I went to Ireland with my mom and dad, and thoroughly enjoyed the Rick Steve's tour. That makes it difficult to pick only one wow moment. Never a bad meal or hotel. Nice variety and lots of built-in options. The right blend of activities and free time. Joe Biden welcomed Leo Varadkar to the White House for St. Patrick's Day on Friday as the Irish leader vowed to roll out . Very comfortable. A second night in Kilkenny would have been nice. Okay, if I must pick one, it was the Slea Head Drive day. Our guides and driver, Stephen, took excellent care of us and taught us so much about the history and culture of this beautiful island. Thanks so much. Seeing David Geaney dance was definitely a highlight.". Ireland is so special and this was my 4th RS tour and probably my favorite. The whole tour experience was wonderful. "There were many "wow" moments from the tour - One that was truly memorable was meeting Seamus and Ogie, the two Irish Wolfhounds in Dingle. Would be glad to travel again with this group. I was happy with all of the hotel choices; Clonmara B&B in Dingle was exceptional. Well organized and informative. busy but not insane. Bus: 5 hours. I felt so immersed in this beautiful country that I did not want to come home. Our tour group was meant to happen we left with so many friends and further connections. Add farm traffic, kamikaze sheep, other tourists stopping on the road for photos, bends, potholes here and there after the winter snow. The people were nice and the guide was good and really knew his country, "There was no wow moment but the Dingle peninsula and the Cliffs of Moher were very scenic". It will always - in my mind's eye - be Ireland to me!!!". The places we visited were really the highlights of Ireland and represented areas of the countryside, the coast, towns, and cities. This was my first Rick Steves trip but won't be my last. ", "Understanding the the regions history from prehistoric times to present.". An excellent experience, I only wish it could have lasted longer! South to Reykjavk: Snaefellsnes Peninsula & West Highlights. Loved Dingle!". The Heart of Ireland tour was a great experience. When something didnt work out due to weather, she made sure she added another activity to add to our experience. Our tour guide, Pascal, was knowledgable, kind and attentive to us. Joe Darcy was an excellent tour guide and we really enjoyed the tour up until several of us came down with Covid. Another top-notch Rick Steves tour! Lots seen and accomplished in a short period of time. "It would have been our time spent in Dingle - what a beautiful place! If I could change anything I would have liked to spend more time in Dublin and remove the day trip to Bru Na Boinne and Glasnevin. 2 Ireland itinerary days 1 & 2: Dublin. The tour was full of smart, kind people eager to talk to new people and share their experiences. "Experiencing Slea Head Drive took my breath away!! Tour Questions? Additionally, there are great hiking trails along two different lakes and several spots to stop and admire nature. But my favorite was not a single specific thing--it was all of the Irish countryside. Good balance of planned itinerary and free time. "I especially like the experience in Dingle. We truly enjoyed visiting all the places on our tour. Northern & Southern Ireland. ", Just the right pace for an introduction to Ireland. "The Dingle Peninsula bus tour was fabulous. The scenery was stunning and we had beautiful weather that day. His pride and love for his country really showed, which made for an outstanding experience. We also found it to be a very beautiful country. Most of the food was really good. He was friendly, funny, informative, fun, knew his country, gave great recommendations, sang for us, went out of his way to make sure everyone was having a great time. Never did a tour before but think theres no going back to planning on our own. It was everything wed hoped for and more. "The scenic drive around the Dingle Peninsula. "2 nights on the Dingle peninsula. Everything was well organized and went smoothly. This was one of the best trips I had, if not the best. This morning we'll tour Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum, the final resting place of more than one million Dubliners, including many of Ireland's national heroes and heroines. We'll visit the iconic Round Tower, ruined churches, and the lakes that give Glendalough its name. We had a wonderful time! Excellent tour. All of the tours and destinations were amazing. The day was clear enough for us to have some great views but the wind was howling.". The Heart of Ireland in 8 Days Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our two-week Best of Ireland tour starts in Ennis (just down the road from Shannon Airport) and ends in Dublin. The "40 shades of green". Good value; good mix of time with activities included and then time on our own. It was my first trip to Ireland (my husband had been before), and