The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare on Aer Lingus to Dublin; two nights (the first and the last) at The Burlington Hotel in Dublin; three nights at an Irish farmhouse B&B; one night at the Dromoland Castle in County Clare; an economy-size manual-transmission rental car for a week with unlimited mileage (Dan Dooley); full Irish breakfast during your B&B and Dromoland Castle stays; hotel taxes; and rental-car taxes; from $699 per person—plus airport taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges starting from about $300.
When: April 1–May 31, 2010; add $100 for Nov. 1, 2010–March 31, 2011; $200 for June 1–15, Oct. 1–31; $300 for Aug. 23, Sept. 30; $500 for June 16–Aug. 22, 2010.
Gateways: New York City; add $20 for Boston; $50 for Atlanta, Chicago; $100 for Denver, Houston, Orlando; $120 for L.A., Seattle; additional gateways available.
The fine print: Lowest rates are based on Monday and Tuesday travel. Airport taxes and fees start at $180, and fuel surcharges start at $120, both per person. Upgrade to an automatic-transmission vehicle for an extra $77. Rental-car insurance is mandatory in Ireland and starts at $192. Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $500. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Aer Lingus Vacation Store, 800/495-1632, aerlingusvacationstore.com.
Why it's a deal: According to a recent search on Kayak, the lowest round-trip fare between New York City and Dublin for travel in mid-April is $476, with taxes (Delta). For $523 more, this Emerald Castle package includes round-trip airfare, as well as six nights' accommodations, a rental car for a week, four breakfasts, and all taxes and fees.
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}More: Optional tours include attractions such as St. Patrick's Cathedral ($12 per person), Blarney Castle ($15 per person), Trinity College ($19 per person), and the Cliffs of Moher ($8 per person). Additional nights at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin start from $75 per person per night. For an extra $59 per person, upgrade to the Gold Package, which includes round-trip air, two nights in Dublin, three nights at a town and country B&B, one night in County Clare, a GPS-equipped automatic-transmission rental car for a week, and entrance to the Belleek pottery factory.
