Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, entertainment, special dinners, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director are included. Transportation from Shannon Airport to the Old Ground Hotel is included, regardless of the day and time of your arrival provided you have furnished us with accurate flight information at least two weeks prior to the start of the tour.  Transportation from Dromoland Castle to Shannon Airport is also included whenever you choose to depart. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

The hotels on this itinerary may not provide king-size beds as they are known to travelers in the U.S. Queen-size beds consist of two single beds pushed together and made up separately under one headboard. Some two-bedded rooms may have two single – not full or queen – beds.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Director – The Best of Ireland featuring Northern Ireland is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States.

• Pack at least one change of clothing in your carry-on bag
• Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
• Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
• Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
• Place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
• File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
• Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
• Make certain that the airline has your onward itinerary

Your Tauck Director will assist you with airline and other carrier communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.

Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and other beverages not specifically included, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport arrival and departure taxes, individual airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tauck Director Gratuities - The customary gratuities for the Tauck Director and local drivers are not included. We ask that gratuities be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

 

Airline Security Measures – 

If you are traveling from the U.S., the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program requires that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, must precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith, not John Thomas Smith, Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your passport.

If you make your air travel arrangements through us, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.

For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA website by clicking here.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through us for travel originating in the United States. By using our air services, you agree that we, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, are acting only as your agent and are not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by us. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline only, even if purchased through us. We are not liable for, and do not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). We must handle ticketing for our special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Our air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a one of our tours. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air booking before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Holiday and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many state, religious and civic holidays locally observed. You may wish to log on to Wikipedia to view a list of holidays by country by clicking here.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – We pledge to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. We reserve the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by us. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when you check out of Dromoland Castle in Newmarket-on-Fergus on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow sufficient time for flight check-in. Each carrier and each airport has different rules regarding how early you must arrive for flight check in. Please contact your individual carrier for this information.

Membership will be granted to all persons. We reserve the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photographs and/or video taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for print, Internet and other media promotional purposes. If you prefer that your image not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

 

Travel Document Requirements –

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey to enter Ireland or Northern Ireland; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact a consulate or embassy of each of the countries visited on this itinerary to determine what travel documentation is required.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

We are not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by the improper documentation of any guest, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Air Conditioning – The motor coaches are air-conditioned for your comfort. Only The Westin Dublin Hotel, the Hayfield Manor Hotel and the Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa provide air conditioning.

European air conditioning should be considered as a climate-control system; most have three settings for the fan, plus a "cool" setting. Very few of the European systems actually have a temperature setting. In general, the amount of cool air that is produced from a European air conditioning system may be less than what you may have in your own home.

ATM and Credit Cards – We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing on this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be "suspicious" charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – The weather in Ireland and Northern Ireland is moderate. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing. For the welcome and farewell receptions, casual resort wear is appropriate; formal wear is never required for dining with your fellow guests at a Tauck provided dinner. When dining on your own, you may have the opportunity to dine at an upscale restaurant, which may require men to dress in coat and tie, and women in more elegant eveningwear.

Most of our hotels offer valet laundry and dry cleaning services for a fee. Please inquire at time of booking.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

We suggest that you pack the following items your journey:

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is approximately 1,500 ft (457 m).

Health – The Best of Ireland featuring Northern Ireland involves a considerable amount of walking. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion.The visits to the Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey, Blarney Castle, and Muckross House are challenging due to the steep climbs and long walk involved in the sightseeing. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

Most hotels do not have special handicap access rooms. Mount Juliet Conrad and Dromoland Castle do not have elevators but there are guest rooms at ground level. Dromoland Castle has a handicap lift to the floor where the farewell reception will be held; the floor is also accessible by climbing 20 to 30 stairs depending on the actual room assignment.

We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

If you are interested in sporting activities, many opportunities await you on this particular journey. Golfing is available at Mount Juliet Conrad, Ashford Castle and Dromoland Castle. You may rent clubs and purchase golf balls but you will have to bring your own footwear. If you would like to fully enjoy the exceptional courses at Ashford Castle or Dromoland Castle, you may wish to schedule additional nights either before or after your tour. In any case, experience has taught us that the earlier you book your tee time the better – even ahead of your departure! If you decide you would like to play once you have arrived, your Tauck Director will endeavor to honor your request. Tennis facilities are available at several hotels including Mount Juliet Conrad, Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, and Aghadoe Heights Hotel. Fishing is possible at Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle and Mount Juliet Conrad. Horseback riding is available at Mount Juliet Conrad, Ashford Castle and Dromoland Castle. You will have the opportunity to swim in the pool at several of the hotels used on this tour. Any expenses incurred in conjunction with these optional activities are at your own expense.

Ireland and Northern Ireland have both enforced bans on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces in their respective countries. This includes all bars, night clubs, restaurants and hotels. Although the public spaces within the hotel are non-smoking, you may request a smoking guest room at your hotel.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a resident of the U.S., no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Ireland or Northern Ireland. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries on the itinerary to determine what vaccinations may be required for you to visit.

Luggage Restrictions -

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

Recently, airlines have adopted policies enforcing strict number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require that checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com, by clicking here,

We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home!

