Enjoyed all the tour members! Well versed, a great sense of humor and quite talented. All of the people we met in Ireland were so funny and sweet. I'll never forget the falconry experience. Very entertaining. I felt like I was in the middle of the movie, "Once."". 3. How to choose? Our local tour guides were amazing! We loved Ireland and the tour. Although we didn't speak to that many Irish people, those we spoke with were very friendly. - Well planned & executed (A Swiss watch)! We truly feel that Rick Steves provided a quality tour on all the important parameters. My only concerns about it flowed from it being a group tour...where I didn't have the flexibility I'm used to. He shared his own experiences of "The Troubles" without any malice. All the places we went to were spectacular. 2. Most tour members arrange to fly into Shannon (SNN) and out of Dublin (DUB) — "multicity" on flight booking websites. His Irish heritage was a plus for all of us. Dara, our guide, was incredible. "Going to an Irish bar in Kilkenny and feeling the camaraderie, joy, and pride in the Irish culture.". Beautiful Ireland did not disappoint! Accommodations and coach were excellent. On our Heart of Ireland in 8 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…. Will be looking to Rick Steeves in the future for more tours. Ended up going to a movie in our free time. Howth was also very compelling. The mornings and evenings were also lovely at our guest house on the bay.". We also loved the Giant’s Causeway and the lovely town of Dingle. The pace was busy but reasonable and there was free time to do more exploring g on ones own as well. Lastly, we all took pictures holding a 13lb brown eagle.". Supplement $725. Loved the fact that I was on a tour. Would want to go back here if I get back to Ireland again.". Navigate cobblestones and difficult terrain at ancient sites. I loved the natural & ancient sites of Glendalough, Slea Head drive, & Bru Na Boinne best. Any time between April and October is a good time to visit Ireland. WOW!! Truly a wonderful experience. On the bus, Lisa explained about the history/story of Saint Patrick and background information about the fort-turned-church. Of course, there was Ireland, which was wonderful, but the entire tour was well organized and well thought out. The design of the park and visitor's center was beautiful. I fell in love with the Dingle Peninsula and I loved everything Dublin had to offer. I loved the Ireland tour. I a lot of interesting historical sites & learn a lot about Irish culture history as well as current events. The people there were so supportive .I had just met them but I felt so at home. Having never been on a tour, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. "Seeing the coast line. "There were several! The amazing landscapes and seashores, idyllic villages and fun interactions with the locals made for a great experience. Rick's 48 itineraries include Italy, France, Turkey, Ireland, Britain, Spain, and much more! We debated quite a bit about doing the organization and driving ourselves or taking the tour. Of course it really helped because it was a beautiful sunny day, but offered a real perspective on Ireland and it's history.". the music delighted me Thought we could see a lot in 8 days but 10 would have been ideal. Seeing the coastal beauty of The Cliffs of Moher and towns such as Dingle and Kilkenny gave us the beauty and greenery of Ireland. So inspiring we ended up buying several pieces from their shop!". Dara was just great with help on restaurant choices and directions. Bus drivers were excellent, too. ""Wow" were the Cliffs of Moher. I learned so much about Irish history and saw so many interesting and beautiful places. Might have been the Long hall in Dublin.". People in the smaller towns would come up to us on the street to see if we needed directions.". Rick Steves Ireland is a collection of "Travel with Rick Steves" radio interviews featuring travel tips and lessons from Rick and the expert teachers who guide Rick Steves' tours around Ireland. All in all a very enjoyable experience. We felt safe, understood and that we were in the right tour group! Loved all the historic sites and the historic information. The hotels were all wonderful, but the animals at Milltown house in Dingle made a big hit with all. He was very kind, accomodating, Fun and full of spirit. Good sized group, comfortable bus, the hotels and food were better than we expected (especially the group dinners! Food was outstanding. This will seem odd but last night on the Discovery Channel there was a segment on Killkenny. We had a beautiful day for it and to be able to watch these birds of prey perform and then have a chance to put on the glove and have them land on each one of the tour members was unforgettable. Did come across one couple who didn't seem to be on-board with the group tour philosophy...just not friendly, but that's okay. Kieran set up a special informal music night for us. We had a good group, good weather, a great bus driver and Ireland with all it's beauty and history. The itineraries are well thought out and offer enough free time along with group time. We had the #1 Ireland guide in Stephen. My husband and I walked toward the lakes, but had to turn back before getting to the lake to make sure we didn't miss the bus.". It was such a treat to hear Kieran on the pipes. "The night in Dingle, Ireland when we heard local musicians and watched a young girl dancingmto Irish music.". We are independent travelers, but have liked Rick's guidelines for other travels (Middle East) and we were very happy to try as our first organized travel trip. We were shepherded around the island by GREAT guides at a pace that was neither too slow nor too tiring. Too many people on this tour (27) that was made up of some large families who stayed as their own nucleus group. A Kieran made it a seamless experience. Bus: 2 hours. I was really looking forward to this, but it rained that day, and the cruise was never mentioned. In fact, we heard that Rick Steves is doing a tour of Turkey and this is a destination that my wife has wanted to do, but for security reasons I was not comfortable with the idea. His stories on the bus were a highlight of the trip. Accommodations were terrific, especially the inn in Dingle. Really a special experience". "So many, but I really liked the Dingle Penisula. ", "Falconry session held in Dingle. Happy I did it. My biggest "wow" moment, tho, will have to be all the wonderfully warm and friendly Irish people I met.". There were three beautiful dogs to welcome us too. The scenery was so beautiful and the people so friendly. The Irish Wolfhounds and the Golden Eagle were great surprises.". Ireland didn't disappoint! 