*Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy, tour inclusions and available options may vary based on departure date. Please select a date below for more details.
From remote islands and historic Dublin, to less-traveled roads and charming villages, this adventure brings together the best of the Emerald Isle. Come to know the culture and welcoming hospitality of the Irish in Dublin, Ireland’s spirited capital city. Step off the beaten path in the seaside village of Kinsale, known as Ireland’s “gourmet capital.” Overnight amongst a labyrinth of stone walls on the remote and enchanting Aran Islands. Discover the windswept terrain of West Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way, one of Ireland’s most scenic coastal routes, before arriving in colorful Dingle. Travel amongst the tranquil countryside and windswept valleys of the Dingle Peninsula. Raise a glass and celebrate a journey unlike any other through the many sides of Ireland.
Best Time for Travel Countryside of the Emerald Isle
While just about any month is great to visit Ireland, there are a few prime times of year worth considering. Here’s what to expect, according to our destination experts.
Spring: Visiting the Emerald Isle in March and April offers a relaxed and intimate experience, with fewer crowds and the charming sight of little lambs dotting the countryside. During this time, temperatures are cool, averaging in the mid-40s to low 50s°F (8-12°C). It's wise to pack a light rain jacket, as you may encounter some light rain, although April typically sees less rainfall than other months. Keep in mind that Saint Patrick’s Day and Easter holidays can bring an increase in visitors, making Ireland’s attractions busier.
Summer: The peak of the summer season from July to August brings a vibrant and bustling atmosphere to Ireland's major cities. With longer daylight hours, you have ample time to explore the Emerald Isle's breathtaking scenery in full bloom. In July, the sun can set as late as 10 p.m. and rise as early as 5 a.m., providing plenty of daylight for outdoor activities.
Average temperatures hover in the high 60s to low 70s°F (20-22°C), making it a great time to be outside. However, even in summer, you can experience all four seasons in a single day, so be sure to pack a lightweight waterproof jacket in case of rain and cooler temps and know temperatures can reach into the 80s°F (mid 20s°C).
This period is the most popular time to travel to Ireland, making the country very busy, especially with families taking advantage of school holidays. The lively cities and crowds mean there could be waits for popular restaurants and top attractions. Some popular attractions that are not included in tours may book up or sell out, so be sure to get tickets as early as possible or make reservations for specific restaurants you want to try in advance.
Fall: With the Irish fall, the landscape reveals a tapestry of autumn colors. These months mark the transition from summer to winter in Ireland, with September often still feeling quite mild with average highs around 64°F (18°C) and lows around 51°F (11°C) and November bringing cooler, more autumnal weather, averaging in the 40s°F (4-9°C). In recent years, September has become one of the most popular times to visit Ireland, making top sights busy. By October, tourism begins to slow down, and November is relatively quiet, making these months ideal for those wishing to take advantage of fewer crowds. While it’s cooler outdoors, there’s so much warmth to be found inside among locals and cozying up to a peat fire with a cup of tea (or maybe something stronger)!
Travel Styles
Highlights And Inclusions
Your Tour Includes
5 Handpicked Accommodations
14 Meals
Must-See Inclusions:
Cruise beneath the iconic Cliffs of Moher.
Take in scenic views from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Explore Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula.
Cultural Experiences:
Overnight on the enchanting Aran Islands and jump head-first into Irish culture.
Enjoy an after-hours private tour and reception at Christ Church Cathedral.
Discover a hidden garden island nestled in Bantry Bay.
Culinary Inclusions:
Explore the Old Midleton Distillery, home of Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Savor traditional Irish cuisine at a popular local pub.
Enjoy a cheese tasting at an award-winning goat farm.
Highlights
Dublin
Irish National Stud
Rock of Cashel
Distillery Tour
Kinsale
Garnish Island
Dingle Peninsula
Choice on Tour: Dingle Coastal Walk or the Blasket Centre
I loved the scenic drives. Our tour guide John was great, funny and very knowledgeable about history. Our coach driver was wonderful. Food was good. John and the company did a good job of finding alternate lodging after flooding prevented us from getting to one of the hotels. Overall nice trip.
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Did not feel the horse farm was worth the stop; saw only 4 horses from a distance because it was off season. I loved the Aran islands and Cliffs of Moher boat tour
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did not care for travel to Aran Islands
Stephen Pelton
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Every aspect of the trip was smooth. Good mix of group time and time on my own. When unscheduled race day happened flexible alternative course was arranged
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the tour Manager was great and I love Collette travel all the time with you.
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Excellent event coordination. Excellent host and driver.
Pamela Utpadel
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Excellent tour. Well paced. Great driver and manager
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A well planned tour of the Irish countryside. With only 21 people on an Explorations tour, you got to know the other guests.
