Frommer's Ireland 2003 [Paperback]

Suzanne Rowan Kelleher (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frommer's Complete Guides | Publication Date: January 17, 2003

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go -- they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Ireland features gorgeous color photos of the fishing villages, seaside cliffs, and quaint country pubs that await you. It's a highly personal guide that's fun to read and even more fun to use on the road. Our expert author offers insights into how to discover the real Ireland. You'll find complete details on lovely small towns, natural wonders, castles, literary landmarks, world-class golf courses, mysterious ancient ruins, and Dublin's cutting-edge nightlife. You'll even get a color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. At Frommer's, we use 150 outspoken travel experts around the world to help you make the right choices. Frommer's. Your guide to a world of travel experience.

Choose the Only Guide That Gives You:
* Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
* Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
* Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
* The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.

About the Author

Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a freelance travel writer and the former Europe Editor of Travel Holiday magazine. She has traveled extensively in Ireland, is married to an Irishman, and currently lives in county Dublin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 616 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 13 edition (January 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764566814
• ISBN-13: 978-0764566813
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,212,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Go Without It!, March 14, 2003

By 

Irish Flair (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Ireland 2003 (Paperback)

I am a huge Frommer's fan and will purchase the newest Ireland book before every trip there. I'm on my 6th trip and my 5th Frommer's Ireland book.

I love how the books are set up with nearly everything included; how to get there and get around, what you need to travel to Ireland, the money, top attractions, accommodations, shopping, night life, places to eat and (of course) to drink. There's even a new chapter dedicated to all things outdoors. Included for the attractions are accurate phone numbers, dates and hours places are open, up to date pricing and web sites.
Places to eat and stay are divided by price into categories; Very Expensive, Expensive, Moderate and Inexpensive.

For each major town, Frommer's includes basic facts (ie. tourist office location or where's the nearest pharmacy), sights to see, how to get around and a map. The lesser towns also have a list for interesting places to see, things to do, places to stay but usually no map.

The book starts with a `Best Of` list then moves on to all that you need to know to plan your trip. Use this list Best Of list to help you plan your trip, especially if you only have a limited time in the Emerald Isle.
New and improved are symbols that highlight Special Finds, Fun Facts, Especially for Kids, Overrated Places, Insider Tips and Great Values which are sprinkled throughout the book.
Also new is their star system. Very Expensive and Expensive places are listed from 1 to 3 stars, the other categories are 0 to 2 stars while attractions and regions get 0 to 3 stars. The lowest rating is still considered "recommended" so you just can't lose.

The next chapters go through Ireland county by county. The book concludes with Northern Ireland and all the same detailed information is listed for them. The appendix explores Ireland's history through modern times and it's language.

If you want to spend less money (and who doesn't these days?) or you're on a tight budget then get "Frommer's Ireland From $60 A Day, 19th edition". It has all the same information but with a bigger, better selection of less expensive places to eat and stay. It also let's you know where it would be worth your while to splash out if you'd like.

I really like the size of this Frommer's book, some other Name Guides I've tried to read are too small and want to flip closed all the time. Others have a lots of information but it's so packed onto small pages with no breaks or lists it's too hard to absorb or remember what you read about. Frommer's are just about right in my eyes. There are only about 8 color photos and these are at the beginning of the book. Do not buy this book for photos because you will be sorely disappointed. However, the amount of information contained within will keep this guide way up on the top of your list when planning or just dreaming your trip to Ireland.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Frommer's Ireland 2003, February 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Frommer's Ireland 2003 (Paperback)

This book is great. I plan to drive Ireland on my next trip and this book offered the best tip of all the books I have read. The website for AA of Ireland (ww.aaroadwatch.ie) is a goldmine. I can now get directions, distances, and times to use to plan my drive.

This book was also great with it's ratings of overrated sites, and recommended stops.

I have bought many guide books, but this one has jumped to the top of my list. I will not be leaving home without it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best information in a easy to read format, June 19, 2003

By 

Thomas Paine (AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Ireland 2003 (Paperback)

I will be taking my 6th vacation to Ireland this summer. I have used Birnbaum, Rough Guide, and Fodors. None come close to Frommers in giving me the information I most need. All the great places to see are easily found and marked. The hotels are truly gems in many price ranges and the dining recommendations are only second the the famous Egon Ronay Jameson Guide which unfortunately went out of print in 1997.

So if you like staying in hotels instead of youth hostels and b&bs,like eating really great food and don't want to follow the average tourist, go with this guide. Don't get me wrong you don't have to spend a fortune but the recommendations cater to the 2-4 star crowd. Works great for us.

The first review above is right on the money. And yes don't buy this is you are on a tour group and need something to read on the bus or want a lot of pictures of the places you might visit.