Sometimes you are back from a whirlwind vacation and back at work before you even realize you were away. There was no rest and relaxation as you were too busy driving from hotel to hotel. There was no chance to sleep in because you needed to check out before ten and get on the road so that you could see all of the attractions.
With this tour, you have just three hotels in nine nights. All are located in walking friendly towns, meaning if you decide to get up late and not get in the car on a particular day, there will still be lots for you to do. There is less packing and unpacking to be done and you won’t have to live out of your suitcase.
The best part is that these are not the only three towns and cities suitable for three-night stays so pick different resting points if you like.
Other Inclusions
Upon picking up your rental car at Shannon Airport, you can head straight to Killarney for your overnight stay or take a few detours along the way. Depending on your time and energy, you might want to visit the Rock of Cashel and the Blarney Stone before reaching your hotel. Alternatively, you could explore Cork City or the charming town of Kinsale.
Overnight in The Fairview Killarney
If you didn’t visit Blarney Castle yesterday, today’s the perfect opportunity to kiss the legendary Stone of Eloquence. From there, you can head into Cork City to explore the English Market, or if you prefer to skip the city, continue on to Kinsale for lunch. Known as the gourmet capital of Ireland, Kinsale offers plenty of excellent dining options. If time allows, you can also wander through West Cork and visit Ireland’s southernmost point.
Overnight in The Fairview Killarney
Today is dedicated to the Ring of Kerry, giving you plenty of time to take in all the sights and make countless photo stops. Spend the day visiting highlights like the Skellig Experience and Muckross House. Return to Killarney by early evening, where you’ll have plenty of time to explore the town, enjoy some pub music, or browse the local craft shops.
Overnight in The Fairview Killarney
Today, embark on a longer drive to Westport, with stops at the Cliffs of Moher and Galway City along the way. Take the ferry across the River Shannon mouth to save some time. After visiting the stunning Cliffs of Moher, continue through the breathtaking Burren landscape and on to Galway. To ensure you reach your hotel in good time, it’s best to skip exploring Galway today—you’ll have the chance to enjoy the city tomorrow.
Overnight in Knockranny House Hotel
Today, head south along the west coast to Connemara, making your way to Clifden. Along the way, stop to capture the stunning beauty of Kylemore Abbey and enjoy a lovely lunch in the Connemara region. Then, head to Galway City for a few hours of exploration. Often considered one of Europe’s most charming cities, Galway offers plenty to see and do. Don’t miss the short trip to Salthill to take a stroll along the picturesque promenade. Afterward, return to your hotel at your own pace.
Overnight in Knockranny House Hotel
As you’re about halfway through your tour and after plenty of driving, today is a great opportunity to take it easy. If you’d rather skip Yeats’ Country and the scenic beauty of Mayo, Westport offers plenty to explore. Alternatively, you could take a short drive to climb Croagh Patrick. This mountain, named after Saint Patrick, is famed for his 40-day fast in the fifth century and remains an important site for Christian pilgrimage.
Overnight in Knockranny House Hotel
This morning, you’ll drive from Westport to Dublin, a journey of just over three hours. While there aren’t many stops along the way, Dublin itself offers plenty to see and do once you arrive. After checking into your hotel, take your time to explore the area. Temple Bar is known for its vibrant nightlife, which can be quite lively—though there are plenty of other options around the city to suit every taste.
Overnight in The Davenport Hotel
Take a break from driving today and hop on the open-top bus tour, a convenient way to explore Dublin at your own pace. You can hop on and off at various attractions along the route, making it a fun and flexible way to see the city. Be sure to stop at the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery, along with other notable sights you come across.
Overnight in The Davenport Hotel
You can make a short journey north today, less than an hours drive to Newgrange. Newgrange is best known for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. While you are out of Dublin, you may also wish to visit Drogheda and the Battle of the Boyne Centre commemorating the largest battle to ever take place in Ireland. At stake were the British throne, French dominance in Europe and religious power in Ireland. Return to Dublin.
Overnight in The Davenport Hotel
Make your way from your hotel to Dublin Airport where you will return your rental car and fly home.
(For all Trans-Atlantic flights, we recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before departure to ensure a smooth check-in process.)
We are more than happy to include a flight quote separately to your package so that you can decide if you would like to book with us or on your own. While booking flights can seem straight-forward, there are often hidden fees or classes of service that do not include seat assignments, meals or checked bags. We have been booking flights since 1985 and know the best routings and have great contracts that mean we often have better prices than what you will see online.
In Ireland, we generally try to book hotels that are at a 4 star level or higher. In some situations, we will book some 3 star or B&B properties but we do require them to be at a certain standard. We try to ensure a member of the team have stayed at each property in recent years or that we have done a site inspection.
Your first vacation quote, and up to two revisions, for trips of 9 or fewer days, and 45 days in advance of travel, are complimentary. If an itinerary requires further revisions subsequent to this, we will require a non-refundable deposit of $75 per person in order to continue.
If you are requesting a quote for a vacation that is 10 days in length, or with travel dates within 45 days, or to a non-core destination, a deposit of $75 per person will be required in order for us to begin working on your proposal.
Planning deposits can then be put towards the cost of the trip should you decide to proceed with the booking.
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