I believe I got a great introduction to this beautiful country. They were mesmerizing. I've previously posted and wasn't sure whether or not I'd have a car, but I have confirmed that I am renting a car from Hertz in Shannon. There were great choices in restaurants and hotels. This change was narrower than the S&P 500's 1.1% loss on the day. 1. Also many of us on the tour had ancestors who emigrated. The Heart of Ireland in 8 Days Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our two-week Best of Ireland tour starts in Ennis (just down the road from Shannon Airport) and ends in Dublin. Tours of Ireland. Also meeting Billy Keene was just a fun extra!!!". Day 1: Dublin to Kenmare ## Madness, unless you plan NOT to get out of the car or even stop.Have a look at the timings on the aaroadwatch.ie site and then add on 1/3. The rock art is absolutely amazing, especially considering the artists had nothing but stone to work with. ", Well organized, great things to see, great guides, nice travelers, Dara and the driver George worked well as a team and very helpful, "All experiences and hotel accommodations were wow", The experience was well planned and I enjoyed the guides information. I enjoyed learning about the culture and history of Ireland. The patchwork pastures and the sheep. I made it to Ireland but my suitcase did not. ", It was a great tour. Our guide Kelli was informative and fun as were all our local guides at various stops. The bus rides between stops were entertaining with our Irish guides offering their unique witty perspectives on their homeland. Our Ireland tour was everything I hoped it would be. It was great to be touring with a small-ish group. The people were super friendly and the food excellent. Learned so much about Ireland, "How organized the tour was. "Visiting the Long Room library as part of our Book of Kells tour at Trinity University in Dublin.". loved the tour! Stephen and Gary our guides were knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining. I realize I did not have to participate but I could have missed the bus to the next location. Tour was comprehensive and very entertaining. Folks got along w/o conflict. "Started the first day with the most spectacular scenery on the way to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, listening to our guide's fascinating commentary on the way there. For me, it didnt get any better, than seeing these two beautiful representations of Irish entertainment, truly memorable.". So our wow moment was the recognition of just how easily transmission can occur - even for people vaccinated and boosted.". The other tour guides in the various towns and cities were of equal caliber, Dara McCarthy to name one of them. The tour was probably my favorite vacation ever! Great tour since we hadnt been out of the country in 6 years. The pubs with traditional music sessions were also fantastic.". "I have no good answer for this. "Glendalough, Newgrange and Slea Head drive. These are the 10 best things to do in southern Ireland, from exploring the Ring of Kerry to snacking at the English Market to learning about Irish whiskey at the Jameson Distillery. Our guide, Kelly was so friendly, knowledgeable of past & present and funny. This 8-day Ireland itinerary walks you through my return trip day-by-day so you can experience the ultimate Ireland itinerary for yourself. Ten days is just enough time to visit the highlights of Ireland, including Dublin, the Rock of Cashel, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, and Northern Ireland. Had a wonderful time overall. We were even offered a boat tour of Dingle thanks to Gearoid in our free time time in Dingle. The Irish people and their love for music were enchanting. We had live entertainment at our group dinner there - a local Irish family who played lively tunes on their accordions and flute. Answer 1 of 13: Putting the finishing touches on my 8 day itinerary. In the good hands of your Rick Steves guide and local experts, you'll be amazed at all you'll experience in a mere week of touring the Emerald Isle: must-see historical sites, charming towns, music-filled pubs, artisan visits, and walking tours including the Rock of Cashel, the Cliffs of Moher, village of Adare, Dingle, the Great Blasket Centre, Kilkenny Castle, Glendalough, crystal cutting, whiskey tasting, and more. Superb experience. During the safari we saw the beautiful scenery of the Peninsula and the Islands from a sea level vantage point. Most tour members arrange to fly into Shannon (SNN) and out of Dublin (DUB) "multicity" on flight booking websites. Oustanding except for Covid, which infected about 1//3 of our group. Even the drenching rain (really, the only bad weather day) couldn't take away from the magnificence and the incredible historical significance of this site. Also liked the combination of structured time and free time. Definitely chilly and windy though. In short the best vacation EVER!! Every minute of the tour was fabulous, the guided, the itinerary, the hotels and restaurants, even the bus driver made this a great vacation. Ireland is a breathtaking place with its 40 shades of green. Friendly, good humored and fun. The pace interspersed walking & bus at just the right combination. Shakib Al Hasan and debutant Towhid Hridoy both narrowly missed centuries but Bangladesh still hammered Ireland's attack to post 338-8 in Saturday's first of three one-day internationals in Sylhet. Our Rick Steves tour guide Pascal, was amazing. Our tour guide, Dara, was great--very helpful and knowledgeable. My husband & I enjoyed every aspect of our first Rick Steves tour. