40 Shades of Ireland 2008   (Escorted & Self-Drive)

On this short tour see the highlights of Dublin, Killarney and Shannon and enjoy some free time for shopping or pub hopping. You'll enjoy a visit and tour of Dublin Castle, kiss the Blarney Stone, travel around the Ring of Kerry and see the Cliffs of Moher. Full Irish breakfasts and dinners including a fun medieval banquet in a 15th century complete your trip. Then you set off on a self-drive program experiencing the warmth and charm of the Bed and Breakfast accommodations through Town & Country Homes and Farmhouse accommodations!

Package Includes:
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout the tour
• Services of a professional Irish driver/guide
• Superior & first class hotels with private bath/shower for 5 nights
• 9 Full Irish Breakfast daily (B)
• 3 dinners (D) including;
  - Dinner & traditional Irish entertainment at the Merry Ploughboy Pub
  - One table d'hote dinners in Killarney
  - Medieval banquet & entertainment at Bunratty Castle
• Dublin sightseeing tour by open-top bus
• Dublin sightseeing tour with local guide
• Tea & scones at a farmhouse
• Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills,
   Essence of Kerry AV Show, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher, Irish National
   Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Passage on the Shannon Ferry service
• All local tax, hotel service charges & porter fees for (1) suitcase per person
• (4) day car rental, unlimited mileage, VAT tax, Vehicle as listed below or similar
• (4) nights open B&B vouchers ENSUITE (with private bath)
• Ireland Guide Booklet
• Ireland Poster Map
• Pre-departure supply of documents to plan your self-drive portion

Accommodations as listed or Similar:
Dublin - The Stillorgan Park Hotel Ltd - Stillorgan, Co Dublin - 2 nights
Killarney - Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre - Killarney, Co Kerry - 2 nights
Bunratty - Bunratty Castle Hotel - Bunratty, Co Clare - 1 night
Open B&B Vouchers - Open Bed and Breakfast Vouchers Ensuite - 4 nights

Itinerary Outline:

Day 1 Mon / Wed / Fri - Flight - Depart U.S. for Dublin Welcome aboard your overnight flight to Dublin. Enjoy inflight entertainment and meals. Call 1-800-633-0505 for optional discounted airfares from your hometown. This package is a land only package round trip airfare is not included.

Day 2 Tue / Thu / Sat - Dublin Arrival & Sightseeing - Arrive at Dublin Airport, proceed through immigration and pick up your baggage. Go to our Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where our personnel will arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Today you are on your own so you may opt to join your open-top sightseeing bus tour whenever you wish. This bus service operates daily from 9.30 am to 6:30 pm and you can join at any of 20 stops, each conveniently located near a popular Dublin attraction. You may get off wherever you wish, then just join a later bus and continue to the next place that interests you. Dine independently this evening, either right in your hotel or hotel staff can advise you of places nearby.

Day 3 Wed / Fri / Sun - Dublin Tour & Merry Ploughboy Pub - This morning is at leisure for independent activities. At 2:00 pm join a local guide who will show you the most important and interesting places throughout central Dublin. Drive through the main streets to see historic buildings such as Trinity College, where the Book of Kells is housed; Dail Eireann, where the government meets; and the rows of Georgian houses with gaily-colored doorways. Stop at Dublin Castle to take a guided tour through the elegant State Apartments, which are filled with elaborate Waterford Crystal chandeliers, furnishings and portraits of important people in Irish history. Learn about Irish history right up to present times. Return to your hotel for a get-together with your tour group and a welcome drink. In the evening drive to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for a great dinner of Irish specialties, which is followed by a lively show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (D)

Day 4 Thu / Sat / Mon - Blarney Castle & Killarney - Depart Dublin and view the green countryside as you travel through the center of Ireland, which has many mixed farms. Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, which rises high above the surrounding plain. Nearby visit a farmhouse to sample some freshly-baked scones with tea and learn about farm life from the owners. Continue your drive south and just a few miles outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle. Climb the winding stairs to the ramparts in order to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish-made goods of all types conveniently displayed under one roof. Drive through Macroom, built around a fine castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous to Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with Ireland's highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, forming a backdrop. Check into your hotel and relax before dinner. Afterwards you may like to take a stroll through the compact town center and explore one of Killarney's famous singing pubs. (B, D)

Day 5 Fri / Sun / Tue - Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience - Today embark on Ireland's most popular scenic drive of 100 miles - the Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. Just outside Killarney stop near the Gap of Dunloe to see "Essence of Kerry," an audio-visual presentation about the region. As you travel along, there will be plenty of stops for photos at the best vantage points. Near the western tip of the peninsula cross to Valencia Island by bridge and visit the Skellig Experience. Here learn about the life of early Christian monks who inhabited the rocky offshore islands, living in round stone huts. Also learn about the abundant bird life that thrives on the rocky ledges of the islands. Drive through the villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville at the end of the peninsula and stop to walk around Sneem, where brightly-painted houses are grouped around at central green. Stop at Moll's Gap for a view over the Three Lakes of Killarney with the town in the distance. Return to Killarney where the evening is free for independent dining in one of the town's many restaurants. (B)

Day 6 Sat / Mon / Wed - Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Castle - Leave Killarney and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. Your tour continues along the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches to almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. You can watch the sea birds as they nest in crevices and, on a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands. Drive past Lahinch golf links, one of Ireland's most famous, and through the marketing town of Ennis to Bunratty. Check into Bunratty Castle Hotel, which is located very close to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. If you wish, you may visit the Folk Park, have a drink in the 200-year-old Durty Nelly's Pub or shop at the Bunratty Mills. In the evening head to Bunratty Castle for a memorable experience, in a wonderful setting with good food and entertainment. Climb the stairs to the upper hall where the mood is set by the lords and ladies of the castle. Then take your place in the Great Hall for a medieval-style feast of excellent dishes and plenty of wine. During and after the meal the lords and ladies will serenade you with song and harp music, evocative of the Middle Ages. (B, D)

Day 7 Sun / Tue / Thu - B&B - Shannon Region This morning you will claim you vehicle to start your self-drive portion of your vacation. You can go back and visit your favorite places or venture out and explore uncharted territories. Full Irish Breakfast served daily at your B&B.;

Day 8 Mon / Wed / Fri - Self-Drive Exploring Ireland - Bed & Breakfast (B)

Day 9 Tue / Thu / Sat - Self-Drive Exploring Ireland - Bed & Breakfast (B)

Day 10 Wed / Fri / Sun - Self-Drive Exploring Ireland - Bed & Breakfast (B)

Day 11 Thu / Sat / Mon - Shannon Airport Today you return to Shannon to bid farewell to the Emerald Isle. (B)