If you were of a mind to tour the most famous drinking establishments of Ireland (not that we’re encouraging such behavior), you could do the usual pub crawl. Or you could pay Sceptre Tours to do it for you. Not the drinking part, you’d still do that yourself (not that we’re saying you’d want to). No, you’d be letting them do the driving part. April-October, Sceptre Tours’ “Emerald B&B” package includes round-trip air from Chicago to Ireland on Aer Lingus; vouchers for six nights at your choice of more than 450 B&Bs countrywide; daily breakfast; service and lodging taxes; and chauffeur-driven car with driving expenses. Package rates are $999 for mid-week departures in April, May, September and October or $1,129 for mid-week departures June-August. If you’d rather drive yourself (this means all you want to do is shop for sweaters and look at sheep), you’ll pay a bit less. (800-221-0924)
BLOC PARTY
It’s harder than ever to decide where Western Europe ends and Eastern Europe begins. Of course, you could research the conundrum first-hand. One way to do that might be during SmarTour’s 15-day “Great Cities of Eastern Europe” tour that departs New York for Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Price includes round-trip air from New York, four-star hotels, ground transport, excursions — the Black Madonna of Jasna Gora, an Auschwitz pilgrimage and the Bohemian castle Kanopiste among them — tour director and 17 meals. Sunday departures range from $1,799 on April 23, peak at $1,999 on July 9 and Sept. 3 and dip to $1,599 Nov. 5. Other dates are available, as well as a $200 discount for booking by March 24. (800-337-7773)
FOREVER PLAID
In Scotland, there’s the high road, the low road and a revived romance with the rails. The Royal Scotsman returned the Edwardian era to this misty land in 1985 with Pullman cars refurbished in plaid upholstery and inlaid woods. Now, Abercrombie & Kent offers luxury train departures from Edinburgh not only for the classic four-night excursion ($4,150), but also two-night itineraries April 28-Oct. 29. The “Highlands and Lowlands” route ($2,350) tours Ballindalloch Castle and the Strathisla whiskey distillery. The “Southern Highlands” route ($2,350) visits Glamis Castle and the House of Bruar for shopping. Tariff includes stateroom with private shower, land excursions, entrance fees, and all meals, beverages and taxes. (800-323-7308)
POET SOCIETY
You’ve heard how Hemingway and F. Scott used to hang out at Harry’s Bar in the Marais. And maybe you’ve read about the dinners at La Procope, the oldest cafe in Paris, eaten by the likes of Voltaire and Rousseau. Well, sharpen your pencil and polish your prose. Specialty World Travel is set to prowl “Literary Paris” June 19-27. Tour members will bend the elbow at Harry’s Bar; ply knife and fork at La Procope; pay their respects to Colette, Balzac and Moliere in Pere Lachaise Cemetery; visit the Chateau Monte Cristo of Alexandre Dumas. The $2,690 price covers round-trip air from Chicago, three-star accommodations, several meals, English-speaking guides, sightseeing, ground transport, entrance fees and taxes. (800-242-2346)
