Greetings from Ireland!
Don't Be Shy....the Locals Are Friendly

Hello and welcome aboard the September 2007 issue of Deals and Tales, Authentic Ireland’s monthly sailing from port number two to wherever you happen to be. No compass required, just a swift tap of the Enter key. What ever did we do before the internet?

Anyway, this month we visit the Dingle Peninsula for our “When in” series, our 2008 vacations at 2007 prices special continues and there’s a new section devoted to readers’ tips, tricks, recommendations and stories. If you have some you would like to share, please send them to newsletter@authenticireland.com. The people have a right to know! Starting us off is Sue Andrewlevick from Atlanta, Georgia. She’s a regular Ireland visitor and by all accounts if knowledge of all things Irish was legal tender she’d be a very wealthy lady. Welcome aboard Sue!

But before all that a special weather update: it hasn’t rained in nine days straight! And the weatherman is predicting more of the same in the coming days. Hallelujah!

And off we go:

• Georgia Sue Says
• Specials – 2008 vacations at 2007 prices
• When in – Dingle
• Authentic Referral program
• Next issue: stuff to look forward to
• Admin: on/off this merry-go-round, small print, etc

As a fairly frequent traveler to Ireland, (1-2 times per year) I’ve found several places that, for me, are worth repeat visits.  Blarney Castle is one of these places; not for the thrill of contorting my out of shape body to kiss the stone & receive the gift of gab (which I seem to have an over-abundance of anyway), but for the beautiful park surrounding it.  It’s easy to spend at least a half day wandering the grounds, and taking pictures of the beautiful plant life!  Don’t forget to bring a flashlight and visit Badger Cave – located beneath the castle.  Another nice place is Torc Waterfalls just outside Killarney.  Even though my mom is older and uses a cane, she is still able to walk the relaxing trails here. If visiting for a week or two in the same area, we like to frequent the same 1 or 2 pubs.  This way we get to know the locals – and usually exchange emails / addresses, etc. for future visits! 

Every year we run this special and every year it is the most popular by far. And with good reason. Great savings can be made by booking your 2008 vacation before September 30, 2007. Every year the cost of bed and breakfasts, hotels, chauffeur hire and car rental increases. There’s nothing we can do about it. I believe they call it inflation and everyone seems to blame it on someone else. Unluckily for us we don’t find out how much those costs will increase until September each year. So anyone inquiring about a 2008 vacation between now and then receives a quote based on 2007 costs. Our special: we will honour the 2007 price on all 2008 vacations booked before September 30, 2007. This applies to all of our self-drive, chauffeur/group and golf tours.

And remember, a 20% deposit is all that is required to book. The balance you pay 60 days before you travel.

Once upon a time on a small island on the western fringes of a once mighty continent there was a town called Dingle. It was a place treasured by all who had the good fortune to have spent time there, for it was indeed a special place, blessed by bountiful seas, magnificent mountains, unnaturally friendly people, great food and some of the best pubs anywhere. No one knew what the name Dingle meant but it suited the jaunty nature of the place.

Then one day a meddlesome Government minister (is there any other kind?) decided the name of this rare town should be permanently changed to An Daingean. The name Dingle was deleted from every signpost on every road leading to the town. Intending visitors became confused and got lost. Outraged locals threw their arms up in despair. The Government minister straightened his tie, buttoned down his unsmiling face and refused to budge.

Despite the name change Dingle thankfully remains the same as it ever was. And that means you are in for a treat. In my humble opinion Dingle, and not Killarney, should be number one on the list of places you simply must visit while in Ireland.

Read our 13 step Authentic Guide to getting the most out of Dingle >

It's very simple. If you refer a friend to Authentic Ireland and they book a tour with us, you will be entitled to your choice of:

- $30 amazon.com voucher, or
- $50 per person off your next vacation booked through Authentic Ireland.
All your friend has to do is mention your name when booking, we'll take care of the rest.

Refer a Friend: Please Use the link at the bottom of this page to forward this newsletter to a friend!

Next month get a crash course in Irish and our “When in…” series continues as we travel to Ennis, Bunratty and East Clare. Each month in this series we will pick a town or city and make recommendations of things to see and do in the area, including picking the best local pubs and restaurants.

If you missed any previous issues they are available here: http://www.authenticireland.com/newsletter.htm

We welcome your feedback and opinions. Please send any comments or suggestions to newsletter@authenticireland.com. If there is any topic you would like us to cover, or you have a specific question about Ireland, just let us know and we will try to cover it in a future issue.

Well that's it for this month. We hope you enjoy the start of autumn and we will see you back here for another month of Travel Deals and Tales.

And just in case you had forgotten, whatever type of vacation you are interested in, Authentic Ireland can help. We specialize in custom Self-drive Vacations, Chauffeur / Group Tours, Escorted Coach Tours and Activity Vacations. We also have a dedicated team of golf experts ready to assist in organizing your ideal golf vacation. We also invite you to dream up your very own Ireland Vacation. We like a challenge. Whatever it is, we can make it happen.

All the best & happy travels,

The Newsletter Team
Authentic Ireland Travel
http://www.authenticireland.com
Toll-free (from U.S & Canada): 1-888-771-8350
Rest of World: 353-65-684-4941