Where to be and when
The tour begins with a full afternoon in Dublin. Your welcome email confirms the hotel, the meeting point and the exact time — we head out together early afternoon, so come prepared to hit the ground running.
👋 Day One
Day One moves quickly. We meet early afternoon — your welcome email has the exact time — and head straight out on a Dublin city tour with a Local Specialist: Georgian squares, Trinity College, O'Connell Street and the Custom House on a panoramic drive.
From there it's a whiskey tasting at a local distillery, then on to our Welcome Dinner. It's a long first day, and a great one.
Hotel rooms may not be ready when you arrive. Drop your luggage at reception and come ready to go — you won't need your suitcase until the evening.
🏨 Hotel check-in
Standard check-in is from 3pm — after our afternoon programme begins. The hotel can hold your luggage at the front desk until your room is ready.
✈️ Airport transfers
Trafalgar and Brendan Vacations offer complimentary Day 1 airport transfers at set times. Your welcome email has the exact timings and where to meet at Dublin Airport.
Once you have collected your luggage and come through arrivals, look out for your transfer host — they will be looking out for you too. Transfers run at set times and cannot be held — if you miss yours, taxis from Dublin Airport are easy to find and the hotel is straightforward to reach.
If you have a private transfer booked through Trafalgar or Brendan Vacations, the details and instructions will be in your joining documents.
🧭 Dublin Airport meeting points
These photos show the two meeting points inside Dublin Airport arrivals — for travellers using the complimentary Day 1 transfer only.
T1: After customs, look left for ICE Currency Exchange in the main arrivals hall.
T2: After customs, look straight ahead for the yellow sculpture in the concourse.
If you are on a private transfer, follow the details in your joining documents instead.
What stays with you
One habit makes travel days much easier: keep the important things in your day bag, not your main suitcase.
🛂 Passport & travel documents
Know where your passport is at all times. This tour crosses between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland — on those days, keep your passport on your person rather than packed in your main luggage. On city days, any form of photo ID is fine. It is also worth having a photo of your passport saved on your phone.
✅ Day bag essentials
Your main suitcase goes into the coach hold on travel days and may not be accessible until you reach the hotel. Keep anything you might need during the day with you:
- Glasses, contact lenses or hearing aids
- Medication and prescription items
- Phone, charger and any cables
- Cards, cash and travel money
- A waterproof layer — this is Ireland
A useful rule: if you would miss it for a few hours, it belongs in your day bag.
Before you pack
These are the details that tend to make the biggest practical difference.
👟 Walking shoes
This tour covers a lot of ground on foot — castle grounds, old city streets, coastal paths, historic sites and longer sightseeing days. Comfortable, well-worn shoes make a real difference across the whole tour, not just on one day.
If you are unsure which pair to bring, bring your most comfortable ones.
🌦️ Weather and layers
Irish weather moves quickly. You can get sunshine, rain and wind within a few hours — sometimes within a few miles. That is fairly normal here, and part of what makes the landscape look the way it does.
A waterproof jacket you trust, a mid-layer and comfortable shoes will see you through most situations. Forecasts are useful but treat them as a guide rather than a guarantee.
– A local favourite
🔌 Power adapters
The good news: the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland use the same plug — the UK Type G, with three rectangular pins. One adapter covers the entire tour.
If you are travelling from outside the UK or Ireland, you will need one. A universal travel adapter with USB and USB-C ports is the simplest all-in-one solution.
🧳 Packing
Pack for usefulness rather than volume. Most people bring more than they use — and on a tour with several hotel changes, lighter luggage is noticeably easier to live with.
We use audio listening devices on walking tours — disposable wired headphones are provided. These are not Bluetooth, so wireless earbuds will not connect. You are welcome to bring your own wired pair if you prefer.
On a tour of this length, most people are glad of a chance to do some laundry. I'll point out the best opportunity once we are underway.
The rhythm of it
Dublin to Belfast and the Antrim Coast, across to Derry, then west to Galway. Down through Connemara and the Cliffs of Moher into Killarney and the Ring of Kerry. Then east through Blarney, Waterford and Kilkenny before the final run back to Dublin. Eleven days, two countries on one island — and a short ferry crossing of the Shannon Estuary somewhere in the middle.
Some days are about the journey itself — watching Ireland change outside the coach window, from city to coast to bog to mountain. Others are about history and people: what shaped these places, what divided them, and how much has changed.