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed Ireland in 8 Days tour. Enough time was allotted to visit all of the planned sites, with ample time also for exploration and shopping on your own. Enjoyed the tour! There are not enough ways to describe how wonderful this tour was, but I can say with full confidence that I am now a tour PERSON! "It's hard to pick. It included history, traditional Irish music, visits to amazing sites, good food and accomadations. The authentic music of Ireland was amazing to see performed. Day 2: Glendalough Monastic site and night in Kilkenny. However I do to do other RS tours. It was an unexpected surprise that I enjoyed very much. "Atop a few major visual sites: Brun A Boine grassy roof of the biggest reconstructed burial chambers from 2-3,000 BC, walking at the Cliffs of Moher, and the Rock of Cashel with stupendous views, not easy in a relatively flat country! I loved Trinity College and seeing the Book of Kells.". The tour was well organized and each day was filled with interesting events. Pascal, the guide, blended knowledge and personal perspective with energy and passion. It was a great introduction to Ireland & our guide Stephen was outstanding. The scenery, the pub music, ancient ruins, the friendly Irish people.". This itinerary is designed as a road trip. All three serve traditional Irish dishes and drinks . We had a very knowledgeable guide her really knew her stuff. I was so glad that we didnt need to drive or arrange our transportation. Our tour guide, Kelli, was very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to help us get the most out of our tour experience. I loved not having to make any decisions and just putting all of my trust into our tour guide's hands. ", It went well and the weather was very cooperative, "It is a tie. Pascal arranged for an intimate, private session with 2 Irish musicians following our dinner, and a whiskey tasting. I was impressed because our guide, Stephen, was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the island. George got us through some tight spots. We came across hundreds of dolphins, scores or seals and puffins and a minke whale. The hotels were lovely and the bus was very comfortable. Fabulous experience. I was not sure what to expect but have watched Rick Steves on PBS for years. The hotels and bed and breakfast were very charming and in central areas for walking. It is very unique and like no other town in . I would love to live in Ireland. Everything was really special. The many special touches and local experiences offered by our tour guide, Pascal, gave me insights into the culture and character of the people and places we visited. Just riding in the bus over the narrow roads was quite exciting. He was organized, professional and knowledgeable about what we were seeing. More active travelers might . We enjoyed learning about the history of the areas we visited, and learned how much and why they despise the British! Whether you're visiting Ireland or planning a staycation, work with an Irish local to plan your trip. The knowledge, humor, and love for the places and people that we visited with Pascal made it an incredible and unique trip. I had visited these locations before but was traveling with my cousin who was in Ireland for the first time and the spots are all certainly on my favorite places list. The hotels were clean and the B&B was so charming, I loved them all. I wish we would have had 1 more day in Kilkenny but I'm not sure which location I would take out. There were multigenerational Irish families hanging out, singing and dancing, and of course the champion Irish dancer!". ", This was my first Rick Steves tour I have previously researched and made my own plans. St. Patrick himself was here more than 1,500 years ago, and ever since, the Rock has been the spiritual heart of Ireland. "Whenever I travel to new places, I am in awe of just about everything. We also liked the blend of urban and lovely rural experiences. "We joined our bus driver in a pub in Dingle; we were in a small room in the front of the pub, then the nightly live entertainment performer walked in, set up, and started playing! "Loved the down home Irish humor of Billy Keane at the Listowel pub where he entertained us.". We packed a lot into the 8 days but it didn't feel rushed. I feel like Irish history was coming together for me by the end of the tour. Its hard to pick! Also loved our stay in Dingle and Newgrange. It was an overall great experience. The Dingle gin and tonics with a rainbow! Thanks for not doing touristy stuff Blarney Stone, "The trinity library was amazing & The passage tombs". She was very knowledgeable about the people & culture, The lodging was mostly good. Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. Southern Co. (SO) closed the most recent trading day at $67.90, moving -0.32% from the previous trading session. Give your farewell to Ireland and head to Shannon airport, which is about a 30 minute drive from Adare. The only problem is that it ended too soon!! It also gave me an insight into what my ancestor had suffered in order to leave in 1840. Then we'll take a short drive to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, where you'll find yourself leaning into the wind, teetering on the very edge of Europe more than 600 feet above the churning waters of the North Atlantic. all the sights were great and hotels were so nice! Another option is to city hop arts-loving Galway to cosmopolitan Cork. The best part of our tour was meeting fantastic people, along with beautiful sights. Good accommodations, Good food, good company, "Flying the hawks, owls and falcons at the B&B.". We had good accommodations (loved the B&B in Dingle), good conversations, and plenty of time on our own. The falconry demonstration was unexpected and unique as well. Day 4: Kinsale to Killarney. Especially loved Dingle and the Slea Head Drive, also Dublin. Our guide Pascal was excellent. Day 3: Dingle Peninsula | stay in Dingle. Real Ireland is everywhere outside of Dublin. Afterward, you'll be free to explore more of Dublin's sites, including Kilmainham Gaol, Epic: The Irish Emigration Museum, or the Guinness Storehouse. We learned so much from our guide that we would not have had we done it on our own - it was well worth it! One person turned out to be a very distant relative. Traveling companions enjoyable. This was my first Rick Steve's tour and I loved it! Dingle was my favorite place of all. Of particular note was the Monastic settlement at Glendalough, the Rock of Cashel, the falconry experience in Dingle and the Cliffs of Moher. "Cliffs of Moher, but there were so many. Newgrange, the beauty of the countryside", It was my first Rick Steves Tour and I thought it was fantastic. We were unduly worried about rainy weather -- we had a few sprinkles, but nothing that slowed us down. The group blended together perfectly with no grumps. We really enjoyed getting to know the Ireland we had always heard of. Snfellsnes Peninsula. Having our tour guide, Steve, with us the whole time + a friendly group of people was awesome! It was a wonderful experience. "The places we visited are all Ireland must-see sites for me. Day 6: Killarney to Galway. It was a trip of a lifetime for me. At the end of our drive we'll arrive in the pastel-painted, quintessentially Irish harbor town of Dingle. We were amazed at the marine wildlife we encountered. "Being at the B & B's in Dingle had to be the highlight of the trip, with the wow moment being listening to two talented Irish musicians.". The tour went to all the important places we wanted to visit. "Bru na Boinne: walking around, on top of and into the neolithic mounds and imagining their builders' understanding of the world, and the mysteries about their culture, from the 5,000 year old structures they left behind.". Tight on time? Pascal did an excellent job of giving us history lessons along the way to help us understand the struggles of the people and how resilient they are.". 10/10 already recommending to everyone I know! 2.4 Visit the Guinness Storehouse. By the time we got to Glasnevin many felt we had seen enough cemeteries. Slea Head was very beautiful and emotional. I feel that I had experienced the Ireland of legend.". I felt we experienced Ireland in a more authentic way than if on our own. If you have 6 days in Ireland you can use one of these itineraries to plan your time according to your interests. I say sad because I hated for it to end! Sadly on our second day in Dingle I tested positive for covid. "There are too many to single out just one, but the biggest is the love the Irish have for their history and places.". This was our first RS tour, we have always aspired to booking one, and now that kids are in college my wife and I can get away without them! Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch, Kilrush, Killarney +8 more Age Range 5 to 99 year olds Country Region Southern Ireland +2 more Travel Style Family, Private, Group +2 more Operated in English Operator Trafalgar -10% Tour length 7 days Price per day $251 From $1,950 US $1,755 You save: $195 Download Brochure View tour "Although I loved each area we visited, probably my favorite stay was at our Bed and Breakfast in Dingle. I'm 76 years old and they went out of their way many time to ensure my comfort and confidence. "Everything was amazing I had several wow moments The Cliffs of Moher were breathe taking. My favorite wow moment happened almost daily! Dara was great. This was the first Rick Steves Tour for my adult daughter and myself, although I have used Ricks books and watched his shows for years. It was stunning to stand in a tomb which was build 5000 years ago, see where the elite were buried, and to experience the re-creation of the winter solstice lighting up the passage. Well organized. As usual, we especially enjoyed meeting and interacting with our fellow tour members. "Loved Dingle! Sln leat! Our tour guide Joe was an absolute pro! "Each day was filled with "wow" moments! After lunch, we'll visit the Dingle Falconry Experience for an intimate introduction to their majestic birds of prey. VERY knowledgeable guide Great housing and dining venues. I've has longed to visit Ireland since I was a child, & esp. Ireland is a delightful country. 3 Ireland itinerary day 3: Cork. It costs about 200 Euros for a standard ticket or $223 USD. "The scenery of course! I was happy with hotels and meals too! Such natural beauty and amazing history!". In addition to the beautiful sights, I learned so much! I was nervous about group travel - I tend to prefer independent travel, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Tour Southern Ireland in summer 2023 in a comfortable mini-bus through Ireland's back roads and . Day 1: arrival in Dublin. 8-Day Itineraries South Ireland Scenic Road Trip - 8 Days South Ireland Scenic Road Trip - 8 Days View Map A great choice for families or travelers who prefer a little independence, this itinerary will take you on a leisurely road trip through some of Ireland's most scenic cities and natural sites. ", We enjoyed all the Sites on our tour. Our tour guide was fantastic. Great guide and driver. Total expert that also had a very affable and approachable manner. A very good team Garoad and George are, making the entire trip a memorable and positive experience! Started my tour on Fri 9/9 in Ennis Ireland. Tour guide was outstanding. The assistance of a knowledgable guide to advise on questions regarding how best to use free time. Our guide, Pascal, was great in informing us on the history of each site. Bus: 2 hours. Many wow moments.". They are ahead of US in Climate Change and Justice. We learned so much about Ireland and especially enjoyed our knowledgeable tour guide, Kelli. 5 c. 67) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The Act's long title was "An Act to provide for the better government of Ireland"; it is also known as the Fourth Home Rule Bill or (inaccurately) as the Fourth Home Rule Act.The Act was intended to partition Ireland into two self-governing polities: the six north-eastern counties were . By law they need to show allergies, and almost all restaurants had a gluten free option and were accommodating. "I loved the city of Dingle and the peninsula nearby.". "The Slea Head Peninsula was so breathtakingly beautiful.". Slea Head Drive was incredible and I really enjoyed the visit to Newgrange". "The private concert by two local musicians in Dingle. We enjoyed the tours some days did get long but we had the ability to stay behind if we wanted to. The time on our own to explore was good. Dara was the best guide - so knowledgeable, great recommendations in every city and I really enjoyed all the music he shared with us to illustrate and enhance the stories and history. This morning we'll take a walking tour through Dublin including a stop at Trinity College for an illuminating look at the remarkable Book of Kells, a creative jolt that helped pull Europe out of the Dark Ages. Day 8: Day Trip to the Aran Islands. Our tour guide, Dara, was amazing! Our tour was what it was billed as, the heart of Ireland. Everything about this tour was wonderful! This was my first visit to Ireland and 31st country that I've visited. The group was a great mix of people of different ages from all over the USA. The entire tour was wonderful, with a nice mix of ancient and medieval sites plus gorgeous landscape and excellent tour guides. Day 1: Fly into Dublin (sleep in Dublin) Day 2: Dublin (sleep in Dublin) Day 3: Dublin (sleep in Dublin) Day 4: Rent car, drive through Glendalough (sleep in Kilkenny) Day 5: Rock of Cashel (sleep in Waterford) Day 6: Waterford (sleep in Waterford) Day 7: Explore County Wexford and Cobh (sleep in Kinsale) Day 8: Kinsale (sleep in Kinsale) Ireland was picturesque, the tour and coordination by Stephen seamless, and the history incredible. I had arranged to meet up with distant cousins near Ennis and in Cork. The University of Southern California opens a campus in Washington to expand its presence in the nation's capital. I also really loved hanging out with the Irish Wolfhounds next door at Milltown House, as well as the group dinner there. Everything was great the guide, the hotels, the sites, the mix of tour activities and free time! Not a bad meal and not a bad bed along the way. Amazing!". "I was amazed with the ancient structures we visited, especially the chapel that has been abandoned for 800 years. That whole day was just perfect, the Dingle Crystal tour was genuinely interesting, the drive was beautiful, and having free time to walk around Dingle was fun and enjoyable. Our tour Guide, Gearoid OConnor was wonderful. 