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traveling with mom...ring of kerry?

My roommate and I are taking our mothers to Ireland. Although we have been to the country three times, we have avoided the ring of Kerry because of the tourist trap nightmares we have heard. However, this will be our mothers' first trip to Ireland, so we are thinking of sucking it up and doing the Ring. Is this a wise choice? If we go, should we abandon the car for the day and take a tour bus? Where to stay? p.s. We are already planning several nights in Dingle. (That was a no-brainer.) We are pretty much sticking to the west coast this time around.

does anyone know of a particular bus company that has terrific guides for the ring of kerry, do buses leave from killarney, kenmare, both? please advise. thanks!

Depending on the time of year you go , it really isn't that bad. ( And they become tourist 'traps' because it is something everyone wants to see. Go ahead do the Ring. I personally am glad I did it by tour bus, instead of driving it. It gave me - the driver - a chance to see the scenery, and avoid those winding roads with little or no barrier to the sea. Also our bus driver was wonderful. Full of information and stories, and he played some hillarious Hal Roach Comedy tapes. Can't wait to take my Dad this time. We used Corcoran Tours. They picked us up at our B&B ( Crystal Springs/Killarney). They have a web site. Another company with a pretty good rep. is Deros Tours out of Killarney.

The Ring of Kerry is beautiful and depending on the time of year, it can be very crowded or not crowded at all. If you are there during very high season, take a bus. Otherwise it can be quite nice in the car. There are some backroads that people don't take that can be nice. Remember the best way to see Ireland is not from a car or a bus, but on your feet. Get out and walk around a bit. One other thing. There is a LOT more to Ireland the the SW despite what Rick Steves says. There is a whole section of Ireland north of the Connemara that people tend to ignore including some beautiful lake areas in Fermanagh. Why does everyone go to the SW? Because many years ago Killarney made a conscious decision to become a tourist mecca and it stuck. Yeah, you can see a whole lot of cool stuff around Dingle, Killarney and the Cliffs of Moher, but you can see a whole lot of cool stuff around Sligo, Killeybegs and Letterkenney (to name a small few). Regardless, have a great time. Bill

Thanks for the responses. We are still torn between checking out the less touristed Beara Peninsula or doing the Ring. I guess there are worse decisions one might have to make....

At the far end of the Ring of Kerry is the Skellig RIng. It is on smaller roads and so the tour buses are prohibited. I liked that part the best. I did not find the dirving to be difficult at all. I think I went counter-clockwise around the ring which is waht the tour buses did, so I didn't meet any of them in oncoming traffic.

Hi Bill. You wanted to know why people always pick the SW when they go to Ireland. We are going to Ireland for the first time. And yes, we are going to the SW for several reasons. When visiting a country for the first time, I think people are cautious. Most of the information that is out there is about the main tourist areas, the SW being a biggy. In an unfamiliar place, I know we tend to become familiar with a place first by the information we process. And there is a LOT of information about this area of Ireland. And no one ever said it isn't beautiful, no matter how crowded it gets. But never fear. We always intended not to make this our only trip. And we definitely intend to explore more of the North on the next trip. This will be mostly to your credit and a couple of others who say North of the Connemara is so beautiful and unspoiled.

