A Week in Ireland: Galway, Cork & Dublin

Transcription

1 A Week in Ireland: Galway, Cork & Dublin 8 DAYS: Sunday, March 26 Sunday, April 2, 2017 from $2,149 pp/do From the Irish people s sparkling wit and inviting pub culture to the isle s incredible emerald landscapes, this small country packs quite a punch. Get to know Ireland on a tour of its leading cities and natural wonders, from the rocky Burren to the Cliffs of Moher. Tour group size: travelers. Tour pace: You will walk for about 1.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets with some hills and stairs. Your tour includes 6 nights in handpicked hotels Breakfast daily, 3 three-course dinners with beer or wine Private deluxe motor coach Multilingual Tour Director Guided sightseeing and select entrance fees Your tour highlights The vibrant, welcoming Irish people Galway s vibrant traditional music scene The scenic Cliffs of Moher Getting the Gift of Gab by kissing the Blarney Stone Tasting Guinness in Dublin Seeing 40 shades of green firsthand

2 Overnight Flight 1 night Day 1: Travel day Board your overnight flight to Shannon today. Galway 2 nights Day 2: Arrival in Galway Included meals: Dinner Welcome to Ireland! Transfer to Galway to settle in to your hotel, then meet your fellow travelers at tonight s welcome dinner. Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Galway Included meals: Breakfast On a guided tour, get a feel for the local energy and living traditions of Galway, Ireland s third-largest city. Stroll past Lynch s Castle, the Druid Theatre Company and the broad expanse of Eyre Square View the city s medieval walls and Spanish Arch Peruse authentic Claddagh rings in a local shop Watch fishermen at work in the traditional fishing village of Claddagh Enjoy a free day in Galway, or add an excursion. County Cork 2 nights Day 4: Cork via the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Included meals: Breakfast Make your way to Cork, a city synonymous with the Irish spirit of rebellion, stopping en route to explore two of the country s most dramatic landscapes. Travel through the limestone plateau called the Burren Explore the Cliffs of Moher, which rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean Enjoy a free evening in Cork, or add an excursion. Optional Excursion - An Evening in Kinsale $69pp* Your evening begins with a visit to the star-shaped Charles Fort, specifically designed to withstand the devastating impact of cannon fire. Uncover the fort s long history with your Tour Director before making your way to the nearby harbor town of Kinsale. A little village with a big past, this quaint community was the site of the 1601 Battle of Kinsale, a major turning point in the Nine Years War. Take time to explore this historic town s narrow winding streets, artsy shops and lively bars on your own before rejoining the group for dinner in a traditional Irish restaurant. Save $10 when you book this excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. (On-tour price: $79) Day 5: Cobh, Cork & Blarney Castle Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

3 Get a feel for the many sides of Ireland, from charming villages to vibrant cities and iconic castles. Discover the town of Cobh, once a launch site for ships bound for North America Enter the Queenstown Story Museum, whose exhibits tell the story of Irish emigration over the past 150 years Embark on a guided walking tour of Cork, also known as the Rebel City Stop in the Princes Street Market (or English Market), a traditional food hall Visit Blarney Castle to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone Dublin 2 nights Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Dublin Included meals: Breakfast Transfer to Dublin this morning to experience the history and vibrancy of the Emerald Isle s capital city with your guide leading the way. Pass St Stephen s Green and admire the Georgian architecture of Merrion Square Walk down Grafton Street to see the Molly Malone statue and Trinity College Stop in Phoenix Park, site of the presidential residence Step inside the soaring St. Patrick s Cathedral Finish with an included pint at a local pub in the Temple Bar district Day 7: Free day in Dublin Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner Spend the day exploring on your own or add an excursion. Later, join your group for a farewell dinner. Optional Excursion - Glendalough $29pp* County Wicklow has some of the wildest and most spectacular mountain scenery in Ireland, as well as many of the country s most important historic sites. Journey through Wicklow s captivating landscapes to Glendalough, which became famous throughout Europe as a center of Christian learning before it was sacked by Viking raiders in the 10th century. Here, you ll see St. Kevin s Cross, marking the place where the saint lies buried. You ll also view the remains of the sixth-century cathedral and the remarkable Round Tower, thought to have been used by monks as a place of refuge. Your Tour Director will lead you on a tour of the site followed by free time. Save $10 when you book this excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. (On-tour price: $39) Day 8: Departure Included meals: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures) Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