James Sheeran
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The scheduling was wonderful and everything ran smoothly. We experienced many different settings, hotels, food and people. The Tour Manager was so knowledgeable and her sincere love of Ireland was reflected in her presentations. The walking and small tour group made the trip interactive and we embraced the hills, rocks, views and weather and worth every dollar we paid. Plus obtaining air fare through Collette was easy, reasonable including car service to airport and back
Kathleen Spangler
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Enjoyed it very much! Thought the accommodations could have been better in Dingle. Meals could have been included in the tour price, especially at the cost of these tours.
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the tour was amazing. the tour manager so knowledgeable and very nice to be around
Ella Culver
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Our tour director, Martine Freely, was fabulous. We were so well cared for. She was very well prepared for anything that came our way. Martine had the perfect blend of local information, the history of Ireland, and personal reflections on a host of subjects. She really was all things to each of us. Our driver was top-notch. He deftly maneuvered the coach on some pretty narrow roads. I will always travel with Collette.
Sheila Graudons
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Amenities, tour guide, coach driver and Ireland were
a level above excellent.
Scott Kortvely
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Overall, the tour was good from transfers to lodging. Meals could have been better. The best included meal was the last night. The country side of Ireland was beautiful, but it would have been nicer to have extra free time to shop.
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The tour itself, cities visited and hotels were wonderful. Local guides were entertaining and knowledgeable. Not having a welcome dinner where all guests on the tour introduce themselves and meet each other, was a big disappointment. The tour manager did his job but that was it. Never gave recommendations of where to eat or shop and his personal hygiene was not good. Food in Inisheer was actually poor. Our bus driver was outstanding. All transfers went smoothly.
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Ireland is lovely and enjoyed the tour
Deborah Gary
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Overall the tour was fantastic. Would have rated it a 5 except for the hotel in Dublin which was in a nice location but it felt quite tired. Other accommodations along the tour were fine.
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The only upset was the loss of a day. We arrived at our hotel about 6:30 A.M. there were no accommodations for us. We were in a residual area. We were on the couches in reception, no way to get coffee as it was to early for the restaurant to open. We were able to get in our room about 12:30 I feel there needs to be better planning if travelers get in early A.M. I feel we lost a day that was paid for and was an inconvenience that should not have happened.
Angela Elliott
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A great experience from being picked up at home to being dropped off and everything in between. We appreciated the planning and execution of the tour, all the accommodations were excellent, the scheduled meals were delicious, the tour inclusions were interesting and the schedule was followed perfectly.
Richard U
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Excellent food, service, hotels, bus driver ( Martin) who was phenomenal and especially our tour guide (Kevin) who gave us a very memorable and educational experience around the country! Highly recommended and I'd be interested in taking another trip soon!
James Lally
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There were so many things to see . Garish Island was unique. The cookery class was fun . Having free time to explore Kinsale. This was our first time with Collette. It won’t be our last.
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it all was great. we enjoyed the whole trip. the people that were on the tour with us were fantastic
Mary Bocchino
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Hard to say...the cooking school was a great idea to acquaint the group, the stud farm was so informative and beautiful grounds, liked ringing the bell in the tower at Christ Church Cathedral, gourmet dining in Kinsale. Came away loving the Irish people..so warm and friendly...good food, good times in the pubs.
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A trip to one of the Aran Islands was fun and interesting. Ringing the bells in a Cathedral in Dublin was something not done every day.
Brian Hadley
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The town of Dingle & the Dingle peninsula were my favorites
Thomas Cloherty
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Two of the hotels did not have air conditioning, and everyone noticed the rooms were too warm. This is probably not often a problem, but the weather was beautiful most of the time, so the rooms got warmer than probably do normally.
Donald Simoneaux
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Liked it. But too much driving and inconvenient hotels. Shuttles not good. Taxis cost a lot.
Elaine Bindo
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We had the trip of a lifetime. Our tour manager Jackie, and coach driver Tony, delivered an experience we will cherish in our hearts for ever. It was so much fun getting to know these, and the other 17 tour members of our trip. Building memories of the beautiful landscapes of Ireland, and pleasant memories with those on our tour. We felt truly blessed to be apart of this fun filled group. Ireland is gorgeous, and we were well pleased with accommodations, stops, and the pace of this tour. Thank you Collette for delivering our memorable trip, and can't wait for our next one!
Darron Tytler
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Each location was like building an ice cream sundae. The cherry on top was the overnight stay on Inisheer Island and the trip to the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Loved it even though the sea was rough and I got sea sick.
Sonya Tytler
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The stay on the Aran island was the most memorable for me,
Gloria Janskovitch
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Overall experience exceeded expectations
John Cusack
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Garnish Island was a highlight (seals! flowers! rare plants! ) but the very best was staying on Inishmore, climbing to the top of the ring fort with the help of Oona, and waking the next day, looking out on the ocean from our own lovely little cabin.
