My soon-to-be husband and I are honeymooning in Ireland in March 2002. We are interested in doing the Brian Moore Tours 8 day self drive tour of bed & breakfasts. Has anyone used this company? What was your experience--both good & bad? <BR> <BR>Also, where is the best place to be for a St. Pat's celebration? And what else are must sees? Thanks for your help and opinions.

I've seen other people talk about these self-drive tours of Ireland, and am curious. If you're driving yourself and staying in B&B's, why do you need a tour company? <BR> <BR>Not intended as criticism, I really just don't understand.

To Dave: <BR> <BR>We figured it would be easier and cheaper and we'd be safer going thru a tour company. They have a route planned out for you and you just follow it. Make sense?

Brian Moore is one of the well known tour companies to Ireland and I have heard only good things about them. Obviously Dublin is where all the big St. Patrick's Day event are held but other cities have their own celebrations (ie Cork etc). You will have a hard time using your vouchers in the Dublin area so book early so you can get a place near bus/train lines if you decide to go there within a few days of the 17th. For must sees, read the tread the BEST OF THE BEST OF IRELAND that was recently topped.

Oh, Dave, <BR> <BR>The reason people use the self drive packages is that they sometimes can be cheaper when you combine air/car/vouchers together and also it is a matter of convience.

Effie <BR> <BR>I would suggest that you investigate the cost of doing the tour on your tour instead of paying a tour company to give you a route, the Irish Tourist Board has a lot of free material and I think that you may find it most interesting to plan it yourself and allow for stays at some wonderful sites that may not be on the tour packages. There are some wonderful houses and anicent castles included in the Hidden Ireland series - see www.hidden-ireland.com which are great fopr hooneymooners, see also the Tourist Board web site at www.ireland.travel.ie. Apart from Dublin and Galway (if you plan on going there) you should have no problem finding places to stay in March - for these cities reserve in advance. <BR> <BR>Most car hire companies include a cell phone with the rental car - and it is a great way of contacting B&Bs etc ahead to reserve a room. You will not need a car in Dublin city, and if you are planning to tour the South West and South then either land or depart from Shannon and reduce the driving you will need to do. allow twice the amount of time to drive half the distance you would normally allow. <BR> <BR>There is absolutely no need to get the vouchers as in some cases it is cheaper without them. Check out some of the following web sites for help and have a great time, <BR> <BR>Useful Web Sites for Ireland holidays - Ireland and its regions <BR>www.ireland.travel.ie <BR>Ireland West : www.westireland.travel.ie <BR>www.connemarra-tourism.org/ <BR>www.connemara-tourism.org/index.html <BR>www.connemara.net/ <BR>East Coast/Midlands : www.midlandseastireland.travel.ie <BR>Cork - Kerry : www.cork-kerry.travel.ie <BR>www.dingle-peninsula.ie/ <BR>Ireland South East : www.southeastireland.travel.ie <BR>Ireland North West : www.northwestireland.travel.ie <BR>Dublin : www.visitdublin.com <BR>The Shannon Region : www.shannonireland.travel.ie <BR> <BR>General Information on getting around and accessing main sites <BR>www.ireland.com <BR>www.heritageireland.com - Great information on heritage cards which allow access to most sites. <BR> www.cie.ie – CIE is the umbrella company for public transport and has links to the bus and rail schedules and Dublin Bus schedules. CIE tours also has specialized section on tours to main attractions <BR>www.aircoach.ie – This is a non-stop bus link to and from the airport to the major hotels. <BR>www.ryanair.ie – No frills cheap airline has fares as low as 9 Irish pounds to airports in the UK & Europe. <BR>www.tourismresources.ie <BR> <BR>Accommodation & Restaurants <BR>www.ireland.travel.ie <BR>www.townandcountry.ie <BR>www.irishfarmholidays.com <BR>www.hidden-ireland.com, <BR>www.jurys.com <BR>www.templehouse.ie (Sligo – NorthWest) <BR>www.beourguest.ie <BR>www.family-homes.ie <BR>www.dublinn.com (Kilronan House) <BR>www.castlesireland.com/ <BR>www.gsh.ie <BR>www.irelands-blue-book.ie/ <BR>www.ballymaloe.com (In Cork – the southern region – it has an excellent restaurant) <BR>www.irishcountryhousesandcastles.com <BR> <BR>Passage Graves/Ancient Tombs <BR>www.loughcrew.com, <BR>www.meathtourism.ie <BR>Driving in Ireland <BR>www.roadwatch.ie <BR>Walking Tours <BR>http://www.irishwaymarkedways.ie <BR>Conferences <BR>http://www.conference-ireland.ie or http://www.incentive-ireland.ie <BR>English Tours <BR>http://www.languagelearning.travel.ie <BR>Golf <BR>http://www.golf.travel.ie <BR>Fishing <BR>http://www.cfb.ie <BR> <BR>Hope this helps, <BR> <BR> <BR>Cathy

