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choosing tour companies for day tours

British Columbia...
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choosing tour companies for day tours
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Just over one week until we arrive in Ireland!!

It seems a safe bet to wait and book day tours when we arrive in Galway to check the weather, but still wondering which company itineraries are the best for the price. We want to go to the Cliffs with Arran Island July 17 and Connemara the 18th. I've narrowed my choice down to Galway Tours or Wild Atlantic Way. Galway Tour Company seems popular, a little more pricey but is it worth it? I'm not sure the tours are very different to the Cliffs / Island. Connemara tours sound quite different with Galway tours going to Ross Errily Friary and Cong / Ashford Castle. Wild Atlantic Way going to Pearse's Cottage, Spiddal , Clifden and Sky Road. There are other differences listed but I am not at all familiar with the area so not sure what the difference will be. Seeing cute towns and getting off the main roads is great. If both offer great scenery and sites, I'd go with the least pricey. Any advice?

ALSO, where do we find the office for each tour company - I think Galway Tours is close to the bus station. What about Wild Atlantic Way? I also may want to get tickets for their Carrib cruise.

Thanks!

Galway, Ireland
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1. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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Dont know who WA Tours are. GTC office is on Forster St. The tourist office opposite the coach station offers tours by all companies such as Healy and Lally tours too.

Western Ireland...
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for Connemara, County Clare, Portumna
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2. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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WA tours have been getting a lot of press on TA forum as a smaller tour option.

The Burren and 2 ways Cliffs tour with Inis Oirr has been a successful new introduction this year.

The Main tour operators are generally the way I advise to go unless you want a private tour. I also advise the tours of Connemara which include Kylemore Abbey.

Corrib cruises from Oughterard has been going for a long long time, first sailing of this season was last weekend. http://www.corribcruises.com/

North Carolina...
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3. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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I highly recommend Ireland West Tours http://www.irelandwesttours.com/

It is a private tour and while the cost may seem high it is worth every penny. Jim will pick you up at your hotel and customize the day based on your interests. You can spend as much or as little time at your stops and you will get to some hidden gems. He is a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful person. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him.

British Columbia...
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4. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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THanks to all!

Do you think its best just to go to the tourist office and book everything, including the corrib cruise? And is the dock for that cruise a reasonable walk from city center?

As for the Connemara trip - is the Ross Errily Friary and Visit to Cong / Ashford Castle worth using the GTC versus travelling through Spiddal, Roundston and Sky Road with a smaller group?

So little time there, so want to be ready to hit the ground running and have everything decided ahead of time!

Western Ireland...
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for Connemara, County Clare, Portumna
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Only you can decide what you want to see. Connemara takes 2 days on my itineraries one day to Clifden one day from Clifden and even then you have to mix and match what options to take. Corrib Princess from Galway http://www.corribprincess.ie/ is different to the Corrib cruise from Oughterard linked on my previous answer which has the options of St Patrick's isle or Ashford/Cong.

New York
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6. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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http://www.fahertytours.com/ very good. We enjoyed Galway tour company,

British Columbia...
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Thanks so much!

Galway, Ireland
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8. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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There's so much to see yet they all blaze though Connemara. I see it so often as I cycle out in Connemara. Ross Errilly is unmissable in my opinion.

British Columbia...
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Thanks Damian. I wish we could spend several days there - but the day tours will just give us a taste of what we need to come back for another time! =)

Galway, Ireland
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10. Re: choosing tour companies for day tours
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You're welcome BusybeaverCanada, I didn't mean to sound disparaging towards the day tour companies. if you are determined to get to Ross Errilly, the Galway Tour Company have this on their rota.

But if you are in town for a few days then you could easily take the short bus ride up to Headford and walk over to the site. It's well signposted. I've actually cycled up from Galway lol

If this works (the bus not the cycle :-) then I would go with Wild Atlantic Way Day Tours.

http://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/1497009176-456.pdf

Enjoy Connemara, it's stunning at the minute.

Edited: 6 years ago
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