Balkans Beach Trips

The Strand Palace is not a good hotel to stay in. The rooms are too small for the money spent. I paid for a superior room. There is nothing superior about a tiny room that you can't even open your suitcase in. ANd to be charged 50 pounds more to upgrage my room is not acceptable. One of our members paid half of what we paid for the same room. The service is very poor. I had clothing items missing from my room. I would never stay in that hotel again. Indigo was just fine to stay in. Marty did a wonderful job and Gail was such an absolute delight!!!!!!!!!!

The Irish people are so very nice. The sites and sounds in history of Ireland were made clear by our tour manager. I went with family and that was great family time. The Cliffs of Moher are beautiful. It was a great tour.

the itinerary covers a lot of wonderful places. just be aware that this trip covers a lot of territory. so you are on the go a lot. but it lets you sample so many different parts of France…it allows you to discover places you may want to visit on a longer stay. …i’ll be returning to Bordeaux again soon!

The tour was fantastic! I have already recommended it to friends. Our guide, Denis, was a bounty of knowledge, humor and craic. Our driver, Mike, is skilled beyond belief with the coach, and I felt safe in his hands (I'm typically a BAD, anxiety-ridden passenger). Assigned seats changed daily so as to have a different vantage point - liked that a lot. Daily updates were provided so we knew what to expect, and what to bring or prepare for. Dublin - amazing. Great hotel. Phenomenal breakfast spread. Lovely inclusion of dinner and Irish dancing. Landmarks chosen well - St. Patrick's Cathedral, Plenty of free time to explore the many things Dublin has to offer (Book of Kells, Trinity College, National Museum, Irish Whiskey Museum, Hard Rock Cafe). Kilkenny - Great. Enjoyed the trolley tour. Had delicious lunch at the Food Hall. Explored Kilkenny Castle, which is beautiful. Waterford - Good. Chose the factory tour, which is beautiful to see, and very informative. Would have also liked to have seen the Historical Museum. Not enough time to do both. Hotel was beautiful, but not all accommodations were available. 3rd floor had no air conditioning. Bathroom for our room had a toilet awkwardly squeezed between the shower and sink. Killarney - amazing. While I have ethical thoughts against using horses as workers, the Jaunting Cart ride through the park was beautiful. Another incredible hotel. Chose Tresk dinner option, and it did not disappoint. Had more than ample time to see what I wanted to - even got a tattoo to commemorate the trip, and honor my Grandmother. Saw a Summer parade! Ring of Kerry - amazing overall. The stop at Moriarty's Gift Shop was excellent. Would have liked more time to explore the Red Fox Inn, but had the best Irish Coffee there over anywhere else on the trip. McGill's was a nice inclusion, but with our large group (44 people) it was cramped and felt too long with the sing-along. Ample stops for photography, which was appreciated. Cliffs of Moher - great. Ferry ride was a delight. Got to see a dolphin! Had plenty of time to explore top side of the Cliff's lookout and get a lunch, but not enough time to explore both sides. Limerick - great. The hotel was fantastic. Appreciate the recommendation to shop at Dunney's for "real Irish goodies" to bring home. Bunratty Castle - amazing. Loved the Medieval Banquet option. This was joyful, plentiful, and engaging. Blarney Castle - great. The grounds are magnificent, and the touristy "kiss the stone" experience was simple and fun. They do disinfect after people kiss the stone. Do so at your own risk. Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdogs - I expected this to be my least favorite excursion, but I was wrong. The sheepdog show was a delight. I was/am extremely disappointed however, that I only had 5 or so minutes to explore the fort - I am a historical recreator, who delves into archeological sites and this would have been a place I would have liked at least an hour to explore. I did not get to see the gift shop. I felt rushed to get back on the coach and leave. Galway - ok. Two hours was not enough to explore the city and have lunch. Where we parked versus any of the recommended exploration options would have taken the majority of the time to walk there and back, and not actually see the sites. Way too rushed. Not worth rushing for. It is because of these stops and the "rush" that I score a "4" for inclusions. Had we more time, I would have happily given a rating of "5". Kilbeggin - great. The tour of the distillery was informative and interesting. Again, rushed to get on the coach, unable to purchase from the distillery (Sunday, left at 12:20 - sales opened at 12:30). Appreciated the stop at Kells for lunch. Splurge on the ice cream! You won't regret it! Kingscourt - amazing. The Cabra Castle... wow. Stayed in the stables, which was still like a palace. Great food, drinks, experience. Stayed an extra night and stayed for High Tea - recommend it wholly. Walked the magnificent grounds, got to see the Hounds, made memories to last a lifetime.

Ireland is an experience that I will never forget. The pictures I took don't do the countryside justice. It is so much more beautiful in person. The Cliffs of Mor was my favorite stop. The view was incredible. But I enjoyed the castles in Kilkenny, Kilarney, Blarney, and Cabra Castle, also.

This trip with Trafalgar exceeded my expectations. I disputed a charge and it was taken care of right away, and my credit was issued. The trip had optional days to use an excursion or go off by myself. I opted to go off on my own and see what I wanted to see. The excursion swimming with manta rays was amazing. I was amazed at all I was able to see and do on my vacation. I recommend Trafalgar.