Effie: I planned my own tour of Ireland because I wanted to see specific things. It was pretty easy. I drew a grid of big squares on a sheet of paper, leaving plenty of room to write in each square. Then I made copies of that sheet. Each square was a different day. In each square at the top I put the date and under that where I wanted to spend the night. Then I started filling them in with sightseeing. <BR> <BR>I have to admit I filled in dozens of sheets before I got a plan that was workable. But if you have the time you can work out a trip to suit yourself and not have to follow a pre-made generic tour. But maybe with planning the wedding you don't have enough time? <BR> <BR>Cathy: That is a great list! <BR> <BR>Jamie G. <BR> <BR>

Cathy--thank you so much--that is a wonderful list. We are going to try to plan our own driving tour and use the tour companies as a last resort.

Cathy-yes, awesome list! <BR> <BR>Effie-congratulations on your future marriage and you have picked a beautiful country to honeymoon in! I am about to leave for my 6th trip to Ireland and we always do our own trip-no need to use a tour company. Get a good book on Ireland and see what type of things interest you-coastal areas, castles, hiking, biking, shopping, kissing the blarney stone, heritage sites, Irish music, whatever. Then, you can begin to put it all together. <BR>Just remember it takes about 2 hours to drive 60 miles in Ireland (or at least it CAN take that amount of time.) <BR>Check out www.irelandexpert.com-Pat Preston can critique your itinerary for you and its a good general web site. <BR>(I do not work for her, etc.) The B&B's in Ireland are plentiful but Dublin will start filling up during St. Patrick's Day time frame. <BR>Hope this helps. I hope to do a trip report when I get back in July and that could help too. <BR>Feel free to keep asking questions-that is how we all learn! <BR>Patti

Patti: I agree that it takes lots of time to drive around Ireland but even so we put almost 2,000 miles on the car in just 2 weeks. I used online route planners as well as asking advice from some of the online experts in the field. I used www.irelandexpert.com for the forum and travel guide, www.karenbrown.com for descriptions of B&Bs and www.irelandyes.com for tips, weather and fourm. Are you sure you don't work for Pat? (Just kidding). I've been accused of BEING Michele because I liked her book. Well I'm flattered--but I want the perks!! <BR> <BR>Some other sites I personally enjoyed (don't mean to step on Cathy's toes): <BR> <BR>www.ireland.com (Irish Times) <BR>www.rte.ie (Irish TV & Radio) <BR>www.rossespoint.com (Rosses' Point Sligo) <BR>www.dingle-peninsula.ie (Dingle) <BR>www.galway.net (Galway) <BR>www.islandireland.com (General Info) <BR> <BR>Patti, how I envy your six trips to Ireland. I'd love to go back tomorrow. I hope your trip is absolutely fantastic and you have more tips to share with us novices afterward. <BR> <BR>Effie, I know you will have a marvelous honeymoon because Ireland is one of the best vacations I ever took! Jamie G. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Here are some of my favorites on top of the ones already listed <BR> <BR>http://goireland.about.com/travel/goireland/mbody.htm --- great articles on Ireland, forum (travel and many other Irish Issues), and Links <BR> <BR>http://www.virtualtourist.com/Europe/Ireland/?s=t --- many peoples sites about Ireland, travelogues etc. <BR> <BR>http://www.i1.net/~theshaws/page3.htm --- one of the best collection of link on Ireland <BR>

Effie, I used Brian Moore Self drive on my first trip to Ireland. It was great. Much cheaper than getting your own air fare and car. I now use Spectretours.com for the same at a lower cost. For a March vacation the price is $499.00 per person for 6 nights. <BR>Same Aer Lingus, same car Company and of course the same B&B vouchers for the same locations. <BR>Tis a beautiful place for a honeymoon. Have fun

Effie, I just tried the web site for Sceptre Tours and could not access it. If you are interested in their package their numnber is 800-221-0924 <BR>No, I don't work for them. I just think they have the best prices out there.

The www.sceptretours.com site it up (just a spelling problem above which we all have)

Air Fare to Ireland from Boston is always about $500. How can these tour companies charge $499 with car and B&B's?????