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Meals 10 full Irish breakfasts (FB); 4 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus and coffee, and a welcome drink before dinner at your hotel in Dublin Hotels DUBLIN Hilton City (SF), SLIGO Clarion (SF), GALWAY Radisson SAS (SF), LIMERICK Hilton (SF), KILLARNEY Holiday Inn (F), WATERFORD Granville (F), DUBLIN Clarion (SF)
Day 1:
(Wed.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2: Arrival in Dublin, Ireland. (Thu.) Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. Before dinner join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a toast to happy touring. (D) Day 3: Dublin. Boyne Valley Excursion & City Tour. (Fri.) Motor north to the lovely Boyne Valley, scene of a bloody 17th-century battle. Near Drogheda, visit the BOYNE VALLEY VISITOR CENTRE and KNOWTH, where your Local Guide explains a fascinating passage-grave dating from the Bronze Age. Return to Dublin through historysteeped landscapes. Your afternoon orientation tour takes in statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Visit Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200 year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Tonight your Tour Director will suggest an optional dinner outing to a fine Dublin restaurant. (FB) Day 4: Dublin–Sligo. (Sat.) Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Then north to Longford for a visit to STROKESTOWN HOUSE for a guided tour of the restored 1740s mansion, a stroll through its fine gardens, and at the Famine Museum, an insight into the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. On the way to Sligo, stop at Boyle for photos of the Cistercian Abbey ruins. (FB,D) Day 5: Sligo–Galway. (Sun.) South to Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world since townsfolk saw apparitions. Via Westport head for the unspoiled region of Connemara, an area known for its hardy breed of ponies. Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Moycullen visit a CONNEMARA MARBLE FACTORY before arriving in the port city of Galway. Tonight’s recommendation: join your Tour Director for an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme. (FB) Day 6: Galway. Excursion to the Aran Islands. (Mon.) At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern ferry for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Your fascinating day continues with a visit to the ARAN HERITAGE CENTRE; after a lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy your local driver-guide’s commentary on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. After a call into the VISITOR CENTRE, time to shop for unique hand-knitted Aran sweaters before boarding your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway center. (FB) Day 7: Galway–Limerick. (Tue.) At RATHBAUN FARM this morning, watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog. Then enjoy your morning coffee and home-baked scones in the 150-year-old farmhouse. Take the scenic route across the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren, and stop for photos of prehistoric Poulnabrone Dolmen. At Kilfenora, take in THE BURREN CENTRE where the audio-visual and displays bring to life this remarkable region. The newly restored ancient cathedral and mysterious Celtic crosses in the churchyard form an important center of early Irish Christianity: Kilfenora is Ireland’s smallest diocese. At the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. Tonight, why not join your Tour Director for a traditional Irish night, a fun ceili of song and dance in the setting of a village barn at Bunratty. (FB) Day 8: Limerick–Killarney. (Wed.) On this morning’s Limerick city tour view the Treaty Stone and St. Mary’s Cathedral, and visit KING JOHN’S CASTLE in the medieval heritage precinct. South now via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. Tonight an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner followed by tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (FB) Day 9: Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion. (Thu.) Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Plenty on which to focus your camera here: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Back in Killarney a special treat: a fun-filled horsedrawn JAUNTING CAR RIDE through the national park with glorious vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (FB,D) Day 10: Killarney–Waterford. (Fri.) Across the Kerry Mountains drive into County Cork for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarvan to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here enjoy a visit to the world famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY. (FB,D) Day 11: Waterford-Dublin. (Sat.) Today’s agenda: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; POWERSCOURT HOUSE and GARDENS with stunning views of the Wicklow Mountains. Back in Dublin tonight, your Tour Director will have recommendations for a fitting farewell to Ireland. (FB) Day 12: (Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)
City Highlights BOYNE VALLEYGuided tour of the Bronze Age passage-grave at KnowthDUBLINOrientation drive, visit Trinity CollegeKILDAREGuided tour of the Irish National StudSTROKESTOWN HOUSEGuided tour of the house and Famine Museum, and visit the gardensKNOCKVisit the religious siteKYLEMOREVisit the Benedictine abbeyCONNEMARAVisit a marble factoryARAN ISLANDSFerry to and from Inishmore, visit the Heritage Centre, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus and its visitor centreRATHBAUN FARMSee the farmer at work and enjoy morning coffee in thefarmhouseKILFENORAVisit The Burren CentreCLIFFS OF MOHERSavor the spectacular viewsLIMERICKOrientation drive, visit King John’s CastleRING OF KERRYScenic peninsula driveKILLARNEYHorsedrawn jaunting car rideBLARNEYVisit the famous woolen millsWATERFORDGuided tour of the Waterford Crystal factoryAVOCAGuided tour of the handweaving millPOWERSCOURTVisit the house and gardens Price Details US Single room supplement: $372Triple room reduction per person: $50Extra nights per person in Dublin:Apr.: in single room $153, in twin room $107, in triple room $95May-Oct.: in single room $200, in twin room $125, in triple room $117 CURRENT SPECIALS: Book now and take $200 off per couple on any air-inclusive European Low Season Vacations.* * Book a 2008/2009 Globus Europe Winter air-inclusive vacation on select carriers to receive the $100 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between June 4 and August 31, 2008 for travel commencing between October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one another or any offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Save up to $600 per stateroom on 2009 Globus River and Small Ship Cruises Discover an entirely new way to uncover the wonders of the world with river and small ship cruises. From a wine tasting adventure through the vineyards of France to island hopping in the Galapagos Islands, you’re sure to find a Globus river or small ship cruise that speaks to your heart. There’s simply no more peaceful way to sample the charming cities and awe-inspiring sights of Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos Islands.
*Book a 2009 Globus River Cruise air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 off per person offer. Cruise-only bookings are eligible for the $125 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between May 14 and August 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one-another or any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Discount for young travelers Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Pay less for your second vacation We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.
Triple room reduction On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.
Avoid the single room supplement We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!
Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel? Right now when you book between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!
*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. |
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Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing.
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