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UNITED STATES TO BELFAST
Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic to the Emerald Isle. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.
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BELFAST ARRIVAL & SIGHTSEEING
After landing at Belfast Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Our personal CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the motorcoach. Leave Belfast to drive to Ballywalter for a visit to Ballywalter Park, home to the Lord and Lady Dunleath and one of the finest homes built by English architect Sir Charles Lanyon. Enjoy a warm welcome and Irish breakfast with your fellow travelers. After your visit, we’ll drive to the village of Greyabbey, located on the eastern shores of Strangford Lough, to visit Grey Abbey, a ruined Cistercian priory dating from 1193.The church with cloister and surrounding buildings include an aisled chapter house and a refectory with reader's pulpit. Continue on to visit Mount Stewart -- home to the Marquesses of Londonderry -- and an 18th century mansion housing superb works of art and exquisite furniture collected from around the world. The extensive gardens reflect designs from the 1920s and include almost every style of gardening. Return to Belfast and check into your hotel, ideally positioned in the heart of Belfast City. Enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner and evening entertainment.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: EUROPA HOTEL, BELFAST
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GIANTS CAUSEWAY & DERRY WALKING TOUR
Today drive north to experience one of Ireland's popular scenic routes along the coast road. Here you'll see the "Nine Glens of Antrim," which offer wonderful views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Stop to view the Giant's Causeway, an impressive area of hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago by cooling lava and the subject of many legends. Continue along the coast to Derry and enjoy a walking tour to see the principal sights of this wonderful, historic city. See the 17th century city walls, which are some of the best-preserved in Europe, and the Diamond, the main central square. Also pass the 17th century St. Columb's Cathedral, the Tower Museum with local history displays, and the Guildhall, where the history of Derry is depicted in stunning stained-glass windows. After your tour, travel southwest through Ballybofey on the bank of the River Finn to reach Donegal. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: MILL PARK HOTEL, DONEGAL
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DONEGAL SIGHTSEEING
Donegal, with its misty mountains, serene lakes, and dramatic coastlines, is renowned for Donegal tweed production. The region is home to some of Ireland's most famous musicians, singers and writers. Drive to the fishing port of Killybegs and on to Teelin to view the Slieve League sea cliffs, where the highest point reaches 1,972 feet making them the highest in Europe (and three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher). The cliffs drop straight down to the wild Atlantic waves below allowing breathtaking vistas. Continue through the majestic Glengesh Pass to Ardara, a designated heritage town, to visit Triona Design. See demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting, an art of five generations. Feast your eyes on spectacular hilly scenery as you return to Donegal town. Enjoy some free time (perhaps shop a bit!) in the town center before returning to your nearby hotel.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: MILL PARK HOTEL, DONEGAL
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ARMAGH SIGHTSEEING & DOWNPATRICK
Depart Donegal and travel southeast through the scenic countryside to Armagh, the ancient site of worship for both Celtic paganism and Christianity for over 1,500 years, and the seat of both Catholic and Protestant archbishops. Visit the Catholic Cathedral decorated in blue with depictions of angels and Irish saints. Then drive east to Downpatrick ("Patrick's stronghold") through an area of rolling drumlins, elongated whale-shaped hills formed by glacial ice, to visit the Saint Patrick Centre and learn about Ireland’s Patron Saint and the importance of monastic life in the early Christian period. See his reputed burial place, marked by a granite boulder at majestic Down Cathedral. From Downpatrick, travel southwest via Newry to Kingscourt and check into the beautiful Cabra Castle hotel. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner followed by entertainment in the hotel.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CABRA CASTLE HOTEL, KINGSCOURT
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RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Transfer from Kingscourt to Belfast Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear security and claim your VAT refund. You may want to do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.
Trip Highlights:
• Travel in comfort and ease through scenic Northern Ireland with a most congenial group of fellow CUA alumni
• Admission to all sites is included; most meals are included
• Enjoy legends and history from our charming Irish tour guide – with us the entire trip
• Stay in lovely, state-of-the art hotels (don’t take our word for it – view photos of each online)
• Enjoy delicious meals and warm memories with fellow alumni
• Experience Irish culture relaxing in the evenings with fellow travelers
Travel Package Pricing:
$1,575 per person (double occupancy)
$1,795 per person (single occupancy)
Travel Package Includes:
• Round trip airfare
• Transport by luxury motorcoach with our own Irish driver/guide for five days
• Entrance fees to tourist sites
• Entertainment the first and last evenings
• Hotel accommodation based on twin-bedded rooms with private bath
• Five full breakfasts
• Five dinners (including the flight to Belfast)
• Hotel porterage, service charges, and government taxes
• Flight bags, ticket wallets, baggage tags, and identifying straps
• Medical, legal, and travel assistance provided through Reliance Standard
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| Please note: Trip itinerary may change due to circumstances beyond the control of the CUA Alumni Office, or because a more advantageous stop is available. | | |
Trip Payment and Cancellation Details: Final payment must be made before September 17, 2010. Cancellations received prior to October 1 will be entitled to a full refund less the $200 deposit. All cancellations must be made in writing. No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 45 days prior to the trip. The Catholic University of America is not an agent of CIE Tours International or the suppliers or contractors of any of the services described herein, including, but not limited to, airlines, suppliers of hotel, transportation and any other tour-related services. CUA is not responsible for any negligent acts and/or omissions of these independent contractors, their employees, agents, servants or their representatives. This tour package does not include accidental death or injury insurance for travelers. Optional travel insurance will be made available to confirmed passengers. CUA shall be exempt from all liability in respect to detention, delays, loss, damage, sickness or injury howsoever and by whosoever caused and whatever kind incurring of or to the passenger at any time when the passenger is participating in the Ireland Pub and Shopping Tour. CUA is not responsible for loss of luggage or any other incidental items. The Itinerary specified herein is subject to change without notice. Substitutions, if necessary, will be of a comparable quality. CUA reserves the right to cancel this tour at any time prior to departure and refund monies, including deposits, in full settlement of its obligation. In the event of cancellation by CIE Tours International, CUA's liability shall be limited to a refund of all payments made by the tour participants to CUA. |
