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

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: 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).

You don't need a passport for Jamaica, or anywhere else in the Carribbean (except Cuba) I believe. Just a birth certificate and picture ID (driver's license).

 

[huesmann]

I meant real countries...

 

[00klaDaM0k]

fer f00k's sake, get a bloody passport!

Here's a hot deal for you! Passports are only $35 and they let you see the entire freaking world! If you have kids, get them a passport for their 18th (or earlier). If you marry someone without a passport, get them one (with a 1st anniversary trip).

It's unbelievable to me that so many people don't have them. But then again, here in Texas, i meet people all the time who have never left the state and are proud of that fact.

00k


"Probably the toughest time in anyone's life is when you have to murder a loved one because they're the devil." -Philips

 

[huesmann]

Still gotta make sure you get visas, though. Not everywhere, but a lotta places.

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: 00klaDaM0k
fer f00k's sake, get a bloody passport!

Here's a hot deal for you! Passports are only $35 and they let you see the entire freaking world! If you have kids, get them a passport for their 18th (or earlier). If you marry someone without a passport, get them one (with a 1st anniversary trip).

It's unbelievable to me that so many people don't have them. But then again, here in Texas, i meet people all the time who have never left the state and are proud of that fact.

00k


"Probably the toughest time in anyone's life is when you have to murder a loved one because they're the devil." -Philips

I agree, but most of the people I met in Texas (San Pedro) don't have a green card, much less a passport

 

[Thump553]

A quick review of the US passport website faq (http://travel.state.gov/passport_easy.html) indicates it takes several months and $55 per person (plus photo expense, etc.) to obtain a passport in the regular manner. Apparently you can shorten this to two weeks in an emergency with substantially more $$.

As a general rule, Europeans can travel freely around Europe without a passport. Its too bad they don't treat US citizens the same way. They would get a lot more impluse tourists.

 

[huesmann]

Well, we don't treat them that way, why should they treat us any better?

 

[Pepsei]

Yes, yes, I believe the view will be spectacular.....

but how's the food? What can I expect?

 

[Anami]

Originally posted by: Thump553
You need a passport to travel anywhere except Mexico (and possibly the Great White North).

I saw that others spoke about their experience with Con Aer Lingus, but I thought I could speak to Going North!

It used to be that you could easily slide up to the Northern Border with just a driver's license and a smile. But lately, they tend to be more serious. They might let you across with just a driver's license and a birth certificate if you're really simple to figure out (no kids, no funny smell in the car, mainstream look). Or, they might make you pull in for a closer look at the car. IMHO, you ought to have a passport in today's world. Sure, the U.S. is pretty far away from trouble on a consistent basis. But, if you wanted to get across the line during tough times, you don't want to be shoved into the group (the 90 percent) who don't have sufficient paperwork.

Anytime you cross a sovereign border, you should have a current, valid passport with a certified copy of your birth certificate. Plus, be aware of other paperwork you should have if you have adopted kids or other complexities.

On the easygoing side, I found that the easiest way to get money while out of the country was to just carry a bankcard. It is so easy, while I was in Spain, France, and Italy (and up in the Great White North), to just pop the card into a teller machine like I was here in the States, and get local cash. Hope that helps!

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
Yes, yes, I believe the view will be spectacular.....

but how's the food? What can I expect?

I ate at many different places when I was there and the quote "Bad food, worse weather" kinda applies. You must try the Guinness stew at a place known for making it. If you are in Dublin, go to Apache Pizza a couple blocks from Temple Bar. If you are going to be drunk, you have to have a doner kebab (preferably from Miriosh); if you survive that, you can handle anything. I loved kebabs after a few beers. If you are in Belfast, go to Cafe Renoir, GREAT pizza. My advice is to mainly stick with someone who lives there, if that is not possible, just search on Google

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: Anami

Originally posted by: Thump553

On the easygoing side, I found that the easiest way to get money while out of the country was to just carry a bankcard. It is so easy, while I was in Spain, France, and Italy (and up in the Great White North), to just pop the card into a teller machine like I was here in the States, and get local cash. Hope that helps!

I second that! With US Bank, I got back to less than $15.00 in charges. I used my bank card about 10 times. Using it there won't cost you tons of cash, like at a casino or strip club (so I have heard )
Ohh yeah....Make SURE you tell your bank when you are leaving. When my sister was studying abroad, her card was discarded and remained inactive until she spent three hours at the bank clearing it up. It makes it a lot easier when you just tell your bank (and credit card companies) when you are leaving to a foreign country.