4 A Week in Ireland: Galway, Cork & Dublin 8 DAYS: Sunday, March 26 Sunday, April 2, 2017 from $2,149 pp/do SAMPLE HOTELS Galway 2 nights Harbour Hotel 3-star The Galway Harbour Hotel is perfectly located in the center of Galway, adjacent to the city's waterfront area. Just minutes walk from Eyre Square, this hotel is convenient to all shops, pubs, restaurants, theatres and business districts. The hotel offers 96 superbly appointed guest rooms designed around the themes of Scandinavian, maritime and modern Ireland. All the rooms have a wide and varied selection of facilities ensuring your stay a memorable one. Imperial Hotel Galway 3-star The Galway City Hotel is less than a minute to the main shopping thoroughfare Shop Street and the renowned nightlife and atmosphere of Quay Street in the Latin Quarter in Galway. The hotel in Galway is within 5 minutes walking distance to Town Hall Theatre, 10 minutes walk of Galway Cathedral, NUI Galway and 15 minutes to University College Hospital. A taxi rank is just outside the door and Ceannt train station and Galway bus station are just a 5 minutes stroll across Eyre Square from the The Imperial Hotel. County Cork 2 nights Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel 3-star The Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel is nestled in the heart of Blarney, one of the most legendary places in Ireland and only minutes from Cork City. It's surrounded by breathtaking scenery and is rich in folklore, nostalgia and legend. All of the well-appointed rooms have satellite TV, tea & coffee making facilities, direct dial telephone and hairdryer. There is also complimentary Wi Fi Broadband access available in the hotel lobby.

5 Dublin 2 nights Maldron Hotel Parnell Square 3-star Maldron Hotel Parnell Square Dublin is a purpose built, contemporary Dublin City centre hotel. This stylish boutique hotel is located just a short 2 minute walk from O'Connell Street one of the capital city's main entertainment hot spots and shopping destinations, making it an ideal location for a Dublin City break. So whats going on in the city - the Dublin Writer's Museum, James Joyce Centre, Hugh Lane Gallery and Garden of Remembrance all within close proximity to the hotel, Maldron Hotel Parnell Square offers the perfect accommodation in Dublin City Centre. Temple Bar Hotel 3-star The Temple Bar hotel is a Dublin City center Hotel situated in the heart of Dublin s cultural quarter and within easy access of all main attractions. The Temple Bar Hotel offers every possible amenity literally on your doorstep, including the infamous shopping areas of Henry Street and Grafton Street, the welcome of Molly Malone, the world renowned Trinity College home to the Book of Kells and O'Connell Street, featuring the much talked about Millennium Spire reaching a staggering 120 meters into the Dublin City center skyline. Passport & Visa Requirements In order to enter Ireland, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home. No visa is required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. If you re not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country s consulate for your specific entry requirements. Baggage Allowance Airlines have varying weight restrictions on luggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs. Contact your airline for detailed information regarding luggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that Go Ahead travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other internal transfers, which may include train connections or flights. One carry-on bag is also permitted, provided that it does not exceed 45 total inches (length + width + height). Make sure you label your baggage and carry valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on bag. Clothing & Packing Tips Light, loose-fitting clothing that provides comfort when exploring the sights is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. It s always a good idea to be prepared for any event a lightweight jacket and emergency rainwear are advised. If you plan to visit an especially elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, you will

6 probably feel more comfortable with something more formal to wear. Also, please be respectful and refrain from baring legs or shoulders when visiting churches or other religious sites (entrance may be denied on this basis). Health There are no major health risks when traveling to Ireland. It is always advisable to check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and overseas travel requirements. Cuisine One of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling is the delightful variety of local cuisine. Traditional Irish cooking is simple, relying heavily on meatbased dishes. Pubs serve up hearty lunches, like traditional Irish stew. Soda bread is delicious and very filling, as are Irish cakes, such as scones and Barm Brack. The thick black beer known as Guinness is a national institution in its own right. In recent years, Dublin has seen something of a culinary revolution, and the city now boasts an impressive array of new restaurants offering exciting cuisine with continental European and Asian influences. Transportation Round-trip flights arrive in Shannon and depart from Dublin. Included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach. Most of the destinations are easily walkable, but you may want to spend your free time exploring Dublin by a combination of walking and public transportation. The city is serviced by numerous buses, and if you wish to take excursions on your own outside of Dublin, use the very efficient Dublin Area Rapid Transport (DART) trains, which reach most locations on the coast. Electricity Ireland operates on the European standard 220 volts. Time Zones Ireland falls on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). Currency The euro is the currency you will be using on your tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination countries, although it is worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take a combination of bank/atm cards, credit cards and traveler s checks, which can be exchanged for cash at local banks, as needed. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Please note: With the conversion to the euro, it has been increasingly difficult to exchange traveler s checks outside of Europe s major cities both at banks and shops and they often attract higher fees. Tipping At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.