Visiting Ireland on a Budget

Five Tips for Visiting Ireland on a Budget

There have been times when traveling to the Emerald Isle meant a lot of green of a different variety. However, with the dollar rising, Ireland is now more affordable than it has been in years; Ireland has recently been named the leading travel budget destination by USA Today. Stretch your dollar even farther with these tips:

• Stay in an Irish B&B - most serve a traditional Irish breakfast which can fill you up for the day. An Irish breakfast usually includes: toast, fried bacon or sausages, eggs, grilled tomatoes, black or white pudding, fried mushrooms and sometimes baked beans.
• Order a carvery lunch - some pubs serve carvery lunches between 12:30-2pm for approximately 10 euros with a choice of pork, lamb or roast beef and two vegetable side dishes. With such a filling lunch, you will only need a light supper.
• Reclaim the VAT - for each $100 you spend on goods that you will be taking back to the U.S. you can claim about $17 as a VAT refund. You can get your VAT at the point of purchase, at the airport or by check once you return home. What makes Ireland an extra bargain is unlike the rest of the EU, there isn't a minimum purchase amount.
• Buy a Heritage Card - this card entitles you to unlimited admission to more than 65 attractions throughout Ireland for only 21 euros. Heritage Cards can be purchased locally.
• Visit the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin - for your admission fee you not only get an interesting tour on the craft of brewing, but some free samples and a
  360-degree view of the city from the Gravity Bar.

Why choose an escorted or guided tour?

It is no secret to those who know me that I love escorted tours and as the European travel specialist people frequently ask me “why?”

The number one best thing about an escorted tour is the convenience.  Forget all the hassles and headaches.   All the planning, hotels, meals, sightseeing and transportation are already done. Someone else is doing the driving so I can sit back and actually relax and enjoy the view and the commentary of a knowledgeable tour director.  From picking you up at the airport to suggesting local restaurants so you can experience the best local cuisine – they do it all!

Another point worth mentioning is someone else is handling your baggage and all the hotel check ins and outs. We have all heard horror stories about hotels in Europe being notorious for not having small, slow or nonexistent elevators. On an escorted tour, the cost of baggage handling is included in the tour and someone else will schlep the luggage in and out of the hotel.  The only thing I have to worry about getting up the stairs – is me!

My biggest pet peeve when I travel is waking up in the morning and having my boyfriend ask me, what do you want to do today? Then we spend the next two hours wasting time deciding what we want to do and how to get there. With an escorted tour, daily sightseeing is included on most days. They give plenty of free time in the afternoon and evenings to explore on your own as well.  Plus the cost of sightseeing tours are already included in the price of the tour so there is no  out of pocket expense unless I want to do things on my own or add one of the optional excursions offered on tour during my free time.

One of the things that I consider when traveling is the language barrier. If I do not speak the language, how would I know the road rules if I chose to rent a car? I wouldn’t be able to read the road signs. When you are on an escorted tour, the driver and the guide are fluent in the language of the country or countries you are touring.  Plus while someone else is driving, you have the tour director who gives detailed history about the area and the sights you will be visiting. Sometimes they pass out examples of local delicacies or informational maps about the upcoming cities we will visit. The  tour director on my escorted tour in Italy passed out information about local shopping in Florence so when we stopped we knew we were buying authentic, local goods, not ones made in China!

In my opinion, the biggest benefit of escorted travel is the ability to experience a destination in comfort.  The tour director helps you not only with what is listed in the daily itinerary but also can assist you with special requests at the hotel such as wheelchair accessible rooms or help  you plan something special for your 25th anniversary. The Tour Directors and the local city guides are knowledgeable and experienced. On my escorted tour of France with Insight Vacations the local guide was amazing. She took us through the chateau country and really made the history and legends come alive. It was like walking through the pages of a living breathing fairy tale story.

Most people think an escorted tour  is a nonstop frenetic pace. To be honest, that is what it used to be. However, escorted touring has evolved because traveller’s tastes have evolved. They understand that some guests seek more in depth experiences and want more time to explore on their own.  Now you can select a tour and tour company that has exactly what you are looking for!

Throughout your escorted tour, you will have the choice between participating in the scheduled activity, exploring on your own, and just taking it easy. Typical time spent on the motor coach between stops is only 1 ½ hours. This not only allows you to pursue some of your personal interests, but it also allows you to set your own pace.  Just because a tour has an activity listed for the day does not mean you have to participate in it. Just let your tour director know you won’t be tagging along for that portion.

All in all – The tour company takes care of all the details and tells you what to expect at each leg of your journey. You know your costs up front, and you don’t get many surprises. Escorted tours can take you to see the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle.

*You will enjoy a hassle-free vacation without car rental or accommodation worries
*They have the finest Tour Directors in the industry to help you make the most of every moment
*You will stay in quality hotels, carefully selected and monitored by the tour company for quality
*You will travel in modern and comfortable coaches
 *You will enjoy authentic cultural experiences with expert Local Guides
 *You will experience all the ‘must-see’ attractions without the long lines


If you would like more information about an escorted tour of Europe please send me a comment or click the email link below. Thanks!