Photos on this itinerary by James Derheim
Updated on December 18 with pricing
Day of departure: Saturday, April 18, 2015
Day of arrival at Dublin, Ireland: Sunday, April 19
Day of return from Shannon, Ireland: Sunday, April 26
Seven full days on the Emerald Isle
Day 1: Sunday, April 19
Arrival from Atlanta
Dublin, approximately 10:25 a.m. (or TBD)
James Derheim, your private guide and driver, meets you at the airport just outside of Dublin. We drive into the heart of the city where we stay the night in a small hotel or B&B.
Note: If you choose a flight with an early arrival then there is a possibility of an early check-in at our hotel. This would need to be confirmed. Obviously, time is of the essence to book all rooms as you are traveling at a popular time in Ireland.
Not much planned for today, a stretch of the legs, a bit of a walk around, lunch and then free time. Many people like to take a nap after the long flight. People think they can sleep on the plane, but the reality is quite different. You will be tired. Your arrival will be 5:25 in the morning, your time after a sleepless night.
Dinner tonight in a very special place. James takes you to the Wicklow Mountains, just on the edge of Dublin, to the 'Highest Pub in Ireland.' It is super-atmospheric, very old, and very, very good. The Guinness will taste extra good and so will the food.
Day 2: Monday, April 20
Dublin and Cashel (1)
We start the morning with a visit to Trinity College where the famous and ancient Book of Kells is kept at the library. We also see a bit of the campus with, if available, one of the student guides. This is a fun way to learn about this ancient university.
We then leave Dublin and drive into the heart of Ireland for a one-night stay in the small town of Cashel, County Tipperary. This gets us most of the way to the south and west of the country where we will spend the rest of your trip. Cashel is famous for the 'Rock of Cashel,' a magnificent castle and cathedral complex and also, the oldest church in Ireland (dating back to around the year 1000) called Cormac's Chapel. We see that area in the morning. It is lit up at night, fantastic. We stay in a small hotel in the center of town right across the street from a very good pub where you can have dinner.
(Breakfasts and lunches as we travel are always included in your trip. Dinners you enjoy as a family without James)
Beara Peninsula farm and pastures
Day 3: Tuesday, April 21
Kenmare (2)
We make our way to County Cork and the Jameson Distillery, located outside of Cork City in the town of Midleton.
We take a tour of the old distillery which is very interesting, and that tour ends (naturally) with a tasting.
On our way to Kenmare we make a stop at Blarney so that you can see the famous castle and if you want, kiss the stone.
Later, we arrive at the colorful town of Kenmare, where we stay two nights.
Wild countryside in County Kerry
Day 4: Wednesday, April 22
The Ring of Beara
One of the prettiest regions of County Kerry, and undiscovered by the big tour buses (so far) this gorgeous, wild region has sparkling bays, green pastures, zillions of sheep and lovely landscapes. We drive around the ring road and return to Kenmare in time for afternoon tea or just some browsing time in the many shops of downtown Kenmare before dinner.
Kenmare is known for its culinary excellence and James will help arrange dinners for you at two of the places rated highly by our clients.
The drawing room at our favorite B&B in Kenmare
The Ring of Kerry and Dingle (2)
We drive around the famous Ring of Kerry with plenty of stops for sightseeing (an ancient ring fort) and photo taking on our way to Dingle, on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry.
The Cliffs of Moher was on your list of places to see. James thinks these cliffs are overrated. Sure, they are magnificent, but they are also spoiled by too much commercialism. If you want to see magnificent cliffs, and would enjoy a short and easy walk to get there, he can show you an unspoiled vista along the Ring of Kerry that not many people get to. This also saves us precious time on your final day so that you can enjoy Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
Inch Strand, Dingle
Dingle sightseeing
This wild and windswept place is crammed full of ancient monastic sites, ring forts, monasteries and more plus the best famine farm museum in Ireland. You can learn about the Irish Potato Famine at a place where the family, who are the original owners going back hundreds of years, can tell you about the suffering of their ancestors. They even wrote a book about it (available for sale).
James shows you the farthest western point in Europe at Slea Head and some splendid easy hikes can also be enjoyed out here.
Bunratty Castle (Photo from Bunratty Folk Park, Ltd)
Day 7: Saturday, April 25
Bunratty, County Clare (1)
We drive up through lovely landscape to the village of Bunratty, conveniently located just 10 minutes from Shannon Airport. Ireland's best castle is there, Bunratty, and you can tour it this afternoon along with the adjacent folk park and museum with its many examples of how poor and middle income farmers and their families used to live.
James takes you to a farewell dinner tonight at a pub right next door to the B&B where we stay.
Day 8: Sunday, April 26
Day of Departure
Shannon International Airport
Departure time about 9:05
Departure from our B&B at 7:20
Flight home from Shannon
Arrival in Atlanta around 4:40 that same day
(Five hours time difference between Ireland and Atlanta)
Price: 2,760 Euro per person
At the exchange rate effective on December 18: $3,389
Flight details sent separately
Includes:
- Rooms in small hotels and B&Bs (Two doubles and one single for your family)
- Breakfasts, most of which are very generous
- Lunches on the lighter side, soup, sandwich, fish n' chips, etc.
- First and last night dinner including drinks
- Sightseeing entry fees
- Transportation by full-sized van
- All road tolls, fuel, other costs of travel around Ireland
- James' fee
Your deposit should be made at the time of your acceptance of the contract, which all parties sign
Balance: Due on April 1, 2015
Your trip is priced in the Euro. Your payments are converted to the dollar on the date they are due, using rates published on www.x-rates.com
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is highly recommended. No refunds in case a member of your family cannot make the trip. No refunds in case you cancel the entire trip due to illness or other reasons.
Estimate on dinners
Your first and last night dinners are included in the price of your tour. For the other nights, you can expect to spend from 5-9 Euro for a starter, from 12 - 22 Euro for main courses and drinks usually run around 3.80 Euro each with wine costing around 7 - 9 Euro per glass. Currently the Euro costs $1.23. James will help you on dinner locations, as all of these areas are well known to him and he can present you with options to match your appetite and budget.
