This trip includes:
- Round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) or Chicago (ORD). An additional $100 fee applies to fly from Chicago.
- Car rental (manual transmission)
- One-night stay with breakfast at Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny
- Two-night stay with breakfast at Clayton Hotel in Galway
- Two-night stay at Scotts Hotel in Killarney
- One-night stay at North Star Hotel in Dublin’s city center
Click here to see the itinerary.
See Both Historic Cities and Idyllic Countryside on Four-City Emerald Isle Vacation
On this seven-day vacation from Great Value Vacations, you’ll enjoy round-trip airfare from New York (7-hour flight) or Chicago (8-hour flight) and stay in cities and small towns across Ireland. A manual transmission rental car is included, too, and you’re free to take it where you please—go hiking on the islands off the Galway coast, go boating in the waters beside the Ring of Kerry, or explore crumbling castles in Kilkenny.
Kilkenny
While you’re in Kilkenny—about 90 minutes from Dublin by car—take a tour of Kilkenny Castle, a stone structure built in the early 13th century. Beginning with James Butler, the third Earl of Ormonde, it served as the domain for the Butler family for nearly 600 years. St. Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower, built in the sixth century, feature beautiful stained glass windows and carved stone tombstones.
Galway City
Set on Ireland’s west coast, Galway City is known as the “City of Tribes” in honor of the 14 families who reigned over Ireland until Galway was captured in 1652. In fact, the city’s roots date back pretty far. At Gentian Hill, just outside the city, archaeological digs uncovered 10,000-year old cooking areas and a 300,000-year old axe-head on the Aran Islands.
Killarney
Killarney is alive day and night with street performers and overflowing pubs, making it a popular tourist destination. Just outside the city is the Ring of Kerry, a road where you can get access to some of the best beaches this side of Europe and a nice view of Ireland’s ancient structures.
From here it’s a short drive to Ross Castle Killarney, a 15th century lakeside fort built by one of the O'Donoghue Chieftains. As legend has it, O’Donoghue sleeps in the lake waters and circles the lake on a white horse on the first morning in May every seven years. All who witness it are believed to have good fortune from that day forward.
Dublin
Ireland’s capital city features a harmonious blend of Victorian pubs and stately Georgian townhouses, with modern nightclubs next to chic restaurants. From the North Star Hotel in the city’s center, it’s only a 15-minute walk to Grafton Street, near Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green, known for it’s high-end shopping. Visitors can savor an Irish whiskey or a Guinness in one of the city’s pubs, such the famed Temple Bar, then learn about the drinks’ origins on tours of the Guinness Storehouse and the Old Jameson Distillery.
Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.