A Rural Experience
A Rural Experience
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About
Our aim is to create tours that introduce guests to the culture & characteristics of Ireland. Enjoy stepping back in time aboard The Dunbrody Famine Ship, Co. Wexford or enjoy the craic at a trad session with new friends in Connemara. We will organise your “Tour Experience” during which you can view our “40 Shades of Green” while visiting any part of our Beautiful Island. We can develop a tour to suit your needs from 1 day to 20 days. Our executive vehicles can cater for groups of 2 to 52 guests. ALL Tours are escorted by guides or drivers with vast experience and knowledge of all parts of Ireland. You will be treated with respect and Irish warmth while having a bit of craic (fun in Ireland).
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5.0
91 reviews
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Diane V
Sarasota, FL1 contribution
Sep 2022
a Rural Experience was an experience we will cherish always!
My sister, brother-in-law and my husband and myself just ended our fabulous 15 day tour with ‘A rural Experience”. We actually started planning this vacation three years ago when I found the website and contacted Rebecca. She was quick to answer any questions and start to plan an itinerary for us to travel in May 2020.
Unfortunately, we had to postpone the vacation due to some health issues and then the pandamic halted any plans for leaving the country on any vacation.
I contacted Rebecca again in June 2021 in hopes that she was still in business and we could resume our trip planning. I was so happy to receive her reply that The Rural Experience was in fact open for business!! She still had our previous itinerary. After several emails back and forth over the course of the rest of the year and into most of 2022, we had a beautiful 15-day tour planned.
We met our driver, Tom in Dublin where he picked up from the Buswells hotel and our journey began. I can’t say enough great things about Tom. He was so knowledgeable about the history, geography and folklore of Ireland that our conversations flowed endlessly throughout the day.
In every town that we visited; Tom had recommendations for restaurants which were excellent. He was also open to any ideas we had that were not on the itinerary.
We visited and stayed in Kilkenny, Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle, Doolin, Galway and Clifden. We were very happy with the accommodations that Rebecca chose. During our travels, we visited places that are popular for tourists, but Tom knew when to go to avoid the crowds. Sometimes we felt as if we were the only ones there!
It was hard to say goodbye today, but hopefully we can return someday and if so, we will choose The Rural Experience again.
Tony and Diane Volta
My sister, brother-in-law and my husband and myself just ended our fabulous 15 day tour with ‘A rural Experience”. We actually started planning this vacation three years ago when I found the website and contacted Rebecca. She was quick to answer any questions and start to plan an itinerary for us to travel in May 2020.
Unfortunately, we had to postpone the vacation due to some health issues and then the pandamic halted any plans for leaving the country on any vacation.
I contacted Rebecca again in June 2021 in hopes that she was still in business and we could resume our trip planning. I was so happy to receive her reply that The Rural Experience was in fact open for business!! She still had our previous itinerary. After several emails back and forth over the course of the rest of the year and into most of 2022, we had a beautiful 15-day tour planned.
We met our driver, Tom in Dublin where he picked up from the Buswells hotel and our journey began. I can’t say enough great things about Tom. He was so knowledgeable about the history, geography and folklore of Ireland that our conversations flowed endlessly throughout the day.
In every town that we visited; Tom had recommendations for restaurants which were excellent. He was also open to any ideas we had that were not on the itinerary.
We visited and stayed in Kilkenny, Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle, Doolin, Galway and Clifden. We were very happy with the accommodations that Rebecca chose. During our travels, we visited places that are popular for tourists, but Tom knew when to go to avoid the crowds. Sometimes we felt as if we were the only ones there!
It was hard to say goodbye today, but hopefully we can return someday and if so, we will choose The Rural Experience again.
Tony and Diane Volta
Written 2 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
louisaa193
New York City, NY3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
This is our third trip with A Rural Experience and I will never travel to Ireland with any other company. Rebecca’s planning has made every trip special, from pickup at Dublin Airport to all the hidden gems Ireland offers.
Mike, our driver this summer, further personalized our 10-day trip throughout our journey. He led us away from some of the more touristy places we thought we wanted to go and instead took us inside the real Ireland. From amazing pub lunches to chatting up the locals in unique gift shops, Mike never led us astray.