Victoria Ferreira
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Bus driver experienced and tour manager prepared to answer all questions.
Carol Wilkins
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Trip was 2 days longer than others I have been on & less expensive.
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Very memorable... the first hotel we stayed at, had little to no hot water for the 2 days we stayed, and NO water at all on the morning we were to check out. The other hotels were quite nice... and had water.
Lyndsey Stuart
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The Aran Island were amazing. I would have liked another day there,Also Christ Church Cathedral was very interesting
Donna Akerlund
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Staff were organized, professional, friendly, and clearly love their jobs. The itinerary included garden stops, a cooking session, knitting and craft experiences and an overnight stay on Inisheer in the Aran Isles for a relaxing contrast to the active days.
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Such an enjoyable trip, especially with a smaller number of participants. This enabled us to know each other better, especially when we had our cooking lesson that provided an excellent meal.
John Fitzgibbon was also an excellent guide.
Karen Burzdak
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Tour was amazing! Small group. Irish National Stud was beautiful. Aran islands gorgeous!
Barbara C
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The tour was exactly what we were looking for. It was a small group (19 people) and by the third day, we all knew one another.
Our favorite part of the tour was the overnight on the Aran Island of Inisheer where we learned, among other things, how to make a Saint Bridgets cross.
Joseph Coyle
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Trip to Aran Island was one of my highlights.
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The tour was full of great experiences but I really enjoyed the city of Kinsale. The small group was a perfect size & still offered so much to see & do. The hotels were very nice & the food in each city was fabulous. We would definitely do another small group tour.
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MEETING PEOPLE AND LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT THE CULTURE,THE CUSTOMS,THE FOOD..LOVED IT!
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See comments above about Delta Airlines and your travel insurance
Juels Carlson
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Just loved the tour, the country, the pace the daily excursions etc. It was all perfect.
Lorine Scott
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The old Ground Hotel and Ennis. We stayed an extra day and had a wonderful time. Have been Killarnay twice ,this last time thoroughly enjoyed the Irish dance program
Patric Farrell
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The kitchen dinning and making of our dinner was great. The Jameson distillery was remarkable
Rebecca Farrell
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See above information regarding Collette
Pamela Achilles
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Visiting Christ Church in Dublin and ringing the bells. Leisure day in Kinsale.
Rosanne Cosmo
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Aran Islands are so unique. Lovely countryside.
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Comments as noted on previous screen.
Donna Holz
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The itinerary was always interesting and the locations we traveled to were a nice change from the normal coach tours. Traveling with a smaller group was also a plus.
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We absolutely loved the Stud Farm and Japanese gardens which were absolutely wonderful!
Colleen Phipps
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The Celtic, New Grange, and the old castles and churches. The night's stay at a B&B was a nice change.
Herbert Zickwolf
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Jeff was really a great sport and up for anything. I lived the landscape. as I said I was impressed with our hotels and the boutique castle.
I am a landscaper, so loved the tours of the countryside. Also enjoyed the Stud Farm visit, which I did not think I would be interested in.
Lynn Masters
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everything was great including he weather
Marilyn Jeglinski
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Hard to say...probably seeing so much of the countryside.
Marylou Gross
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Too many favorite experiences! From lodging in a B&B to a castle to first-rate hotels, then to great cities and lovely villages encompassed with storybook landscapes. Every day was a favorite!
Ellen Zachary
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Advertised as small group tour. That implies more personal service by the tour leader. - It felt like a standard, huge bus (which is what we had for 14 participants) tour where city tours are conducted and points of interest pointed out so you can look out the window. The farm stay was nothing special. Visits to some old castles were from afar during a nearby lunch stop. The tour leader made no effort to introduce participants to each other at the "welcome dinner". Lots of city tours and standard tours of museums, Jameson whiskey, Titanic museum and Guinness beer plant and tower tasting room, but little cultural interaction and NO Irish music or dancing. Felt like the tour leader was just going through the motions. The hotel stays were reasonably high class. The best, and practically only, interactions were with other tourists and a couple of locals at places where we were left on our own. Thankfully there were only a couple stops at specialty shops or factories, and none where we were subjected to sales pitches.
Thomas
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It was such an educational experience. Even though the castle was grand, I certainly enjoyed the experience, the farmhouse was just amazing.
Kathleen
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Collette exceeded our expectations. We like to travel independently but decided to give their small group tour a chance. Every detail was perfect. We did activities we would never have done on our own. We will definitely travel with Collette again.
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The tour was amazing. Marion was the absolute best with her history knowledge and storytelling. The accommodations were top notch and we enjoyed places we never would have seen on our own.
Thanks so much
Janet Golden
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Hearing so much of the history of Ireland in story, having a tour guide that truly enjoyed her job, and meeting the amazing and gracious people of Ireland.
