How To Book Things To Do? | Honest Guide to Booking Tours & Activities in Ireland

We can all agree, booking flights and accommodation are most peoples 1st priorities.  We often forget about things to do when we get there. We don’t book things in time and then, the tours are full or museum tickets are sold out. You, the self-proclaimed tour guide/planner, are left with a vastly dissatisfied group of family members or friends looking at you. Their eyebrows are raised and they’re thinking “what are you going to do about it”?

I get it, it’s hard to know when is the right time to book your things to do on your holidays.

When is a good time to start booking things?

Firstly, relax! There is no need to panic about booking things to do!  However, to ensure things don’t fill up before you try to book, here are some advice about booking things to do while on holidays.

Unlike in other countries when people book Louvre or Colosseum tours months in advance, Ireland doesn’t require this much planning.

Booking ‘things to do’ in Ireland are typically done between 7 and 3 days before the event. I have worked in the tours & activities industry since I was 19 and from my personal experience anything after 3 days and there is a possibility that things will be sold out. There are a few hot ticket items that you might think about booking a small bit earlier. For example, my Doolin Food Tour dates are filling up 30+ days beforehand. This is mainly because people know there are only 12 spots available every day and it’s an amazing tour! Click here to book!

How do you book things to do?

You can book most things to do online these days. I always encourage people to book directly with the provider instead of TripAdvisor or another reseller website. By booking directly with the provider, you are sure to get the best price and the provider won’t have to pay out large commissions! It’s a win-win!

If you prefer, you can also call most businesses and book over the phone. This is a great option for people who are not very tech-savvy and prefer a more traditional method.

I hope this has helped you a little as you plan your Staycations this year. Remember that most businesses (including mine) have a FREE CANCELLATION POLICY so if things change and you need to cancel, no worries!