That Could
Be You!
SO, YOU'RE HEADED
TO IRELAND
Whether it is your first Rick Steves' tour, or your fourth, the Heart of Ireland in 8 Days Tour offers an array of activities suited for the lone traveler, or the family pack. The glory of Rick Steves' Tours begins through the customizable nature of the itinerary. If you like to stick to the book, let the wonderfully suited experts lead you and your group around by the nose. Or, if you'd rather, pick and choose which activities are best suited to your tastes; and go off on your own. After all, it is your own adventure!
THE BASICS
From weather to walking, it is important to know what you are getting yourself into.
Here's a list of the most important things to know.
Weather
Wow! Talk about rain. I don't think anyone in my family was prepared for the inclement weather despite what the Rick Steves website suggests. We found a majority of our days to be chilly and rainy.
Pro Tip: A cheap and compact
umbrella may be your best friend!
Check the weather forecast for rain!
Walking
Walking is a vital part of any Rick Steves' tour you will take. While the days range in walking distance, a solid pair of shoes can make the overall journey more enjoyable.
Rick Steves' Website suggests that the activity level is moderate. Personally, there were enough "stop and stares" along the way to make the walking journey managable. If you are not a fan of walking much at all, this is the tour for you. The majority of the time spent traveling was on our group bus equipped with USB ports to charge your phones and a small restroom if you're desperate. Our tour guides gave light commentary on the bus while playing thematic music. The max walking day to day did not exceed an average of 4-6 miles.
Least
Active
Most
Active
Room and Board
We moved around a LOT during this tour. It was exciting to experience different hotels (my favorite being our short stop in Kilkenny) and meet the wonderful staff. A few of my pro tips might help you with your overnight stays if you plan on journeying to Ireland.
Sleep Masks and Snore Guards! Be courteous to yourself and others; if you know you snore, double check to make sure your snore guard is packed before leaving your home (dad, I'm talking to you). If you're sensitve to light or noise at night, bring a sleep mask and ear plugs! Your roommate may like staying up late to facetime friends back home (cough, cough... dear brother, your girlfriend can wait until the morning). Be flexible and be thoughtful.
Pack Light! Some of the older hotels you might stay in have the possibility of having no elevators. Ooo, scary! No matter your reason, you may be unable to haul your luggage to your floor (or from your room to the bus). Some tips of the trade include: scouting a strong tour member to help you carry your luggage, asking the nice front desk people for assistance, or just living out of the lobby (the couches are really comfortable)! While the last option may seem ridiculous, hedge your bets by packing light. Not only will this make for an easier carry, but it also may help keep your room in order. Fewer clothes = less mess = quicker move!
Wall Adaptors and Voltage Converters! Picture this, you are 20 and in Ireland for the first time ever. Will you meet Niall Horan? Probably not. You're worried your hair will get frizzy from the rain, so you pack your hair dryer and round brush. You get out of the shower, plug in your hair dryer, and boom! Not literally. Come to find out that you not only need a wall adaptor for your phone charger, but also a proper voltage converter for any 120+V electronic. The whole trip, my hair was way too frizzy because I totally did not know that was a necessary tool for travelling abroad. Make sure you do your research into the voltage in your hot tools and bring the necessary convertors.
MY OWN PICTURES
Rick's Advice Column
Jess'
Q: It's my first Rick Steves' Tour, how do you suggest I manage the time change?
Time changes can be tricky. While your body is begging you to take a nap, your heart tells you it wants to explore the city. Since you'll only be in Ireland for the first time once, I suggest you listen to your heart. If you need an extra beat, consider booking an additional day before the start of the tour to give yourself time to rest when your body says to, and slowly adjust your internal clock. Make sure to do your research before hand, though. My family and I booked a whole day in advance in Ennis, only to find out that the whole city was "closed." We had nothing to do-- no car, no shops that are open, and slim pickings for restaurants. While my body appreciated the sleep, once I was awake I was left wanting for the tour to start. We did have time to walk off our jet lag (and get lost in the beautiful neighborhoods) after waking. We ate at a cafe inside of a grocery store (surprisingly good)! With my dad's birthday coming up, we also sought out a birthday cigar (to no avail). If you find yourself in this situation, make the most of it and relax before your tour begins!
Q: When we are given "free" time to grab our own meals, where do I even begin?
While your tour guide may be a great source; one even better is the people of the city. Don't be afraid to ask someone (preferably not a fellow tourist) where their favorite bite to eat is located.
However, this is my advice column, so here it is: The Bank on College Green in Dublin. When you do arrive to Dublin in the last days of the tour, make time to sit at the top floor of the bank for a beautiful atmosphere. Pro tip? Why of course. When ordering your meal (I opted for a DELICIOUS seafood chowder with homemade Guinness brown bread-- I highly recommend) find time to use the restroom. You may be thinking: "Jess what?" Trust me. Don't use the restroom on the main floor (the one you came in on), but instead, find your way to the far back left corner staircase. Follow it all the way to the bottom for a once in a life time chance to pee in a safety deposit box! I know it sounds weird, but it is so cool-- they don't call it The Bank for nothing! The ex- bank turned restaurant converted old safes into women's and men's restrooms. There are (fake) gold blocks lying around too. Definitely worth the flight of stairs as you kill time waiting on the best bread ever.
Q: When we are given a "free" evening, how do I fill my time?
When thinking ahead to possible breaks in the group tours, make sure to plan and book in advance any activities you may want to do. Most things worth doing have a long booking waitlist. My suggestion? Get ice cream at the Cliffs of Moher, go to the farmers' market in the morning at Kilkenny (and source yourself fresh fruits for breakfast like I did), or get ice cream again at Kevin's in Glendalough! Can you tell I love ice cream? In all seriousness, ice cream is almost at every stop in Ireland; I suggest taking full advantage. Bar hopping or pub hopping is also a major draw, after all, this is Ireland. The Temple Bar Pub is a great stop in Dublin if you don't mind a rowdy and cramped crowd. The live traditional Irish music makes it worth it though!
Q: How on EARTH do I pack light? Does this mean no hair dryer?
A friend once shared with me that when traveling, he would buy a cheap pack of underwear from his local store and throw away each pair rather than having to drag dirty underwear back to the states. His reasoning was that this way-- his suitcase would be more open for souvenirs. While this may have worked for him (and it might work for you), personally, I didn't bite. Packing cubes can be your best friend! The relatively cheap and flexible cube seems redundant. However, when you've never been tasked with packing only a carry on suitcase for a 7 day trip, allocating a specified cube to shirts, pants, underwear, et cetera may help reduce your load. And yes, this does include leaving room for your hair dryer (and your converter)! After all, you may just meet Niall. If you're still full, it's important to keep in mind that washers and dryers are available (if not in your hotel) around the city. You could pay a cheap fare to wash and rewash the same few outfits. Google maps is your friend, but more importantly, so is your tour guide. She/he will definitely know where these amenities are offered. In Dingle, the bed and breakfast we stayed at offered full service laundry for a fair price! Regardless of pack load, though, you may want to pay a little extra for this laundry service. My jeans and t-shirt got completely soaked during our stay at Dingle! Definitely worth the wash and dry (key word dry).