The Real Deal: Four nights' accommodations, breakfast daily, a five-day economy-class-car rental from Hertz (manual transmission) with unlimited mileage, and taxes and service charges, from $289 per person—plus a required $65 collision damage waiver per reservation.
When: Sunday and Monday departures in April, October, November, and December 2009 (excluding Dec. 13); add $130 for May, June, and September; $200 for July and August.
The fine print: Irish law requires a $65 collision damage waiver per rental car reservation. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $180. Use promo code BMBUD50. Common economy rental cars include Ford Fiestas and Mazda 323s. The tour operator assured us at press time that there are bookings still available for April departure dates. Read before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: May 15, 2009 (the tour operator is extending this deadline for Budget Travel readers only).
Contact: Brian Moore International Tours, 800/982-2299, .
Why it's a deal: The starting price for is normally $339 per person, but BMIT is offering Budget Travel readers a special discount of $50 per person, which brings the trip price down to $289. Consider that a four-night stay at the castle hotel would cost $340 per person if booked independently—so not only are you saving money as a BT reader, but you're getting the five-day car rental thrown in for no additional cost.
Lodging: You'll stay in the 23-room in Tralee, County Kerry, for four nights. The building dates back to the 1590s and is part of a 30-acre estate filled with gardens and woods. You'll have breakfast in one of two elegant drawing rooms. The dining room looks over the front lawn with gigantic oak trees, and there's a library bar. Use the rental car to explore the surrounding area with the hotel as your base—Killarney is about 20 miles away, and Limerick is 64 miles away.
More: Upgrade to an automatic-transmission vehicle for $65 per person.
Before you go: Airfare isn't included. You could book a flight to Shannon airport, 75 miles away from the hotel, or fly into Kerry, which is just eight miles away (but it's a smaller airport, so expect the fares to be higher). U.S. citizens will need a valid passport for travel; a visa is not required. Get more ideas on what to do at Ireland's .
