sean.blunk Ah, Ireland. The land of green hills, cheerful pubs, and that amazing accent that makes everything sound better. We’ve recently had the pleasure of traveling through Ireland and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. From Waterford to Dublin, every city had its own unique charm and culture.
Usually, I am all about that self-guided travel, but with this trip, we had the unique experience of booking through a travel agent and using a private driver/tour company, CIE Tours. I don’t know about you, but the thought of driving on Irish country roads freaked me out! Since this was a family trip & my parents had used CIE Tours previously, we booked our entire 2-week trip with them.
So if you are wondering if this is something that you can do or just want to see what all the hype is about, let’s get into the details! CIE Tours is one of the largest touring operators in the country – and for good reason. These guys are the experts in all things Ireland.
CIE Tour Options:
First off, let’s talk about the tour options. They have everything from coach tours to small group tours, so you can find the perfect fit for your travel style. And the best part? They take care of all the planning so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
CIE Private Driver Tours
This tour actually allows you to see Ireland at your own pace. The driver that accompanies you has a vast knowledge of the country and the different place you are wanting to go. We had this amazing driver, John Riley, who happened to be a retired policeman and resident local growing up in Limerick.
Since we just had main destinations in mind, John was able to help guide us to the unique and off-the-beaten-path areas. His timing was almost always impeccable with missing the larger tours. This allowed us to have some quieter times in certain tourist-heavy spots. This can be a pricey option.
CIE Coach Tours
We’ve all seen them, the massive tour/coach buses that have 40 – 60 people onboard. If you are the type of person who enjoys traveling with 50 strangers in a small confined area, then this is a great option. Ok, that was a lot of sarcasm. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve done day tours using this method and it wasn’t all that bad, but it can still be a lot of people to contend with.
One of the perks of this option is that it tends to be cheaper so it can save you some money. But this also means you are arriving at destinations with a crowd of people to contend with. We were incredibly lucky to be able to do a private driver, but that was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I still look at large guided tours a lot when traveling.
CIE Small Group Tours
If you can arrange a trip with multiple people this is a great option. It is practically the best of the Private Tour and Coach Tour combined! Small enough to feel special and unique but large enough that the cost isn’t too unbearable.
Tour Itinerary
Now let me lay out what our tour itinerary looks like so you can see how vast your options are! Below are the main locations we stayed in with a few of the options for things to do in the area.
- Waterford
- Waterford Crystal
- Kinsale
- Food Tour
- Kenmare
- Falconry
- Adare
- Aran Islands
- Cliffs of Moher
- Galway
- Kylemore Abbey
- Belfast
- Titanic
- Giants Causeway
- Dublin
These are the main destinations but there were a lot of other items that fit into each location! I’ll dive into those details in another post!
CIE Tour Highlights
Now, let’s get to the good stuff – the tour highlights. CIE Tours has some seriously amazing experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. For example, you can take a falconry lesson at Ashford Castle, or explore the Dingle Peninsula with a local storyteller. They also include all the classic Irish sights like the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry, so you’ll get a well-rounded experience.
Tour Accommodations
And let’s not forget about the accommodations. CIE Tours offers everything from cozy B&Bs to luxury hotels, so you can find the perfect place to rest your head after a day of exploring. And trust me, after a pint or two of Guinness, you’ll be grateful for a comfy bed. Below are a few of the places we stayed.
- The Hardiman Hotel – Galway
- Sheen Falls Lodge – Kenmare
- Actons Hotel – Kinsale
- Titanic Hotel – Belfast
- The Hardrock – Dublin
One thing that I really appreciated about using a company like CIE Tours is we didn’t have to worry about driving. When using them, you won’t have to worry about navigating those narrow Irish roads yourself. Plus, they’re experts on all things Ireland, so you’ll get a true insider’s perspective on the country.
But don’t just take my word for it – check out the customer reviews. People rave about CIE Tours, and for good reason. They take care of every detail, so you can focus on making memories.
Be sure to check out some other posts related to Ireland below!
