WTT > Travel Calendar

Ireland: The Emerald Isle #1

Including a Castle Stay

May 20 - 30, 2020

Itinerary &
Daily Schedule
Tour Pricing &
Important Details
Destination
Information
Frequently Asked
Questions
Make a Pre-Reservation
Make a Reservation
Put Yourself
on Standby

Ireland is a popular destination and for good reason. The landscape is breathtaking, the people charming, and English is spoken by most. We traverse a lot of the lush country on this trip. You’ll learn about Ireland’s history and culture with visits to ancient monastic sites and medieval castles. See breathtaking and dramatic scenery from Connemara to the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s top natural scenic attraction. No visit is complete without a stop in Dublin, the Irish capital, where you can immerse yourself in vibrant culture and history. We never tire of the Emerald Isle and know you won’t either!

Print Itinerary & Details

Itinerary

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Wednesday, 20 May 2020: Arrive Dublin; Welcome Dinner (D)
On arrival at Dublin airport, clear customs and immigration and transfer (based on arrival time) to your city center hotel. Schedule your arrival no later than 3:00pm. Following hotel check in, the remainder of the afternoon is free to rest. This evening we will meet in the lobby at 6:00PM for our Welcome Dinner and then enjoy a Welcome Dinner. Overnight Dublin - 2 nights

Thursday, 21 May 2020: Trinity College & St. Patrick's Cathedral; Free Time (B)
We begin in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, with visits to Trinity College, which houses the Book of Kells, Ireland's most precious medieval artifact, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore on your own. Visit The National Museum, browse through shops or simply enjoy a Guinness and a chat in a local pub.

Friday, 22 May 2020: Powerscourt House & Gardens; Glendalough; Avoca; Clonmel (B,D)
This morning we travel south to County Wicklow, known as the Garden of Ireland. Our first stop is Powerscourt House and Gardens. The outstanding gardens were laid out when the house was rebuilt in 1731. We continue to Glendalough (Valley of Two Lakes) and are transported back in time to the 7th century on a guided tour of this remarkable early monastic settlement. We continue through the beautiful vale of Avoca to the Avoca hand weavers, Ireland's oldest, and learn more about this very old craft on a guided tour. We then travel to Clonmel to check into our hotel and enjoy dinner together this evening. Overnight Clonmel - 1 night

Saturday, 23 May 2020: Rock of Cashel; Queenstown Story; Kinsale (B,D)
This morning we visit the Rock of Cashel, a picturesque complex with a character of its own, that was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. We continue to Cobh, which was one of the main points of emigration during the great famine and also the Titanic's last port of call. Here you can visit “The Queenstown Story,” which portrays the hardship of life onboard ship as it sailed to the “New World.” Annie Moore, the first-ever immigrant to be processed on Ellis Island when it officially opened in January of 1892, left from Cobh with her two brothers. Our final stop is Kinsale, a historic fishing town on the southern coastline of County Cork. Overnight Kinsale - 1 night

Sunday, 24 May 2020: West Cork; Mizen Head; Killarney (B,D)
This morning we travel along the southern coast to Skibbereen, onto Ballydehob and then to Mizen Head, Ireland's most southerly point to visit the award-winning Maritime Museum and Heritage Attraction. Take a 10-minute walk along a short path, down 99 steps and cross the arched bridge to the lighthouse. We continue onto Killarney, taking in a 20-mile stretch of the famous Ring of Kerry. Tonight, we will gather for dinner together. Overnight Killarney - 3 nights

Monday, 25 May 2020: Killarney National Park & Muckross House; Afternoon Free Time (B,L)
Today we travel in traditional style in an Irish jaunting car (horse-drawn, two-wheeled carriage) to Killarney National Park and Muckross House and Gardens, one of Ireland’s most stately homes. We'll tour this Victorian mansion built in 1843 and enjoy lunch together. This afternoon you are free to enjoy the town of Killarney.

