[.ca] Open Road's Best of Ireland, 1st Edition (ISBN 1593600852)

Too many good places omitted:
Yes, if you have been to Ireland , this book is very user friendly. However, I find it very predictable and not very adventurous. McQuillan lumps Southwestern County Cork into 5 or 6 pages. To me , that is a terrible dis-service. It is one of the most beautiful and rugged areas in the island. Farther north, Monaghan and Cavan are relegated to just a few paragraphs. I've been to both counties and they really should be given more attention. Anyone who has driven into Monaghan on a busy afternoon will always remember the closeness and narrowness of the market town streets before the town center opens and sets you off in four directions. ...On a fair measure, he does provide a well rounded list of places to stay and worthwhile haunts to visit. In that way, yes, it is an adequate guide book--just like most others on the market that in addition provide maps and other valuable aids for the beginning traveler.

Ireland For The First Time Traveler:
My initial interest in the book was sparked by the subtitle - Be A Traveler-Not A Tourist. I was planning our first trip to Ireland and purchased four books on the Emerald Isle. As I proceeded in my planning, I found that I did not need the other three, as I found all of the information I needed in Mr. McQuillan's book. He provides extensive information about Ireland in general, its history, accomodations, well known and little known tourist sites and places of interest, even directions on how to proceed from one area to another whether it be by bike, bus or car. The book is very well written and easy to understand. I made all of our plans for accomodations and travel based on Mr. McQuillan's recommendations and we had an absolutely wonderful time! A must have for anyone planning to travel to Ireland for the first time or the fifth!

Good for the traveler returning to Ireland:
This is a terrific book for the traveler returning to Ireland. It provides more detail for someone who is already familiar with the country, adding sights that may be just off the beaten path a bit. However, if you are looking for something with maps and pictures to help guide you on your tour of Ireland, you may want to look at some of the more "touristy" books, such as Fodor's or Frommer's. For the less than seasoned traveler "Be a Traveler" would be a good supplement to the basic information found in books of that type. For the novice traveler, this book may not be the most comfortable to use, but for the seasoned veteran, it is great.

Easy reading and accurate:
I read Dan's last book, "Open Road's Ireland Guide", before I took a 22 day trip to Ireland. I found it to be easy reading, but more importantly, accurate! I especially enjoyed the short history chapter. You can not find a better description of Irish history in 20 pages anywhere. His latest book, "Ireland Guide : Be a Traveler - Not a Tourist", is even better. I had the opportunity to take it with me on my last trip to Ireland and once again found Dan's suggestions extremely valuable. When your time is valuable don't waste it. A must read for anyone planning to visit Ireland.

A must for Travelers to The Emerald Isle:
This is the best travel guide to Ireland - take time to read the entire book from the History of Ireland to Searching for your Irish Roots! This is a must read book if you plan to search for your Irish "cousins" as his methods work!! I have already received 1 letter from a Irish "cousin" and plan to visit the family during my trip the the Emerald Isle this fall! This book helps you plan for your trip, suggestions on where to stay and what to see and as a bonus helps you locate your long lost family memebers. I wish I had read this book before my first trip. I can't wait to read the 3rd edition!