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Tis
THE GREEN SEASON
aND
THAT MEANS
MY IRELAND!
This year, AAA Travel has
teamed with CIE Tours, a
long-time Ireland tour operator, to bring you a wide range of
excursions, ranging from the ubiquitous coach tour to the Deluxe
Chauffeur-Drive or a self-drive trip. All escorted
trips are in air-conditioned coaches with guide,
and include complimentary insurance, hotel service charges and
porterage for one suitcase each. As you examine the options, keep in
mind that seniors 55 and over save $100 p/person on select departures.
All rates are land only, but AAA Travel promises further savings when
you book air and land together.
TASTE OF IRELAND from $698
p/person double for a 6-, 7-, or 8-day coach tour. I like this because  it
includes the Ring of Kerry, an unforgettable experience that truly
describes the Emerald Isle. You'll cover the southern half of Ireland,
beginning in Dublin, on to Killarney and the breathtaking
Cliffs of Moher, kissing the Blarney Stone along the way. Yes, there's
a riotous Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle, complete with music and
step dancing ...and I hope the tour of Muckross Gardens still includes
a
ride on those classic horse-drawn carts.
INDEPENDENT
IRISH SPIRIT. This 8-day trip
can be self-drive for two in a
Hertz Economy car with unlimited mileage and a navigation system, or in
a minibus for larger groups, with driver provided. Cost: from $588
p/person double. Pick up your car in Dublin after a free open-top bus
tour of the city and a pint of that famous product served at Guinness
Storehouse. The route continues south to Killarney, Ring of Kerry,
Galway and Connemara's eerie karst country where colorful gems are
mined. You'll stay in pre-booked first class hotels and enjoy a hearty
Irish breakfast at each stop. A map, guidebook and a coupon booklet
offering 50% reductions to major attractions are also part of the
package. I've driven across Ireland and the roads are good, although
directions
sometimes appear after
the intersection. They do drive on the left, and country roads are
often devoid of shoulders. If you get lost, everyone is helpful
in sending you back on track...after much group discussion, something
like that hilarious scene from The
Quiet Man.
IRELAND
CHAUFFEUR-DRIVE, from $2,268
p/person double, is the ultimate
way to go if you want to choose your own stops, avoid the bus group
herding, and are not too comfortable with that left side driving.
Travel in a
sedan for two, a larger car for four, or a minibus for groups of ten or
more. Pick-up is at either Shannon or Dublin airports, or anywhere you
designate in Ireland. Package includes a professional driver/guide;
pre-booked hotels as required; comprehensive insurance, gas, tolls and
parking fees; as well as all the other perks mentioned in the
Independent Irish Spirit tour.
BRITISH
& IRISH GRANDEUR is a
15-day coach tour from $2,598 p/person
double that really shows you around the British Isles. Cabaret evenings
in Edinburgh and Dublin; historic walks around York and Derry; London
and Dublin open-top bus tours; Blarney Castle; Waterford Crystal
factory; Bath; Stonehenge; ferry crossings at Northern Ireland and
South Wales add to the excitement of this grand tour.
www.AAA.com/vacations
PEDALING
AROUND EUROPE
...what's new in 2010
Thinking of
postponing that Europe trip as too expensive? Here's a change in plans.
Spend some time toning up your muscles. Then do the
continent on a bicycle
tour. This is a great opportunity to meet the people, absorb the
culture,
get some exercise and keep from putting a serious strain on your
budget....and Bike Tours Direct is the company to get you motivated.
2010 EUROPE CYCLE TRIPS
…more than 100 tours under $1,000 per week:
Danube Bike Path follows well-signed, nearly flat dedicated
bike paths through vineyards and medieval towns from Passau, Germany,
to Vienna.
Mosel Bike Path starts in the 2,000 year old city of Trier through Germany’s best-known wine growing region with visits
to castles and medieval towns. Self-guided, 6 nights, less than $600.
In Tuscany, cyclists experience the “Italian jewel” of
landscape and culture riding amid castles and hilltop villages,
vineyards and olive groves. Add to that the incredible food!
Loire Valley by Bike meanders through France's peaceful Loire
Valley with its vineyards, chateaux, quiet villages and medieval towns.
Inn and Ziller Valleys
supplies
the comfort of returning to just one
hotel base after
each day’s tour through the Tyrol's flat roads. Beautiful little towns along the river Inn
are like pearls on a chain, and always the majestic mountains as
background. Self-guided, 7 days for under $600.
The
company's roster includes more than 200 tours from
Tuscany to Transylvania. Highlights in the week-long category are "Castles of Transylvania" for $700;
the "Island of Cypress" at
$850; and a bike-and-boat tour from Venice to Mantua, Italy, for $1,050
per person. Probably one of the best values is "Wine and Bike" in Hungary's Balaton
Uplands. Included are seven nights lodging, two ride-along
guides, support van, all meals and unlimited wine at dinner...all for
under $1,000.
Few regions in Europe offer as much for cyclists as the Balaton Uplands
National Park: quiet countyside, a picturesque lake, traditional
villages, medieval towns, ripening vineyards. Along the way, stop for
wine tastings in ancient cellars, meet the winemakers in family
vineyards, be entertained by folk dancers and experience local culture
and traditions. Self-guided tours of this area start daily, including
lodging, luggage transfers, very specific route information and a
service hotline.
Bike Tours Direct is a one-stop
resource for all types of cycling
jaunts detailing destination preferences, duration and degree of
difficulty. The website lists offerings from 38 of Europe's major cycle
tour companies, and helps you find the one best suited to your
expectations. Many are appropriate for families and novice cyclists.
You will also find helpful advice and travel tips, from how to choose a
tour to what type of clothes and gear to pack. www.biketoursdirect.com
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