Tuesday, 26 May 2020: Dingle Peninsula (B)
Today we enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Dingle Peninsula, once cited as "the most beautiful place on earth" by National Geographic. As we continue around Slea Head there are breathtaking views of the Atlantic and glimpses of "beehive huts" (early monastic settlements) dating back more than a thousand years. Our tour takes us to the most westerly point of Ireland to view the Blasket Islands and visit the Blasket Center to learn about the culture and traditions of the Blasket Islanders. Following free time in Dingle, we return to Killarney for the night.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020: Shannon Ferry; Cliffs of Moher; Galway (B)
We travel to Tarbert this morning and board the Shannon Ferry for a 25-minute crossing to Killimer. From here we take the coast road to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, rising dramatically from the crashing Atlantic. After time to explore the cliffs, our tour continues through the lunar landscape of the Burren region and along the shores of Galway Bay to Galway City. Overnight Galway City - 2 nights

Thursday, 28 May 2020: Connemara and Kylemore Abbey; Pub Dinner (B,D)
Today we tour rugged and wild Connemara, a scenic area that has been the location for many films. We stop at Kylemore Abbey (1866), home to Benedictine nuns until 2008. We visit the abbey’s Victorian Walled Garden, which is completely enclosed by a brick and limestone wall, and the beautiful Gothic church built by Mitchell Henry in memory of his wife who died four years after the castle was constructed. We continue to Cong to see a 14th-century cross and the ruins of Cong Abbey, founded in 1128, and return to Galway City along the banks of Lough Corrib, Ireland's largest lake. This evening we enjoy a pub dinner and entertainment.

Friday, 29 May 2020: Galway City; Farm Visit; Castle Stay in Dublin; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
There is free time to wander through the charming old cobblestone streets of Galway City this morning to appreciate the blend of past and present, with modern day shops housed in century-old buildings. This afternoon we head to Rathbaun Farm to peek into the daily workings of a sheep farm. Farmer Fintan Connelly will demonstrate sheep shearing and herding. Spend time in the thatched cottage, smell the turf fire and enjoy freshly baked scones, soda bread and tea. We return to Dublin where we'll gather this evening for dinner and bid farewell to the Emerald Isle.

Saturday, 30 May 2020: Return Home from Dublin (B)
Sadly, it’s time to return home. Make your return flight home at your convenience, remembering that you will need extra time at the Dublin Airport to clear US Customs. Group transfers will be provided based on departure flight times.

To View Tour Pricing & Important Details: Return to Top of Page

Room Share	Single Room	Non-Members	Status of This Tour
$4,327.00	$5,189.00	ADD $100.00	Trip Full, Accepting Standbys

$500.00 Due at time of Reservation

Your Tour Includes...

HIGHLIGHTS and EXPERIENCES:

Small group no larger than 18
A comprehensive look into the Irish culture and people
A castle stay
A farm visit
The dramatic Cliffs of Moher
All activities and entrance fees as detailed in the itinerary
Experienced driver/guide to give commentary (and perhaps sing!)
WTT Tour Leader to enhance the individual & group experience
Time to explore personal interests & suggestions for things to do
And More...See itinerary for additional highlights and experiences

PLUS...

All tipping of local guides
Airport transfers
Arranged room sharing with another solo traveler
Travel Dollar credits (a benefit of WTT membership) toward future travel with WTT

Lodging

Dublin: The Camden Court Hotel
Clonmel: Hotel Minella
Kinsale: The Hotel Kinsale
Killarney: Scotts Hotel Killarney
Galway City: The Salthill Hotel
Dublin: Clontarf Castle Hotel

In the unlikely event WTT is unable to provide the accommodation(s) listed, for whatever reason, WTT will substitute similar quality accommodation(s) at no additional cost to the traveler.

Meals

Breakfast daily
1 Lunch
6 Dinners (Pubs, restaurants and hotel dining)

Selections for the included lunches and dinners will highlight the local cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dietary requests can be accommodated on this tour with limited selections.

Activity Rating

As a solo traveler you are responsible for yourself, your possessions, your physical fitness, and all other aspects related to participation in the WTT tour you have chosen.

Because of this requirement, WTT tours are not suitable for anyone who is physically challenged, walking impaired, or is a slow walker that cannot keep up with the pace of the group.

The activities on this tour are rated as follows:

80% Easy
15% Moderate (walking)
5% Strenuous

Activity levels are subjective and based on the reader's interpretation. Almost everyone overestimates their abilities. Therefore, it is your responsibility to read the itinerary and understand what you are doing throughout the tour.

If you are in doubt as to your ability to meet the physical activity requirements, you should not sign up for this trip.

Read more about Activity Levels

Want a Roommate...or not?

Traveling Solo? Most of the women on your tour are traveling solo!

If you wish to share with another solo traveler, select this option on the Reservation Form and your tour price will automatically be based on the room share price.
Or, you may select a single room, when available, on the Reservation Form and your tour price will be automatically based on the single room price.
These choices are clearly stated on the Reservation Form.

