2025 Vacations

CONTINUING OUR EARLY 25 IN 25 CELEBRATIONS! 15% Discount on all self drive packages AND only €25pp deposit!

We continue to toast 25 years of creating Ireland vacations by extending our €25pp deposit AND offering you a 15% discount on any of our self-drive vacation packages! Book by 15th November 2024*

*CIE tours and Knitting tours not included

Tour Overview

‘Excellent’

Overview For the Family Tour of Ireland - Kilkenny Base

Kilkenny is located in the Heart of Ireland so is a fantastic location to base your family while on your Vacation in Ireland. This compact city is an easy drive from Dublin; Irelands capital so is a terrific location. Kilkenny is situated on both banks of the River Nore, in the province of Leinster. It is famous for its medieval building and castle. On reserving your vacation with us, you will get a complete tour pack which will include numerous day tours that you can choose to take from your base. This tour is flexible; you can do all of the day trips, some of them or you may choose to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings of your hotel.

Your Accommodation while touring Ireland: Hotel Kilkenny

While on your Family Vacation Tour, we realise that it can be difficult for families to move from hotel to hotel so these tours are ‘one-centred’ and designed in such a way as you would just pick up your rental car, drive to your hotel location and check in for the duration of your vacation. When you book your tour with us you will get a comprehensive tour pack which will include several day tours that you can chose to take from your base location.

Your hotel for this tour is tried and trusted friend of Irish Tourism: Hotel Kilkenny. This hotel is extremely family friendly and some of its many features are described below.

 

Great Kids Facilities

  • Kids Club open during school holidays every day – FREE to residents
  • Activities for the little ones such as Arts & Crafts, Splashmania – Swim Fun, Talent Shows, Cooking
  • Great Kids Play Area
  • Kids Menus available

Flexible Family Rooming Arrangements

  • Spacious family rooms available
  • Children until 3 years stay FREE
  • Hotel Kilkenny allows children until the age of 14 are charged at child rates
  • Family room consists of 1 double & 1 single bed plus space for one rollaway bed, tea & coffee making facilites, FREE Wifi in all rooms and public areas

Escapes for Mom & Dad

  • Extensive leisure club Free to all residents 
  • An extensive menu of eastern and western inspired beauty and wellbeing treatments are available in the on-site Lilac lodge.
  • On-site hairdresser featuring a wide range of services, including the latest cuts, styles and colours.
  • On-site Golf Academy providing a unique and beneficial way to practice your golf.
  • The Pure Bar offers adults a smart smart urban bar to relax in and babysitting services are available (payable locally).

 

What's included

  • Accommodation in rooms with private facilities 
  • Full Irish Breakfast Each Morning
  • Rental Car (Chauffeur Option Available)
  • Local Telephone Support During Your Trip

Tour highlights

  • Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
  • Burren
  • Christ Church Cathedral
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Conor Pass
  • Dingle Peninsula
  • Doolin
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Castle
  • Dublinia
  • Gap of Dunloe
  • Killarney
  • Kilmainham Gaol
  • Ring of Kerry
  • Trinity College & Book of Kells
  • Aras an Uachtarain
  • Blasket Centre
  • Chester Beatty Library
  • Crag Cave & Kingdom Falconry
  • Dublin Writers Museum
  • House of Waterford Crystal
  • Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
  • Waterford Crystal Centre
  • Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms

Overnights for this tour

Hotel Kilkenny for 7 Nights 

Accommodation options

All of the hotels we have chosen for our Family packages have great family facilities, many of them have kids clubs during the summer holidays, playground or playroom, special meals, movie nights, babysitting and great escapes for mom and dad including leisure centres and spas, bars, restaurants and live music.

