I am planning a trip to Ireland in September and am looking around now for the best deal. My boyfriend and I are staying a week. I had planned to use my award miles for one ticket but it seems like we would be better off getting a land/air package (we want to travel solo without a tour). Can anyone recommend a travel agency that has great land/air package deals to Ireland in September? We plan to stay seven days and want to fly into Shannon. We were hoping to pay no more than $700 apiece.

I have not done this, but look into Aer Lingus as well as CIE tours, the unescorted ones.

Start with oconnors.com and brouse the tours by sceptre. There are usually very good deals for two persons traveling RE: fly/drive and September is during the shoulder season and slightly cheaper than summer. Good luck.

Sceptre and Brian Moore International Travel usually offer tours past the summer months around 399.00 - 499.00 pp. This includes air,car, and B&B vouchers. Just be sure and upgrade your car to an automatic. You don't want to drive a manual on the opposite side of those narrow roads.

I can't imagine that you could get a better deal if you have one free ticket already. I have always gotten better prices booking independently. Yes, you have to shop around and wait for airfares to drop, but the deals are usually better for the independent traveler. It depends where you are from though. If you are from one of the Aer Lingus cities Boston, NY, Chicago or LA (and Baltimore I think now), you may get a better package deal. Anywhere else, usually not the case. I did check the price from LA for my sister Aer Lingus once and other aerlines were cheaper once you stated adding in taxes and the like.<BR><BR>Many of the package deals have up charges for things like ensuite bathrooms, fugure you'll get a huge uptick for an automatic transmission, etc. Check out the deals and check internet airline deals too.<BR><BR>By the way, stay for two weeks if you can, you won't regret it. <BR><BR>Whatever you do, have fun!<BR><BR>Bill

I have had good experience with Brennan Tours, doing a B&amp;B package and fly&amp;drive.