The Best of Ireland September 14th 27th. 2019 Escorted by John & Diana O'Regan - Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885
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The Best of Ireland
September 14th ~ 27th. 2019 Escorted by John & Diana O’Regan
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885
he Best of Irelad
A
San Simeon Travel is pleased to announce our Exclusive Private Tour of Ireland with which
we have partnered with Tauck World Discovery. Tauck shares with us a passion for
excellence. This private tour escorted by John & Diana O’Regan includes the services of a
Professional Tour Director and is limited to just 34 guests.
Emerald landscapes, royal gems and historic jewels... Find treasures around every bend in Ireland...
natural ones like sculpted cliffs that soar majestically over the rocky ocean coast below, a wild ring of scenic
landscapes and lakes, the limestone Burren abundant with wildlife and basalt giants that march into the
sea... cultural riches that speak volumes about Irish life, in grand estates, on dairy farms, in crystal and
pottery factories, in poetic haunts and an Ulster Folk Park...at an award-winning museum telling the true
story of theTitanic... and in hallowed sites that chronicle history – Trinity College, walled Derry, medieval
Kilkenny, Georgian Dublin...
Make 2019 the year to be inspired as you explore Ireland with San Simeon Travel and Tauck – and with just
about every travel expense included in one up-front price there are no hidden costs, no surprises, and no
options sold on your trip. Traveling with San Simeon Travel and Tauck is peace of mind travel at its best.
Personalized service, quality experience and inclusive value are hallmarks of Tauck's Europe trips –
celebrating 25+ years of experiential travel along the Yellow Roads of Europe, those smaller back roads where
the pace of life is slower, and you immerse in the genuine emotion, the camaraderie, the little things that
connect you to day-to-day European life.
Years have been spent meticulously researching and defining every day to provide you with memorable
cultural connections, locally guided in-depth sightseeing, a taste of regional cuisines, and outstanding
accommodations in the heart of the cities or countryside. Local experts have opened their hearts to us,
warmly inviting us to learn more about the fabulous architecture, compelling scenery, local traditions, and
rich history.
Traveling with John & Diana of San Simeon Travel along with our Tauck Director, provides warm, caring,
thoughtful service throughout your trip, taking care of every detail so you connect with people and places,
centuries-old traditions, and daily life. You'll return home refreshed, ready to do it all again!
In this Trip Planner, you’ll find just about everything you need to know to make your decision to travel with San
Simeon Travel & Tauck. You’ll find a day-to-day itinerary, destination information, hotel details, practical tips,
useful advice to prepare for your trip, and our expertise is right at your fingertips.
I encourage you to make your reservation soon as space is limited – our Ireland journey will fill quickly!
Thank you – and I hope you join us on this amazing trip.
Kind regards,
John & Diana O’Regan, Owners
San Simeon Travel
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885
The Best of Ireland
The Emerald Isle bids you a hundred thousand welcomes on
Tauck's most popular Ireland tours. Splendid scenery,
fascinating history, a vibrant culture and warm, hospitable
people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland, north and
south. Feast your eyes along the Yellow Roads from the Ring
of Kerry to the Cliffs of Moher to the Giant's Causeway.
Learn the story of three centuries of Irish emigrants building a
new life in North America at the Ulster American Folk Park.
Get a little taste of the artistic side of Ireland on visits to the
Belleek Pottery factory and a literal taste of Irish whiskey at The
Jameson Experience. Enjoy the sophistication of Dublin and
Belfast and the peaceful ambiance of small villages.
Have lunch with a family who run a working dairy farm.
Experience the award-winning, magnificent Titanic Belfast
interactive museum and savor a special 9-course tasting dinner
inspired by the great ship's menu in the city where it was built,
Belfast. And find out what it's like to stay in country estates,
lakeside resorts and a historic city-center hotel... all on an
Ireland journey not to be missed.
