Irish Fling - 6 Nights

Highlights

Highlights:

Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet
Cliffs of Moher
Jaunting Car Ride
Dingle Peninsula Tour
Guinness Brewery
Irish Coffee & Traditional Music in Dungarvan
Dunboyne Castle Hotel

Hotels:
Stay at the following (or similar)

1 night Bunratty Castle Hotel, Clare
2 nights Killarney Plaza Hotel, Kerry
1 night Granville Hotel, Waterford
1 night Dunboyne Castle Hotel, Meath
1 night Burlington Hotel, Dublin

Tour Includes:

Group transfers on arrival and departure
Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
Dublin open-top bus tour with complimentary visit and a drink at Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery
Services of a professional Irish driver/guide
Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 6 nights
6 full Irish breakfasts (B)
5 dinners (D) including - Medieval banquet and entertainment at Bunratty Castle - Dinner with entertainment at Dunboyne Castle Hotel - 3 table d'hote dinners
Welcome get-together drink
Walking tour of Waterford with a local guide
Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney
Irish coffee and music session at the Marine Bar in Dungarvan
Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Muckross House & Gardens, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre and Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Itinerary

8 Day Itinerary Including Airfare from USA

Day 1: Overnight Flight to Shannon
Depart your North American gateway city and travel through the night to Shannon. Land only tour starts on day 2.

Day 2: Bunratty Castle Banquet
Land at Shannon Airport and locate the SPECIALIZED TRAVEL SERVICES desk in the Arrivals Hall for a complimentary group transfer to your nearby hotel, available between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than 12:00 noon, you must transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm take a drive to the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, an awesome wall of rock that plunges into the Atlantic Ocean. Return to your hotel where you'll have free time to take a stroll through the Bunratty Folk Park or visit the cozy Durty Nelly's Pub. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink before heading to 15th century Bunratty Castle for a jolly medieval-style dinner where the Lords and Ladies serenade you with favorite songs. (D)

Day 3: Flying Boat Museum & Dingle Peninsula
Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and alongside the River Shannon to visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum. In the early days of flight, during the 1930's and early 1940's, Pan Am Clippers from the United States and Europe landed here. The museum recreates the infancy of aviation through memorabilia. Journey into the mountains of County Kerry and out along the Dingle Peninsula for glorious scenic views of mountains and sandy beaches. Stop for a while in the town of Dingle before going up the Connor Pass for panoramic views. Then head to Killarney and check in to your hotel in the center of town. (B, D)

Day 4: Jaunting Car Ride & Moll's Gap
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle to view Lough Leane, largest of Killarney's lakes. Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where traditional buildings are gaily painted and enhanced with flowers. At the vantage point of Moll's Gap, view the mountains and continue along part of the Ring of Kerry to enjoy the scenery. Pause at Ladies' View before stopping at Muckross House. Take a guided tour through this lovely 19th century mansion to admire elegant antiques while learning about the previous owners and their important guests. Return to Killarney where you will have some free time before dinner. (B, D)

Day 5: Cobh Heritage & Traditional Music Session
Travel through the mountains of Kerry and make a brief stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Next visit Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the old train station through which all emigrants passed when traveling to the United States. Displays show the many hardships that travelers endured. Drive to Dungarvan to sample a creamy Irish coffee at the Marine Bar and listen to a local group of musicians play an informal traditional music session. Continue to Waterford and check in to your hotel, once the home of Thomas Francis Meagher, first governor of Montana. After dinner, join a local guide for a stroll around the historic city center. (B, D)

Day 6: Medieval Kilkenny & National Stud
Drive north to Kilkenny for a look around the compact city. In medieval times this was a prosperous trading center and the narrow streets still follow ancient routes. Travel north to Kildare and visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. As a nation, the Irish are very interested in horses and the Stud will tell you about the valuable breeding industry. The Japanese Gardens symbolize the "Life of Man" through plants and rocks. Then head to the village of Dunboyne, on the outskirts of Dublin. Check in to Dunboyne Castle Hotel and relax for a while before enjoying dinner followed by some informal music. (B, D)

Day 7: Explore Dublin City
This morning transfer to your Dublin hotel, located in the city center and within easy reach of all downtown attractions. The rest of the day is free for you to use your independent open-top city bus tour voucher this afternoon. The ticket is valid for a 24-hour period. You may stay on the bus for the entire loop of the city's main streets and places of interest or get off at 23 stops near major attractions. We also include admission to either the Guinness Storehouse or the Old Jameson Distillery to see stout or whiskey production techniques and enjoy a drink of the finished product. (B)

Day 8: Return Home from Dublin
Use your complimentary transfer to arrive in Dublin Airport in ample time to check in for your flight. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before boarding the aircraft for the journey home. (B)

Optionals

Rates & Hotels

Air-inclusive prices are based on departures from New York and subject to change depending on availability. Prices for departures from other cities will vary and can be obtained by clicking book now and following the quotation steps. Air-inclusive prices do not include an United States Security Fee up to $10 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and international arrival and other government-imposed fees up to $120 per person for Ireland, and up to $300 per person for other destinations depending on your itinerary. Your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your final flight information is confirmed and SPECIALIZED TRAVEL SERVICES has received your full air and land deposit. Certain restrictions apply.