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Best of Ireland and Scotland - Escorted by Eric Wertz
Best of Ireland and Scotland - August 1-12, 2023
Travel to see the very Best of Ireland and Scotland with AAA. From delicate Waterford Crystal to kiss the Blarney Stone and you’ll be sharing tales from Giant’s Causeway, the Edinburgh Military Tatoo and the Scottish Highlands for years to come.
Eric Wertz
AAA Group Coordinator and Journey Manager
Contact your AAA Travel Agent for information
Call to Book
1-800-633-9300
Included With Your Trip
HIGHLIGHTS
Orientation of Dublin
Dive into culture at the House of Waterford Crystal
Kiss the Blarney Stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab'
Learn about Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud
Visit Giant’s Causeway
City tour in Belfast
Dive into culture at Stirling Distillery
Attend Edinburgh Military Tattoo
11 breakfasts & 3 dinners
Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Hotel porterage of 1 bag per person
An expert Travel Director and separate Driver
Hotel tips, restaurant tips for included meals, and local taxes
A group airport transfer on the first and last day of your guided holiday
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Contact your AAA Travel Agent for information
Additional Information
DAY 1: AUGUST 1, 2023
Welcome to Dublin (2 nights)
On arrival at Dublin airport, your group is met and enjoys an orientation with your Travel Director who will take you past the Custom House and along O’Connell Street. Explore the Celtic heritage and hospitality of Ireland and Scotland on this grand adventure through beautiful landscapes and enchanting cities. Our first day sees us delve into the whimsy of the Irish capital, before joining our fellow travelers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception.
Meal(s): Welcome Reception
Hotel(s): Maldron (or similar)
DAY 2: AUGUST 2, 2023
Discover Diverse Dublin. Drive through the streets of Dublin, joining your local specialist for a sightseeing tour past the stately Georgian Squares and St. Patrick's Cathedral, the tallest church in Ireland. Enjoy a leisurely day exploring the city. Stop for a pint of 'the Black Stuff' in Temple Bar, admire the colorful performers on Grafton Street or consider joining an Optional Experience this evening to tap your feet to the lively sounds of Irish music at an Irish cabaret.
Meal(s): Breakfast
DAY 3: AUGUST 3, 2023
Journey to Waterford and Cork (1 night). We travel to the House of Waterford Crystal and dive into culture yet again to witness this delicate craft, watching talented master craftsmen at work in their workshop. Afterwards, we continue south to the lively city of Cork, enjoying a free evening to discover its sights, sounds and flavors.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Hotel(s): Maldron Hotel South Mall (or similar)
DAY 4: AUGUST 4, 2023
Onwards to Blarney and Killarney (2 nights). Travel to Blarney and bend over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone and acquire the 'gift of the gab' before crossing the Kerry Mountains to County Kerry. We journey to 1930s Ireland this evening for an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, visiting the working farms of Muckross, where we'll learn about traditional farming and meet the families who ply the land. Your visit will help to preserve the heritage of rural Ireland and you’ll connect with locals, savoring delicious local flavors during your Be My Guest visit to the Quilles Farmhouse against the scenic backdrop of the lakes of
Killarney (subject to availability).
Meal(s): Breakfast, Be My Guest Dinner
DAY 5: AUGUST 5, 2023
A Day on the Ring of Kerry. The astounding beauty of Iveragh Peninsula accompanies us on this soul-stirring coastal journey around the Ring of Kerry – a dramatic landscape of mountains, loughs and lakes which have inspired writers and poets for centuries. See Daniel O'Connell's
Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap with the Macgillycuddy's Reeks peaks in the distance.
Meal(s): Breakfast
DAY 6: AUGUST 6, 2023
Kildare and Belfast (2 nights). Drive through scenic landscapes to Kildare. Here you’ll dive into culture and learn about Ireland's thoroughbred industry at the Irish National Stud. Then, enjoy a guided walk admiring the powerful steeds that have made racing history and stroll around the tranquil Japanese gardens. Continue to Belfast. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy the vibrant nightlife of the capital of Northern Ireland.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Hotel(s): Stormont (or similar)
DAY 7: AUGUST 7, 2023
Venture to the Giant’s Causeway and Londonderry. No trip to Northern Ireland would be complete without a trip to Giant’s Causeway, a rugged natural phenomenon that locals once believed was the work of giants. During a private tour with a Local Ranger, they will explain its ancient history and impressive geography. Next, you’ll head to Londonderry with a Local Expert. He’ll share local tales and advise you on where best to head for lunch. Enjoy the evening in Belfast as you wish.
Meal(s): Breakfast
DAY 8: AUGUST 8, 2023
Cross the Irish Sea to Glasgow (2 nights). Join your local specialist in Belfast this morning for an included city tour which will take you to Queen's University and the Baroque Revival-style City Hall. We board our ferry at Larne and cross to Cairnryan in Scotland, driving through the Ayrshire countryside bound for Glasgow, our home for the next two nights.
Meal(s):Breakfast
Hotel(s): Crowne Plaza (or similar)
DAY 9: AUGUST 9, 2023
Discover Glasgow’s Rich Legacy and on to Stirling. Delve into Scotland’s intriguing cultural
capital and stroll through the toon to admire views of George Square and the River Clyde, once the heart of Scotland's shipbuilding industry. We head to Stirling, visiting Stirling Distillery where we’ll dive into culture and learn how to make Whisky, Scotland's favorite honey-colored drink with a chance to sample a wee dram. We return to Glasgow for some free time to explore the city.
