Discount airfare to ireland

Travel Advice - Ireland tours offer options for travelers

Q: My husband and I just turned 70. This past September, we went on a 10-day European cruise with our son and his wife. Had a wonderful time. They did their thing, took sightseeing trips together, and we met nightly for dinner on the ship. We got along fine.

Now our son would like us to accompany them to Ireland in May. They want to rent a car and do the bed-and-breakfast thing. That's fine for the young folks, but I am diabetic, take insulin and need to plan my days and meals on time so no problems arise. Also, the packing and unpacking would be tiresome for us. However, the thought of Ireland thrills us.

Are there trips where you can stay at a hotel for a few days and visit places in the area, then move on to a different place and do the same thing? Are there any guided tours that start in the States and do the above mentioned?

What would you suggest? Maybe something I have not mentioned. We do not want to be a drag on the young folks. They are kind to even want us with them.

Is May a good time to visit Ireland? What is the weather like? What type clothing? - J.A., Pembroke Pines

A: I like your idea of staying at the same hotel for a few days, sightseeing in the area, then moving on to another hotel and repeating the process. It is easy to arrange that kind of trip.

Since your son and his wife want to see Ireland by car, don't bother looking for guided tours, which I predict they won't like. On one Web site, www.shamrock.org, I found 16 companies that offer independent self-drive vacations in Ireland. They typically include round-trip airfare from the United States, a list of eligible bed- and-breakfasts, "full Irish breakfasts" and a rental car (stick shift that can be upgraded). Various perks include discount books, included Value Added Tax and third-party car insurance.

I clicked on "Go as you please" packages from CIE Tours, one of Ireland's biggest tour operators, (800) 243-8687 or www.cietours.com. In addition to the basic B&B stays (CIE lists 2,200 of them), you could choose "castle and country house" accommodations, or one that would suit you well: Self-drive and stay at a selection of hotels all over the country. The hotels are pictured on the Web site, pleasant- looking places in Killarney, Cork, Shannon, Waterford, Galway, Limerick and Kilkenney, among others. You can take the day trips with your son and daughter-in-law or take a day off at the hotel.

Ireland's government travel guide includes a section full of self- drive touring ideas, often circle drives you can do in a day and return that night to the same hotel. Order a vacation kit that includes the guide/vacation planner by phoning Tourism Ireland, (800) 223-6470, or on the Web at www.ire-landvacations.com.

Ireland's climate is mild: It's 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, spring and fall in the 50s, winter in the 30s. It rains a lot, keeping Ireland very green. Dress is casual; electricity is 240 volts, so take a converter if you have appliances.

Money savers: You can get senior citizen discounts, usually 10 percent for ages 55 and over; carry your passport for proof of age and photo ID. Watch for Tourist Menu signs in restaurant windows, a sort of blue-plate special of typical dishes.

Among the other tour operators on the independent self-drive vacation list: Brendan Worldwide Vacations, (800) 421-8446; Brian Moore International Tours, (800) 982-2299; Celtic Tours, (800) 833- 4373.

- Jean Allen welcomes questions about travel. Send them to her at the Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301- 2293. Personal replies are not possible.