Lisa, Discard those thought about "Tourist trap nightmares" and get out and marvel at the beauty of the Ring of Kerry. It's true, there are potential drawbacks to driving the "Ring," two of which include (assuming you'll be traveling during "high" season) the seemingly endless clog of tour buses, and, perhaps more importantly, the notoriously fickle Irish weather. The Ring of Kerry drive can be a downer if the weather isn't on your side. Still, the potential pleasures outweigh these drawbacks. The "Ring" is undeniably beautiful, and if you make an effort to get an early start on the day - one that has you on the road while the tour bus riders are still eating breakfast - you'll avoid much of congestion factor. What's more, don't feel compelled to "do" the Ring of Kerry in a single day. This is a common mistake. Make plans for an overnight on the "Ring." There are numerous fine accommodations, including: Iskeroon: This is an utterly charming B & B located near Caherdaniel (not far from the former home of "The Great Liberator," Daniel O' Connell). Its been described as "drop-dead gorgeous" by the Bridgestone Guide to Ireland, (I concur with that!)and it's a perfect base for a day-trip to the must-see Skellig Islands. Check out: www.iskeroon.com Caragh Lodge: This is a more upmarket accommodation, located off the "Ring," in Killorglin. Caragh is a 100-year-old Victorian hunting lodge, and it's just lovely. See www.caraghlodge.com If you're not keen on driving the "Ring," you might consider hopping on a tour bus. But do note this is not without its drawbacks, as you'll be unable to make those spur-of-the-moment stops along the way, stops that make traveling around Ireland such a treat. Finally, I appreciated Bill's criticism of Rick Steves. It is frustrating to see this popular travel writer in his 2002 Ireland guide all but neglect the glories of Ireland's northwest (including the entire county of Donegal). There is indeed much more to Ireland than its southwest, although it can't be denied that this region's access to Shannon does make it more convenient than Counties Sligo and Donegal. What's more, while areas like the West Donegal coastline, the Inishowen Peninsula, Benbulben and Yeats' Country in Sligo, to name but a few, are very appealing and most worthy of exploration, it should be said that fine accommodations and restaurants are not nearly as extensive as in the southwest (this is more true in Donegal than in County Sligo). In addition, Fermanagh - for my money one of the loveliest and least touristy places on the island - suffers, no doubt, from the "Troubles" factor. While I've always found it safe and welcoming, it wasn't that many years ago (a bomb in the late 80s, I believe) that Enniskillen suffered a terrible tragedy. So do consider the northwest on a future trip, although I must admit the selfish side of me can't help but think, "Don't tell to many people about it, as this is just one reason the northwest is so distinctive." Best of luck. While the prospect of passing the driving duties

Hello, David..You mentioned Skellig Michael Boat trips...May I ask you what tour operator you used? I posted a question regarding this, a few days ago, but didn't get any specific info...Would really appreciate any feedback...Thanks...Helen

Helen, My trip to the Skelligs was a few years back, and I'm afraid that I don't recall the operator that took us to the islands. However, I do recall the boat was quite modest and that seasickness meds were a pre-requisite. Still, it got us there safe and sound. More importantly, the folks at the B & B Iskeroon (noted above) gave us the names of several operators, and we were able to depart for the Skelligs a short walk from the accommodation. That was most convenient. What follows are the names of some operators, but I'm afraid that I can't offer you any insights into which one is preferable. Still, I trust this will help. In Ballinskelligs, contact Joe Roddy at 066/947 4268. In In Knightstown, Portmagee, and Reenard Point, contact Sean Murphy at 066/947 6214. Please note that a trip to the Skelligs truly requires fair weather. Be sure to get a weather forecast before heading out, although I'm sure the operator will inform you of conditions. In addition, bring your own food and drink. There are no amenities on the island, not even a rest room! Ferries operate between May and September. Plus, it helps to be in relatively good shape, as there's some rather strenuous climbing involved. Needless to say, bring practical footwear, warm clothing, and a slicker. If this all sounds off-putting, you also need to consider what a marvelous and thought-provoking trip this is. Bring some binoculars, plenty of film, and get ready to experience what The Rough Guide to Ireland calls "an awesome sanctuary of devotion." Best of luck.

Hi, I did the Ring with my mother several years ago. She loved it! I did drive, so had to pull over to be able to see the sights. We took our time and stopped for lunch in a small town along the way. However, it was March and the tourist traffic was very light. Sandy

Thanks David...I think this will be the highlight of our trip to Ireland...We are a little used to choppy waters, as we boat here in the Puget Sound and Canadian waters...Am praying for good weather...Thanks again for your reply, I respect your opinions...Helen