Dayle Rogers
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The goat farm on the Aran Islandd
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It was a great tour and the group of 24 isn't too large. We loved the Dingle area and the 9/11 memorial. Our Tour Manager, Marian, was a local and very informative. She told many stories. The hotels and food were the best! There was just the right amount of down time for browsing in each location.
Linda Marshbanks
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I loved the Aran islands, the trip over on the boat, where I stayed, Gabriel’s tour and goat farm.
Sally O Neall
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I have been to Ireland many times, lots of family there. This tour with Collette was beyond my expectations. Well organized, outstanding itinerary and the best tour manager, Pat Smith, we could have hoped for. We brought a group of people with us and everyone was delighted.
Breeda Miller
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Best tour ever! I’ve been to Ireland many times and my experience with Collette and this tour was absolutely outstanding. Highly recommended.
James Miller
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Stay on Aron Island
Outstanding tour manager
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It was a wonderful trip! Collette is a great company to tour with, and our tour guide Colette was a great guide! All of my experiences on this trip were memorable!
Mary Ehr
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Excellent tour! Would book with Collette again.They handled everything for you. Highly recommend one of the Ireland tours. Beautiful country and such friendly people!
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The scenery was superb. The Irish people we interacted with were just plain great, friendly amd helpful. Made our trip just delightful.
Jon Gossett
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It was our 1st Collette tour. I really liked the organization from start to finish.
The countryside was beautiful . Our tour guide Aidan was excellent, including knowledgeable and entertaining. It also helped having a great group touring with us.
We picked the perfect time to go or we were just lucky, we didn’t see a drop of rain the whole time there.
Looking forward to our next Collette vacation.
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I love the history & emersion into the culture. Seeing the beauty of the country was fantastic. Our tour leader Marian was great
Jamie Kochik
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The Dingle Peninsular and the Aran Islands were tops for me. Combine that with the Cliffs of Moher and the trip was spectacular! Marion McDonald also made the trip very memorable, great sense of humor, we connected on that issue very well! Tour was at a pace we seniors could handle well, with free time to see things on our own or just catch our breath. Loved Dublin!!!
Glenn and Donetta Lausch
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Very disappointed that we had to pay for alcohol with meals. This is an expense we were not expecting
Steven Lyon
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The best part was the stop at Kinsale, the town has a lot of history that helped understand much of Irish history. The local tour guide, David was awesome! As for the rest of the tour...it was just average. we were told about many Irish traditions, but didn't get to experience them, such as the music and dancing. Also, more about the Irish folklore and traditions would be great. There was a lot of emphasis on Jameson & Guinness, but isn't there more to Irish culture?
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On our tour we saw beautiful countryside and Atlantic Coast scenery. The meals provided were very good too! I would highly recommend this tour. Our tour director had to do some last minute changes, which worked out beautifully. She was on top of it! I loved our walk on the top of the Cliffs of Moher especially. I would definitely take another Collette tour.
Karen Branzell
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Jamison
Island
Dublin
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Our Irish tour guide was amazing. Full of information, guidance, and life. The trip was a great experience. We could have used a daily itinerary to know how to dress for comfort and occasion as well as to coordinate what we were eating on our meals that were on their own based on what we were eating at the planned meals. Overall, a fantastic trip.
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Tour guide provided very little info unless specifically asked. Learned nothing about Dingle or Kinsale. Wanted some historical information about these areas and the importance to Ireland. Our tour guide was a local person, but does not seem to have education in history, architecture, cultural significance of the places that we went through. This was severely lacking for me.
My favorite place was Innis more island as we had a local guide who provided all the history that I wanted.
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This is a fantastic tour. You get to see the real Ireland. The small towns are beautiful, Cliffs of Mohr are amazing and the hotels are great, I did enjoy the food at the restaurant by the Guinness storehouse and Rothys the most... The tour manager Norman is wonderful. As a first time solo traveler I was a bit scared but thanks to tour manager and many of the couples on the tour I felt at ease. He informed us along the way about the towns we were in, l Irish culture, and even sang. This was my second trip with collette and I look forward on taking another tour, hopefully with my partner so he can experience the great collette experience.
Slante!
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Too many favorites to select just one.
Norman Greene
Tour Manager did an excellent job along with Robert the bus driver.
Charles Goolden
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Loved all the accommodations. Loved all the places we visited. Loved the storyteller. One glaring omission was no trad music or dance was included. Seemed to be sort of a glaring oversight. Bus driver was amazing. Tour manager provided excellent insight into the history of his country. His talks were detailed and thorough. Included meals were ok but not fabulous, with 2 exceptions: Rory’s in Dublin was outstanding & the place before we went to Guinness tour was wonderful too. Never seemed to really ‘click’ with the manager. I found him a bit condescending to me personally. But he had a definite favorite because she always sat up in the front of the bus. Several of us were quite miffed about that! He let 2 ladies traveling single take up both front seats on more than one occasion. Several of us couples thought that wasn’t fair. Other than me not getting along well with the tour manager, we absolutely loved this tour & would very highly recommend it to anyone.
