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WALES AND IRELAND - 2010
10 days
incl. air, or 9 days from London to London (CO-9040)
Vacation Overview
Explore the best of Ireland and Wales, as well as England,
on this exciting vacation. Begin your trip with free time in London, then
head out to see Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, majestic Salisbury
with its magnificent cathedral, enigmatic Stonehenge, and elegant
Georgian Bath with its famous Roman relics. Overnight in Bristol, where
John Cabot set sail to discover America in 1497. Cross into Wales and
enjoy an orientation drive in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Motor
through rich dairy farmland to Pembroke, where you take the ferry across
St. George’s Channel to Ireland. Take time in Blarney, famous for the
legendary Stone of Eloquence, to visit the castle or shop for Irish
handicrafts. Then travel on to the bustling resort of Killarney. Next, an
exiting drive along the “Ring of Kerry,” with spectacular views of
seascapes, mountains, and subtropical vegetation. Stop in Adare, known
for its remarkable thatched cottages, and see the sights on an
orientation tour of Limerick. Travel east to Dublin, Ireland’s capital,
where the orientation drive shows you statue-lined O’Connell Street and
St. Patrick’s Cathedral. You have time to tour Dublin on your own and
browse its shops. Leave Ireland and cross the Irish Sea to Wales,
arriving in Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey. Then drive through
scenic Snowdonia National Park and Llanberis Pass to pretty Betws-y-Coed
and Llangollen, home of an annual international competition for poets and
musicians. Spend the night in Wrexham, then travel south to England. Stop
in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, where you have time to take photos
of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and tour the town on your own. You trip ends
back in London, the finale of your grand adventure. If you want to see
Ireland and Wales, this vacation is for you!
Itinerary
Day 1 Fri.
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day 2 Sat.
ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Check into your hotel. In
the afternoon there’s time to rest or explore the lively British capital;
uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your day.
Day 3 Sun.
LONDON-BATH-BRISTOL
Meet your Tour Director
and traveling companions and depart at 8 am for a memorable day of
sightseeing: a photo opportunity at Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s sumptuous
Tudor palace on the River Thames; Salisbury, the “City of the Soaring
Spire;” and Stonehenge, one of England’s most intriguing mysteries. Stop
in the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics.
Overnight in Bristol, from where John Cabot sailed in 1497 to discover
America. (B,D)
Day 4 Mon.
BRISTOL-CARDIFF, WALES-TRAMORE, IRELAND
Cross the River Severn to the Welsh capital. An
orientation drive here introduces you to the major attractions: 
Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading attractioCardiff Castle, Cathays
Park, Millennium Stadium, and the stately civic buildings. Vistas of rich
dairy farmland on the way to the departure point for the ferry across St.
George’s Channel to Ireland, arriving at Rosslare in just under four
hours. Via Waterford, famed for its fine crystal, for an overnight in the
seaside resort of Tramore. (B,D)
Day 5 Tue.
TRAMORE-BLARNEY-KILLARNEY
Killarney National Park
Discover why Ireland is
called the “Emerald Isle.” Dungarvan, Youghal, and Cork, the country’s
second-largest city, are milestones on the way to Blarney, renowned for
its Stone of Eloquence. Time at your leisure to see the castle and shop
for Irish crafts and handmade crystal. After lunch, head through the Cork
and Kerry mountains for the resort town of Killarney. (B,D)
Day 6 Wed.
KILLARNEY-RING OF KERRY-LIMERICK-ENNIS
This morning, take a
100-mile coastal panoramic drive known as the “Ring of Kerry”—sparkling
seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding
lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and spectacular views of the
Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Drive via Adare, a village well
known throughout Ireland for its prize-winning thatched cottages, to
Limerick. An orientation drive here features King John’s Castle and the
Treaty Stone of 1691. Tonight, an optional banquet at Knappogue Castle is
recommended. (B)
Day 7 Thu.
ENNIS-DUBLIN
Dublin, the capital of Ireland
Head east for the Irish
capital via Kildare and horse-racing country. Your afternoon in the “Fair
City” starts off with an orientation drive along statue-lined O’Connell
Street. Then, admire elegant Georgian squares and St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. Later, time to browse and shop; take your Tour Director’s
dining recommendation for this evening. (B)
Day 8 Fri.
DUBLIN-WREXHAM, WALES
Across the Irish Sea to
Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey with its tongue-twisting place
names. Enjoy the best of North Wales on a scenic drive through Snowdonia
National Park, including spectacular Llanberis Pass and pretty
Betws-y-Coed. Visit Llangollen, home of an annual international
competition for poets and musicians, before arriving in Wrexham. (B,D)
Day 9 Sat.
WREXHAM-STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND-LONDON
Take your photos this
morning at Ironbridge, "Cradle of the Industrial Revolution."
More scenic highlights on the last leg of your journey. In Shakespeare’s
Stratford-upon-Avon, take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and
explore the town at your own pace. After returning to London around 5 pm,
how about celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the
town? (B)
Day 10 Sun.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your
international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
4/2/2010
|
4/3/2010
|
4/11/2010
|
$1,099.00
|
Available
|
|
4/9/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
4/18/2010
|
$1,099.00
|
Available
|
|
4/16/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
4/25/2010
|
$1,099.00
|
Available
|
|
4/23/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
5/2/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
4/30/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
5/9/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
5/7/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
5/16/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
5/14/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
5/23/2010
|
$1,189.00
|
Available
|
|
5/21/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
5/30/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
5/28/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
6/4/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
6/13/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
6/11/2010
|
6/12/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
6/18/2010
|
6/19/2010
|
6/27/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/25/2010
|
6/26/2010
|
7/4/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
7/2/2010
|
7/3/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
7/9/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/16/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
7/23/2010
|
7/24/2010
|
8/1/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
7/30/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
8/8/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
8/6/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
8/13/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
8/20/2010
|
8/21/2010
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8/29/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
8/27/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
9/5/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/3/2010
|
9/4/2010
|
9/12/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
9/10/2010
|
9/11/2010
|
9/19/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
9/17/2010
|
9/18/2010
|
9/26/2010
|
$1,239.00
|
Available
|
|
9/24/2010
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9/25/2010
|
10/3/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
10/1/2010
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10/2/2010
|
10/10/2010
|
$1,199.00
|
Available
|
|
10/8/2010
|
10/9/2010
|
10/17/2010
|
$1,159.00
|
Available
|
|
10/15/2010
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10/16/2010
|
10/24/2010
|
$1,159.00
|
Available
|
|
10/22/2010
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10/23/2010
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10/31/2010
|
$1,099.00
|
Available
|
Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out
quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
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