Ireland September 2012
 

My family is going to Ireland with an incentive travel group in September. There will be 6 to 8 adults in our party and the group is staying at the Shelbourne in Dublin for the entire trip. Unfortunately, we arrive on Mon., 9/10, and leave on Sat., 9/15. They have suggested 1/2 and full day tours (none of which sound very exciting). I've been to Ireland twice, both times with a rental car and the entire island as my universe. My own family had a private guide during our first trip (in 1971!) and she stayed with us in B & B's for our whole 2 weeks. It was amazing! Any suggestions as to private tours, private guides, quick trips or whatever? I love Dublin, but to me it only warrants a day if you only have 5. What should I suggest??? If I can talk my husband into staying for longer, does anyone know of a way to get 2 cheap tickets back from Ireland?

It might help to know what 1/2 day and full-day trips you have already nixed as not sounding "very exciting" so we don't waste our time recommending those to you.

Nevertheless, if I were in your situation, I would take the train to Belfast for a day trip. Even better would be forking out the money for an overnight stay and including a side-trip to the Antrim Coast and the Giant's Causeway. (You could do this either on your own with a one-day rental car or with an organized tour.) We stayed in the excellent and well-located Avenue House B&B and you can get a double room there for only 70 pounds.

You say Dublin only warrants a Day But you are staying the whole 5 days of your trip in one of the cities Hotels. presumably a Marriott reward points stay?

Would it not be more rewarding to use the money a private tour bus and guide would cost to spend 2 of the 5 nights somewhere you would rather be?

To Tony: my guess is that "travel incentive group" means someone "won" the trip via work; some sort of reward trip. Which often means you get to go someplace terrific but often not when and how you would go to that same place, so you have to work around it. From what I've read, Giant's Causeway is doable as a day trip and if kck hasn't been there, that would be a great diversion, especially for someone who's already seen so much of Ireland.

I would swallow the cost of travelling elsewhere, like Belfast/Antrim Coast for a couple days, or Donegal, and enjoy it. B&Bs aren't super expensive, and a night or two would be wonderful to explore with! There are guided tours from Dublin for that, as well, if you prefer not to drive.

yep go North young man