Ring of Kerry Day Tour from Cork

The later part of trip was in rain, nothing to do and no complain there. But for the stop at Killarney, really has a lot of rooms for improvement. In the tour description, it is the most beautiful town in Ireland, and suggested breakfast and coffee there. So we planed as it recommended and didn’t eat breakfast. Then, on the tour bus, it is a “has nothing to do in the morning” town, and pushed for a carriage tour. I am not against carriage tour but I can not do it with empty stomach. First suggestion, please list this carriage tour on trip description so people plan ahead. For people do not go “car Jaunting” , we were dropped off at far end of the town, took 10 minutes in/back from town. We only got 40 mins countable time. And the horse carriage riders were dropped off at downtown, and we waited for them on the bus for another 30 minutes. My second suggestion:Why can’t we be dropped off at the same place, picked up at the same time? I enjoyed the town, and with the wasted 50mins (20 for in/out, 30 waiting on bus), it would be a much much better experience.

DO NOT USE PADDYWAGON TOURS. I had the misfortune of paying for the Ring of Kerry Tour. Huge mistake that has almost ruined my family’s whole trip to Ireland. We first arrive to the bus. The bus driver quickly checks our names and lets us on. He’s a little terse, but whatever. It’s 8:30 in the morning, so I get it. We leave on time, and our driver begins talking. This was surprise number one; I have never been on a bus tour before where the tour guide and the driver were the same person. I’m sure this can be done, but it shouldn’t be. We were not given sufficient information about each stop because our driver had to focus on the road. Is Paddywagon too cheap to pay for a guide? It’s a disservice to both our driver and the people on the bus that this was the situation. It all went downhill from here. We get to our first stop, Killarney. Beautiful town with lovely shops. The vibe is instantly killed when our driver/guide starts yelling at us when to be back on the bus. “10:50”. Now he has a heavy accent and not everyone on the bus uses English as their first language. So people ask for clarification: “ TEN FIFTY. 1-0-5-0. 1-0-5-0. 1-0-5-0. 1-0-5-0. 1-0-5-0.” This is not an exaggeration, he did this several times, adding that he will leave you behind and the bus doesn’t stop for anyone or any reason. The whole bus ride this was repeatedly constantly and rudely. I just cannot believe how rude this man was the whole day. He obviously hates his job, because to be in the hospitality sector, you need to get along with people. You could just tell the one thing he was dying to do was leave someone behind. Any kind of tour information he could have shared with us got less and less at each stop. You could tell he was tired, as he should be. Driving hours through the narrow lanes of Ireland would be very exhausting. So why is a man who clearly hates talking to people in charge of a large group of people? Does Paddywagon think so little of its customers that they think we will take what they give us? To top it off, one of my family members got so carsick on the bus ride that she has been throwing up for hours. So I strongly advise AGAINST using any Paddywagon tour or service in the future.

Connor our amazing driver this trip around the ring of Kerry full of amazing Irish stories and interesting facts all the way would definitely book another trip with Connor

A long day as advertised. Scenery was lovely and tour covered a lot of ground. Most stops involve extra costs, some expected, some not. Don’t expect accurate information on pick up point. Young couple with baby were chastised for being late despite being given incorrect information. They were not the only ones to be misinformed, just unlucky to be caught out. Luck of the draw with tour guide can majorly affect information disseminated. Much repetition of few facts and a few religious chats plus tirades about other drivers on road not what was expected. One young lady on asking a question was told “don’t you listen?” Perhaps not for the sensitive or faint hearted. Height adjustment on bus steps was not working, presenting difficulty for older or shorter passengers getting on and off bus. Driver was competent at managing bus in tight spots and while using phone. If you are in to Paddywagons go for it!

We had an amazing time on our Ring of Kerry tour! Our guide, Conor, truly elevated the entire experience. Even with fog and clouds in the mountains and drizzle on and off throughout the day, we thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Bus ride was comfortable. The tour was very well paced, with plenty of time at each stop to explore, take photos, and enjoy the scenery without ever feeling rushed. Conor was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the journey just as enjoyable as the destinations themselves. A fantastic way to experience the Ring of Kerry, and we would absolutely recommend this tour!