The Fairytale
Discover some of Ireland’s best luxurious and romantic 5 Star hotels and Castles on this wonderful luxury getaway in Ireland! You have the option of upgrading your accommodation should you require it. All of these tours are available on a self-drive basis or if you prefer not to drive we can also offer each tour as a private chauffeured tour of Ireland, the ultimate experience.
Book by 15th December 2024*
*CIE tours and Knitting tours not included.
Overview for the 14 Night Five Star Luxury Ireland Self Drive/Chauffeured Tour of Ireland.
Your 14 night tour here with us on the Emerald Isle will begin with a night’s stay in Dublin. Your journey will then continue around the country and guests will have the chance to discover the best of what Waterford, Kerry and Clare as well as Dublin have to offer. During your tour you’ll stay in such luxury hotels as the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, The Park Hotel in Kenmare, the Cliff House Hotel in Waterford, Ashford castle and the highly renowned Dromoland Castle. We here at Irish Tourism have put together a detailed itinerary which, as you explore each location, will guide you to the best attractions Ireland has to offer.
Included in your price:
Car Rental:
Rental of a economy-size car. Included with your car is all compulsory insurances - Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW with an excess/deductible), theft protection insurance, location fee of €30, Road fund tax, sales tax at 13.5%, unlimited free mileage, third party liability insurance, 24 hour peace of mind breakdown cover.
Occupancy:
Prices are per person based on 2 persons in each room with full Irish breakfast and taxes included. A single supplement will apply to rooms and car rental in the case of single occupancy.
Currency:
Please note that we charge in Euros (€). Prices in other currencies are for indication only and subject to fluctuation.
Day 1 & 2: Powerscourt Hotel Wicklow
Following your long flight it’s only logical that your accommodation for the evening not be too far and as such your hotel is a mere 45 minutes’ drive from Dublin Airport in Enniskerry County Wicklow. With its remarkable scenery and vast range of beautiful natural landscapes Wicklow is often referred to as The Garden of Ireland. One such landscape is the Wicklow mountain range; here you will find the lovely Glendalough where a number of romantic woodland walks can be found or maybe if you’d prefer you could stop and visit some of the many attractive formal gardens that little the region. Powerscourt Estate will be the first such gardens you may want to visit since they are located right next to your hotel! The estate is set on 47 acres of private lush gardens and is the home of the highest waterfall in Ireland as well as a good number of nice places to eat. Despite the popularity of the estates gardens among locals and tourist alike they still retain a sense of calm and spaciousness. The nearby Enniskerry Village is one which even to this day retains much of its old-world charm. A stroll by its cafes, artisan shops, bars, pretty boutiques and antique sellers is a must for any visitor. Also nearby is the glacial valley of Glendalough which with its breath-taking scenery is most definitely worth a visit. In Glendalough not only will you find beautiful grasslands with some lovely lakeside scenic walks but also some history, as you discover the remains of an Early Medieval monastic settlement which was founded in the 6th century by St Kevin.
Day 3 & 4: The Cliff House Hotel
Today you have a decision to make regarding your choice of route to your accommodation in the Cliff house Hotel this evening, the most direct of which will take you through historic Kilkenny where you will have the opportunity to visit Saint Canice Cathedral or Kilkenny Castle. Alternatively, should you choose the longer route; you will be travelling via the coast of Wicklow and Wexford. You’re spoilt for choice today as even a third option awaits your consideration; you could choose instead to pass by Glendalough where you will find lovely lakeside romantic walks. If you’re in search of a romantic getaway you’ll find no more fitting accommodation that than the Cliff House Hotel. The hotel features an intimate spa as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant with a breath-taking seafront position. Within a few minutes on foot from the hotel there are lovely romantic Cliff Walks, you will also find a magnificent beach in the area as well as some good pubs and of course the historic Ardmore Cathedral.
Day 5: The Cliff House Hotel to the Park Hotel Kenmare
Today on your journey to Kenmare there are a number of stops we recommend including Cork City, Blarney Castle and the town of Cobh. The port town of Cobh is one of much historical significance for the people of Ireland and those abroad with Irish ancestry as the location where millions of Irish citizens said their final goodbyes to their home as they emigrated to countries such as the US and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cobh was also the final port of the ill-fated Titanic in 1912 before she set off on her one and only voyage. Two great museums in the area pay tribute to these events and both are well worth visiting if you’re given the opportunity. Travel further west then to Cork City. The city is home to fantastic shops, bars, restaurants and cafes, Shandon Church which is well worth a visit as well as the English Market. Before departing Cork why not pay a visit to the world famous Blarney Castle, legend has it that those who climb to the top and kiss the Blarney stone will be forever endowed with the gift of the gab!
Your next two nights will be spent in Kenmare in the outstanding Park Hotel; a place well versed in luxury which comes in the form of stylish and unique bedrooms, rich fabrics, original antiques and interesting art. Also situated in the hotel is a deluxe spa, a 25 metre swimming pool, an onsite cinema and several daily lifestyle classes.