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Our tour guide Jackie was exceptional ! Her knowledge, humor, cultural insights and TLC made this a most memorable trip. Looking out over the cliffs of the Aryn Islands was the highlight for me.
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Wonderful small group experience.
Elizabeth Talcott
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Wonderful experiences. Enjoyed seeing the smaller communities, interacting with locals and the countryside of Ireland.
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All great but Christ Church Tour and Aran Island visit was best. Would like to have had more time in Ennis. Shannon Airport was great.
Ruth Ogrady Crawford
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Norman was an incredible guide. Knowledgeable, and personable. He engaged with everyone.
We had issues with our bed configuration at 3 different hotels. Each told us Collette booked us that way, but our paperwork showed different.
We were not impressed with the Guinness tour. I understand why you have it, I think a better description of what it actually is. because it is not a brewery tour. It's a Guiness museum/history tour.
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Cliffs of Mohr
Donna Evans
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This tour was everything and more than we thought it would be. Norman, the tour guide, and Patrick, the bus driver, went above and beyond to make the trip absolutely perfect. In fact, we left Ireland wishing to return! The hotels, sights, and experiences will be with us always!
Favorite places: Dublin—for literary reasons, Dingle, and Inishmore—what a treasure, like no other!
Angela Dickert
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Everything was great. The places we visited and the guides were excellent. We had a great time and would certainly do more tours with Collette.
Jeffrey Brooks
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Several of the private gardens we toured were absolutely magnificent
Marjorie Garrand
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The tour in Christ Church in Dublin was excellent- the young man giving the tour was informative and Funny! Visiting the Rock of Cashel was great and being welcome in a local couple’s home for scones & wine was the highlight of the trip.
The trip to the Aran Island was not so great. The goat farm & cheese tasting tour was a joke! Too much time was wasted on this island on the Last day of our trip! We should have left that island early enough to get to our hotel and had ample time to enjoy our last hotel stay. We did not get to our last hotel until 735pm and our farewell dinner was at 8pm. When I answered YES I would recommend this tour- my true answer would be YES and NO! The PUB lunches were not good, in fact one was awful. Collette should do a better job in checking out these tours that are set up for us. We had hardly any time on the Garnish Island, which was a shame, and way too much time on the Aran Island, which was a waste! There really wasn’t much to see and I felt it was just a hustle to get us to spend money in the village shops & cafe. The last day of trip really left me with a bad feeling!
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All of the gardens we visited were fabulous!
Powerscourt was a beautiful formal garden.
The private garden in Howth peninsula was a
lovely informal garden!
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The Rock of Cashel, and the Cliffs of Moher
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Martine and John Doyle were great. I loved the entire experience--as Ireland has been on my "adventure list"( not bucket, as that sounds too terminal, to me)--- for many yrs--as my family - on both sides- is all from Cork City-.The Blasket Islands /history really struck me! AWESOME-- AND the Slea Head "Trail" ( not a road!) truly showed the expertise of our driver John. All hotels,etc were perfect--Ennis was my favorite berg-- but really loved Garreyvoe area too. ALSO Trinity Hotel was full of wonderful employees. - --.Would have been neat to see the Cliffs- but we had to exit our ferry "ASAP" due to bad weather. We had a great group - from many places in the USA. Collette will always be my tour agent of choice for any future trips - and I will always recommend them-. AND in closing- thank you to Martine for her patience with my older brother-- his wife of over 60 yrs had just passed-( 6 months)- and he was prone to be "fussy" on this trip--- Not an excuse-- just a bit of history. AND one more thing. I hear Martine will be naming her first born son OLIVER!!( huge HARDEHARRR)--. Martine was full of knowledge-- about her native Ireland-- I learned a lot
CHEERS, Mary Burns --Gardnerville, Nevada
Mary Burns
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i loved Martine and John our bus driver. they were the best! Can't really name a favorite part, I loved it all! Martine and John were very quick to solve any issues that came up. Learned a lot.
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Tour give was very pleasant and accommodating. Tour was very good. Some hotels could have been nicer.
Carolyn Reynolds
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Colette Denison (spelling ?) was a fantastic tour guide, providing endless input into Ireland life, history and politics. There were few "dead moments" on our tour. We saw, learned and understood much of Ireland (and we realize there is so much more, hopefully with the same tour guide).
Perry Mullins
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Martine our Tour Manager and John our Bus Driver were excellent!
Both were able to react quickly to any concerns that arose and handle them promptly and professionally.
All of the tours and tour guides also were excellent.
I liked the fact that the tours selected were not the usual tourist stops promoted by the large tour companies.
