I am wanting some advice about planning my trip to Ireland. Which would be the best way to go for planning? Should I go through a tour company, a travel agent, or do my own planning? I know all have their benefits, but I don't know which one would suit me best or be the cheapest.

For a little more info I am planning on going by myself and doing a fly/drive tour throughout Ireland. I am currently looking at either 7 days or 10 days. Please let me know what you all think. Thanks for all the help!

Amber

I'll say up front that I haven't went with a tour package, either guided or independant. Hopefully someone who uses those services will chime in with their perspective for a counter-point.

I'm like quite a lot of others here who actually enjoy the planning stuff almost as much as the trip, so I'd be hesitant to give that up to a tour company. But, that aside, I think one of the major positives of self planning is the ability to target your precious vacation time to those places and activities that you would like most.

Also, I would prefer to choose where I was to economize and where I wanted to splurge, in both time and budget, on both meals and accomodations. A fly/drive could be a decent compromise, as you mentioned, but I'd run the numbers both ways to see if you're getting the deal you think you are. With a fly/drive, I'm not sure if you're saving any planning other than having to pick a flight and a car rental company. So, then the price difference becomes the deciding factor.

That is true. I am just unsure of which way to go. Thanks for your input. I still have a while before I go, so I can do some more looking around before I decide. Thanks again

I just went to Ireland 2 months ago on a self-drive package booked through Sceptre Tours. It's a great deal and includes airfare, rental car and vouchers for B&B's for each night. You can choose from B&B's around the country (there are TONS) and are free to set up your itinerary to drive wherever you'd like. We had a great time and could stop to admire the scenery whenever we wanted while the tour buses only stopped at certain locations. I always prefer the flexibility of travelling my own way, but I have to admit that I've never travelled alone. In your shoes, I might be more willing to consider a tour group. I guess it comes down to how comfortable you are travelling alone, how much you want to spend (tour groups cost more obviously) and if you want to spend time planning or leave it to someone else. Here are 2 options in any case:

www.sceptretours.com
www.cie.ie

Barb

We took Sceptre Tours on our first trip to Ireland. The price was right, but the flight was a charter, and it was cramped and packed, and the vouchers for the B&B were not good at all B&B's. We stayed at a couple of farmhouse B&B and found out in the morning after breakfast that did not take the vouchers. Ouch!!

Check out booking for yourself and using an agent/tour company, and do the math.

You've never been there before and you are travelling 'solo;' that could make your Ireand trip very expensive (Been there! Done that!). Most Hotel and B&B rates are structured on a PPS (per person, sharing) and sometimes the 'single supplement' is outrageous.

I am used to it but I'm a 'senior' male and that seems to be more acceptable in B&B's than a single female unless, of course, you are in Lisdoonvarna or nearby during the annual matchmaking festival; and even then it is expected that you be accompanied by some sort of chaperone.

Maybe you should look into a 'group tour' to Ireland (assuming you can find a group with which you would feel compatible). Travel Agencies can usually find info about group tours and many such tours are always looking for more people. Of course group tours will also require that you pay a single supplement.

I am leaving for Ireland on May 19th, staying at three B&B's and paying an average of 33 Euro per night (single occupancy). I've visited the places where I'll be staying before.

I've heard some good things about 'backpacker' tour buses that go from Dublin and do 6 or 8-day loops around the south and west of Ireland - tour guide and hostals included - but you want to go the 'rental car' route. I think the tour bus company is Paddy Wagon or something like that. You can do a keyword search on Google.com for more details.

Tghere is nothing unusual about a woman travelling alone these days and you will not be treated any different if anything they will probably be more helpful. The paddy wagon rour from dublin is a 3 or 7 day tour that takes different routes. I see the bus on my way to work and there is a mixed crown on it but its a more economy tour i.e Hostels etc. Tours you end up stuck with people and foreced to an itinerary which if you want the highlights could be good but taking the fly/drive you have far more options and control of your trip. Look up www.paddywagontours.com and see if its for you. Good luck

Maybe I misunderstood what NEDSIRELAND meant in his post, but I really don't think that single females in Ireland are expected to be accompanied by chaperones in any situation.

the irelandyes website is having a sale on itenaries. Another option?