What makes A Rural Experience different from other tour companies is their painstaking effort to individualize each trip to please each of the travelers in the group, taking into consideration age and interest. Rebecca is a master at asking the right questions and getting the itinerary started. After several emails back and forth, she tweaks the trip to include a bit of everything for everyone. And Rebecca can book any type of accommodations you wish—B&Bs or the most exclusive castle hotels.
The personalization continues when a driver collects your group from the airport. The drivers know every inch of Ireland and happily suggests other stops or alternate places your group might enjoy. On all of our trips, Rebecca and the drivers made changes on the fly to please us all.
I have been traveling to Ireland for over 40 years and I have used large tour companies, very exclusive, smaller tour companies and done self-drive vacations. None can compare to A Rural Experience.
This summer I recommended A Rural Experience to my friends. They have no stopped raving about their incredible trip. I cannot wait for our next trip in July 2023!
Mike, our driver this summer, further personalized our 10-day trip throughout our journey. He led us away from some of the more touristy places we thought we wanted to go and instead took us inside the real Ireland. From amazing pub lunches to chatting up the locals in unique gift shops, Mike never led us astray.
What makes A Rural Experience different from other tour companies is their painstaking effort to individualize each trip to please each of the travelers in the group, taking into consideration age and interest. Rebecca is a master at asking the right questions and getting the itinerary started. After several emails back and forth, she tweaks the trip to include a bit of everything for everyone. And Rebecca can book any type of accommodations you wish—B&Bs or the most exclusive castle hotels.
The personalization continues when a driver collects your group from the airport. The drivers know every inch of Ireland and happily suggests other stops or alternate places your group might enjoy. On all of our trips, Rebecca and the drivers made changes on the fly to please us all.
I have been traveling to Ireland for over 40 years and I have used large tour companies, very exclusive, smaller tour companies and done self-drive vacations. None can compare to A Rural Experience.
This summer I recommended A Rural Experience to my friends. They have no stopped raving about their incredible trip. I cannot wait for our next trip in July 2023!
Written 26 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Louisa,
Thank you so much for such kind words. It was truly my honour to work with you and we cannot wait to welcome you back again July 2023.
Warm regards
Rebecca
Written 27 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
amperciavalle
Smithtown, NY1 contribution
Sep 2022
All the previous reviews say it all but our guide, James deserves his own rave reviews!! The journey begins with Rebecca who is wonderfully easy to communicate with and shares her ideas on what she feels would meet your travel interests. She sets the ground work and then a few emails later you have the trip that you are looking for! My family (actually three adult children travelling with my husband & I) met James at Dublin airport and all the way to Galway, as the banter began, we really knew it was going to be a wonderful week. In a typical Irish way, James really got to know our family and our interests by just enjoying a few laughs . He offered recommendations for food & entertainment & itinerary changes whenever we asked and all were terrific experiences. Myth buster, Irish cuisine is no longer only Irish stew, pub food & Fish & Chips. The new generation of Irish cooks are embracing & challenging the Old World thought that Ireland has limited cuisine. Every restaurant that Rebecca or James recommended was a 'foodie' experience! Rebecca's attention to accomodations are outstanding as all hotels/guest houses were impeccable with service that made you feel like royalty. The name of the company defines the vacation; it is a Rural Experience. James drove through rural roads almost the entire trip allowing us to enjoy the local beauty & experience small villages and towns. It was difficult to choose 'a favorite' (although, my family being from Kerry, I had to admit its beauty!) Thank you for showing us the entire Ring of Kerry & then, when our family said that they wanted to hike the Gap of Dunlow, James had no problem adjusting our day! Because, in the Irish world according to James, "you have all the time in the world"! And isn't that the way you want to enjoy such a beautiful country. Thank you both for the experience. We will meet again!
Written 15 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hi AnneMarie and family,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write your amazing review. It was my pure pleasure designing and organising your Irish Tour. I am so pleased you all had a wonderful time. Also James is fantastic and I am glad you all got along so well.
Next time we must meet for a coffee...