TRIP COST
Room 1 - Double
Tour Cost: $6,990 USD per person
Tauck Guest Protection Plan…Covers pre and post hotel nights as well as airfare even if not booked thru Tauck
Guest Protection Plan: $385 USD per person
Due Dates
Deposit Due Date: Upon Booking Confirmation
Balance Due Date: July 10th, 2019
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885
ITINERARY
The Best of Ireland
Day 3 - Belfast and Titanic history
INCLUDES Head to Northern Ireland and the vibrant capital of Belfast
for a day that begins with a visit to the Titanic Quarter to
TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS! Journey through the
experience Titanic Belfast, an award-winning interactive
Irish wilds of Connemara & along the spectacular
museum, followed by a guided city tour. This evening, a
coastal scenery of Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast
special treat – a nine course Titanic tasting menu dinner
Road in the sumptuous Great Room of The Merchant Hotel,
Belfast’s award-winning Titanic Belfast interactive honoring the ship’s grand style.
museum & a sumptuous 9-course Titanic Tasting
Meals: B, L, D
dinner at The Merchant Hotel
Lodging: The Merchant Hotel
Accommodations at country estates, lakeside resorts
and a historic city-center hotel Day 4 - Astonishing Giant's Causeway and the
Learning – at an Irish farm, the Belleek Pottery
Glens of Antrim
Depart Belfast and travel the spectacular Antrim Coast
factory & the Ulster American Folk Park
Road, one of the world’s most scenic drives, through the
Discover the history of Irish whiskey at The haunting Glens of Antrim. Arrive in the town of Bushmills;
Jameson Experience lunch is served up with a warm welcome and a “fire that is
always lit,” a tradition at the Bushmills Inn whose origins
Visits to castles, abbeys, walled cities & a graveyard date back to 1608. Explore the Giant’s Causeway, a
with stories to tell, history to reveal UNESCO World Heritage Site; over 40,000 symmetrical
basalt columns lead from coastal cliffs to the sea; return
Two nights in Dublin to explore centuries of history to Belfast for an evening at leisure.
found in its parks, streets, & pubs Meals: B, L
Lodging: The Merchant Hotel
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
31 meals (13 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 11 dinners), Day 5 - A visit to Derry and the Ulster American
service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission Folk Park
fees, taxes & porterage Explore Derry on a walking tour with a local guide. In
nearby Omagh, visit the Ulster American Folk Park, where
Day 1 - Arrive Dublin you will hear the stories of three centuries of Irish
Best of Ireland tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Conrad emigrants who left the Emerald Isle to build new lives in
Dublin. A transfer is included from Dublin Airport to North America. Spend two nights at a lakeside resort.
Conrad Dublin in the heart of the city. We invite you to Meals: B, L, D
join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at Lodging: Lough Erne Golf Resort
your hotel.
Meals: D
Day 6 - Your choice - Irish traditions at Belleek
Lodging: Conrad Dublin Pottery or Enniskillen
You have a choice today – join us for a visit to the market
Day 2 - Sights of Dublin town of Belleek where Belleek hand-painted porcelain has
Sightseeing today in Ireland's capital city takes you to been made since 1858; at the factory and museum you'll
Phoenix Park and Victorian St. Stephen’s Green; drive get an inside look at the process and legend behind the
down O’Connell Street, and see the Lord Mayor’s delicate, iridescent porcelain art famous around the world.
residence. A highlight of your explorations is a visit to
Alternatively, enjoy free time at Lough Erne Resort.
Trinity College and the Book of Kells. The afternoon is
free for you to explore Dublin as you please. Explore Enniskillen, a town known for its medieval
Meals: B landmarks and fortress-like castle beside the River Erne.
Lodging: Conrad Dublin Dine at leisure tonight at your hotel.
Meals: B, D
Lodging: Lough Erne Golf Resort
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885ITINERARY
Day 7 - Drumcliffe, Galway and a lakeside hotel Day 11 - A day along the Ring of Kerry
Depart Northern Ireland for the foothills of Benbulben Today is devoted to the natural beauty of the Iveragh
Peninsula, known as the Ring of Kerry. On a drive ‘round
Mountain, “Yeats Country.” Stop in the village of
the Ring, drink in the scenes of sandy beaches, mountains,
Drumcliffe to see the final resting place of poet W. B.
lakes and cliffs, old oak forests and bogs.
Yeats, then arrive in thriving, eclectic Galway City where
The country’s highest peak, Corrán Tuathail, reigns over
you’ll have some free time to explore before arriving at your
Killarney National Park, at the peninsula’s heart. Along the
luxury lakeside estate hotel.
way, history waxes and wanes in the ruins of ancient
Meals: B, D
monasteries, castles and forts – and small villages, like
Lodging: Glenlo Abbey Hotel seaside Waterville, where quiet and warmth are a way of
life bring the scenery’s dramatic scale down to earth.
Day 8 - Kylemore Abbey and time as you please Enjoy legendary Irish hospitality tonight when you dine at
at Glenlo Abbey the charming Rozzer’s Restaurant.
