Tours of Ireland
 

Looking into going to Ireland in August. Any recommedations of tour companies to research?

Here are a couple of the big tour companies. For a full list see the Irish tourist Baord site (www.ireland.travel.ie) or www.Shamrock.org (request their info packet)<BR><BR>Brendan Tours<BR>Brian Moore International<BR>CIE Tours<BR>Sceptre Tours

Hi:<BR>Did CIE's Irish &amp; British Voyager in Oct '99.<BR>Thoygh not a big fan of tours, took it it get "the taste"<BR>CIE's accomdations were first rate.<BR>The drivers and tour guides were great and we had a great time!<BR>www.cietours.com<BR>1-800-CIE-TOURS

We took the "Grand Tour of Ireland" with Brendan Tours in 1996. Tour guide, driver, motorcoach, and all accomodations were wonderful. It's the only time I've traveled on a tour, and I didn't expect to like it -- but I did. I agree it's a good way to get a "taste." Next month I go back to spend more time in a few places :)

mary: <BR>have traveled with brian moore once and <BR>have two trips planned with them this <BR>year. may switch to brendan next year <BR>the only reason being they go to north. <BR>island and bmi does not. i loved every <BR>minute of the tour. driver was the very <BR>best. very knowledgeable and willing to <BR>let us see things other that what was on <BR>the tour. prices reasonable, accomadations wonderful. they have <BR>different levels of these from farmhouses to castle and some tours <BR>combine all three. you cannot go wrong <BR>with them. enjoy!

Unless you have a compelling reason for going on a tour (traveling alone, etc.), Ireland is a country that is very easy to navigate on your own. There are countless guidebooks out there, and plenty of people willing to share their experiences. From what I've scene, taking a tour to Ireland increased the total a typical person would spend on a trip by roughly 100%.

We took an escorted tour of Ireland in 1999 with Celtic Tours. It included the optionals (I wish all companies did this.) in the tour cost, but it wasn't an expensive tour. <BR> Mick Tracey was our guide/driver, and he was wonderful--witty, knowledgeable, kind, thoughtful, and accomodating. He showed us a lot more of Ireland than was listed in the brochure. I wrote a letter to the tour company applauding him. My husband gave him a 13 on a scale of 1 to 10.