Off-Season Travel

Over the last few weeks I received a few e-mails with the question whether specific months were good for traveling to (and in) Ireland. Good question. And best answered with a definite "maybe".

Ireland's tourist season runs from, roughly, Saint Patrick's Day or Easter to the October Bank Holiday. From November to mid-March the whole island goes into hibernation. Well, sort of - many B&Bs and rural guesthouses close down, a number of attractions drastically curb their opening times or shut down completely. True, many seasonal "attractions" open for Christmas, but apart from a few exceptions they are downright tacky. Think "Santa's Grotto" in the most down-at-heel shopping mall you can imagine.

But quite honestly - the time between November and March is great for experiencing Ireland.

Why? Well, first of all you will have many attractions for yourself. The best visit I ever had to the Hill of Tara was on a crisp winter morning, watching the sun rise, standing all alone next to the lia fail. And some decidedly unimpressed sheep.

Then there are the prices - with competition heating up and not that many tourists to fleece out and about. Suddenly the cost of flights, rental cars, overnight stays, meals and even entry fees drop as if by magic.

On the downside you have the Irish winter weather ... but as this generally only means a small drop in temperatures it is quite manageable.

So why not head for Ireland outside the season. You might see more at leisure and pay less. And even if days are considerably shorter (currently it gets really murky at 3 pm), planning ahead will ensure you hit a museum at those times. Or enjoy a glorious early sunset at the Cliffs of Moher or (even better) Slieve League.

Photo © 2003 Bernd Biege licensed to About.com, Inc.