This independent journey offered by Brendan Vacations combines big-city excitement with scenic countryside. Explore the many sights of Dublin at your own pace on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour then experience the towering sea cliffs, lively pubs and medieval villages of Killarney on a Ring of Kerry tour. Hotel stays and train travel are also prearranged but the rest is up to you. English-speaking hosts in both cities will be glad to offer advice on excursions, dining and entertainment.
Customize your trip with a wide selection of popular city combinations:
• Extend this itinerary by adding 1 or 2 more nights in either city.
• Mix and match – substitute time in Killarney for 2 nights in Belfast.
• Consider a self-drive Ireland vacation for the ultimate in flexibility.
$40 per person dining voucher redeemable at select local restaurants**
AAA Vacations® Best Price Guarantee and 24/7 Member Care**
$40 per person discount on packages totaling $2,000 or more per person
Start in the lively Irish capital, Dublin. Originally founded by the Vikings in the 8th century, it's now ranked among the world's Top 30 Cities as a modern center of education, the arts and industry. Dublin has a centuries-old cultural heritage that continues to this day. Not only have many world-famous novelists, poets, actors and playwrights called the city home but it continues to be at the heart of a strong contemporary arts scene. Dublin also has a vibrant nightlife and is one of Europe's most youthful cities with an estimated 50% of its citizens under age 25.
See Dublin's highlights at your own pace on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour. The route includes more than 20 stops with buses arriving and leaving every 15-20 minutes. Entertaining guides will take you to such famous sights as Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College with its Old Library and the Book of Kells, an 8th century illuminated manuscript of the gospels (entrance fees not included). And don't miss the Guinness Storehouse for a tour of the brewery and perhaps some time to raise a pint!
Head inland to Killarney, home to a richly varied landscape heralded in song and literature for centuries. After settling into your hotel, admire the breathtaking scenery of the famous Ring of Kerry on a guided coach tour. The Ring's one hundred miles of marvelous scenery consists of the highest peaks in Ireland on one side and a coastline scattered with golden beaches and rocky headlands on the other. Delight in traditional Irish life as you stop in quaint villages along the way. You may also wish to explore Killarney National Park, an 11,000-acre nature preserve and UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is home to Ireland's largest remaining oak forests, the last herds of native red deer and Ireland’s highest mountain range, the Macgillicuddy’s Reeks.
Price includes:
• 4 nights first class accommodations in your choice of 4-star or 5-star centrally located hotels; includes hotel taxes and service charges
• Daily breakfast
• Rail transportation with reserved seating between each city - standard class on 4-star hotel option (upgrades available) and first class on 5-star hotel option
• Services of an English-speaking local AAA Vacations® host in each city who can offer advice on excursions, dining and entertainment
• Hop-on/hop-off bus tour in Dublin and Ring of Kerry tour in Killarney
• Private round-trip airport/hotel transfers
*Prices are per person based on double occupancy, are subject to availability at time of booking, and may change without notice. Price given based on first class hotels for travel departing between April 1 and October 31, 2013. Single supplement may apply. Except for packages including air transportation, unless stated otherwise, airfare, taxes and government fees are not included. Offers valid for new bookings only. Member Benefits are per person and apply to first and second traveler only. Member Benefits are available only with advertised fare and are subject to change without notice. Your travel arrangements may be modified or canceled subject to the travel providers’ policies. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. We make every effort for accuracy at time of printing but reserve the right to correct errors. AAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip protection insurance. Except for packages including air transportation, fares may not reflect additional fuel supplement or port charges and vary by provider.
**The AAA Vacations® dining credit voucher is redeemable at participating pre-selected restaurants only. Advance reservations must be made through the local host. Vouchers are non-refundable and have no cash value. Restrictions apply to the AAA Vacations® Best Price Guarantee and 24/7 Member Care. Should you find a valid better rate for the exact same itinerary within 24 hours of booking, AAA will match the lower rate. Ask your AAA Travel Counselor for details.
CST #1003968-80. Registration as seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
Links:
[1] http://calstate.aaa.com/travel/about-aaa-travel/aaa-vacations