Lonely Planet Discover Ireland

Can I tell you that I absolutely love this book. Don't know if I will ever get to go to Ireland but this is a very detailed guide that will most assuredly help you out planning your trip. As a genealogist with my father's family coming from Ireland, this guide has been not only a great help to me but an eye opener also. You have beautiful regional maps, photos of famous places and things. Articles that explaign a bit about some of the ancient history of this rich and beautiful country are found in each chapter outlining each county and then the country itself. You can even pick from a listing of hotel's, eateries, pubs and such from the recommendations given. Prices are listed to help you plan with the $$$ aspect of making your trip easier on you while you are there. Actually this book is just short of a book of all things. It lists phone codes, currency exchanges, transport, traveling with disabilities and ever so much more. This is one item I would say is a must have for anyone planning a holiday in Ireland.

First, I must say that I have not tested this book out by going to Ireland. Due to mobility disabilities, my travel is from the armchair. But this book has great detail for those who do make the trip, and plenty for us armchair folk, too. The book is packed, but also portable, and you would certainly want to take it along on the trip. It has addresses, phone numbers, dates, and so very much more! It includes a very readable chapter on Irish history, definitely valuable. It also has a brief section on Irish social skills and how to behave in a pub! There are LOTS of pubs in Ireland. There is tremendously gorgeous scenery, and many ancient structures--as ancient as 4000 years or more. The book includes many, many color photos that inspire great wonder. The authors of this book did a tremendous job, with a great deal of travel to get the details right. They tell you what to do ahead of your trip. They give a variety of suggested trip routes. They cover the entire country, and point out that it is now safe to visit Northern Ireland. If you are interested in current-day Ireland, this book will certainly interest you. And if you're going there, it's a must-have!

I am a good test case for this book. I have been immune to the purported charms of Ireland, despite Irish ancestory, despite pictures and stories from family who have gone, despite travel to other parts of Europe. My reason has been that Ireland has seemed boring to me. (Unfair, maybe even callow, but that has been my feeling.) So, when I got this book, I wanted to know if the Discover Ireland guide book could do more than relate facts, could it entice? I am happy to report that this is an excellent guide. My wife says that it is a bit light and buzzy, but I think that this book touches on a wide variety of places to go, experiences to have. The pictures are excellent, and the prose is sharp. I was able to find good archaeological ruins that I suddenly feel I need to see, food I want to taste, and a sense of what a trip would be like. in this modern era, we all use the interent for fine tuning trip plans, but this book is an excellent start, and it left me wanting more... a trip!

Because this travel guide is a collaboration, I believe it's going to be a great resource. I am a frequent visitor to the Emerald Isle and have always relied on "Rick Steve's" travel books. Recently however a friend gave me a copy of this book and I was amazed at the wealth of knowledge it contained. I loved the way it was color coded and organized (I was able to head directly to the Pub's and Music section) and the inclusion of information from locals. While I won't give up my Rick Steve's on my next trip this Lonely Planet book will definitely be along for the ride.

I got this as a gift for a friend of mine who has been to Ireland and she loved it. The book divides Ireland into 7 different areas(Northern Ireland, Kilkenny & the Southeast, etc) then gives an index based on what areas you plan on visiting or want to read about. Everything is color coded so finding things is very easy. Northern Ireland is highlighted in pink so just flip the book to the pink area and its everything about Northern Ireland you want to know. Each sections has topics that include the 'don't miss list' with pictures of each area, a section of 'dangers and annoyances' which tell you areas to avoid which i feel is VERY helpful and not included in many other travel guides that i've seen. Its comprehensive and thorough in my opinion and i would definitely buy one of these before traveling to any of the places this publisher has guides for.