Meal(s): Breakfast
DAY 10: AUGUST 10, 2023
Journey to Enchanting Edinburgh (2 nights). Traversing the dramatic landscapes of the
Scottish Highlands, we pass Pitlochry before arriving in St. Andrews to see its famous golf course on which golfing greats have clamored to play for centuries. We cross the scenic Firth of Forth to enchanting Edinburgh, our home for the next two nights. This evening, we attend the spectacular Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Hotel(s): Holiday Inn Hotel Edinburgh
DAY 11: AUGUST 11, 2023
Uncover Edinburgh’s Treasures. Join your Local Specialist for a guided sightseeing tour which includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle, surveying the city from imposing Castle Rock. See the Royal Mile, the elegant Palace of Holyrood in the shadow of Arthur's Seat, and the new Scottish Parliament building. As our memorable holiday comes to an end, we join our Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner to reminisce over shared experiences.
Meal(s): Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
DAY 12: AUGUST 12, 2023
Farewell to Edinburgh. Your journey comes to an end after breakfast with a group transfer to Edinburgh airport. Private transfers are available at additional charge.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Contact your AAA Travel Agent for information
Get an Estimate
Product Code: AAA-oac-best-ireland-scotland
All pricing and offers for accommodations and other non-air travel are per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to availability and change without notice. Pricing does not include taxes, fees, fuel surcharges, gratuities, resort fees, spa services, or airfare unless otherwise noted and is valid on new bookings only. Prices, fees, and other restrictions are subject to supplier policies. All offers, including but not limited to, bonus amenities, upgrades, prices, and group benefits are based on select dates, resorts, room categories, and/or fare codes. Specialty pricing may require proper identification. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates, and other restrictions may apply. All U.S. citizens are required to carry documentation when traveling outside the U.S., including Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and all foreign countries. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to have the proper documentation and identification required by the United States and other governments at the time of travel. When passports are required, it must be valid for a minimum of six months past your date of return. AAA strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance to protect your investment. Check with your AAA travel professional for details. Use of a credit card for travel arrangements may provide additional protection, please consult your credit card policies. Under certain circumstances, the package price may be subject to supplemental price increases imposed by the supplier. Price increases include, but are not limited to fuel surcharges, taxes or fluctuations in foreign exchange markets that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Air-inclusive prices do not include government imposed taxes and fees, including but not limited to a September 11th Security Fee, U.S. or international government imposed taxes and fees, Federal Excise Fees, among others. Some carriers charge additional fees for checked bags, fuel surcharge, meals, etc. Please check the carrier’s website for details. Air-inclusive pricing is based on select departure cities. Prices from other cities may vary. AAA Ohio acts solely as a sales agent for travel suppliers and is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. We monitor all of the information presented on our website; however, we do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of the offers displayed. Review full Travel Disclosure and Consent at time of booking.
Deposit: $300 per person required at the time of
booking
Final
Payment Date: May 15, 2023
Cancellation
Information:
If cancelling more than 65
days prior to departure: loss of deposit(s)
Between 64 & 36 days
prior to departure: 30% of the total tour cost
Between 35 & 8 days
prior to departure: 50% of the total tour cost
Between 7 days & day
of departure: 100% of the total tour cost
Activity
Level: LEVEL 3
A very active
tour, considered “on the go”
·
Usually consist
of a full itinerary or sightseeing and events
·
Activities may
include: extensive walking, early morning departures, late night activities, or
extreme temperatures
·
This tour may
include early morning departures. All conditions do not apply to all days so
please read the itinerary carefully and speak to your AAA Travel Counselor for
additional details concerning this tour.
Handicap
Accessibility: (Goes on every flyer) We regret that we are unable to provide
individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal
needs. The responsibility of the AAA tour guide who accompanies your tour is to
insure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey and he
or she cannot be relied on to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one
guest. Likewise, it is not appropriate for a guest to ask a fellow traveler,
the bus driver, or any other third party person on the tour for assistance.
Travelers requiring such individual assistance must be accompanied by an
able-bodied companion who can provide the required assistance.
Contact your AAA Travel Agent for information
Airfare, taxes, surcharges, gratuities, transfers, port charges and excursions are additional unless otherwise indicated. Fuel surcharges, government taxes, other surcharges, deposit, payment and cancellation terms/conditions are subject to change without notice. Baggage fees are not included in your trip cost, you should re-verify with the airline directly or on their website prior to your departure for current details on allowable luggage pieces, fees, size, and weight limitations since they vary from airline to airline. See link to research baggage fees and information: https://www.iflybags.com/. Rates quoted are per person, land only, and based on adult double occupancy unless otherwise stated. Discounts, products, vendors, rates, terms, conditions, availability and itinerary are subject to change without notice. Cruise rates are capacity controlled. Certain restrictions may apply. AAA members must make advance reservations through AAA Travel to obtain Member Benefits and savings. Member Benefits may vary based on departure date. Be advised that any and all costs associated with air reservations made outside of these packages will not be refunded by AAA or the tour operator in the event of an unforeseen change and/or cancellation by you and/or the tour operator. Not responsible for errors or omissions. Rates are accurate at the time of printing and are subject to availability and change. AAA Ohio acts only as an agent for the various tour and/or cruise providers listed and is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such providers. AAA Vacations® Best Price Guarantee and 24/7 Member Care are applicable to AAA members only.
AAA Travel Alert: During these uncertain times, many travel destinations have implemented COVID-19-related health and safety restrictions and entry requirements. Please check to see if local authorities, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, and restaurants at your intended travel destination have issued health and safety-related alerts, entry requirements or other restrictions. These new travel restrictions may be imposed or amended with little warning. Failure to comply with applicable rules may result in denied entry or quarantine upon arrival. (Note: As things change, so do policies. We’ll do our best to stay on top of things, but always be sure to check with a provider directly.)