Unless its completley out of the question, i would say fly across and hire a car to travel round yourself. There are loads of B&B's etc. and its easy to travel about. The place just seems unsuitable for big buses trundling all over!

mixter

perhaps some people might prefer the bus tour
everything sorted out for them

personally i would prefer a car
but with a bus you do not have to worry about following maps etc

consider my wrist slapped!

Maureen

Where does the tour bus go to ?.

Carol

mixter

cant catch those little wrists
they are moving too fast

I have been a few times to Ireland taking the car over on the ferry, being based in Killarney offers a great touring base with the ring of kerry etc, driving is no problem and you get more freedom being independant, you can also check out places not on a coaches itinary.

See my previous post here:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=19670

Regards
Phil

The bus tours are hugely successful - my parents use them all the time as at their age they dont want the hassle of driving around and they say you see more from a bus anyway. Myself and my husband are just back from Galway and there were 2 bus tours at our hotel - all the people on them were really enjoying themselves

Just that theres a lot to see thats inaccessable to coaches, the car gives you the option of stoping where you want when you want, and driving in Ireland is a breeze its personal preferance either way is a good way to see the country

Come on Mixter our roads are not that bad. Unless you go totally off the beaten track most places are accessible by coach. We even have motor ways and toll roads and lots of traffic congestion just like you have in the UK.

But you don't have as many pot holes as us !!

David

The roads where I live are dire - and I wonder why I bother paying road tax. Granted their pretty good in dublin and on motorways but in the country the brutal

Come on Mixter our roads are not that bad. Unless you go totally off the beaten track most places are accessible by coach.

What i meant was some of them are narrow and winding. I realy enjoyed driving across the bog roads etc...i thought it was far better than in the UK - and i didnt see that many pot-holes either.

Still cant make up our mind whether to take car or go on a bus tour Many thnaks for all replies

Maureen

Maureen

What parts of Ireland is the bus tour taking in do you know.
Maybe if you have an itinary I would be able to advise you better.

Carol

My personal preference would be to use a low cost flight service to Ireland, and pick up a rental car. That would allow me to travel each day at my pace, itinerary and timetable, rather than one which suits a coach tour operator. The Irish Tourist Board can provide loads of useful information and itineraries for those on a self-drive holiday.

The disadvantage is that as the driver, having to keep my eyes firmly on the road ahead would mean that I may miss some of the spectacular scenery, as well as the informative commentary supplied by a tour guide. But I could stop as little or as often as I like, spend as much time as I wanted in each place of interest, and eat in places and at times which suit me.

On a coach tour, I could perhaps relax more and from the elevated seating position, could perhaps see more than I would in a car. But to take full advantage of the daily excursion programme, it would mean being up very early each morning for the fixed breakfast times. Perhaps not so good if you have been enjoying the hotel entertainment until 3am that morning !! Stops on the itinerary will include places which pay the driver and tour guide generous commission, such as Irish pottery or crystal retail outlets. These are often remote from towns, so after a couple of days when I get fed up being part of a captive audience at these shops, the only alternative may be to sit on the bus and ponder how long it is until the next scheduled stop or fixed meal time.

Self-drive is not an option for everyone. Even licenced drivers may not be too keen on spending a week driving around unfamiliar roads. But even if I was not in a position to drive myself, I would still fly to Ireland and use public transport to travel between some of the main towns and cities. I would stay in some of the excellent hotels or B&Bs, and perhaps just take the occasional local coach trip to explore the Irish countryside.

I suppose in the end it all comes down to personal preferences. Do you like to have your full week's holiday planned in advance for you, be told where and when you will be going each day then sit back, relax and hope that you will get on with your new travelling companions ? Or would you prefer the freedom and flexibility of planning your own holiday programme, which you can then adapt as and when required during the course of the holiday ?

David

I just wanted to add I fly to Belfast Int as often as possible and hire a car and drive over to Sligo ive done this for many years now and still love it, love the scenery and the ease of the roads if you do drive over there

we are going to kinsale next friday morning. we got flights with bmi baby to cork,for£35 p.p. including taxes, hired a car from budget pick up and drop off at the airport 62 euros for 4 days. and accommodation in kinsale in a relay nice b.b 35 euros per room per night.can,t knock that
andy

We have done southern Ireland by car and it was fabulous.
We went from Holyhead to Dun Loaghaire by ferry and stayed
1st night in Laragh nr Glendalough in the wicklow mountains, Glendalough is beautiful.
2nd night in Wexford
3rd night in Blarney where my husband kissed the blarney stone
4th night in Kenmare on the edge of the ring of Kerry
5th night in Tralee
6th night in Dromineer on the shannon, lovely peaceful place.
7th night in Blessington just before Dublin.
We didn't book any accomodation, we just stopped where we fancied and got a bed & breakfast, we were not dissapointed with any of the B&B's we stayed in. everyone was very friendly and we had a great time.
on our last day in Blessington we went down a hole in the road and damaged the wheel on our car, we didn't want to drive all the way home using the spare wheel without getting it fixed so we went to a local garage where he fixed the wheel and repaired the tyre , he wouldn't charge us (that doesn't happen in England)
all in all we had a really good time and went at our own pace.