September 30, 2004 -- Irish eyes will be smiling on you this fall and winter with cut-price packages and airfares to the Emerald Isle. So if the idea of a round of golf followed by a pint of beer and a night at a 13th century castle appeals, Ireland is your destination.
Aer Lingus (800/474 7424; www.aerlingus.com) announced its lowest ever fares for transatlantic flights with its Low fares, Way Better program. The new program features reductions of 40% - 60% on business class fares, lowering of economy fares, capping of the highest fares and simplification of fare rules. Some business class fares are now at the same level as previous economy fares.
Examples of one-way business-class airfares include:
- New York/Boston to Shannon/Dublin $1,014 (a 50% permanent reduction)
- New York to Dublin non-stop $1,304 (down 43%)
- Chicago/Los Angeles to Dublin $1,504 (down 60%)
In addition to lowering fares by 20-30%, Aer Lingus has now capped its highest economy one-way fare at $503 (previously $838). If your departure and return dates are flexible, prices can be extremely low. A sample roundtrip fare in economy class from New York to Dublin (morning or evening flights) in November is just $298 plus $73 in taxes.
Relaxing of booking rules include dropping the Saturday night stay requirement, adding the ability to make changes to your itinerary (for $30) as well as change passenger names (for $60) and the availability of lowest fares for each segment regardless of the travel season.
Fares are available exclusively on the Aer Lingus website. Prices for flights to and from the United States exclude taxes, fees and facility charges of up to $80 per person. Please see website for full details, terms and conditions.
Aer Lingus' website also features the ability to combine their low transatlantic fares with terrific add-on fares to over 40 European destinations.
Examples of one-way fares from Dublin in November include:
- London $11
- Paris/Amsterdam $30
- Milan/Madrid/ Munich $42
Tour/Package Options
Ireland specialists, Sceptre Tours (800/221-0924; www.sceptretours.com) has a selection of alternative Irish tours and accommodations including golf packages, castle stays, B&B adventures, fishing expeditions or romantic getaways.
For $1,459 including all taxes, their "Ireland Treasures" package includes roundtrip airfare from New York on select dates in November and December, private luxury motorcoach, seven-nights accommodation (one night Fitzpatrick Bunratty, two nights Killarney Towers, one night Faithlegg Manor House, two nights Jury's Ballsbridge Hotel, one night five-star Luxury Castle), full Irish breakfast daily, five complete Irish dinners and sightseeing tours of the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woolen Mills, Waterford Crystal Factory, Dublin City and much more.
Brian Moore Tours (800/982 2299; www.bmit.com) has some equally tempting Irish options this fall and winter for escorted or independent travel.
For $549 plus taxes, "Ireland's Friendly B&B with Air" package offers roundtrip economy airfare from New York or Boston, five nights bed & breakfast open voucher "go as you please" accommodation, one-night hotel near Shannon, seven-day Hertz economy car rental, local taxes and unlimited mileage. For travel November 1-December 16, 2004 and January 1-March 24, 2005. Add $48 from Chicago and $148 from Los Angeles.
Or consider "Ireland's Pub Tour with Air" from $629 plus taxes including roundtrip airfare from New York or Boston, airport transfers, escorted sightseeing by luxury motorcoach, accommodation at first class hotels for four nights, full Irish breakfasts, two dinners, entrance fees to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College (Book of Kells), Blarney Castle and Shannon Estuary Ferry, and sightseeing in Dublin, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher and Shannonside. For travel on select dates from November, 2004 - March, 2005. Add $50 from Chicago and $160 from Los Angeles
Taxes of approximately $160 are additional. A $25 surcharge is applicable for Friday, Saturday or Sunday departures and all bookings within 30 days of departure incur an additional shipping and handling fee.
Go-Today (425/ 487-9632; www.gotoday.com) always has a low-priced Irish adventure awaiting. Their "Irish Castle Getaway" features roundtrip airfare from New York to Dublin, three-nights stay at Kinnitty Castle, three-day compact manual shift car including tax and unlimited mileage, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges. Prices start at $669 plus taxes for departures from November 1 to December 4, 2004.
For $599 plus taxes, the "Dublin Special" is also great value. It includes roundtrip airfare from New York, six-nights accommodation at the Days Inn Talbot Street, daily breakfast, hotel taxes and service charges. This offer is valid for departures from November 1 to December 15, 2004.
Add $50 for departures from Boston, $100 from Detroit, $150 from Miami and $180 from San Francisco. Deadline for booking these offers is October 2, 2004. A $35 per person each way weekend surcharge applies for travel Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays. Taxes, government fees and surcharges of approximately $149 apply. To encourage you to make bookings online, please note that all phone reservations incur a $20 fee.
For more information about planning your stay in Ireland visit the official Ireland Tourism website at www.shamrock.org, www.frommers.com/destinations/ireland or our active Ireland Message Boards.