Customer Rating:  
Summary: Disappointing
Comment: We bought Fodor's Ireland, and brought along the Rick Steve's guidebook as well. We found everything we wanted in Fodor's. In ten days we were helped exactly one time by the Rick Steve's. We thought we'd try it, as it came recommended by a friend, and bundled together on the Amazon page we thought it would make a good companion with our new Fodor's...no. I'll not use this guidebook again. We had everything we needed in the Fodor's. We both thought this was a waste of money, when we were looking for an invaluable resource for our car trip.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A good read even for an armchair traveler.
Comment: I just traveled to Ireland without leaving my chair - that's how I felt after reading this book front to back. I bought this book to learn more about Ireland, from a traveler's perspective. Rick Steves provides a good mix of history and detailed information suitable for travel planning and entertaining enough for the armchair traveler. I enjoy Rick Steves' programs and I plan to purchase more of his books.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must if you are traveling
Comment: Once again Rick has made what could have been a dry guide book interesting, fun, and full of information that travelers really want to know. It takes talent to write a book such as his, fun to read for the sake of reading.
I highly recommend Rick's series of Travel Guides. Buy them and enjoy even if you aren't trotting the globe.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Book for Ireland Ever
Comment: Rick Steves really takes you on the best trips around Europe. His descriptions are spot on and his maps are easy to follow. I would never use any other tour book when traveling.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rather a point of view
Comment: You have to hand it to Rick Steeves: he carved out a niche in the travel business by focusing on average travelers, and trying to make their journeys better than average with useful information. I agree with his overall philosophy that spending more money doesn't necessarily enhance one's experience. However, he often lapses into a disconcerting lecture -- never quite a rant -- about how Americans should be quiet, humble, considerate, etc. when they venture abroad. I for one could do without his preachy style. If I am considering a trip to Ireland, and have come as far as Steeves' guide for information, it stands to reason that I'm no yahoo who expects a "Top o' the mornin'" from Irish people, or a McDonalds in every town. There are some of us who are educated and curious travelers, just as there are boobs from Over There. But then, Steeves isn't writing a book to lecture European dolts, is he?
Aside from the overdone bits about how rude Americans are, Steeves curiously leaves out some wonderful sights in Ireland from his guidebook. I loved Bantry House, on the Beara Peninsula, but there's no mention of it. Likewise, he neglects the must-see island of Ilnacullen in Glengarriff, with its Italianate villa and gardens. He also missed niceties like the Avoca handweavers (great tea and scones on the go, upscale wearables, etc).
Some of his estimates for how many days to give each town were off. Kinsale rated two days. Though it's a small town, the harbor, fortress, wine shops and surrounding activities alone were worth a bit more time. I don't know anything about his B&B recommendations, other than the fact that his choices were 10-15 euros more expensive than my picks in the same regions, with not much lost in hospitality or cuisine. I realize you can't cover it all, but with the Internet being such a great source of info, it's hard to rely on just one book for accommodations. Experience is wisdom.
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