Ireland for Dummies (R)

I think this book will be very handy for my first trip to Ireland. It really gives lots of hints for people going alone, not involved with a tour.

As a fairly frequent traveler to Ireland, I appreciate a lively, well-researched guide with a real "feel" (and love) for the country, and this is it! I love the style. The writing is breezy and fresh, chock-full of sharp observations and savvy tips. We're already using the guide to plan our next trip.

If you want to plan a great trip with a minimum of hassle, this book won't steer you wrong. This is a great guide to use if you don't have the time or energy to sift through a dense 600-plus page book. We used it on a recent one-week trip to Ireland and thought the hotel & restaurant recommendations were great, and the sightseeing info was all very helpful and accurate. We also liked the worksheets that help you sketch out a budget and itineraries.I don't think it's fair to compare this book to a Rough Guide, as other reviewers have -- it's like complaining that your pocket Webster's doesn't have as many words as the OED. If you're looking for a totally comprehensive tome that covers every little detail in every corner of the country this isn't the book for you, but you probably guessed that from the title. There is more than enough information here for a one or two week trip to see the highlights of Ireland (both the Republic and Northern Ireland). The lively, humorous tone the book takes is refreshing, and makes the book actually fun to read. There's lots of general travel information that's helpful and reassuring if you don't travel overseas frequently, and lots of resources for anyone who wants to hunt down Irish ancestors.

I traveled to Ireland right after college. Of course this meant that I had little to no money. I looked through everything I could find online and bought a few books and this book by far was the most helpful. It told what were the "must sees" in Ireland that allowed me to get a healthy overview of the country and a memorable trip in only a week. I agree with some other reviews that it doesn't go into too much depth, but it was my first time in Ireland and I had 7 days, so depth was not an option. The most appreciated part of this book was the detailed directions to all sites. Trust me, when you're used to street signs, Ireland roads can be tricky to navigate. Unless you're spending a month on the Isle, I say buy this book.

You dont have to be a dummy to grab this book...whether your of Irish descent or have been to Ireland before...this book gives you all youll ever need to know about Ireland from its history to the popular touristy places and more...it has many pubs covered all over Ireland including Northern Ireland...you cannot go without this book...