Planning 25th anniversary
 

Next year will be our 25th anniversary and I'm planning to "surprise" my husband with a trip to Ireland. His ancestry is from an area called Waterford, I believe, and he's always wanted to go there. I'm not sure whether it would be best to do a guided tour, or go on our own. We're 47 and neither of us have travelled a lot. My husband is a musician, so I've thought about doing the musical tour, but after reading some of the comments on your site, I'm not sure that's the right way to go, of if we should do it on our own. The other issue is that if things get a little too complicated, my husband is more likely to say "let's skip it" rather than make a concerted effort to go somewhere he or I may have wanted to go, so my goal is to make this trip as simple as possible. The other question I have is about timing. Our anniversary is in June, so I'd like to go sometime in July to allow for getting passports, etc. arranged. Is that a good time? What's the weather like at that time of year? Is that peak season, meaning higher prices for hotels, etc? Any help at all would be appreciated.

Hi go,

Anniversary in June - arrange for passports for July. I think you are cutting it close.

Here is the link for how to get passports
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get_first.html

Late August early Sept is a lovely time for Ireland.

Yes, July will be top peak season, so most likely higher prices for airfare esp... and busier in most places. The weather would probably be fine, as it doesn't get too hot or really too cold in Ireland. It was only high-60s, low 70s in June most days.

If you don't want to spoil the surprise and go early, then I'd say wait until early September, though late August would work too. We went in June and it was awesome, but most everyone here does say that September is beautiful too.

You might start checking out airfare prices anytime now, or early next year to see what the range is. I bought mine in late March and it was pretty decent for a June trip. So if you don't have a preference, then check airfare and prices to see if it's significantly different. You might catch some good deals planning early.

You'll have to figure out how long you want to go for.... plan the basics and go from there.

On our 2003 trip to Ireland music was our focus since I am a singer in an Irish folk band.

My picks for best traditional music would be Dingle and Doolin .

It sounds like a a trip to Waterford may be something you may want to add.

If you concentrated on those 3 areas you would have a great trip. Along with great music, we felt that this area was very special because of ancient sights and scenic beauty (Cliffs of Moher, Slea Head loop)

It's more romantic on your own!

I would only go on a tour if it concentrated on smaller towns (not typical Dublin, Killarney, Galway, with Waterford thrown in to buy crystal because they get a commission).
Staying within easy walking distance to a variety of pubs would be important. Also there needs to be free time to explore and enjoy towns/pubs.

We enjoyed the show in Cashel at the Bru Boru Centre (not sure if open in September) but wouldn't want too many dinner/show for tourist shows. (we only did show and ate elsewhere). This was fun because after the show there was an informal get together where audience members could perform along with some of the musicians from the show.

Cashel could be a nice stop on way to or from Waterford.

(fly in and out of Shannon), Dingle, Cashel, Waterford, Doolin

of course...depending on the length of your trip, there are many beautiful spots that I would add... such as a stay in Westport to visit the Connemara.

You will love Ireland and your husband will love you all the more for such a great anniversary gift.

(an early "surprise" and spending your anniversary in Ireland might be nice! that way you can plan but get some input on what he would like!)

I agreee that it would be more romatic on your own, but it sounds like you guys would really do much better on a guided tour, where someone else does the driving and handles all the details. Visit the websites for Tauck World Discovery, Brendan Tours, and CIE Tours. All of them do a wonderful job, and you will have the carefree vacation that you are seeking.

Getting back to the passports: Why not apply for those now? Just tell him that passports are good for 10 years and you hope to do some travelling in the next 10 years. Send off for your passports now, and he'll never suspect it has anything to do with the anniversary surprise in June!!

We celebrated our 25th anniversary in Ireland as well! Don't be afraid to do it on your own. It is so much better that way. The pace is your own and the Irish people are so wonderful but they are much more likely to talk to you when you are not crowded by a bunch of loud Americans. :)

I echo the September recommendations and also highly recommend Doolin and Dingle. Haven't been to Waterford but can assure that if you love driving a little to look at mindblowing beautiful scenery and then spending your evenings in a pub, drinking a little beer and listening to music- Ireland is your place!

It's a great surprise, but the passport thing could become an issue. I had a hell of a time getting mine because my name was changed back to the original family name when I was a youngster. I had to produce 32 items that proved I was who I say I am (including high school and college transcripts). Most people won't have such a problem, but I wouldn't risk it. My passport showed up 6 days before we left.

If you have any hopes of finding any geneolgy information, you need to know lots about the family when they were in Ireland, for instance, birth and death dates and the township and parish they were from. Showing up in Ireland and saying you are an O'Brien and would like to meet the relatives will frustrate you and the locals.

Guided vs. on your own: If you think he's going to cancel because it gets too complicated, go with a tour but as previously stated, it won't be particularly romantic and you will be traveling with 20-40 of your "closest" friends. You will never be anywhere alone. The other option is to have most of the plans made through a travel agent. It will probably cost a fair amount more and you'll end up staying in places that enhance their commission. You'll still have a good time though and it may prevent him from saying "let's skip it".

Agree that July is high tourist time so if you can, I would pick a different time, probably Sept since it is after the anniversary. Hotels may be higher priced (in July) though I would pick B&Bs over hotels. If you go through and agency, you will end up with vouchers and many B&Bs that say they take them, won't in the high months because of the loss of income by accepting them.

So, this isn't the most rosy news, but, if he doesn't know that you are planning it, and you have it all laid out by June, chances are, you can provide him with a great surprise, but probably not by July if you don't have passports yet.

Bill