How to Tour Ireland & Wales
If you are in the mood for travel and want to see the British Isles, consider tours of Wales and Ireland. Whether you are in a group, traveling with a friend or a spouse, or go alone, touring Wales and Ireland is not difficult. You can rent a car, take a train or travel in a touring coach with other tourists. Seeing Ireland and Wales takes very little preparation for an American, as the residents of both Ireland and Wales speak English. It is important to find proper accommodations and to plan your itinerary carefully so you get the most out of your touring experience.
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Instructions
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Prepare for your trip to Ireland and Wales by learning a bit of the local language. Wales and Ireland have more than one official language. In Wales, it's Welsh and in Ireland, Irish Gaelic. The Welsh consider it a polite gesture on the part of tourists to try to speak a bit of their own language. Teach yourself the basics.
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Take a train tour of Ireland and Wales. Purchase a Flexi Pass rail ticket at the train station and plan your itinerary based on the train routes available. Round-trip tickets from London to Wales with four days of unlimited travel are available at any mainline train station in Wales or Ireland.
Ask if the Flexi Pass you have covers bus fare as well as they usually do. These passes also get you a significant discount for entry into castles, Welsh historical sites and all National Trust Sites.
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See Welsh castles. Wales has more castles per capita than any other country in Europe. Make plans to catch Caernarvon Castle, Harlech Castle and Beaumaris Castle, which is considered Wales' finest castle.
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Utilize your time in Ireland and Wales to buy some of the finest wares in the world including Waterford Crystal in Ireland and Portmerion China in Portmerion, Wales. Most shops offer outstanding discounts as well as factory seconds at deeply discounted prices that are rarely available in America.
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Ask at the local bus station if local tours are available in the area. The British and Irish government sponsor low-cost tours available through the local bus service that are arguably the best-kept secret in British travel. Most cost less than 15 pounds for round-trip fare.
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Take the ferry to get between Wales and Ireland and back again. Ferry reservations are easy to make online and leave from Holyhead to Dublin and from Rosslare to Pembroke. Ferry rides offer you a chance to take in the coastline for a minimal price and avoid having to book an additional flight from one country to the other.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are not sure of what to do or where to stay, ask at the local pub. The locals are able to tell you the best accommodations for the lowest price and can recommend out-of-the-way interesting tourist attractions that aren't necessarily included in your tour book.
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- Photo Credit North Wales, Snowdonia image by Andrew Miller from Fotolia.com
