The I’s have it! That is Iceland, and Ireland
It always struck me as weird that so many countries’ names begin with the letter I. It was great when we played geography as children, but rarely did we actually know where Iceland was and Ireland was, of course, to us, part of England. Well both of these island nations make terrific women-friendly places and since the population speaks English in both, making new friends is easy. Iceland has become more affordable since the collapse of the banking system and the resulting devaluation of its currency. Ireland is pricey but also falling with the Euro’s tumble, but since you can eat cheaply , and the airfare is low, it helps to make the visit economic
Here is a personal evaluation of what each of these countries offers women tourists.
Iceland
A good way to get a taste of Iceland is to take an Icelandair 4/5 night weekend to Reykjavik, the capital. The flight is short: between 4 and 5 hours. A cheap weekend will include air from one of Icelandair’s limited gateways, good 3 and 4 star hotels, transfers from the airport and usually breakfast- a hearty buffet affair. I recommend you choose a hotel that is either in town or has a free shuttle; food is pricy in Iceland and you will want choices of cheaper places to eat. Even a 3 star will be ok in Iceland. Take the city tour, and the Golden Circle tour, plus a mandatory dip in the steamy Blue Lagoon which is near the airport.
Some people do a free stopover if using Icelandair as their European airline. With a free stopover, you might be able to catch a Blue Lagoon dip also if your stopover is long enough. This is a country for scenery people; there is not much else in the way of museums or art that we know. Great horseback riding, walking and birding. Iceland is the ‘truckstop’ for many Atlantic birds. Check seasons for migrations if this is your passion. Viking history is quite fascinating and you will find most of your assumptions wrong. Food is lamb and fish, lamb and fish, cheese, lamb and fish. Woolens, some Norse crafts and fascinating geology make this a worthwhile quick trip, and a long trip if one of the above is your thing.
I loved Iceland for its scenery and strange expanding land which erupts from the sea from time to time and creates more acreage! A good time to go is June, before the crowds, it will still be chilly.
Ireland
A good way to visit Ireland is to choose either coast and work from there. If starting in Dublin, then do a counter clockwise circle south along the coast. In Dublin, catch a comedy show in one of the hotels. I usually do not recommend touristy events, but this show is hysterical and you will laugh all night. Also try for some Irish dancing and if you are good at understanding accents, try the Abbey Theater.
Your circle should look like this: Dublin, with Trinity College and the museum, tea or lunch at famous Bewleys. A day to wander the squares and learn some poignant Irish history, Grafton Street, The Post Office with its Easter Rebellion display. Finish with a whiskey tour. I recommend the Jameson Whiskey tour over Guinness Factory. The display includes much of basic Irish history as it is intertwined with its British rulers.
You will leave Dublin going South to Glendalough, the ruins of a massive monastery and well worth the visit. Then Kilkenny with its castle. It has a wonderful Irish crafts government owned store across from the castle. Then to my favorite Irish stately home: Mt. Juliet Country House Hotel. You have to drive there, alas, but the overnight stay is well worth it. Splendid gardens, gorgeous ambiance inside, and top notch food. Not cheap.
Now we continue on this circle, missing Waterford—just too touristy and you can buy the crystal at a discount in Marshalls. On to Killarney and the West. Here is another world and depending on your time, include the Ring of Kerry, Killarney National Park, the Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, and you will end up near Shannon Airport. By all means avoid Bunratty and stay at Dromoland Castle, 8 miles from Shannon. Or in Limerick also near the airport, stay at: Adare Country House Hotel.
Each can be used as a point from which to visit the area, But note: Irish distances might be short, but roads remain two lane and traffic can be tough.
Before you leave, have a pub evening and if you are lucky, other patrons will break out in song as part of the impromptu entertainment.
Note for women. At night it is not a good idea to wander dark streets in any town, anywhere, even here. If your family is from Cork, then do a bypass to visit the poignant immigration museum there. If your family is Jewish, visit the Jewish Museum in Dublin (private visit to be booked ahead of time). If your family is from Northern Ireland, this is a wonderful new area to explore, still gorgeous after years of guerrilla warfare.
Join Phyllis on her Colombia trip in December 2010, details coming about this new exciting destination!
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Phyllis Stoller has a BA from Tufts University, an MA from New York University and a Finance Degree from the University of the South Bank, London England. Phyllis Stoller founded and managed for 16 years, the largest tour operator for women in North America. She was voted top in women’s travel by Travel & Leisure Magazine,the first to receive this honor. Phyllis has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, Lifetime TV for Women and others. She is a consultant on marketing to women.
Phyllis now resides in New York City and London, England and is affiliated with ECPS Consulting Corporation in New York. She prides herself on her family: husband, Eric, a ‘keeper’, sons Nick (comedy writer and director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Matt , a progressive political strategist who works with liberal Democratic candidates. Phyllis can be reached at Phyllisnycity@gmail.com.
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This island nation sits on the two plates that divide the earth below the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, it is the ‘newest’ land on earth with steaming spewing steam emitting from underground in many of its national parks. If you love scenery, this country has cliffs, glaciers and dramatic shorelines.
This island nation is our next door neighbor, culturally that is. Irish accents are the closest to the American accent and everyone looks like the guy in the street in Boston. Again the flight from the East coast to either Shannon or Dublin is fast, some 5ish hours. Weather is mild in Ireland and even a winter trip might be fun. (Iceland is dreary in winter no matter how cheap the deals are).
