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12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
 Perfect for what I needed and wanted... Apr 22, 2006
I was given the opportunity to speak at a user group meeting in Dublin this upcoming June, and I decided I didn't want to be completely ignorant about the country. While it won't be a touring vacation, I'd still like to know a bit more about where I'll be visiting. To that end, I received a review copy of Ireland for Dummies by Liz Albertson. It's a fun and easy read, and at least I won't be a *completely* stupid American tourist now.
Contents:
Part 1 - Introducing Ireland: Discovering the Best of Ireland; Digging Deeper into Ireland; Deciding When and Where to Go; Following an Itinerary - Four Great Options
Part 2 - Planning Your Trip to Ireland: Managing Your Money; Getting to Ireland; Getting around Ireland; Booking Your Accommodations; Catering to Special Travel Needs and Interests; Taking Care of the Remaining Details
Part 3 - Dublin and the East Coast: Dublin; Easy Trips North of Dublin - Counties Meath and Louth; Easy Trips South of Dublin - Counties Wicklow and Kildare; The Southeast - Counties Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary, and Kilkenny
Part 4 - Counties Cork and Kerry: County Cork; County Kerry
Part 5 - The West and the Northwest: Counties Limerick and Clare; County Galway - Galway City, The Aran Islands, and Connemara; Counties Mayo and Sligo; County Donegal
Part 6 - Northern Ireland: Counties Derry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone; Belfast and County Antrim; Counties Down and Armagh
Part 7 - The Part of Tens: Top Ten Traditional Irish Dishes and Drinks; The Top Ten Items to Buy in Ireland
Appendix: Quick Concierge
Index
For what I was looking for, this book was perfect. I'm not moving over there, nor was I looking for an in-depth discussion and critical analysis of Irish history and culture. I needed something that would give me an overall understanding of the country and the different areas. For instance, not having spent much time going beyond the nightly news, I didn't understand the relationship between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country. At least now I have a basic feel for the forces at play. I was also fascinated by the colorful history of the island over the centuries. It's amazing to think there are buildings and institutions there that are approaching a thousand years of existence. Makes the history of the United States look rather insignificant. If I were going to be headed off on my own for a week or so, the travel and sightseeing information here would be incredibly useful. Not only is there good information about what to see (and what possibly to avoid), the author also gives suggested amounts of time you might want to allocate towards a site. If you're thinking you might like to spend half a day somewhere and she suggests an hour, you might want to give your plans a second thought. I also liked a feature of this book that I haven't seen in others... They include a page of Dummies Post-It flags that you can use to tag important (to you) pages for further reference as you're traveling. A simple thing, but it makes the book even more valuable to take along and use on your trip.
My wife would like to visit Ireland and England one day, but not on the whirlwind schedule that this speaking trip will entail. When we *do* head back over there (and I'm sure we will), this book will be an essential part of our planning...
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Like Traveling With a Fun, Smart Friend Jan 28, 2006
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.
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Great for a first-time visit to Ireland Mar 23, 2005
If you can read only one book to decide what to see and do on your first trip to Ireland, "Ireland for Dummies" is an ideal choice.
I read carefully their descriptions of popular and off-the-beaten-path sights, and advice for first-time visitors to the Emerald Isle. This book earns high praise. I agree with the authors' priorities, and they cover the must-see places and must-do activities with style. Reading this book, I was ready to throw my passport and some clothes into a bag and head to Ireland again, myself.
In addition to raving about the sights that most American visitors will want to see, the general tone of the book is enthusiastic. The information is well arranged, including lists of sites that are close together so that you can make the most of your vacation in Ireland.
If you're traveling with children, this book will guide you to the most fun, must-see destinations for the entire family. Few guidebooks are this helpful and understanding of both children's and adults' interests.
At the back of "Ireland for Dummies," their guide to the "top ten" sights of Ireland and Northern Ireland is excellent. Their advice about shopping is another plus. Finally, their worksheets are a great idea, as you're planning your vacation. They'll help you avoid details that are easy to overlook, but might otherwise spoil a great vacation.
In addition, the maps in "Ireland for Dummies" are large and easy to read... and worth writing on and tearing out, to take with you on your trip. The glossaries are very good and provide quick reference for the most confusing terms when you travel.
This book is probably too bulky to pack in your suitcase, but--as I often recommend (and do myself)--tear out the sections that cover the areas that you plan to visit. Keep those handy on your trip for quick reference, and you'll have a grand vacation or holiday!
--reviewed by Eibhlin Morey, editor, "All Info About Ireland"
7 of 24 found the following review helpful:
 Not recommended Feb 11, 2005
This book is so full of errors that they are too many to list here. It really is a very bad source on Ireland that anyone who has any knowledge on Ireland would spot how bad it is. This is unfortunatley the type of book that gets publicity but is actually quite uninformed. If you want genuine information on Ireland and Irish culture I recommend that you go elsewhere.
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
An excellent resource Oct 30, 2002
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.
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