Tour vs. On our own - Need opinions!
May 11th, 2006, 09:19 AM
#21
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We just returned last night from 6 days tour-- 6 days on our own. There were pros and cons to both, and we were glad that we did a little of each.
Our tour guide/driver (Brendan More Tours) was excellent, we never would have learned as much history, current issues or anecdotes about the country without him, a definite pro. One of our best meals was with the tour, and our worst meal (overpriced and terrible food) was a night on our own-- so that can go either way as well. Only three evening meals were included, our expectations of that food were low and we were pleasantly surprised. Remember--the US based tour companies want you to rec. them to others, so its in their best interest to search out reputable vendors.
We learned a lot from this site to plan the days on our own, and used the Fodors book and Rick Steeve's book to narrow our choices. Our tour guide suggested an alternative route from Shannon through Connemara, he highly rec. Kylemore Abbey (one of our favortie stops) and gave us accomodation suggestions-- so I guess you could say the tour really complimented the last three days that we did on our own.
Good luck planning
Our tour guide/driver (Brendan More Tours) was excellent, we never would have learned as much history, current issues or anecdotes about the country without him, a definite pro. One of our best meals was with the tour, and our worst meal (overpriced and terrible food) was a night on our own-- so that can go either way as well. Only three evening meals were included, our expectations of that food were low and we were pleasantly surprised. Remember--the US based tour companies want you to rec. them to others, so its in their best interest to search out reputable vendors.
We learned a lot from this site to plan the days on our own, and used the Fodors book and Rick Steeve's book to narrow our choices. Our tour guide suggested an alternative route from Shannon through Connemara, he highly rec. Kylemore Abbey (one of our favortie stops) and gave us accomodation suggestions-- so I guess you could say the tour really complimented the last three days that we did on our own.
Good luck planning
May 11th, 2006, 09:33 AM
#22
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I am not in any way, shape, or form against "organized" tours because they are obviously the perfect way for millions of people to travel or they wouldn't stay in business.
<b>BUT</b> I am very concerned when I see that you are taking a tour entitled "The Best of..." and IMO, and after having taken Trafalgar's "Best of France" tour in the 1980's, my feeling is:
It will <b>not</b> be the best of anything.
It <b>might</b> have you staying in rather outlying hotels
It <b>might</b> have you absolutely fuming after dragging yourself awake at the crack of dawn ("because the bus leaves promptly ay 8:00 AM"
only to be sitting there at 8:45 AM because that dorky-faced husband of the even dorkier-acting wife who always sit up front, "isn't ready yet."
You <b>might</b> be fortunate enough to have a bus driver who actually knows the route and a guide who wasn't pressed into service at the last minute, "because the regular one quit and I usually only do Germany."
All of the above is based on actual experiences. Perhaps Trafalgar has changed their ways...don't bet on it. You can do better on your own even if you DO get lost a couple of times.
<b>BUT</b> I am very concerned when I see that you are taking a tour entitled "The Best of..." and IMO, and after having taken Trafalgar's "Best of France" tour in the 1980's, my feeling is:
It will <b>not</b> be the best of anything.
It <b>might</b> have you staying in rather outlying hotels
It <b>might</b> have you absolutely fuming after dragging yourself awake at the crack of dawn ("because the bus leaves promptly ay 8:00 AM"
only to be sitting there at 8:45 AM because that dorky-faced husband of the even dorkier-acting wife who always sit up front, "isn't ready yet."You <b>might</b> be fortunate enough to have a bus driver who actually knows the route and a guide who wasn't pressed into service at the last minute, "because the regular one quit and I usually only do Germany."
All of the above is based on actual experiences. Perhaps Trafalgar has changed their ways...don't bet on it. You can do better on your own even if you DO get lost a couple of times.
Sep 8th, 2006, 01:16 AM
#23
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ask yourselves what is the key objective you want from the trip:
is it to relax (hopefully your coachmates will be likely minded) or is it because you seek the adventure(felt when lost or surrounded by hoodies on the platform) of exploring a foreign country by yourself ?
is it to relax (hopefully your coachmates will be likely minded) or is it because you seek the adventure(felt when lost or surrounded by hoodies on the platform) of exploring a foreign country by yourself ?
Sep 8th, 2006, 03:39 PM
#24
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I "third" the suggestion to contact Michele Erdvig on www.IrelandYes.com...see her travel talk web-site. It is only for Ireland by the way. I bought her book (as well as an entire shelf of Ireland guidebooks) and ended up liking her book the best. Using her book, her advice from her question and answer forum on her web-site, and also using advice from fodorites, tripadvisor, and other folks on IrelandYes.com, we travelled independently to Ireland and loved it.
Michele can help you short-cut the planning process.
If I was in your situation, I would probably choose just one country to visit since it's easier to plan (you only have to read one guidebook instead of reading 2 guidebooks.)
If you really have to see both countries, perhaps a tour would be best since you don't have much planning time.
Having said that, I would never take a tour...not after having planned and enjoyed the freedom of independent travel. We spend our trips trying to avoid the "tour group" people...they are perfectly nice people, but they are always dumped somewhere "en-mass", and so they have to see everything in a pack...we like to have more peace and freedom...
On the third hand (can I have three hands?) we have friends who hate to drive on vacation. Therefore they always book tours as a family and seem to enjoy them.
If you chose only one country, you could basically "copy" someone else's itinerary from fodors for example!
If you decide to plan your trip independently, I recommend reading a AAA spiral-guide for Ireland (and there's one for Scotland). The reason is, it is the thinnest guidebook I have seen, complete with photos, which is well-researched...so you can get a quick overview! You can buy them from a AAA office or from a bookstore chain in the travel section. They are about half the price of the thicker guidebooks.
Good luck!
Michele can help you short-cut the planning process.
If I was in your situation, I would probably choose just one country to visit since it's easier to plan (you only have to read one guidebook instead of reading 2 guidebooks.)
If you really have to see both countries, perhaps a tour would be best since you don't have much planning time.
Having said that, I would never take a tour...not after having planned and enjoyed the freedom of independent travel. We spend our trips trying to avoid the "tour group" people...they are perfectly nice people, but they are always dumped somewhere "en-mass", and so they have to see everything in a pack...we like to have more peace and freedom...
On the third hand (can I have three hands?) we have friends who hate to drive on vacation. Therefore they always book tours as a family and seem to enjoy them.
If you chose only one country, you could basically "copy" someone else's itinerary from fodors for example!
If you decide to plan your trip independently, I recommend reading a AAA spiral-guide for Ireland (and there's one for Scotland). The reason is, it is the thinnest guidebook I have seen, complete with photos, which is well-researched...so you can get a quick overview! You can buy them from a AAA office or from a bookstore chain in the travel section. They are about half the price of the thicker guidebooks.
Good luck!
Sep 8th, 2006, 04:29 PM
#25
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Go on your own, hire a car and most good B&B's as well as the hotels will have leaflets of what to see or do in there area. You will see more if you go it alone, but you may perhaps choose to do the odd day trip on a tour that way you have the best of both.
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