Day 6 & 7: The Ring of Kerry
Kenmare where the Park Hotel is located is perfectly situated for guests to explore the world famous Ring of Kerry. This stunning driving route will take you past magnificently beautiful coastal scenery, majestic mountains and through a countryside dotted with quaint towns and villages that even in recent years have kept a great deal of their distinctive Irish heritage and character. Start your journey in Kenmare where you’ll find the beautiful Kenmare Bay which stretches 50 kilometres from Kenmare out to the Atlantic Ocean. Upon travelling further west, you will discover Caherdaniel, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, a prominent figure in Irish history known as 'The Liberator'. Continuing on in that direction you’ll then discover Waterville which was a favourite holiday spot of Charlie Chaplin who often visited with his family. Your journey will then continue around the ring until you come across the town of Ballinskelligs which is home to another beautiful sandy beach and on from there visit Valentia Island. Here a striking combination of period buildings & houses await discovery, most notably The Royal Hotel and the former Transatlantic Cable Buildings on the waterfront. With so much to see and experience the Ring of Kerry is the perfect romantic getaway and may well be the highlight of your honeymoon in Ireland!
Day 8, 9 & 10: Dromoland Castle
An early start is preferable today should you wish to experience as much of the luxury that surrounds Dromoland Castle as possible. The Castle itself is steeped in history; its roots stretch back many generations to the year 1014 when the son of Brian Boru held a fortress here. The hotel you will be residing in however was actually built in 1800 and began catering to guests in the early 1960s. Dromoland Castle, with the meticulously high standards imposed on every feature, is certainly considered to be one of Ireland’s most luxurious castles. This is to be seen everywhere from the elegant bedrooms to the perfectly landscaped grounds. Also located in the hotel is a superb spa and leisure centre that is perfect for the discerning honeymoon couple and plenty of other activities for you both to enjoy, from the onsite falconry, archery, horse-riding and fishing to their world renowned golf course. From the castle all of Clare lies waiting to be discovered, perhaps most notably in the area is the Burren region where you will find romance in every corner! This vast Karst limestone landscape is one of the largest of its type on Earth, stretching over 250 square kilometres. Here a bleak but beautiful landscape and unusual plants give the area an almost lunar appearance and an other-worldly ambience. Travelling to the southerly tip of the Burren the limestone rock gives way to the black shale and sandstone that form the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are Ireland’s most popular tourist destination and standing at over 210 metres tall with breath-taking ocean views across the Atlantic it’s no wonder why. At the top of the cliffs well-worn visitor walkways lead in both directions making for a lovely (if very windy!) walk along the coast which also offers various viewing points.
Day 11 & 12: Ashford Castle & Connemara
From your residence at Ashford Castle hotel you are ideally located to explore the wild region of Connemara, encompassing mountains, vast bog lands and a ruggedly beautiful coastline. We also recommend you pay a visit to Kylemore Abbey; built by Mitchell Henry for his wife Margaret after she fell in love with the area whilst they visited on their honeymoon, the abbey is protectively sheltered by the slopes of the twelve tranquil bens mountains. Next why not visit the principle town of Connemara; Clifden, with its colourful craft shops and friendly pub scene or maybe the town of Cong, home to Ashford Castle. Cong is most famous for being the filming location of The Quiet Man John Ford’s Oscar winning film, tours of the set are available and Cong Abbey is also well worth visiting. If you’d prefer a more history filled afternoon Ashford Castle might be to your taste. The castle has authentic Irish origins with its roots going back as far as 1228. Over the centuries the castle has been restored and remodelled into what it is today: one of the best five star luxury hotels in Ireland. The hotel is true to its original style with classic furnishings and fabrics throughout the castle complex. The hotel facilities however are well in touch with the times, with each bedroom commanding spectacular views across the grounds and as well as having every amenity needed. There’s no shortage of entertainment options on the estate either with activities ranging from Golf and falconry, to cruises on the lake, horse riding, kayaking, fishing and even archery
Day 13: Return to Dublin
Our capital and Irelands most densely populated city, Dublin is a fantastic place to finish any honeymoon tour of Ireland due to the wealth of cultural activities available in the city and its surrounding areas and the host of exciting touring options available. Some notable attractions we think that we think are worth mentioning here include Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity College and The Guinness Storehouse to name but a few. Your Irish Tourism Itinerary details many more and provides you with our most stand out recommendations. Dublin is also the home of the World famous temple bar, one of the great nightlife centres of Ireland. Here you’ll find some of the city’s best pubs, bars and restaurants which line the cobblestone street that ends at Christ Church Cathedral. The area is known to many as the city’s ‘arts zone’ where you’ll undoubtedly find a great selection of Irish Music as well as stylish galleries and shops. For your last two nights here you’ll be staying right in the city in the super luxurious Shelbourne Hotel. Always a popular honeymoon hotel, the Shelbourne has been welcoming couples through its doors since it opened in 1824 and even today continues to offer the highest standards of accommodation and service. With the city centre so close to the hotel you are enabled to explore much of the city on foot from your place of residence.