Fall and winter are definitely the cheapest times of the year to visit Ireland. Cooler temperatures mean the prices go down but so do the crowds of tourists. If you thought that traveling to Ireland during the summer months was totally out of reach and that you'd have to wait until the fall to get the discounts, you may be surprised to learn that Ireland can still be an affordable destination in all seasons.
Travel between now and August 31, 2005 and take advantage of Dooley Vacations' (tel. 877/331-9301; www.dooleyvacations.com) "Summer Spree Special." For an incredibly low $299, this land-only package includes one-night in a hotel at Shannon or Dublin airport ($30 supplement for Dublin), four-nights at Farmhouse Bed and Breakfasts (upgrade to rooms with private bath available), Irish Coffee welcome reception (for Shannon arrivals only), full Irish breakfast daily, standard three-door economy car with unlimited mileage and government tax (VAT) included, a touring map and traveler's guide, Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre Tour and 10% off purchases at the Visitors Centre. Dooley can also arrange airfare inclusive packages.
If you can hold out until the cooler months, the additional savings will keep you warm or at the very least give you extra Euros to spend when you arrive.
Ireland Travel and Vacation (www.ireland.com/travel) has an "Escorted Pub Tour" priced at $699 per person plus taxes that includes round-trip airfare from New York, private luxury motorcoach with a professional Irish guide, four-nights first-class hotel accommodations (two in Galway, two in Dublin), full Irish breakfast daily, two dinners, and sightseeing to the Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey or Galway Crystal Factory, a Dublin City Tour, Trinity College and the famous Guinness Brewery. This price is valid for ten different departure dates during the month of November 2005.
A slightly cheaper Pub tour is on offer through Aer Lingus's vacation arm, Aer Packages (www.aerpackages.com). For $599 plus taxes, their four-night Pub tour includes round-trip Airfare on Aer Lingus from Boston or New York, two-nights at the Imperial Hotel in Galway, two dinners at your Galway hotel, two-nights at the Camden Court Hotel in Dublin, full Irish breakfast daily, escorted coach with driver/guide, tour of the Galway Crystal Factory and the Guinness Storehouse. This price is valid for November 2005 departures only. Aer Packages also features Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast packages and Castle packages as well as other longer escorted bus tours.
Discover Ireland's history and culture with CIE Tours' (tel. 800/CIE-TOUR; www.cietours.com) "Ireland Heritage Tour." This eight-day/six-night escorted tour includes round-trip flights between the U.S. (New York) and Ireland, sightseeing by luxury coach, services of professional Irish tour director, accommodation in superior first class hotels with private bath for six nights (Bunratty Castle Hotel, Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, Granville Hotel in Waterford and Burlington Hotel in Dublin), full Irish breakfast daily, five dinners (Medieval banquet in a 15th century Irish Castle, traditional Irish dinner with entertainment at the Abbey Tavern and restaurant dinners in Killarney, Waterford and Galway), welcome get-together drink, tea and scones at an Irish farmhouse, ferry ride across the River Shannon, horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney, Walking tour of Waterford, whiskey tasting and tour of Old Jameson Distillery and admission to the Cliffs of Moher, Muckross House, Blarney, Castle, Cobh Heritage Centre, Waterford Crystal Factory, Book of Kells at Trinity College and Clommacnoise. The package is priced from $968 per person based on double occupancy for departures from September 14 to December 9, 2005 and January 13 to April 28, 2006.
1-2-Travel (tel. 800/255-9303; www.12travel.com) has an independent "Magical Ireland" package that is well-priced starting from $549 per person plus taxes based on double occupancy. This seven-day fly/drive deal includes round-trip airfare from Boston or New York, six-nights accommodation in your choice of 2000 Irish Bed and Breakfasts, full Irish breakfast daily and seven-days' car rental including taxes and theft protection. You can pre book your entire itinerary or go as you please and stay wherever you find yourself at the end of your driving day. Add $40 from Chicago and $140 from Los Angeles. These prices are for low season departures (October 31 to December 12 2005). High season prices (from now until October 30, 2005) start from $1010 per person. Their "Castles and Family Homes" package will make you feel like royalty from only $718 plus taxes per person. This vacation includes round-trip airfare from Boston or New York during low season, one-night at Glin Castle in Limerick, one-night at Kilkea Castle in Kildare and four additional nights in traditional Irish Bed and Breakfasts throughout the country, full Irish breakfasts daily, seven-days' car rental with taxes and theft protection. The price goes up to $1248 during high season.
Aer Lingus (tel. 800/474-7424; www.aerlingus.com) currently has an "August Aerfare Special" with prices as low as $289 plus taxes one-way between the east coast of the U.S. and Ireland.
One-way sample fares during the month of August 2005 include:
- New York/ Boston to Dublin or Shannon: $289
- Chicago to Dublin or Shannon: $374
- Los Angeles Dublin or Shannon $464
For more information about Ireland visit www.frommers.com/destinations/ireland or click over to our Ireland Message Boards to talk with some genial travel experts.