Ireland is a fairly temperate place, so anytime we see a package that's priced well for late fall travel, we pay attention. This week's Smart Deal comes from Sceptre Tours (tel. 800/221-0924; www.sceptretours.com), and it's priced from $699 for round-trip airfare, six nights in Ireland, a car rental, and more.
The package is bookended by a one-night stay in Dublin at the beginning and end of your trip, with two nights in County Mayo and two in Limerick. The car rental will come in handy, as Ireland is not difficult to navigate. The country is also small enough that you can cover many of the attractions in a week -- the majestic Cliffs of Moher, the Connemara region, and the emerald-green Dingle Peninsula. If you've been to Dublin and would rather fly into and out of Shannon, in the west of Ireland, you can do that for no extra cost.
Accommodations are at what Sceptre terms "four-star" properties, such as the Burlington Hotel in Dublin, not too far from Grafton Street and St. Stephen's Green. The Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Mayo dates to 1890. In Limerick, the modern Strand Hotel has rooms with glass-enclosed balconies for watching the River Shannon flow by.
Trip Type: air-inclusive; independent
What the Quoted Price Gets you: Aer Lingus flights from New York (JFK) to Dublin; two nights each in Dublin, in Mayo, and in Limerick; a weekly car rental with a manual transmission and unlimited mileage; a full Irish breakfast daily; and airline fuel surcharges.
What Else You'll Have to Pay: Government taxes, fees and/or facility charges of up to about $180 per person.
When: Until Aug. 22 (from $999); Nov. 1, 2010-March 31, 2011 (from $699)
Book by: As soon as possible to ensure availability
Other Details: The lowest advertised price is based on Monday and Tuesday departures; Wednesday-Sunday travel is also possible but for a higher price. The package is available now and throughout the fall, starting from $999 for departures through Aug. 22 from New York's JFK.
For the $699 trips departing New York City during the late fall-winter travel period, other gateways are available, including Boston (from $719) and Chicago (from $819).
All prices are per person and, if lodging is a component of the package, based upon two people traveling together (unless otherwise noted). The prices listed are general starting rates; see "What Else You'll Have to Pay" for details about associated taxes and fees. Base-prices, taxes, and fees can vary based on point of departure and time of travel. Trip add-ons like sightseeing tours and meal plans may also increase the price. Check with the tour operator for additional gateways and any single supplements, which is the extra cost that a solo traveler would pay to book the deal.
Talk with fellow Frommer's travelers on our Ireland Forum.