Travel out into the countryside today and visit lakeside Meals: B, L, D
Kylemore Abbey; built in the late 19th century as a Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
private residence, the estate is now home to a prestigious
boarding school for girls, a Gothic church and Victorian
Day 12 - Discover the history of Irish whiskey at
gardens. After lunch at Kylemore Abbey, return to Glenlo The Jameson Experience
Abbey Hotel Galway where the remainder of the day is
The Jameson Experience in County Cork is a journey
free to enjoy as you wish.
through Irish whiskey making, past and present –
Meals: B, L, D
complete with a tasting! Following a local lunch that
Lodging: Glenlo Abbey Hotel provides a true taste of Ireland, continue to Mount Juliet
hotel in the heart of Kilkenny.
Day 9 - From the Cliffs of Moher to Ennis Meals: B, L, D
The dramatic Cliffs of Moher soar up to 702 ft. above the Lodging: Mount Juliet Hotel
ocean along Ireland’s “Wild Atlantic Way” – and they are
your first visit today. Spend time in the town of Ennis, Day 13 - Kilkenny tales and more
then it's on to the 18th-century Old Ground Hotel, built as a
You’ll discover that Ireland’s antiquities tell the tales of
private mansion.
days gone by... and today’s visit to the ruins of the
Meals: B, D
Cistercian Jerpoint Abbey introduces some remarkable
Lodging: Old Ground Hotel medieval architectural artifacts. Take a guided walking tour
of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and
Day 10 - Learn about Irish dairy farming then on to design, for insights into the Black Abbey, Rothe House
Killarney and Kilkenny Castle. Mount Juliet is one of Ireland’s finest
sporting estates, and you’ll have an opportunity to take
Your Ireland tour continues when you discover the
advantage of some outstanding leisure activities today.
importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a
Your two-week Ireland sojourn ends when you join us this
working dairy farm, which has been in the same family for
evening for a farewell dinner and reception.
generations; you’re invited inside their home for a light
Irish lunch and some excellent stories! Then it’s on to Meals: B, D
Killarney and a visit to Muckross House, an Lodging: Mount Juliet Hotel
Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in
Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished
Day 14 - Journey home
19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent
gardens in a palette of sensational colors. Your Tauck's comprehensive Ireland tour ends: Kilkenny.
accommodations for the next two nights are at one of Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Mount Juliet
Ireland’s most gracious hotels, Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Hotel & Spa to Dublin Airport. Allow at least three hours for
Spa, exuding the warmth of a country home. flight check-in.
Meals: B, L, D Meals: B
Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885ACCOMMODATIONS
The Best of Ireland
Conrad Dublin
Night 1, 2 - Dublin, Ireland
The Conrad Dublin, located in the heart of “Dublin’s fair City” opposite the gardens of famous
St. Stephen’s Green, is a grand place to begin your family’s exploration of “The Emerald
Isle.” Your guest room welcomes you with all the comforts of home, like a
37-inch LED flat screen TV with premium channels, an iHome Bluetooth docking station
like a clock radio with MP3 connection, air conditioning, bathrobes and slippers, mineral
water, cable TV, CD player, minibar, in room safe and more… even a hair dryer and
iron/ironing board. If you’re after some exercise, head to the well-equipped Fitness
Center with hi-tech cardiovascular equipment and weights or ask the hotel staff for
maps of good jogging routes close by. The hotel’s dining options include contemporary cuisine at their all-day brasserie, The
Coburg Restaurant and more casual dining at Alfie’s Bar and Grill, which opens out onto Earlsfort Terrace. The Conrad Dublin is
a winner of the prestigious Fáilte Ireland 5Star Quality Award.