No, MaryZ, you didn't misunderstand my earlier post. I have read 'Whoredom in Kimmage' by RoseMary Mahoney: treatise on the liberation of the Irish female; but in the Irish countryside, away from large cities like Dublin, the Irish continue to be a very Puritanical people. Ms. Mahoney brings that across in her stories about rural Ireland.

In my earlier post, I was referring specifically to the Sep-Oct Matchmaking festival in Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna (County Clare) & to active participants in those annual rituals. I could see one of the ladies I met on the way to Ennistymon entering John Daly's 'MatchMaker's Pub' unescorted. She was the 'chaperone,' or girlfriend, whatever you want to call her.

Nedsireland - I read whoredom in Kimmage many years ago just before I moved permanently here and she got it all wrong! The girl who wrote the book it seems to me hung out with all the nutters in Ireland. I am upset to think that people see it and feel this is accurate for all of Ireland. The Legion of Mary meeting she went to I have never heard of before or since in Dublin. It's a very old Fashioned thing and dying out with its members I know it still exists but it is not a part of Modern Irish Life.

We are far from puritanical in the countryside here and modern life has invaded all parts of the country except for maybe a few batchellors hiding in a shed in Donegal or (fill in the blank with any remote area in Ireland)) etc!

I never cease to amazed at how nonchallantly people accept things even in rural areas. My friends favourite hostel is on Achill Island run by a gay African man. He is a part of the place and the island. No one bats an eye so why would a girl travelling alone be any different unless you went to some back wood place and there would not be any sites of interest anyway.

aaentrekin - if you are more comfortable with people around stay in the larger townsand venture off on day trips and or take day tours at certain points and then do your own thing.

As for the chaperone thing it may be a part of the introduction at Lissdoonvarna through a matchmaker to break the ice but all kinds of people go. Some older folks to meet a signifigant other and some one ones to go drinking and have a bit of fun in the pubs and discos. You can gofor a pint you just may feel a bit awkward as you would in the states if it bothers you to go to a pub alone...no chaperone required!

Overall sceptre sounds like it may be good for you. ALWAYS ask a B&B if they accept vouchers and show shat type you have as there are different schemes from what I am told. They cannot take vouchers and cash them in if they are not involved with the group sponsoring them. Have a great trip you will love it!

Women travel alone in Ireland all of the time. I'm surprised to hear anything to the contrary.

For some reason, I found myself looking at the backpacker tour web page once. Their tours cover ground way too fast. I think they had one the looped the entire country in six days.

I you live near an Aer Lingus hub, you may be able to get a better deal with scepter or CIE. Otherwise, doing your own planning tends to be cheaper and I totally agree with Clfton, it's a part of the fun and adventure of it.

Bill

I plan all my trips myself ( 1 to England & 2 to Ireland so far) and have had no problems.

Since you are planning on doing a self-drive anyway, I would do a lot of research. A lot of the packaged self-drives involve vouchers. Unfortunately, many of the B&B's don't take them, or you can only book 1 night ahead.

You also need to decide how much are you planning to do spontaneously. By this I mean - do you want all /most of your reservations made before you leave, or do you just want to stop somewhere and find a B&B? (again with vouchers, you may need to do some planning)

WHEN you are going makes a difference too - if it is in the heart of the high season, driving by yourself could be kind of tricky - there is much more traffic then. Also , in high season - a lot of the preferred (but not necessarily more costly) B&Bs are booked up fast.
If you are going in the shoulder season, you may be able to wing it better.

Do a search on CRAZY MINA - she did a solo self drive trip recently. You may get some ideas from her diary.

Budman: Sceptre may have changed its airline, because it now uses Aer Lingus, which is what we flew on. Also, I had absolutely no problems whatsoever with using vouchers, nor was i treated differently or anything like that. As someone else mentioned, it's best to ask up front if they take them.

Also, doing the math worked out in my case, because I only spent $399 for the package during low season. I doubt I could have done much better on my own. Of course, high season is different and the package price doubles i think.

Just to reiterate, there is no problem with women traveling by themselves in Ireland, in cities or the country. I've done it myself, and never thought twice about it, and know others who do it on a regular basis.

Ned, I have to say, I thought you were kidding in your posts.