Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B= Breakfast, D = Dinner 

Day 1: Wednesday, May 16: 2018: Depart
We will gather at the St. Louis airport in the early afternoon and set off for Dublin, Ireland. (IF)

Day 2: Thursday, May 17, 2018: Dublin
On arrival in Dublin we will meet Lima Fitzgerald, our expert Irish tour director and board our bus for a city orientation tour. We will see the Georgian Squares with their 18th Century houses, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Phoenix Park (biggest town park in Europe), statue filled O’Connell Street, and the fashionable Grafton Street. We will have a guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol, where political prisoners were housed. In the afternoon we will see the Book of Kells in Trinity College Library. We will dine in our hotel in Dublin this evening. (B/D)

Day 3: Friday, May 18, 2018: Dublin
This morning we will visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral and have some free time to enjoy Dublin. We’ll then head south and tour Powerscourt Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland. We will dine in our hotel in Wexford. (B/D)

Day 4: Saturday, May 19, 2018: Waterford
Driving South, we will take a tour of Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, which was founded by Vikings in 914.  We will have a tour of the city, including a visit to the world-famous Waterford Crystal Factory. In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful coastline and we will have an hour’s horsetrek (subject to availability). We will have dinner at the hotel and hear some live music this evening. (B/D)

Day 5: Sunday, May 20, 2018: Blarney Castle, Killarney
No trip to Ireland would be complete without a visit to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, said to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who dare. Between 1848 and 1950 almost six million people left Ireland, many of them from nearby Cobh. We will visit Charles Fort and Kinsale in the afternoon. We will spend two nights in the Killarney area.   (B/D)

Day 6: Monday, May 21, 2018: Ring of Kerry
Today, we embark on one of Ireland’s most famous tours – The Ring of Kerry. We will travel the wild and rugged landscape of the Iveragh Peninsula, which has some breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline, in a horse drawn jaunting car. The highlight of the day will be a visit to Muckross House and Gardens, one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the House. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty. We will also see a number of skilled craft workers using traditional skills in the crafts of weaving, bookbinding and pottery in the adjacent walled garden center. We will return to our hotel in Killarney in the evening.   (B/D)

Day 7: Tuesday, May 22,  2018: Galway
This morning, we bid farewell to Killarney and travel to Tralee, capital town of County Kerry and famous for The Rose of Tralee Festival. We will take the coast road to the majestic Cliffs of Moher standing 702 feet at their highest point. They stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast line. We will have fabulous views from the vantage point of O’Brien’s Tower. Following some free time to view the cliffs, we will travel through the lunar type landscape of the Burren which takes its name from the Irish word ‘bhoireann’ meaning, ‘a stony place’ or ‘a rocky place’.  We will stay in the Galway area for 2 nights. (B/D)

Day 8: Wednesday, May 23, 2018:  Aran Islands
Located off the Connemara coast, the three Aran Islands are a time capsule of traditional Irish culture. We will take the ferry to Inis Mor and have spectacular view of the coastline and the wild Atlantic Ocean. Our day trip will include a bike ride to see the prehistoric hill fort, Dún Aonghasa. We will visit Kilmurvey Beach with turquoise water and stunning views of Connemara. The Kilmurvey craft village is an ideal place to buy genuine Irish souvenirs, including the famous Aran sweaters. We will return to Galway in the evening. (B/D)

Day 9: Thursday, May 24, 2018: Belfast
The partitioning of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was finalized on 3 May 1921 and today we will travel up into Northern Ireland, which is part of United Kingdom. The capital city is Belfast, a center of industry and ship-building.  We will tour Titanic Belfast, Winner of Europe’s Leading Visitor Attraction (World Travel Awards, 2016). Housed in an iconic, six-floor building, Titanic Belfast is located in the heart of Belfast, right beside the historic site of this world-famous ship’s construction. After dining in our hotel, we will have an evening ghost walk. (B/D)

Day 10: Friday, May 25, 2018: Belfast
Today’s day-trip is to the exciting coastline of North Antrim. Giant’s Causeway is a geological outcropping of hexagonal basalt columns, which are fun to climb on. We will also hear the legend of the giant, Finn MacCool. The Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge hangs 80ft above the sea and is made of planks and wires. Brave members of the group can walk across to the tiny island with a salmon fishery. Our final stop is Carrickfergus Castle, which dates back to 1180. This well-preserved Norman castle still has its original portcullis. We will dine in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 11: Saturday, May 26, 2018: Dublin
On our way back to Dublin, we will visit Newgrange (subject to availability), which dates back to 2300 BC, before the Pyramids of Egypt. It’s a recognized place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We will also visit the Brú na Bóinne Visitors Centre. At Causey Farm we will have fun learning how to dance the traditional Irish céilí.  (B/D)

Day 12: Sunday, May 27, 2018:  Return
We will transfer to Dublin Airport for our flights home. (B/IF)

Please note that the itinerary is subject to slight changes

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Dublin, Ireland
May 17-18, 2018
Belvedere Hotel
1 Denmark Street Great Rotunda
Dublin 1, D01 PP66

Dublin, Ireland
May 18-19, 2018
Amber Springs Hotel
Wexford Road
Wexford, Ireland

Waterford
May 19-20, 2018
Granville Hotel 
Meagher Quay,
Waterford X91 XHSR

Killarney
May 20-22, 2018
The Gleneagle Hotel
Muckross Rd
Poulnamuck, Killarney, Co.
Kerry, Ireland

Galway
May 22-24, 2018
Maldron Hotel Sandy
Sandy Road
Galway, Ireland

Belfast
May 24-26, 2018
Bullitt Hotel
40a Church Ln
Belfast BT1 4QN, UK

Dublin
May 26-27
Carlton Hotel
Church Rd
Blanchardstown, Dublin

Flight Information

Please arrange to be in Dublin on the morning of May 17, 2018. If you would prefer to arrive early, we can arrange pre-tour hotel nights. We can either assist you with flights or you can book your own. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

Flights for the main tour. Please note that you will go through US customs in Dublin, not Charlotte, on the return:

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What’s included in the tour price of $3,899

Price based on a minimum of 15 participants. Land price is $2,899

Your Tour Includes

•   Round-trip air transportation from St. Louis, including taxes and fee ($1,000)
•   Land transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned motor coach
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3 and 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional tour director and local guides
•   All transfers, as a group
•   All taxes and tips
•   Basic passenger trip insurance (upgrade to full coverage for $209)

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Single supplement ($500)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas.  Passports must be valid for six months beyond return date.

Payment Schedule

Please make checks payable to “Reformation Tours” send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.  If you would like to pay by credit card (3.5% surcharge), click here.
•   Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour.
•   Final invoices will be sent in February 2018.
•   Final payment due March 2, 2018
•   Reservations will be accepted after March 2, 2018, subject to availability, and must be paid in full

Insurance

We offer travel insurance through RoamRight, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. This will be automatically added to your invoice if you request the upgrade. To calculate the cost of the tour insurance: (land cost + air cost – $500) x 6.14%. For this tour, the insurance is $209 (or $147 land-only).

Description of Coverage

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.

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