I enjoyed the National Stud and the MIddleton Distillery tours the most.
The Arin Islands were also very interesting and enjoyable.
I would highly recommend this tour!
William Chapin
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A fast paced and jam packed introduction to the beauty of Ireland enhanced by our knowledgeable and highly entertaining guide.
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Aran Islands
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Wonderful tour of the coasts and countryside of Ireland. The Aran Island component was magical as was our island guide Gabrielle.
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Visiting blasket island
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Wow! That’s a hard question to answer. My favorites were Kinsale, Dingle, and the Aran Islands. Those are not listed in any order. I loved the entire trip
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The Irish Stud Farm and the Aran Islands
Stephen Cameron
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I loved the ferry ride under the Cliffs of Moher. I liked the rooms at the Aran but we stayed too long the second day. I enjoyed the Irish National Stud farm. We all enjoyed pub lunch the first day in Dublin and the Guinness Storehouse. The tour of Christ Church Cathedral was very informative. The Dingle Peninsula drive was beautiful and liked the Blasket Centre. We only had one hour of rain and the sun was with us most of the trip.
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Ireland is beautiful! I wish this trip had given us more time in some places and less time in others. There were times when we spent many hours on the bus. The tour manager was horrible! She was not helpful or compassionate when our luggage was lost for 4 days. I had to personally work with my travel agent in the US to track our bags and get them sent to Ireland. I had NO help or assistance from the tour manager to get our luggage back. The tour manager misrepresented many of the tours and experiences we were going to have during the tour. The hotel in Dingle was not great in that there were no elevators and you had to lug your luggage up two flights of steep stairs. When I asked the tour manager where would be the best place to buy jewelry be, she said Dingle. Then in Dingle she took us to a jewelry store she had a special arrangement with. Over all the tour manager did put a damper on our vacation. We hope Collette does better in the future!
Laurie Sheth
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I think the tour manager was not very conducive to lead us in all aspects of the tour. Lots of unpleasant experiences where encounter is this tour manager.
American Airline was terrible will not prefer to travel this airline as they had lots of problems example lost luggage, cancel flight, etc.
Abdul Sheth
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Liked the goat farm and Gabriele, also the ferry boat ride and the Moher cliffs.
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We loved the Aran Island's. Goat farm tour, ferry ride and Gabriele (local tour guide) were great!
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I enjoyed the tour very much. I probably liked the tour of the Midleton distillery as much as anything we did. I learned a lot about the process and I liked the samples we got. I think my favorite stop was Inis Mor of the Aran Islands. There wasn’t any place we went that I didn’t like.
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I already submitted a review.
The stay and tour of Inishmore and viewing of the Cliffs of Moor from the sea. All excursions were excellent as were the guides. Our guide, Michael Talbot and bus driver, John were excellent in skill and personality and care.
Noel Closs
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Needed more time at each location.
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We had a great trip. The beginning was a bit rocky as 23 of the passengers had their international flights canceled so missed the first day. The tour manager did his best to try to make up for that but it was difficult. The Aran Islands was definitely a high point. The lodging in Dingle was not great. All else was wonderful. I would rate this trip as one of the best we have taken.
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First day should have had welcome dinner. 2nd day with the optional lunch and tour and a big dinner at night too much food. Trip to garnish could have been eliminated. Last day touring was too long ; didn’t get to hotel in Ennis until late so there was a late dinner which was not good. People had to get up early for flights. National stud farm was a good stop. Aran islands was a bit long and drawn out. Town not that big. Could have head back to mainland earlier which would have gotten us to Ennis earlier. Tour guide, Fiona and driver Peter excellent.
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Our tour manager, John Hogan is an absolute gem! His knowledge of Ireland’s history and traditions are first rate. He also has a unique ability to include those of us with Irish ancestry into his narrative. As we progressed along our tour, he would frequently mention what names were common in different areas.
Our driver, James was amazing. How he could fit the bus through narrow, winding streets or roads was something to behold.
Additionally, Collette’s shuttle service was the best we have ever experienced. Chicago shuttle service was on time, the vehicles very comfortable and the drivers professional. A Collette rep met our group at the luggage carousel, alerted our driver and made the
entire experience the best ever. We travel to Europe twice per year and internationally 4-5 times. This was truly a 5 star experience.
Randal Orourke
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All accommodations were excellent, except one which was good.
Loved the tour, a good mix of organized activities and time to explore activities. Not too much seat time in a bus.
Jay Kelley
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The trip was perfection. The tour guide and the bus driver were both excellent and very professional. I would not hesitate to take the same tour again. Will definitely recommend.
Max Boykin
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I loved the scenic drives. Our tour guide John was great, funny and very knowledgeable about history. Our coach driver was wonderful. Food was good. John and the company did a good job of finding alternate lodging after flooding prevented us from getting to one of the hotels. Overall nice trip.