A few facts about sharing a room:

All shared rooms are non-smoking
All shared rooms have 2 beds
No special requests about your roommate can be accommodated
Most solo travelers elect to share a room.
See "Frequently Asked Questions" TAB for more details

Arrival and Departure Information

Travelers will make their own air arrangements as follows:

Arrival Airport: DUB - Dublin, Ireland (Dublin Airport)
Arrival Date: Wednesday, May 20th. Arrive no later than 3:00pm.
Arrival Transfer: Group transfer provided. Details will be provided in your Final Travel Instructions.

Departure Airport: DUB - Dublin, Ireland (Dublin Airport)
Departure Date: Saturday, May 30th. Depart at your convenience.
Departure Transfer: Group transfers provided based on flight departure times.

Want to Arrive a Day Early?

Worried about possible flight delays? Consider arriving one day before the official tour start date. Many of our travelers choose this optional service. Your pre-tour package includes:

The room (standard check-in times apply)
Breakfast the following morning
Transfer from the airport to the hotel
Optional activity suggestions prior to tour
$277.00 Roomshare $409.00 Single

The pre-tour package is an optional service. Rates are established at time of tour posting. Early check-in is solely at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be arranged in advance.

Important Reminders About This Trip

Travelers are required to have a valid passport. Most countries require your passport to be valid a minimum of six months after your return home date, and have at least two consecutive blank pages.

Payment Dates and Cancellation Policies

At Space Reservation: Initial Deposit is due.
Friday, 22 Nov 2019: Initial deposit cannot be parked and is forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Monday, 10 Feb 2020: Payment in full. 50% cancellation penalty after this date.
Saturday, 21 Mar 2020: 100% forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.

Please review our travel and cancellation policies before making your reservation. You will be asked to confirm you have read and understand WTT's travel polices before we will accept your reservation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect you in case you find the need to cancel your tour. WTT will mail you information from 2 reliable travel insurance providers at the time we confirm your reservation.

You can review the insurance information from TravelGuard to get an idea of rates.

Not Included in the Price

Airfare or other transportation from your home and return to your home
Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
Any personal expenses
Any gratuities for WTT Tour Leader
Travel Insurance

Important Reminders

Travelers are required to have a valid passport. Most countries require your passport to be valid a minimum of six months after your return home date, and have at least two consecutive blank pages.

Packing Suggestions

In general the temperature, rainfall and humidity levels vary based on the time of the year. We suggest you monitor weather apps before you depart for the most current information. For international weather refer to http://www.accuweather.com/en/world-weather.

For this Trip You May Want—

Rain jacket
Lightweight but warm jacket or sweater
One smart-casual outfit if you’d like to dress up a bit for dinners.
Swimsuit
Bring what you need to get a good night's sleep, such as ear plugs, white noise generator, sleeping pills, etc. Unfamiliar noises of all types can disrupt your rest.

Good Packing Habits—

Pack a limited amount of comfortable, casual clothing that layer and coordinate. Your fellow travelers will not mind or even notice – seeing you in the same clothing.
Bring only two pairs of everyday shoes: one pair of well-broken-in walking shoes, and a second pair that could do double-duty as a walking shoe or a slightly dressy shoe.
Pare down your beauty regimen to the bare minimum and always pack travel-sized toiletries.
Pack medication in your carry-on and pack only as much as needed for the duration of your tour plus a few extra days as a precaution.

Luggage

On every WTT tour, our policies regarding luggage restrictions are driven by the physical space limitations of our vehicles and the requirement that all travelers be able to manage their own belongings without assistance.

It is best to travel as lightly as possible. Most travelers regret when they have packed too much.
You may bring one suitcase plus one carry-on. We strongly suggest your suitcase be no larger than 26 inches high as measured from the FLOOR to the top of the retracted handle. The medium-size in a 3-piece luggage set easily meets this requirement and will be plenty roomy for this length of trip.
If you carry a purse, it should be worn across your body, hands-free.
You are responsible for managing your own belongings. We expect you to take your belongings from the coach to your room and to bring it back to the coach on days we change hotels. We do not provide luggage pulls; they are not safe and are inconvenient.
Steps exist at most hotel entrances. On occasion the coach must unload passengers and luggage some distance from the hotel entrance.
If you are planning on shopping, have larger items shipped directly to your home. For smaller items you want to carry home, bring a small nylon zippered bag packed in your suitcase to accommodate these purchases.

Fitness

Walking is a key component of this tour. On some days, between walking tours and personal exploration you can expect to walk 3-5 miles over the course of a day. Many places will have cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces. Although the activity level on this trip may not appear strenuous, we believe you will enjoy the tour more if you possess a general level of fitness and endurance.