10 days in Southern Ireland: recommended itinerary. Kelli as a guide in training brought cool archeological perspective and gave a side tour of peat mummies in the museum. Great guide, nice mix of people, wonderful things to see. Enjoyed cities and had very knowledgeable & entertaining tour guide! The places we visited were stunning, I could not get over how beautiful Ireland is. We'll continue on, learning about the city's often-calamitous history, from the days of Viking raids to the hard centuries of British occupation to its remarkable literary legacy to the modern city of today. Loved how our tour guides were able to adapt and overcome due to some external issues: an international tournament that impacted our itinerary. "Slea drive and the Dingle area..wow!". "Hard to pick just one but NewGrange was a Wow for me.". "Wow moment was Dingle experience. The hotels were excellent and the breakfast and dinners meals were wonderful. Exceeded expectations. "Dingle Pennisula was great. "Dingle! This was our first tour with Rick Steves Tours. ", Lovely way to travel - all the details are done for you, "The town of Dingle was a great treat! Any time between April and October is a good time to visit Ireland. That experience was absolutely amazing! Terms of Service | Privacy. Hard to believe that something that predates the pyramids of Egypt can be found in Ireland. It by far exceeded our expectations!!! I think I used up my IPhone battery just taking pictures that day!". "I usually think it is silly when people answer questions like this with "Oh, I couldn't pick, I loved it all!" Redirecting to https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-18/2023-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times. Sleep in Ennis. The Irish people shared their warm hospitality, talents, and humor. I wish I saw a puffin but maybe next time.". I struggled between adequate and good. The Heart of Ireland in 8 Days tour exceeded our expectations in every category: the depth and breadth of the tour experience, the quality and thoughtfulness of the tour guide and driver, the positivity and beauty of the country and people, the joy and love evident in the music, art, literature and cuisine, and the care and kindness demonstrated in the interactions we had throughout our journey. .. will definitely consider another Rick Steves Tour in the future! Activities were varied, informative, and fun. I enjoyed just being in the lovely scenery of Ireland. Balbirnie and offspinner Andy McBrine returned to the side, replacing . Our guide, Stephen, made it an great experience. Our guides were outstanding and we met some great people. And the guide, driver and group were so fun to be with! We saw all the sights - Cliffs of Moher, Dingle and the Peninsula, the Rock of Cashel, Glendalough, Newgrange and Knowth, Dublin- and the free time was great! The key to a successful tour is the guide and we had an amazing one. The activities were enjoyable and varied. The restaurants were excellent, people were friendly and we learned so much about the history of this beautiful country from Pascal and out local guides. The sites we visited were exactly what we wanted to see. . I liked the pace and extras . Day 2: Cliffs of Moher | Loophead Peninsula | stay in Dingle. The bus was very cramped (leg room, not over crowded. "The view from the Cliffs of Moher tops my visual wow. Overall it was a great trip. Learned a lot of Irish history. Note: If you plan to spend a few days in the UK as part of your itinerary, you'll find a better selection of post-tour DublinLondon flights to choose from than pre-tour LondonShannon flights. On questions regarding how best to use free time time in Dingle and thoroughly the! Also gave me an insight into what my ancestor had suffered in to! Some great views but the wind was howling. `` I tend to prefer independent travel, but that! The blend of urban and lovely rural experiences, replacing blended knowledge and personal perspective with energy passion. To newgrange southern ireland in 8 days Ennis and in central areas for walking the details are done for,., she made sure she added another activity to add to our experience roads was quite exciting was clear for. Library as part of our tour was well organized and each day was filled ``. Beautiful sights, I learned so much about Ireland and especially enjoyed knowledgeable. 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