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Did not feel the horse farm was worth the stop; saw only 4 horses from a distance because it was off season. I loved the Aran islands and Cliffs of Moher boat tour
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did not care for travel to Aran Islands
Stephen Pelton
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Every aspect of the trip was smooth. Good mix of group time and time on my own. When unscheduled race day happened flexible alternative course was arranged
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the tour Manager was great and I love Collette travel all the time with you.
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Excellent event coordination. Excellent host and driver.
Pamela Utpadel
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Excellent tour. Well paced. Great driver and manager
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A well planned tour of the Irish countryside. With only 21 people on an Explorations tour, you got to know the other guests.
James Sheeran
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The scheduling was wonderful and everything ran smoothly. We experienced many different settings, hotels, food and people. The Tour Manager was so knowledgeable and her sincere love of Ireland was reflected in her presentations. The walking and small tour group made the trip interactive and we embraced the hills, rocks, views and weather and worth every dollar we paid. Plus obtaining air fare through Collette was easy, reasonable including car service to airport and back
Kathleen Spangler
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Enjoyed it very much! Thought the accommodations could have been better in Dingle. Meals could have been included in the tour price, especially at the cost of these tours.
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the tour was amazing. the tour manager so knowledgeable and very nice to be around
Ella Culver
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Our tour director, Martine Freely, was fabulous. We were so well cared for. She was very well prepared for anything that came our way. Martine had the perfect blend of local information, the history of Ireland, and personal reflections on a host of subjects. She really was all things to each of us. Our driver was top-notch. He deftly maneuvered the coach on some pretty narrow roads. I will always travel with Collette.
Sheila Graudons
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Amenities, tour guide, coach driver and Ireland were
a level above excellent.
Scott Kortvely
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Overall, the tour was good from transfers to lodging. Meals could have been better. The best included meal was the last night. The country side of Ireland was beautiful, but it would have been nicer to have extra free time to shop.
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The tour itself, cities visited and hotels were wonderful. Local guides were entertaining and knowledgeable. Not having a welcome dinner where all guests on the tour introduce themselves and meet each other, was a big disappointment. The tour manager did his job but that was it. Never gave recommendations of where to eat or shop and his personal hygiene was not good. Food in Inisheer was actually poor. Our bus driver was outstanding. All transfers went smoothly.
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Ireland is lovely and enjoyed the tour
Deborah Gary
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Overall the tour was fantastic. Would have rated it a 5 except for the hotel in Dublin which was in a nice location but it felt quite tired. Other accommodations along the tour were fine.
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The only upset was the loss of a day. We arrived at our hotel about 6:30 A.M. there were no accommodations for us. We were in a residual area. We were on the couches in reception, no way to get coffee as it was to early for the restaurant to open. We were able to get in our room about 12:30 I feel there needs to be better planning if travelers get in early A.M. I feel we lost a day that was paid for and was an inconvenience that should not have happened.
Angela Elliott
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A great experience from being picked up at home to being dropped off and everything in between. We appreciated the planning and execution of the tour, all the accommodations were excellent, the scheduled meals were delicious, the tour inclusions were interesting and the schedule was followed perfectly.
Richard U
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Excellent food, service, hotels, bus driver ( Martin) who was phenomenal and especially our tour guide (Kevin) who gave us a very memorable and educational experience around the country! Highly recommended and I'd be interested in taking another trip soon!
James Lally
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There were so many things to see . Garish Island was unique. The cookery class was fun . Having free time to explore Kinsale. This was our first time with Collette. It won’t be our last.
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it all was great. we enjoyed the whole trip. the people that were on the tour with us were fantastic
Mary Bocchino
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Hard to say...the cooking school was a great idea to acquaint the group, the stud farm was so informative and beautiful grounds, liked ringing the bell in the tower at Christ Church Cathedral, gourmet dining in Kinsale. Came away loving the Irish people..so warm and friendly...good food, good times in the pubs.
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A trip to one of the Aran Islands was fun and interesting. Ringing the bells in a Cathedral in Dublin was something not done every day.
Brian Hadley
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The town of Dingle & the Dingle peninsula were my favorites
Thomas Cloherty
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Two of the hotels did not have air conditioning, and everyone noticed the rooms were too warm. This is probably not often a problem, but the weather was beautiful most of the time, so the rooms got warmer than probably do normally.
Donald Simoneaux
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Liked it. But too much driving and inconvenient hotels. Shuttles not good. Taxis cost a lot.
Elaine Bindo
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We had the trip of a lifetime. Our tour manager Jackie, and coach driver Tony, delivered an experience we will cherish in our hearts for ever. It was so much fun getting to know these, and the other 17 tour members of our trip. Building memories of the beautiful landscapes of Ireland, and pleasant memories with those on our tour. We felt truly blessed to be apart of this fun filled group. Ireland is gorgeous, and we were well pleased with accommodations, stops, and the pace of this tour. Thank you Collette for delivering our memorable trip, and can't wait for our next one!