Rebecca
Written 23 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Voyager535729
2 contributions
Jul 2022
Our family recently had the great joy of experiencing a 12-day tour of Ireland with Tom, and we can’t say enough about Tom, Becky, and A Rural Experience! We were travelling with my husband and myself, our two teenage children, and my 85-year-old mother. All of us had an incredible experience!!! I had so much fun working together with Becky to plan the trip, letting her know the places we were interested in seeing and learning from her about places she thought we should be sure to visit. She then put together a perfect trip, down to the very last detail! She arranged for a wheelchair for my mom, and was even able to find a place for us to stay in Dublin at the very last minute when, due to unexpected complications on our end, we needed to add three days to the front of our itinerary. No small feat during a very crowded tourist season in the city! We had wonderful accommodations all along the way, the flow of our trip was absolutely perfect, and we saw all the places we had hoped to see, and more! Becky is a consummate professional! Thank you, Becky, for caring so much about what you do, and for going the extra mile to make sure every last detail is in place, giving your clients an experience that is truly wonderful in every way!
We love Tom so much! He is an amazing host, and was so wonderfully engaging with all of us! We so appreciated his humor, kindness, and expertise! We felt incredibly cared for throughout our entire 12 days with him. Tom is a wealth of knowledge about the country’s history, the land, the people, cities, towns, and the very best places to see. We loved our conversations with him! He took us to places that you would not see if you were travelling on a large tour bus, and introduced us to talented artisans and other wonderful folks along the way that he knows from his many years of experience as a driver and guide in this beautiful country of his! Every day was a new experience – Glendalough Monastic site and other monasteries, castles, stone circles, the Rock of Cashel, beautiful towns, the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, stone forts, Muckross House, traditional farms from the early 1900’s, the Dunbrody Famine Ship, Waterford Crystal, holding baby lambs, sheep dog trials, The Burren, the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, beehive huts, traditional music, Connemara – so much beauty, and so much laughter, history, learning, and joy along the way! Taking a trip to Ireland has been my mom’s dream for her entire life, and Tom and Becky fulfilled that dream in the most amazing, wonderful way possible!!! Not just for my mom, but for all of us! Thank you, Tom and Becky, for giving us this incredible gift! We are so happy to have you as friends for life!
If you, or anyone you know, is planning a trip to Ireland, use A Rural Experience! You will be SO HAPPY you did!
We love Tom so much! He is an amazing host, and was so wonderfully engaging with all of us! We so appreciated his humor, kindness, and expertise! We felt incredibly cared for throughout our entire 12 days with him. Tom is a wealth of knowledge about the country’s history, the land, the people, cities, towns, and the very best places to see. We loved our conversations with him! He took us to places that you would not see if you were travelling on a large tour bus, and introduced us to talented artisans and other wonderful folks along the way that he knows from his many years of experience as a driver and guide in this beautiful country of his! Every day was a new experience – Glendalough Monastic site and other monasteries, castles, stone circles, the Rock of Cashel, beautiful towns, the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, stone forts, Muckross House, traditional farms from the early 1900’s, the Dunbrody Famine Ship, Waterford Crystal, holding baby lambs, sheep dog trials, The Burren, the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, beehive huts, traditional music, Connemara – so much beauty, and so much laughter, history, learning, and joy along the way! Taking a trip to Ireland has been my mom’s dream for her entire life, and Tom and Becky fulfilled that dream in the most amazing, wonderful way possible!!! Not just for my mom, but for all of us! Thank you, Tom and Becky, for giving us this incredible gift! We are so happy to have you as friends for life!
If you, or anyone you know, is planning a trip to Ireland, use A Rural Experience! You will be SO HAPPY you did!
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
hikerden
Folsom, CA2 contributions
Aug 2022
A Rural Experience is the best tour company in Ireland. Becky and Tom are now our new Irish friends. We just completed our 13 day tour with Tom as our driver and tour guide. He has a wealth of historical and current information regarding Ireland, and he added so much to the overall success of our vacation. This was the second time we used this tour company, and they are now planning a tour for my daughter and family for next year, 2023. If you really want to see Ireland, and skip the tourist traps, go with A Rural Experience…they live up to their name. Thank you Becky and Tom for another Fabulous Irish Experience.