 

[hevnsnt]

but how's the food? What can I expect?

Eat at the pubs, the more expensive the food, the worse it is.. Seriously, it is like they try to make it bland.

We started out in Shannon, and toured the countryside until we ended up in Doublin, let me tell you how happy I was to see a Pizza Hut.. lol

 

[MrMet]

Is beer included?

 

[rgroves]

Originally posted by: 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

My parents have used the twice and love it. Great tours. If it wasn't for my mom having knee surgery, they would be going again. You can't beat the prices they offer on the trips. Aer Lingus is a great airline as well.

 

[MontyBurns]

This deal they're offering is available through many different travel agents. It's a popular Ireland package. As I said above, we used Brian Moore (www.bmit.com) and they were incredible.

 

[msulazy]

Originally posted by: Anami

Originally posted by: Thump553

On the easygoing side, I found that the easiest way to get money while out of the country was to just carry a bankcard. It is so easy, while I was in Spain, France, and Italy (and up in the Great White North), to just pop the card into a teller machine like I was here in the States, and get local cash. Hope that helps!

Not to mention that when you travel to a country like Laos (7700 Kip/USD), if you have a couple hundred dollars in your account when you withdraw, your balance printout (automatically converted to the local currency) will make you look like a millionaire.

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: hevnsnt
Eat at the pubs, the more expensive the food, the worse it is.. Seriously, it is like they try to make it bland.

Well, what do you expect from potato-eaters?

 

[ihatetigerdirect]

And... the women?

 

[ICantAffordIt]

This is a good price, but not "all-inclusive" as stated in the title. It includes breakfasts only as far as I can tell. I'd still pick this over an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation though. Although, not having a bar tab sure would be nice.

 

[istvan]

Originally posted by: Thump553
A quick review of the US passport website faq (http://travel.state.gov/passport_easy.html) indicates it takes several months and $55 per person (plus photo expense, etc.) to obtain a passport in the regular manner. Apparently you can shorten this to two weeks in an emergency with substantially more $$.

As a general rule, Europeans can travel freely around Europe without a passport. Its too bad they don't treat US citizens the same way. They would get a lot more impluse tourists.

You need a passport to go any where outside your country. Europeans that BELONG to the European Union don't need it for traveling inside in it but if they have to go somewhere else they do need it.
Ridiculous comment was the one that mention they don't treat US citizens the same way. I don't think any US citizen will go out of the country more often if they don't need a passport.
Everybody needs a passport to go out of its country.

 

[gtd2000]

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

Now I've read this before elsewhere - you DO NOT ACTUALLY NEED A PASSPORT TO TRAVEL AT ALL.

This is from a LEGAL viewpoint. In practice most airlines etc will not let you on a flight without one so it's not worth trying to go without one

Did you know that the USA also has the lowest %age of the population of any country in the world that possesses a passport!

Must be so good here nobody wants to leave

 

[istvan]

Originally posted by: gtd 2000

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

Now I've read this before elsewhere - you DO NOT ACTUALLY NEED A PASSPORT TO TRAVEL AT ALL.

This is from a LEGAL viewpoint. In practice most airlines etc will not let you on a flight without one so it's not worth trying to go without one

Did you know that the USA also has the lowest %age of the population of any country in the world that possesses a passport!

Must be so good here nobody wants to leave

I knew it, that's one of the reasons why a lot of people here don't even know where other countries are located in the globe.
They don't even care though so why blame them.
If you don't have a passport they won't let you get inside any country, that is if as you said you can get in the flight first with out it.

 

[Gnurb]

try to get a tour of google's new datacenter over there ...

 

[huesmann]

Fewer passports because there's more to see right here at home, no need to go elsewhere.

 

[MythSpell]

"I don't think any US citizen will go out of the country more often if they don't need a passport." You must be joking if you really believe that. There are millions of Americans who don't have a passport and absolutely will not go to the time, expense, and trouble of getting one. Between the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Carribbean there are thousands of vacation destinations that don't require a passport. And I guarantee you there are a ton of people who will only ever vacation in those spots so they don't have to bother with a passport. Furthermore, obviously there are a lot of procrastinators as well as impulse buyers in this country. Clearly any of those people without a passport can't jump on a deal like this or all the others where you only have a short time to take advantage of it.