Does anyone have experience with self drive tours and B&B's? Do you recommend an agency or total do-it yourself? I'm Planning my first trip to Ireland for 7 days to start March 30. Is April 4 a bank holiday? A number of places are closed April 4. Any help is appreciated. b

Bax,

April 4 is a Wednesday. It may just be that some of the attractions aren't opened for the season, as of that date. That is the week leading up to EAster weekend, so the larger cities may be a bit more crowded & lodging choices slim.

You can usually do fairly well building your own itinerary, utilizing travel help sites Irelandyes.com & irelandexpert.com for assistance. I have found that the agencies are usually higher than what I can get on my own.Aer Lingus still has fairly decent airfares through the end of this month. If you purchase the book offered on Irelandyes.com, you will have an excellent reference book.

I would recommend flying in and out of Shannon, as it is the easiest airport to Navigate. However, You might also want to fly into one and out the other.

With only 7 days, you will have the tendency to want to see and do everything. The key to enjoying yourself is to relax & slow down. A minimum stay in a certain area of two days is preferrable. You will make other trips back. It is inevitable.

Feel free to email me with any questions you might have.

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit Devine
www.cowboycraic.com

Another vote for building your own unless you get a great deal. Be sure to do the math. Remember that you are paying per person which is standard for the room, but not for the car. A lot of sites are clsed at that time of year, many open after Easter.

Bill

By self drive, and agency - do you mean B&B vouchers included w/ a rental car?

If so, there really is no advantage to the vouchers -- unless you just want everything paid in full before you travel.

The vouchers don't guarantee you a room, and really don't save any money. They only mean the IF a B&B has a room available, and IF they take the vouchers - then your room is paid for.

But if you like the B&B - you can stay there w/ or w/o vouchers.

One problem is that many properties do not accept voucher than do . . . .

I would just get the best car rental rate I could and then book my B&Bs separately.

oops - that should say "One problem is that more properties do not accept voucher than do"

The first two times I went to the UK and Ireland, I did fly-and-drive-B&B-voucher packages. The first was with British Airways, the second was Brennan. Both were fine, had no problems getting rooms, but I do my own now. It's ok for folks a little nervous about setting up the reservations and such first time, but once you've been, you learn the ropes and it is much more fun searching for the perfect place