5. Dara builds community so I felt connected to every traveler in our group Steve was both informative and entertaining and very personable. This was our third Rick Steves trip so we had a general idea of what to expect. Sleep in Ennis. I had mentioned to Stephen that I was Catholic, and he asked me if I wanted to go to the local church to light a candle and say a prayer. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. "In Dingle, Stephen was able to get the top Irish dancer in World competition to dance for us, and we were the envy of folks back home for having seen him. By Rick Steves and Ian Watson. Walking on areas where Vikings were buried, seeing ancient building fortifications that existed since the 1200's and gaining understanding of Irelands hard fought history was a bonus. They did a wonderful job. We were in Dublin at the time of the Gaelic football tie breaker- a very special event and one necessarily scheduled only a week or two in advance. I could not be happier with my Rick Steve's tour! "My "wow" moment was our time in Dingle. Dara did his best to enable us for the event-really above and beyond. "Watching the faces of our family (including three sons, our Mom, and my wife's brother) take in the scenery, appreciate their ancestry, savor their meals, engage in talk with and laugh at the jokes told by Dara Herlihy!". What I enjoy most about Rick Steves tours is the opportunity to connect with and learn from people.This tour had tons of that! Lively, current, smart, and humanistic - would highly recommend. Of course there are highs and lows but I honestly believe this is the best "bang for my buck" that I've every been on. Declan Field: Art, Music Declan leads Rick Steves tours in Ireland and is a musician and artist, creating sculptures, paintings, and drawings. The tour was amazing. The bed and breakfast in the Dingle Peninsula, Clonmara was wonderful. Ireland was beautiful and Stephen was an excellent guide! A private tour in Ennis with Ollie. This was our first tour after many years of traveling independently, and our group agreed that we are now believers! Dara was informative and entertaining, presenting Irish history and culture in a way that makes me want to return. Posted by mike (Tulsa) on 12/31/17 09:18 PM. "Being entertained by Seamus Begley with friends and family was a true highlight, followed closely by the music and Irish whiskey tasting at the Herlihey pub. Surprises at each stop over. "I had a ton of wow moments. Could have spent the entire day there. Great tour. It's so hard to put into words how wonderful our trip to Ireland was. This tour was a great introduction to Ireland. Too crowded and dirty. For a pair of 60+ age travelers, we had a very goodexper ience. "The falconry experience in Dingle was something I'd never thought I'd be able to do, so it was a complete surprise that it was included. Fascinating to learn how long they have stood the test of time. Everything you need is here. Rick Steves Ireland, the complete guide, offers more coverage of more destinations in a mostly black-and-white format, and is updated annually. 2. Ireland Tours. After a walking tour, we'll enjoy a gourmet dinner of local specialties followed by an evening of Gaelic tunes. We also loved the Milltown Hotel, which was right on the water.". Best of all were the relationships made on the way. We connected with a couple of them during the trip, but didn't connect with others until the last dinner, which was a shame. The tour was wonderful! Loved seeing the ancient structures, the quaint streets, the GREEN countryside, the sights and sounds of Dublin. ", My trip to Ireland was more than I could have imagined. He was the warmest and most engaging guide ever. Hotel accommodations were less than expected based on previous Rick Steves tours. We had a great group of travelers and a fabulous guide. Bus: 4 hours. Enjoyed the sites visited BUT the informative commentary of the history and legacy of the sites made each visit memorable. Every year I thumb through the Rick Steves’ Europe Tours catalog and see which tour fits my latest travel dreams. the loop drive around Dingle Peninsula was the big "wow" with fabulous views and ruins and learning about Great Blasket Island and its history. We have a deeper understanding for Ireland and its' struggle to be independent. Today we'll drive an hour out of Dublin to one of Europe's premier archaeological sites: the ancient tombs of Brú na Bóinne. And the guides at the various sites were articulate and funny as well as knowledgeable. Anyway, making this connection was a fun moment.". This was my third Rick Steve's tour with my husband and it did not disappoint! I never felt rushed or bored. Glendalough was majestic and mystifying. From the countryside to the coast line to the "Tidy towns" ... it was breathtakingly beautiful and charming! (See below.) His love for Ireland, personal experience living and attending college there, and his contacts throughout the country made this an extraordinary experience. "Every single day in the country side; my breath was constantly taken away by the scenery. I loved that we had a friendly and knowledgable tour guide (Lisa), a competent bus driver (Dennis), and access to several expert local guides at each stop to enrich our experience. Our Guide Pascal was amazing. Now I enjoy taking them. The Jeannie Johnson tall ship, GPO Witness museum and Museum of Emigration after hearing the local history & stories.". The road is very narrow and without a shoulder, and my wow moment came when I looked out the bus window & saw straight down - far down - to the crashing waves below! It was stress free and very well organized! 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