Health Recommendations

The standards for health and hygiene in Ireland are excellent. You should practice the same hygiene rules as here in the US.

Phone & Internet

Only you can determine your need to stay in contact while traveling. Internet access is available in most hotels, sometimes for a fee.

If you are bringing a cell phone, contact your cell phone service provider before departing about adding international calling and/or texting features. Texting internationally is often less expensive than placing a cell phone call.
Learn how to make an international call BEFORE you leave. Consult your cell provider and check out the web site www.HowtoCallAbroad.com.

Electricity

Outlets are 230 volts AC, 50 Hz with three square prong outlets. You may need to purchase an adapter. To determine the electric plug configuration needed for your destination, refer to http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.html. A universal adapter supports a wide variety of sockets/plugs. You should also check your electronic devices for voltage compatibility. Many countries operate on 220V or 230V, which differs from most of North America. Most of today's electronics (laptops, phone chargers etc.) are multi-voltage and will work worldwide automatically, without a transformer. Consult your owner's manual for further details.

Money

Only you can determine the optimum amount of cash to take on tour. When budgeting for out-of-pocket expenses, there are several aspects to consider: the number of meals you are responsible for, the amount of money you like to have on-hand for snacks and drinks, and your individual shopping interests and habits.

Notify your credit card issuer that you will be traveling and provide dates of travel.
ATMs are typically the best way of obtaining cash; they are found in most towns and cities; you must know your PIN number for your debit and credit cards in order to use the ATMs.
Ireland's official currency is the Euro.
Exchange $100 or so into local local currency so you have cash upon arrival.
Be sure to keep cash on hand for cabs, tips, smaller purchases, etc.

Tipping

All tips to local guides during your tour have already been paid on your behalf.

You are responsible for tipping transfer drivers, wait-staff, porters, or other individuals who provide a personal service to you at the hotel, or other public locations.
Typically if a restaurant bill lists a service charge or adds “service included” then a tip is not necessary. If nothing is noted, a server will expect a 10% to 15% tip. Tipping personnel in pubs does not happen. Personnel in cafes and bistros typically have a tip jar located by the register. Hotel personnel do not expect tips but will accept them for excellent service.
You may want to tip your WTT Tour Leader for an outstanding job. The amount is entirely a personal preference. If you'd like a guideline, consider $7-$10 per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I Find…

My Trip Information

When to Arrive and Depart (i.e. Making Travel Arrangements)

Arriving a Day before the Tour Begins

Activity Rating

Payment and Cancellation Penalty Dates for this Tour

Still Can’t Find what you’re looking for?

What if…..

State Department Alerts and Warnings

I Need to Cancel

Preparing for Your Trip

Trip Specific Details

Meet Your Tour Manager

When to Make Your Airline Reservations

Do I need a Passport or VISA?

Immunization and Shot Recommendations

Partial Payments and Final Payment

Meet Your Fellow Travelers

Meet Your Tour Leader

Final Travel Instructions

Room Sharing Tips

WTT Policies and Cancellations

General Policies

Cancellation Policies

Cancellation Date Reminders

Can WTT Cancel a Tour?

If you wish to express your interest in this tour, do so by completing this pre-reservation form. Remember that a pre-reservation does not require any money and there is no obligation whatsoever. Once this tour is finalized, including pricing, hotels, firm dates, etc., those who have sent in a pre-reservation will be contacted via email. *** You will be asked to decide if you want to make a deposit. If you are no longer interested after being contacted, you don’t have to do anything!

***Note: We give notification priority to members of Women Traveling Together (WTT) first, followed by non-members.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk *

Information we need to know about you

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Are you a current member of Women Traveling Together? * Yes
No

Trip Information

Name of Trip *

The following date option(s) are available for this tour. There may be one or more choices displayed as dates, months, or seasons. Please choose ONE. *

This trip is my # * choice for

Note: You can pre-register for a maximum of 3 trips by filling out this form for each trip you want to pre-register for. If you designate more than one trip with the same ranking only the last trip submitted with that ranking will be saved.

There is no obligation to go on standby. If we have a cancellation, we will notify those on standby in the order you were put on the standby list**. If you are notified of a space on the trip, you will be required to pay the full amount of the trip at that time.

**We give notification priority to members of Women Traveling Together (WTT) first, followed by non-members.

To be placed on Standby, please complete the following:
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk *

Information we need to know about you

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone

Do you want to roomshare with another traveler? * Yes
No
Are you a current member of Women Traveling Together? * Yes
No

Trip Information

Name of Trip *

Special Instructions Is there anything else we need to know?

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