Denny, Judy, Alisa and Ali…💚💚💚💚
Denny, Judy, Alisa and Ali…💚💚💚💚
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jodie_withan_IE
1 contribution
Jun 2022
By the luck of the Irish, we were paired with Tom as our driver for three days of touring. Tom picked us up in Dublin, and the adventure started. Killarney, Ring of Kerry, and Cliffs of Moher. Tom hit all the great spots, passed by the crowded tourist traps, and gave us fantastic weather on our last day in Ireland. Traveling as a family with young adult children, Tom did a great job connecting with them and keeping them interested in the history he had to share. We had great conversations throughout our travel. It also helped that Tom and my husband love golf, so they had much to chat about on the US Open weekend of play. The way we were cared for was terrific, and I will recommend Tom and Rebecca to any of our friends traveling to Ireland. My only regret is that I didn't know about them before our trip. I would have loved to have worked with Rebecca for the entire trip.
Written 21 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rio V
1 contribution
Apr 2022
Would recommend to anyone visiting Ireland! Rebecca planned a clear itinerary quickly with excellent hotels in Killarney and Dublin and incorporated parts of our plans into the itinerary including a stop in Kerry that was significant to my family history. Tom was such great driver and 'host' on the road with incomparable knowledge of the roads and sites as well as great details about the changes he's seen in the various areas. Our days were comfortably paced and filled with just enough activities that didn't feel too jam packed. Wonderful experience all around!
Written 30 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you so much Rio for taking the time to write your review. It was my pleasure to help design and organise your Irish Vacation. I am so pleased you all had a great time and I hope you will return to Ireland soon.
Rebecca
Written 3 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wendy P
Wheaton, IL60 contributions
Oct 2021
This is our second time using this tour company. Rebecca was so unbelievably supportive and transparent about the situation in Ireland as the country slowly opened up. We had several Zoom calls to talk about itineraries. She really listens to your requests and has a vast network of knowledge about hotels and places of interest. She was spot on about all the hotels she booked for us.
We once again spent our days with Eddie. He is a true gentleman, with a great sense of humor and loves to talk. I consider him a friend for life. The beauty of this private tour company is that when they say " we'll do what you want to do" they truly mean it. We heartily recommend the wonderful folks at A Rural Experience.
We once again spent our days with Eddie. He is a true gentleman, with a great sense of humor and loves to talk. I consider him a friend for life. The beauty of this private tour company is that when they say " we'll do what you want to do" they truly mean it. We heartily recommend the wonderful folks at A Rural Experience.
Written 1 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jessica D
1 contribution
Sep 2021 • Couples
I can’t even imagine our 9 day Ireland trip without our driver Tom! He was the BEST! We had a group of 6 people and we chose our own itinerary but Rebecca helped us fill in all the gaps and made sure we weren’t missing anything. She kept us in the loop with Covid updates before our trip. It was SO nice not to have to worry about one of us driving and we felt much safer with Tom. He was so knowledgeable and accommodating and we appreciated him so much! Do not hesitate to book your trip with them! Thanks Tom & Rebecca!
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rbq2a6
Detroit, MI22 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We used A Rural Experience out of Kilkenny for our visit to Ireland. Rebecca arranged all our hotels and stops. She purchased advance tickets for some of the sites. Tom our driver was absolutely fantastic. He showed us so many wonderful sites. Extremely knowledgeable. Let them do the driving!! It was like being with a close member of your family.
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joanie T
37 contributions
How much would a ten day visit that keep to the eastern side, possibly some mystical sites included would range for 10 days for one or two? Do we make the hotel/B&B/airbnb/vacation rentals or does your company have options for them?
Diane Z
Green Bay, WI41 contributions
I'd rather not quote a price for your trip.. just email A rural Experience, give Becky an idea of what you are looking for and she will make suggestions and get back to you with a quote and itinerary. Becky is great with responding fast. I made my own lodging arrangements but I think she would do that also.
Joanie T
37 contributions
I am interested in traveling by myself or with one other concentrating in the Gowran, Kilkenny, The Quay/waterside Graiguenamanagh, Goresbridge, Paulstown, Borris, and a possibly a visit to Wexford &/or Waterford. I am searching for remaining family members that I am told and have found research that they were in these areas.
A Rural Experience Tours
Gowran, Ireland18 contributions
Hi Joanie,
Please feel free to drop me an email and I'd be happy to help you.
Kind regards
Rebecca