The Merchant Hotel
Night 3, 4 - Belfast, Ireland
Awarded both “Hotel Accommodation of the Year” at the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards
2012 and named “Best Hotel UK” at the prestigious International Hotel Awards, The
Merchant Hotel blends Victorian grandeur and Art Deco sleekness in a grand manner. Its
prime location in the city-center, historic Cathedral Quarter, means that there is no better
place to be in Belfast. Well-appointed, sumptuous guest rooms soothe with velvets and
silks, specially designed wool carpets, original works of art and a host of modern in-room
amenities to enhance your enjoyment of your stay. The Gymnasium’s unique space
was specifically designed to create a serene atmosphere
with panoramic views of Belfast while offering Technogym Wellness cardio and strength training equipment, a rock sauna,
aromatherapy steam room and an eight-person rooftop hot tub. If you’re in the mood for some satisfying comfort food, The
Cloth Ear is the place for you; if you’re thinking on a grander scale, The Great Room Restaurant, situated in the former main
Banking Hall of this historic building puts forth fine cuisine inspired by the classics and showcasing the very best of locally
sourced ingredients. At Bert’s Bar, you’ll find yourself transported to the chic, intimate jazz bars of 1930s New York, with live
jazz every evening from 9:00 PM on. If a quieter atmosphere suits your mood for a pre-dinner cocktail, a bite to eat or a
nightcap, settle in at The Bar and admire the antique Baccarat chandeliers and fireplace.
Lough Erne Golf Resort
Night 5, 6 - Enniskillen, Ireland
The first AA and NIBT five-star hotel in Northern Ireland, Lough Erne Golf Resort sits on
its own 600-acre peninsula between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne, creating
a memorable sense of place with stunning views in virtually any direction. Sophisticated
guest rooms, successfully fusing past and present, feature carefully chosen furniture,
fine Irish linens and luxurious bathrooms among other top-notch amenities. Treat yourself
to the relaxing, rejuvenating applications of Asia's botanical heritage in The Thai Spa or
play the Faldo Championship Course - deemed truly memorable by leading members of
USTOA who played there in 2009 (at additional cost). Choose the Catalina
Restaurant for elegant dining overlooking the lough or visit the Loughside Bar and Grill for casual dining and perfectly grilled
prime Irish meats. Traditional afternoon tea in the Garden Hall is a treat for your sweet tooth while the Blaney Bar, overlooking
Castle Hume Lough, offers a Grazing Menu as well as over 100 different Irish whiskeys to sample
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885Glenlo Abbey Hotel
Night 7, 8 - Galway, Ireland
Old-world charm and 5-star service... Glenlo Abbey Hotel is situated overlooking the River
Corrib some four kilometers upstream of Galway City. It is the ancestral home of the
French family, one of Galway’s famous ‘tribes’. Glenlo Abbey Hotel offers superb dining
and entertainment options for both formal and informal occasions. These include the River
Room Restaurant with stunning views overlooking the estate, the Pullman Restaurant,
which was recently awarded a second AA rosette, the Oak Cellar Bar and three elegant
Receptions Rooms in the Main House which exude old world charm, where guests can
enjoy a relaxing drink, afternoon tea, or take time out to relax and read the
newspapers. Guest room amenities include marble ensuite bathroom with power showers, bathrobes and slippers, complimentary
l'Occitane Toiletries, 40-inch flat screen television, DVD Player, minibar, in-room safe, hair dryer, tea and coffee making facilities,
complimentary bottled water, evening turn-down service, 24-hour Room Service, branded chocolate boxes for turndown,
turndown weather cards. The history of the property is illustrious: The five-bay, two-story detached house with its grand entrance
and flight of steps was built in 1740 by the Frenches. The Frenches were an Anglo-Norman family who first settled in Ireland in
Co. Wexford and from there gradually spread to other parts of the island. The family first arrived in Galway in the early fifteenth
century. The house was originally known as Kentfield House, before becoming Glenlow or Glenloe House, deriving from the Irish
Glean Locha, meaning ‘Glen of the Lake’. The adjacent Abbey was constructed in the 1790's as a private church for the family
but was not completed and never consecrated. It is typical of eighteenth-century Church of Ireland chapels, which are often
found on large demesnes. In 1846, the house and surrounding 138-acre estate were put up for sale, eventually purchased by
the Blakes, another of Galway’s illustrious tribal families. In 1897, the estate was purchased by the Palmers who remained there
for the following 90 years. In the 1980's the house and estate were again sold, t h i s time to the Bourke family who lovingly
restored the house and converted it into a hotel. In the 1990s, two original carriages from the Orient Express were purchased and
placed on the grounds of Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Dating from 1927 these carriages served on the Paris to Istanbul to St. Petersburg
route; one of the pair was used in the making of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Today serving as the Pullman
Restaurant, the carriages offer a unique dining experience.