There will be some earlier starts and some longer days. You will settle into the rhythm quickly, and I will always let you know what is coming up and what to have ready before we set off.
🚌 On the coach
Seat rotation happens daily, and I'll explain the system clearly on Day One.
Snacks are absolutely fine. Just avoid hot food, hot drinks and anything likely to melt, spill or perfume the entire coach. Please keep your seat area tidy — it is a shared space and it makes a real difference to everyone's day.
Seatbelts on whenever you are seated — it is a simple habit that matters.
🚻 Comfort stops
We plan regular comfort stops along the way. There may also be a WC on board the coach, but most people find the stops easier.
When getting on and off the coach, take your time and use the handrail.
🏨 Hotels vary
One night you may be in a modern city hotel; the next in a more characterful property in a market town or coastal village. That variety is part of travelling through Ireland rather than staying in one place.
Air conditioning is not common in Ireland — it is simply not part of the building culture here. If your room feels warm, reception can sometimes provide a fan.
🚗 Our Driver
Our Driver is a huge part of what makes the journey run smoothly — navigating a coach through Ireland, including some of the narrower roads and longer touring days, takes real skill and concentration.
By the end of the tour, most groups have a genuine appreciation for just how much goes into it.
⏰ Tour timings & inclusions
Our days run to a schedule. Being ready on time — for departures, meals and activities — keeps things on track for everyone in the group.
I'll always let you know what is coming up and what to be prepared for. All we ask is that you are there on time, ready to go.
🔒 Security
Keep your passport, cards and valuables secure and close to you, particularly in busier city areas — Dublin, Belfast and Derry/Londonderry in particular. A small bag that stays close to your body is worth considering on those days.
A little awareness in crowded places goes a long way.
I use WhatsApp for simple reminders and day-to-day updates while we are travelling. It is optional, but it usually makes the small daily details easier.
- 1Download and set up WhatsApp before you travel if you do not already use it. Download WhatsApp
- 2Save my number — it is in your welcome email, or use the WhatsApp link at the top of this page.
- 3Send me a message with your name so I know you are set up.
If you are planning to rely on mobile data, it is worth checking roaming options with your provider before travel. Some people use an eSIM as a simple alternative for staying connected.
If you'd rather not use WhatsApp, that is fine — everything important will still reach you.
A few practical things for later
You do not need to make all of these decisions before we meet. They become much easier once you can see the pace of the tour and what suits you.
⭐ Optional experiences
In my experience, the optionals are often what people remember most.
Kate Kearney's at the Gap of Dunloe. A night of Irish dancing. Famous fish and chips in Belfast. The Inishowen Peninsula. Jaunting cars through Killarney. A session in one of Ireland's great pubs.
These are not things that are easy to organise on your own, in a country you do not know, on a schedule that moves quickly. On this tour, they are ready to go — transport, timing, everything taken care of.
I will walk you through everything once we are underway. My honest advice? Unless something really does not appeal to you, say yes.
💳 Money & cards
Cards are widely accepted, but a small amount of cash can still be useful for smaller cafes, markets and local purchases.
The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro (€). Northern Ireland uses Pounds Sterling (£). You will move between the two currency zones during the tour — small ATM withdrawals as you go are usually simpler than carrying large amounts of both from home.
💶 Gratuities
When you are out during free time, if the service is good — tip. A few euros or pounds at the end of a good meal is always appreciated.
On the tour itself, porterage and restaurant tips on included meals are already taken care of. Tips for your Travel Director and Driver are separate unless you have pre-paid through Trafalgar or Brendan Vacations. Local Specialists — the guides who join us in specific cities and regions — are separate again. A small tip at the end of their time with the group is customary and well received.
Guidance on suggested amounts is in your Trafalgar or Brendan Vacations documents, and you can always ask me on tour.
Questions before we begin?
Save my contact now, and keep your official joining instructions somewhere easy to find. That is enough for the moment.
Joel Plunkett
Travel Director · Trafalgar
Phone / WhatsApp
WhatsApp is usually the easiest way to reach me during the trip.
Urgent before departure?
Before the tour begins, I may occasionally be travelling or finishing another tour, but I will always get back to you as soon as I can.
If something is time-sensitive before Day 1, please check your welcome email for European Guest Services contact details.
Once we are together, things usually become much more straightforward day to day.
Final note
Eleven days across this island — Dublin to the north, west to Galway, down through Kerry and back again. I am looking forward to every part of it. 🍀 See you in Dublin.