"Irish Odyssey" with CIE Tours International

We highly recommend CIE Tours International (10 Park Place, Ste. 510, Morristown, NJ 07962-1965; 800/338-3964, www.cietours.com). We did their 12-day “Irish Odyssey” coach tour, May 19-30, 2007.

What really sold us on CIE was their “no options” policy. The cost of our tour was about $1,640 per person, land, and they did not ask us for extra money for dinners, tours, etc. We are getting weary of most tour companies asking for several hundred per person over and above the original tour price. Our price included an over-55 discount that is given on some tours.

Our driver/guide, Paddy, was extremely competent, knowledgeable about his Ireland and humorous. He took care of our needs. The hotels were excellent; some, I felt, could have been rated 4-star. Each meal was delicious. In fact, other than on a cruise, these were the best meals we have had on a tour yet.

This was a good time to go, as the weather was fairly mild and the tourist season was not in full swing.

We are glad we included a tour that went to Northern Ireland, as we got a better understanding of their recent troubles.

We spent nine nights on our own in the Dublin area of Ireland before the tour started and we felt it really gave us a chance to talk to and interact with the local people, who are some of the most friendly we have encountered in our many travels. Dublin is safe and, using the hop-on/hop-off bus or any public transportation, is an easy walking city.

We liked staying in the Temple Bar area. I highly recommend the restaurant Bruno’s (Eustace St., Temple Bar, Dublin 2; phone/fax 6706767, www.brunosdublin.com). Their mussels are to die for; that was an appetizer, which was way more than enough, costing €9 (near $13). In fact, all the seafood in Ireland was wonderful. At Bruno’s we also had a delicious salad of figs, nuts and goat cheese for €6. Main courses ran €14-€24, with a bargain early-bird 3-course meal for €22 ($31).

We went to Newgrange, a burial site that is older than the pyramids, with Mary Gibbons Tours (Dublin 1, Dublin; phone +353 1 2839973). This site should not be missed. The tour price was €35 ($49), which was collected on the bus. We had our hotel make the reservations for us, but in summer I think it would be wise to make them yourself before you leave for Ireland.

Anyone wanting more information on our CIE tour or the Dublin area can e-mail me at zent@crcwnet.com.

PAM ZENT

Chelan, WA