Darron Tytler
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Each location was like building an ice cream sundae. The cherry on top was the overnight stay on Inisheer Island and the trip to the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Loved it even though the sea was rough and I got sea sick.
Sonya Tytler
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The stay on the Aran island was the most memorable for me,
Trusted Customer
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Overall experience exceeded expectations
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Garnish Island was a highlight (seals! flowers! rare plants! ) but the very best was staying on Inishmore, climbing to the top of the ring fort with the help of Oona, and waking the next day, looking out on the ocean from our own lovely little cabin.
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Bus driver experienced and tour manager prepared to answer all questions.
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Trip was 2 days longer than others I have been on & less expensive.
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Very memorable... the first hotel we stayed at, had little to no hot water for the 2 days we stayed, and NO water at all on the morning we were to check out. The other hotels were quite nice... and had water.
Lyndsey Stuart
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The Aran Island were amazing. I would have liked another day there,Also Christ Church Cathedral was very interesting
Donna Akerlund
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Staff were organized, professional, friendly, and clearly love their jobs. The itinerary included garden stops, a cooking session, knitting and craft experiences and an overnight stay on Inisheer in the Aran Isles for a relaxing contrast to the active days.
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Such an enjoyable trip, especially with a smaller number of participants. This enabled us to know each other better, especially when we had our cooking lesson that provided an excellent meal.
John Fitzgibbon was also an excellent guide.
Trusted Customer
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Tour was amazing! Small group. Irish National Stud was beautiful. Aran islands gorgeous!
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The tour was exactly what we were looking for. It was a small group (19 people) and by the third day, we all knew one another.
Our favorite part of the tour was the overnight on the Aran Island of Inisheer where we learned, among other things, how to make a Saint Bridgets cross.
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Trip to Aran Island was one of my highlights.
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The tour was full of great experiences but I really enjoyed the city of Kinsale. The small group was a perfect size & still offered so much to see & do. The hotels were very nice & the food in each city was fabulous. We would definitely do another small group tour.
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MEETING PEOPLE AND LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT THE CULTURE,THE CUSTOMS,THE FOOD..LOVED IT!
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See comments above about Delta Airlines and your travel insurance
Trusted Customer
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Just loved the tour, the country, the pace the daily excursions etc. It was all perfect.
Lorine Scott
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The old Ground Hotel and Ennis. We stayed an extra day and had a wonderful time. Have been Killarnay twice ,this last time thoroughly enjoyed the Irish dance program
Trusted Customer
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The kitchen dinning and making of our dinner was great. The Jameson distillery was remarkable
Trusted Customer
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See above information regarding Collette
Trusted Customer
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Visiting Christ Church in Dublin and ringing the bells. Leisure day in Kinsale.
Trusted Customer
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Aran Islands are so unique. Lovely countryside.
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Comments as noted on previous screen.
Donna Holz
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The itinerary was always interesting and the locations we traveled to were a nice change from the normal coach tours. Traveling with a smaller group was also a plus.
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We absolutely loved the Stud Farm and Japanese gardens which were absolutely wonderful!
Trusted Customer
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The Celtic, New Grange, and the old castles and churches. The night's stay at a B&B was a nice change.
Trusted Customer
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Jeff was really a great sport and up for anything. I lived the landscape. as I said I was impressed with our hotels and the boutique castle.
I am a landscaper, so loved the tours of the countryside. Also enjoyed the Stud Farm visit, which I did not think I would be interested in.
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everything was great including he weather
Trusted Customer
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Hard to say...probably seeing so much of the countryside.
Trusted Customer
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Too many favorite experiences! From lodging in a B&B to a castle to first-rate hotels, then to great cities and lovely villages encompassed with storybook landscapes. Every day was a favorite!
Ellen Zachary
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Advertised as small group tour. That implies more personal service by the tour leader. - It felt like a standard, huge bus (which is what we had for 14 participants) tour where city tours are conducted and points of interest pointed out so you can look out the window. The farm stay was nothing special. Visits to some old castles were from afar during a nearby lunch stop. The tour leader made no effort to introduce participants to each other at the "welcome dinner". Lots of city tours and standard tours of museums, Jameson whiskey, Titanic museum and Guinness beer plant and tower tasting room, but little cultural interaction and NO Irish music or dancing. Felt like the tour leader was just going through the motions. The hotel stays were reasonably high class. The best, and practically only, interactions were with other tourists and a couple of locals at places where we were left on our own. Thankfully there were only a couple stops at specialty shops or factories, and none where we were subjected to sales pitches.
Trusted Customer
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It was such an educational experience. Even though the castle was grand, I certainly enjoyed the experience, the farmhouse was just amazing.
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