6 day all-inclusive trip to Ireland from $399 up (stay in an honest-to-god castle for a just a few bucks more!)

[glenn1]

Sceptre Ireland

Only real catch is that you have to be willing to fly either really soon or later this year for the lowest rates, prices double at least come April 1st. My g/f and I are going March 30th... here's what we selected:

Aer Lingus Air Roundtrip New York City, NY (JFK-Kennedy)-Shannon, Ireland (SNN-Shannon Airport), Priced for 2 traveler(s)

Aer Lingus, Flight XXXX
DEP: New York City, NY (JFK-Kennedy) 03/30/03 xx:xxPM
ARR: Shannon, Ireland (SNN-Shannon Airport) 03/31/03 xx:xxAM

Emerald Castle Packages Emerald Castle Package with Adare Manor

Priced for 2 traveler(s) Start 03/30/03 End 04/06/03

Dan Dooley Standard 3 Door Economy in Shannon Pick-up at Shannon Airport, Pick-up 03/31/03 Drop-off 04/06/03

Irish Coffee Reception at the Shannon Great Southern

Hotels Shannon Great Southern Hotel Standard Room DOUBLE Check-in 03/31/03 Check-out 04/01/03

Bed & Breakfast Town & Country Bed & Breakfast Ensuite Room DBL/TWN Check-in 04/01/03 Check-out 04/05/03

Castles Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort Standard Room DOUBLE Check-in 04/05/03 Check-out 04/06/03

Aer Lingus, Flight XXXX
DEP: Shannon, Ireland (SNN-Shannon Airport) 04/06/03 xx:xxPM
ARR: New York City, NY (JFK-Kennedy) 04/07/03 xx:xxAM

Second Day Delivery Service

Priced for 2 traveler(s) Start 03/30/03 End 04/06/03 Total: $1,208.50


Lose the worthless "premium collision damage waiver" and "full credit waiver" and you'll save around $200 from the initial quoted price. IMHO, it's worth it to spend a touch more to get private bathrooms in the bed & breakfast places and select the castle stay... here's what a "castle" looks like in terms of this deal:

Ashford Castle

Adare Manor Castle

Dromoland Castle

 

[Tal]

This reminds me of that movie Just Married..... I hope you have more fun than they did in the movie..... lol hehehe lol hehehe



oh yeah. this looks like fun. take advantage while you can!

 

[Deskstar]

Do get the collision damage coverage. I backed into one of those low stone walls and was very glad to have the insurance. And the streets are often so narrow that you may knock off a side-mounted rear view mirror.

 

[Aztech]

Does anyone have any experience with Con Aer Lingus here?

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: Aztech
Does anyone have any experience with Con Aer Lingus here?

I took a few weeks in Dublin and Belfast about a month ago. Aer Lingus was great to fly on! The reason they have such cheap flights (mine was under $400) is because they have all flights full. I think (and I am most likely wrong) the plane is a 727 or 747. The seat layout is 2-4-2, so be sure to get to your flight early to get an aisle or window seat (like I did)! I might take advantage of this as well because I was mostly in Northern Ireland and didn't see much of the (beautiful) lower part of Ireland. I will try inform anyone else wanting to know about Ireland or Aer Lingus if they want. Ohh yeah, BTW, the beer was GREAT! I was a light drinker before going and as soon as I got back, 6 pints is nothing now! I thought Guinness was the most disgusting thing before I left, and now I have 24 pints in my fridge right now

 

[brianboru]

I went to Ireland a few years back on a college trip, and we stayed at Adare manor. It's really a pretty amazing place. All of the rooms are beautiful, but some are even more spectacular than others... plus the golf course and the grounds there are amazing as well.

Best trip I ever took. 3 weeks of fun!

 

[HarryK]

Originally posted by: Aztech
Does anyone have any experience with Con Aer Lingus here?

I've had lots of experience. And my wife loves me for it

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: Deskstar
Do get the collision damage coverage. I backed into one of those low stone walls and was very glad to have the insurance. And the streets are often so narrow that you may knock off a side-mounted rear view mirror.

Let me 2nd that.. We went to Ireland (via Aer Lingus) for our honeymoon.. It kicked ass, but let me be the (second) to tell you that you WILL get in a car wreck.

 

[SpongeBobPalmBay]

Originally posted by: HarryK

Originally posted by: Aztech
Does anyone have any experience with Con Aer Lingus here?

I've had lots of experience. And my wife loves me for it

oh my god........ !!! (Are you heading South?)

 

[Aar0n]

I saw an ad for this a couple of weeks back. I ended up getting a deal for 2 weeks, including air, car and B&B vouchers for ~$1050 ppdo. We got it through cietours.com. I think they're the agency that most other travel agents resell for.

I've head that the CDW is definitely a good thing to get. Heard from one of the rental agencies that Platinum MasterCard's automatically provide coverage for int'l rentals. It might be worth it to check with your CC provider to see if you can get coverage for free.

