Hi everyone. I was hoping I could get some help from those of you who are more experienced. I've been to Europe myself many times, but this time is a little different.

I am planning a three week trip to Europe with my girlfriend and my mother. My mother is limited on walking long distances, and I want to take her to three countries in Europe to let her and my girlfriend see what Europe is all about.

We are leaving the day after Christmas and will be flying into Ireland, probably Shannon. From there we would spend a week in Ireland. I want to do a lot of the driving myself (to take the strain off my mother instead of walking).

I heard Ireland is fantastic to see by car! So it is a win-win situation. Where do I go and what do I see? Like I said it will be a relaxing trip to hopefully see villages, castles, landscapes, etc.

I was also thinking of traveling around Northern Ireland. Can we all help? How many places should I stay in and where can I drive to?

Hope it isn't too broad.

Win-win? I dunno...

Are you aware of the very short daylight hours during that time of year? And of the chances of inclement weather? Or of the possibly hazardous conditions on the many narrow roads?

Sorry to be a party-poop...

Yes I am aware of all of that. I was in Ireland last year at the same time. Just looking for general advice on what to see when driving in Ireland, if flying into Shannon.

Thanks.

For more responses, re-post with a new title, "what to see when driving in Ireland".

How do you and the ladies feel about hopping on another flight to somewhere warmer? I mean after your Ireland trip, of course.

My sister and I spent Hogmanay (NYE) in Scotland a few years ago and while we hit mostly great weather, we were still grateful to fly down to Spain to escape the piercing cold.

You could easily hop a flight to Italy, where you could take trains between the cities. Just an idea. I haven't been to Ireland yet, but my Irish friends told me under no circumstances to visit before the spring.

Do you want to spend the entire three weeks in Ireland? Because you mention "three countries" so is Ireland only part of a larger itinerary?

Hi.

We will be going to Ireland (flying into Shannon), Scotland (Edinburgh), and Italy (Sicily/Palermo).

Not sure of what order to hit the countries after Ireland is done. We have a free place to stay in Palermo, so we want that to be the bulk of our trip.

I am thinking of going from Ireland to Italy to Scotland... then back to Shannon to fly home.

Have you already purchased the plane tickets? Why not fly home from Italy instead, rather than back tracking all that way.

One way tickets out of Italy to Newark or JFK airports are over $1000.

You don't need one way tickets from Italy to New York. You need open jaw tickets from New York to Ireland and from Italy to New York. I checked December 26 on www.kayak.com and found options starting at $840 from JFK to Shannon, returning from Palermo to JFK three weeks later.