells you of a great place you should visit. Since language isn't an issue the pressure is off to make your own way and go at your own pace. Kerry, West Cork, Galway, Clare, Connemara, you can't go wrong with any of these places.

I'll offer a contrary opinion, we spent 3 nights in Dublin on our own and had a great time, I couldn't imagine a first trip to Ireland and not soaking up Dublin for a few days. We then took the 4 night CIE "Taste of Ireland" tour through Killarney, King of Kerry, Cashel, Blarney, Tipperary, and the Cliffs of Moher, than out of Shannon. Not a bad compromise, some on your own and some on a tour, best of all, no driving. Regardless what you end up doing, if you stay in Dublin, I highly recommend the Westbury Hotel, the location and amenities can't be beat.

Patrick is right you don't need a tour operator to help - save the money for a few pints - figure out exactly where you want to go and post it here - you will get more help than you need - i have found folks on this net to be great

Thanks to all who took the time to reply!

I appreciate your input and we have now been convinced...we will DRIVE!

So...busy planning the itinerary for y'all to critique.

Another probably stupid question... CIE offers self-drive packages that included car rental and vouchers for B&Bs.

Is this a viable option?
Opinions?

We did a similar self drive thru Atlas Travel that included air, car and vouchers. We found that it worked very well and we found that the vast majority of B&B's accepted the vouchers.

It was also a very economical way to go.

We needed 3 rooms in June and except for the night of the bank holiday on Monday, had no problem getting B&B's.
The full B&B owner called a friend and got us a room. There are so many I would not make reservations in advance.
It won't be hard getting 1 room. We are ladies 60 to 74 and I drove for the first time. Get an automatic and take your time. It's a wonderful country.

Hi yankee texan...it's mkdiebold again. PLEASE don't make the mistake we made in "using an agent and planning ahead our B&B's, including vouchers!" I left Ireland after 2 weeks of traveling there with a sour taste in my mouth, nearly "regretting" the entire experience. But I had only myself to blame! I didn't do enough research!!! I should never have "used an agent" to make ahead reservations, using vouchers. I paid $1200 up front to the agent, and received in return vouchers for specific B&B's. Because the nights were "scheduled" and "paid for" we could make no changes!! DON'T get yourself and your new spouse caught in the "snare of self-doubt." You really can do this on your own! Also, the vouchers didn't really save us any money. I'd opt for flexibility over a set plan. You'll enjoy yourself a whole lot more.

Hi yankee:

Usually the only way that the vouchers work out to be a deal is if they come with a package that includes airfare and you get a great deal. Where Ireland is concerned, that would probably require that you were flying out of one of the Aer Lingus airports (NY, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago or LA) I've always found that you can do better renting the car on your own and staying at individual B&Bs without vouchers if there is no combimed airfare deal. You may find something for November though. You will also have more flexibility without vouchers.

As far as Dublin is concerned, some love it, others don't. If you have a failry serious interest in Irish history, it would be tough to miss Dublin. If your main interest is scenery, missing Dublin would be no big deal.

One thing to consider is that you can fly into Shannon and out of Dublin (or vice versa), usually at no extra cost. Car rental drop offs at different locations are also usually done at no extra cost.

Hope this helps.

Bill

yankee, we did a fly/drive package last year. The rental car was too small and we had to upgrade. (We didn't get what we expected.) The vouchers are not accepted everywhere, so we missed out on a couple of places where we would have liked to stay. I won't use them again just on principal, because the B&B owners do not get back their full price, and it sometimes takes months to get back whatever they do get. All B&Bs take cash, some take credit cards, I just ask in advance what they prefer so I can have the cash ready if that's their choice.

We are preparing for our 4th trip and have never had anything pre-planned or booked for us by a TA, and usually only book our first and last nights ourselves, opting to call once we are there. I got a much better deal on the car for this trip, and am sure of the size. It's so easy to do it all on your own!