Aaron

 

[glenn1]

Heard from one of the rental agencies that Platinum MasterCard's automatically provide coverage for int'l rentals. It might be worth it to check with your CC provider to see if you can get coverage for free.

Thanks for the heads up. Called my CC company and confirmed that my regular gold visa card does indeed offer that, i was fearing i might have to upgrade to the platinum, titanium, plutonium, or whatever the latest super-duper card was

 

[soflawill]

Spent last st paddy's day in dublin, flew con aer lingus, what a great airline, what a great country, what a great price this year. Do the Western area-the cliffs of Moher and the connemara region are incredibly lovely

 

[zettler]

In my "second" marriage, we stayed at Dromoland Castle and it was beautiful and classy. However, I thought we would be inside the castle but the room was outside - or along the parapet (wall). Heated towel racks, floor, etc.

Either way, I loved the Bed & Breakfasts and we started out in Dublin, then to Cork (after stopping in at Ronald Reagan's Pub) and finished out in the Shannon area at the castle. Went for a medieval banquet the last night and chose the wine over the Mead (spit!!) or OJ. I thought it was watered down but found out the hard way the next morning that it wasn't. Also stopped at Durty Nellies Roadhouse that night and that SURE didn't help my head the next morning, afternoon, evening...

Shop in the Cork area and beyond. Pack a suitcase in a suitcase for your booty on the return trip. Wish we had gotten to the Sea but ran out of time.

NEVER, EVER have kippers before flying and after a night at Durty Nellies!!!!!

 

[eTaesu]

has anyone here ever been on a vacation to ireland though this travel company?
i've never heard of sceptre ireland and just wondering if anyone had.
thanks

 

[slikk]

How's the weather like in Nov and December? Is it worth it to go during those time? I wouldn't want to go there if the weather is bad or the surrounding is not all green like the pictures.

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: slikk
How's the weather like in Nov and December? Is it worth it to go during those time? I wouldn't want to go there if the weather is bad or the surrounding is not all green like the pictures.

I went in mid-January to early February and the weather was atleast consistent. It really depends where you stay. I stayed in Belfast most of the time and it rained all of the time. I nice mist and chilly weather made it seem what Ireland was really ment to be. Between me and my best friend, I was the one who enjoyed that kind of weather. There was sun down in Dublin for the 3 days I stayed and the weather was around 40 - 50 Fahrenheit most of the time. I love the country, but didn't get to see much green. I did, however see Giants Causeway (which is way up north); and I do have to say it was very cold from that ocean breeze. I also imagine the fact that I got wet from doing something really stupid didn't help, but I dried off from all the wind.

 

[zettler]

Originally posted by: slikk
How's the weather like in Nov and December? Is it worth it to go during those time? I wouldn't want to go there if the weather is bad or the surrounding is not all green like the pictures.

You know all those movies that show how rainy it is in London? Well, Ireland is West of there and intercepts Most of the rain! It is ALWAYS green, that is why there are all those bogs out there...

 

[hevnsnt]

Heard from one of the rental agencies that Platinum MasterCard's automatically provide coverage for int'l rentals

Verify at least 4 times that they cover Ireland.. Most companys stopped providing this service for Ireland. We called our company, and they told us yes, but the travel agent said, call again, because they most likely dont. I was then told NO, and it wouldnt have even mattered if someone had told me yes and we got in an accident. :Q

 

[Thump553]

Does a US citizen need a passport to travel to Ireland?

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Does a US citizen need a passport to travel to Ireland?

yes

 

[MontyBurns]

OK: I have done this exact deal (though through a different company). $399/each for round trip air, car rental with unlimited miles, and 5 nights at your choice of hundreds of B&B's and Inns. This is simply the best European travel deal you can get right now.

Plus, you will have a ridiculous amount of fun. Ireland is one of the friendliest places in Europe to visit. Pubs and castles and cheap booze everywhere you go.

We paid extra for a number of things (including a night at Dromoland castle, which was unbelievable).

If you're considering this trip, PM me and I'd be happy to tell you more about what I thought and offer some suggestions on where to stay.

 

[MontyBurns]

By the way: We booked ours through this company:

http://www.bmit.com/

Almost exactly the same price (when you figure in the castle upgrade), but the travel dates are much more relaxed. They were unbelievably great to deal with, and they have offices in Ireland if you have any problems. I highly recommend them.

You can see the Ireland deal on their front page, upper right.

 

[nimaxpro]

Nice post....why don't I give it a bump for others to see?

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Does a US citizen need a passport to travel to Ireland?

You need a passport to travel anywhere except Mexico (and possibly the Great White North).

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: Deskstar
Do get the collision damage coverage. I backed into one of those low stone walls and was very glad to have the insurance. And the streets are often so narrow that you may knock off a side-mounted rear view mirror.

Not to mention they all drive on the wrong side of the road there!!!