Old Ground Hotel
Night 9 - Ennis, Ireland
A former manor house dating back to the 18th century set amidst the pretty streets of
Ennis in County Clare, the Old Ground Hotel blends the warmth of a country home and
the stylish ambiance of a luxurious contemporary Irish hotel. Crisp white linens and a soft
duvet await you in your comfortable guest room equipped with multi-channel color TV,
direct-dial telephone, coffee and tea making facilities, trouser press and hairdryer. The
Town Hall Bistro, located in what was the Ennis Town Hall, will tempt your palate with
freshly baked scones in mid-morning; sweet treats during afternoon tea; and a bistro
style lunch menu served throughout the day. The Poet’s Corner is the perfect
place to sip a nightcap and perhaps share a story or two with residents who frequent this cozy bar.
Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Night 10, 11 - Killarney, Ireland
Located high on a hill amid the emerald-green County Kerry countryside, the Aghadoe
Heights Hotel & Spa offers a luxurious and serene ambiance surrounded by the
sweeping panorama of Killarney’s lakes and mountains. Indulge yourself at the
impressive Spa, take a swim in the lovely indoor pool, walk in the hills or in the gardens,
play a game of tennis or fish for salmon and trout from the hotel’s nearby private
stretch of riverbank.
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885Mount Juliet Hotel
Night 12, 13 - Thomastown, Ireland
The baronial Mount Juliet Hotel regally reigns over what once was Ireland’s largest estate.
Operating as a luxury hotel since 1989, the opulent Georgian mansion that lies at the
heart of the Mount Juliet Hotel is a grand tribute to 18th-century craftsmanship.
Each individually designed guest room evokes the ambiance of being a welcome guest in
a private, grand family home. The Mount Juliet Hotel features the only Jack Nicklaus
signature golf course in Ireland as well as The Spa, which offers a wide range of
pampering programs. There is a wealth of activities to enjoy here (some at additional
cost) like golf, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and archery. Or visit the Leisure Centre at
Mount Juliet, with its heated indoor swimming pool and a waterfall, a fully equipped gym and tennis courts. The Mount Juliet
Hotel was rated by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “Top 25 European Resorts” and the readers of Travel + Leisure have
placed it among the “Top 10 Resorts in Europe.”
Pre Or Post Nights in Ireland
Many travelers prefer arriving at the destination a day before their Tour begins, or often extend a stay at the end of their trip.
San Simeon Travel will make hotel reservations before and or after the tour. The rates below include private airport transfers,
all taxes hotel charges and full breakfast daily. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis.
Arrive Early: Conrad Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
The Conrad Dublin, located in the heart of “Dublin’s fair City” opposite the gardens of famous
St. Stephen’s Green, is a grand place to begin your family’s exploration of “The Emerald
Isle.” Your guest room welcomes you with all the comforts of home, like a
37-inch LED flat screen TV with premium channels, an iHome Bluetooth docking station
like a clock radio with MP3 connection, air conditioning, bathrobes and slippers, mineral
water, cable TV, CD player, minibar, in room safe and more… even a hair dryer and
iron/ironing board. If you’re after some exercise, head to the well-equipped Fitness
Center with hi-tech cardiovascular equipment and weights or ask the hotel staff for
maps of good jogging routes close by. The hotel’s dining options include contemporary cuisine at their all-day brasserie, The
Coburg Restaurant and more casual dining at Alfie’s Bar and Grill, which opens out onto Earlsfort Terrace. The Conrad Dublin is
a winner of the prestigious Fáilte Ireland 5Star Quality Award.
Double Single Triple
Hotel Room Rates $452 $423 $0
Stay Later: Mount Juliet Hotel
Thomastown, Ireland
The baronial Mount Juliet Hotel regally reigns over what once was Ireland’s largest estate.
Operating as a luxury hotel since 1989, the opulent Georgian mansion that lies at the
heart of the Mount Juliet Hotel is a grand tribute to 18th-century craftsmanship.
Each individually designed guest room evokes the ambiance of being a welcome guest in
a private, grand family home. The Mount Juliet Hotel features the only Jack Nicklaus
signature golf course in Ireland as well as The Spa, which offers a wide range of
pampering programs. There is a wealth of activities to enjoy here (some at additional
cost) like golf, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and archery. Or visit the Leisure Centre at
Mount Juliet, with its heated indoor swimming pool and a waterfall, a fully equipped gym and tennis courts. The Mount Juliet
Hotel was rated by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “Top 25 European Resorts” and the readers of Travel + Leisure have
placed it among the “Top 10 Resorts in Europe.”
Double Single Triple
Hotel Room Rates $379 $357 $0
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-788-7885You can also read
