Maritha Bester

Review of Paddywagon Tours

Amazing tour. Beautiful country. Few hiccups with ...

Amazing tour. Beautiful country. Few hiccups with late start of the tour which resulted in a hurried & rushed 1st day - to stay on schedule I suppose.
Bus breakdown on day 2 & consequent +\- 2 hour delay. Question then begs if that day's itinerary was cropped as a result.
Malcolm is an amazing tour guide though and is like Google - (but without Wi-Fi ). Appreciated the on board WiFi and USB ports. Sleepzone hostel in Galway is good - and the kitchen kept well & clean. Great filter coffee available at all times (welcome addition in the cold weather). Had MANY free hours there. Way too many for a lone traveller. Maybe a stop or so more at some of the beautiful sites that flies by?
The 2nd night at Paddy's Palace in Annascaul not as good as the Sleepzone in Galway. Kitchen not kept clean and sorry to say does not look hygienic at all. Found food (looked like warm salad(?)) outside on the kitchen counter - and it was there when we left. Heard many complaints about kitchen. No nice hot filter coffee this time & very basic breakfast.
Nice hot shower though - clean bedding & towels - and friendly people. Reasonable food at bar next door and enjoyed the 2 troubadours!
Sometimes too little time given at some places (not enough for entering & touring the sites) and would have loved seeing/entering a castle or two. (Blarney stone removed from itinerary? )
Rushed by a few beautiful (unknown) abbey-ruins and in stead of stopping in town (cannot remember which) - could rather have stopped at the castle and those who wanted lunch instead could have been dropped in town - a short way from there.
All in all a great tour though - and make sure to do the horse-buggy tour in the national park.
Going on my next 2 day tour - Northern Ireland - Belfast & Giants Causeway - tomorrow!