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

 

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone while on the motor coach, during group functions, when sightseeing and when your Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There will be many opportunities to make and receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The currency in Ireland is the Euro (EUR) which is divided into 100 cents; Northern Ireland's currency is the British Pound (GBP) which is divided into 100 pence. MasterCard and Visa are widely used in shops, restaurants, hotels and for car rental. Diner's Club and American Express cards are less widely accepted. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange bureaus and all the hotels used on this tour. ATM's are widely available. Credit and debit cards and travelers’ checks are also widely accepted.

To obtain the most current exchange rates for all national currencies, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to oanda.com by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – You should familiarize yourself with Ireland’s specific required customs declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.

 

            Ireland – Revenue: Irish Tax & Customs

 

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, you are entitled to a duty-free exemption based on the total value of merchandise purchase abroad, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the U.S. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Currently, Ireland levies a 21% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most consumer goods and services; Northern Ireland levies a 17.5% VAT. (The tax may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country in which the purchase is made (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union), you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Ireland and Northern Ireland is 230 V, 50 Hz, AC. The plug type is “G” and uses three rectangular blades – the same plug that is used in Great Britain. If your electrical devices do not conform to this standard, you will need to bring the appropriate converters and adapters.

Internet Access is available as indicated below:

Old Ground Hotel - Complimentary access in guest rooms
Ashford Castle - access in rooms
The Westin Dublin - Wireless high speed  access for a fee
Mount Juliet Conrad -  access in rooms
Hayfield Manor - Complimentary high speed access
Aghadoe Heights Hotel - access in rooms
Dromoland Castle - Complimentary access in rooms

Time Zones – Ireland and Northern Ireland are located in the same time zone as Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time) From late March through October, these countries switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 1 hour ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the timeanddate.com by clicking here.

Weather – The weather in Ireland and Northern Ireland can be variable, alternating between wet and cool days, and sunny and mild days. The climate is generally moderate throughout both countries, tempered by the Atlantic Ocean Gulf Stream. Average high temperatures from April through October range from 55 to 65˚F (13 to 18˚C) and the average low temperatures range from 40 to 55˚F (4 to 13˚C). Ireland and Northern Ireland have experienced unusually warm spells in recent summers. Ireland’s greenery owes its notoriety to the frequent rainfall. Generally, the western coast of Ireland receives the most rain as can be noted in the fact that Cork has 50% more rainfall per year than Dublin.

	Average Temperature
	Dublin, Ireland		Cork, Ireland
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	46 / 37	8 / 3	46 / 37	8 / 3
February	46 / 37	8 / 3	46 / 37	8 / 3
March	49 / 38	9 / 3	49 / 38	9 / 3
April	53 / 40	12 / 4	53 / 40	12 / 4
May	58 / 44	14 / 7	57 / 44	14 / 7
June	63 / 49	17 / 9	62 / 49	17 / 9
July	66 / 53	19 / 12	65 / 52	18 / 11
August	66 / 52	19 / 11	65 / 52	18 / 11
September	62 / 49	17 / 9	61 / 49	16 / 9
October	57 / 46	14 / 8	56 / 46	13 / 8
November	50 / 40	10 / 4	50 / 40	10 / 4
December	47 / 38	8 / 3	47 / 38	8 / 3
	Londonderry, Northern Ireland		Belfast, Northern Ireland
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	50 / 32	10 / 0	44 / 34	7 / 1
February	49 / 32	9 / 0	44 / 34	7 / 1
March	52 / 34	11 / 1	48 / 36	9 / 2
April	53 / 38	12 / 3	53 / 38	12 / 3
May	57 / 41	14 / 5	58 / 43	14 / 6
June	62 / 46	17 / 8	63 / 48	17 / 9
July	64 / 50	18 / 10	65 / 51	18 / 11
August	65 / 50	18 / 10	65 / 51	18 / 11
September	63 / 47	17 / 8	61 / 48	16 / 9
October	59 / 42	15 / 6	55 / 44	13 / 7
November	52 / 38	11 / 3	48 / 38	9 / 3
December	50 / 34	10 / 1	45 / 36	7 / 2

 

	Average Rainfall
	Dublin, Ireland		Cork, Ireland
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	2.7	69	5.8	147
February	2.1	51	4.5	114
March	2.1	53	3.8	97
April	2.0	51	2.8	71
May	2.2	56	3.3	84
June	2.2	56	2.7	69
July	2.0	51	2.6	66
August	2.8	71	3.5	89
September	2.6	66	3.8	97
October	2.8	71	5.0	127
November	2.5	64	4.3	109
December	3.0	76	5.4	137
	Londonderry, Northern Ireland		Belfast, Northern Ireland
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	4.5	114	3.4	124
February	3.0	76	2.3	80
March	3.4	86	2.6	96
April	2.2	56	2.1	58
May	2.3	58	2.4	68
June	2.6	66	2.5	67
July	2.8	71	2.5	68
August	3.6	91	3.1	94
September	4.0	102	3.3	108
October	4.7	119	3.5	133
November	4.5	114	3.1	128
December	4.1	104	3.1	120

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.