Off the Beaten Track

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By: tdolson on November 22, 2005 - 7:33pm
I had lots of expectations built up about how beautiful Ireland would be, how friendly and fun.  If I had just stayed in Dublin, I might  have left Ireland disappointed.  Instead we took the whole family on an "adventure tour."  We found the tour through their website: http://www.vagabond-ireland.com
Our guide was a hilarious Irish guy who truely knew the most beautiful, out of the way places on the Iveragh, the Beara and, yes, the Dingle Peninsulas. We saw ancient manner houses and castles and stone circles.  We saw the most breathtaking vistas where the sea and mountains met.  I feel so jealous of the sheep and cows who live on the hillsides with those views every day.
 

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Perfect!
By: leelefever on November 22, 2005 - 7:57pm
This is a great example of the kind if thing we're looking for. It's specific and points to the resource we can use. Thanks a bunch tdolson! We plan to be in Ireland in the late-summer of 2006. A follow up: Do you remember the name of the tour guide? :) We've found that the specific people can make all the difference.
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I went on a Vagabond tour
By: Sean Rinstead (not verified) on January 16, 2006 - 2:45pm
I went on a Vagabond tour too and had a fantastic time, my guide was a guy called Dave and he was superb. His knowledge was unbelievable (apparently all Vagabond guides are at least psot graduates and i think Dave studied history or english) and he was really funny too. Again we went to some amazing palces and really saw and did things that other people were missing out on. Plus Dave was totally professional throughout the trip and nothing was ever a problem - he would go out of his way to organise anything. Actually it seemed very well organised generally. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
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Hey I'm traveling to Ireland
By: J (not verified) on May 14, 2006 - 6:20am
Hey I'm traveling to Ireland alone and I'm thinking about going on a vagabond tour....I want to get away from tourist places, a pre-packaged feel, and drunk 18 year olds.  Just looking for a genuine, fun, unique, experience with some interesting smart people who know how to have fun.  What kinds of people go on Vagabond?  Thanks
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glad to help--take me with you?
By: Terry Dolson (not verified) on November 22, 2005 - 8:24pm
guess you are online now too : ) Our guide was Mark Connelly. He is the author of "The Rough Guide to Ireland" (here is the link to it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1858286905/103-4516708-0685426?v=glance... ) Mark was working for Vagabond tours at the time, and may still be though he was finishing an advanced degree at a University in Wales. Rob Rankin, the owner of Vagabond, is also a guide and chooses guides very carefully. Late summer is a beautiful time to be there--we went last July. Dublin will be crammed with people from all over the planet on vacation, but that is interesting in its way too! My sons recommend the tour of Kilmainham jail and my husband and I recommend the Guiness Brewery tour : ) No, seriously, it was unusual and fun! So, if you do make it to Dublin... We were disappointed by the pubs in Dublin--too loud, crazy and not enough good traditional music. But not a single part of our trip to the south and west was disappointing. I hope you'll get a chance to experience it. I am more than a little wistful now and wishing we could go back ourselves. But the job, the kids, etc. I look forward to hearing about your travels and living vicariously! td
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