Day 1 - Dublin City

There is no better place to start your honeymoon tour of Ireland, than in our capital city, Dublin! Honeymooners who love theatre, art and music will appreciate their time in Dublin. Stroll around Trinity College, one of Dublin’s most famous buildings which educated the likes of Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. Catch a show in Dublin’s famous Abbey theatre or soak up the atmosphere in one of Dublin’s famous music pubs such as the Cobblestone and the Auld Dubliner. These are just some of the many things to do in Dublin city, your Irish Tourism detailed itinerary will provide you with many more options. This evening check into Brooks hotel, a contemporary but luxurious four star hotel, close to Dublin’s many touring attractions.

Day 2 - Dublin to Waterford

You have a number of choices for your route to Waterford and your Irish Tourism itinerary will help you to decide which one to take. The most direct route takes you by historic Kilkenny which is considered by many to be Ireland’s loveliest inland city, due to its cobbled stone streets and authentic medieval buildings such as Kilkenny Castle.  The Castle is well worth a visit and is open to visitors throughout the year. You may instead decide to travel to Waterford via what is commonly referred to as the Garden of Ireland, Wicklow. Taking this route you could spend a few hours in Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains where there are a number of romantic woodland walks to be taken or stop at the Vale of Avoca which is famous for its hand weavers and its scenic countryside. It was here that Thomas Moore penned the Irish Song, The Meeting of the Waters – ‘There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet, as that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet’. When you arrive in Waterford, check into the Waterford Castle Hotel. Siting prettily on its own private Island, the castle provides a luxury setting for your stay in Waterford.

Day 3 - Waterford City and Surround

Waterford is Ireland’s oldest City, dating back to the Viking period of 914, parts of the old city walls remain. Although its roots are set firmly in the Viking period, many of the buildings that remain are from the Georgian period notably Christchurch Cathedral and the lovely Cathedral Square. Other sites of interest include the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Reginald’s Tower and the House of Waterford Crystal which tracks the history of one of Ireland’s most famous exports. When you return to Waterford Castle, why not enjoy the delights of Afternoon Tea in the Castle’s Conservatory while overlooking the formal gardens and the Islands grounds.  You might instead prefer to take a walk around the three hundred Acre estate where walking trails have been developed to allow you appreciate the array of Wild Life and Fauna that have taken up residence on the Island.

Day 4 - Waterford to Kerry

You have two options for your journey to Kerry; the most direct route via Cahir or the slightly longer route which will take you by the famous Blarney Castle with all its historic charm and romance. If you chose the former, you can visit Cahir Castle, one of the most formidable castles in Ireland as well as a popular film set. You could visit Cahir Abbey or the Swiss Cottage, an ornamental cottage built for Lord and Lady Cahir for entertaining guests. If you take the route via Blarney Castle, leave in plenty of time as the castle gets very busy during the summer season. Kissing the stone at the top of the castle is a long standing tradition and those that kiss it are said to then magically gain the ‘gift of the gab’! If you do visit Blarney, be sure to wander into the Rock Close, part of the gorgeous but often ignored gardens. On arrival in Kerry check into Carrig House, a wonderful stop on your honeymoon in Ireland due to its picturesque lakeside position and luxury accommodations. Carrig House was built originally as a hunting lodge for visiting British Aristocracy in the 1800’s and remarkably restored to its former glory by the Slattery Family in 1996. Your tour includes a stay in Carrig House’s amazing Presidential Suite.

Day 5 - The Ring of Kerry

The highlight of your honeymoon in Ireland may well be your journey around the spectacular Ring of Kerry. You will pass captivating mountains and stunningly beautiful coastal scenery, dotted with villages and towns that have retained much of their unique Irish culture. Stops we recommend include Glenbeigh and Rossbeigh Strand which is arguably the best beach in Kerry, perfect for long romantic walks! Visit Cahersiveen, the principle town of the peninsula and from here take the ferry across to Valentia Island, where you will find a striking mix of period buildings & houses most notably The Royal Hotel and the former Transatlantic Cable Buildings on the waterfront. Drive to the top of Geokaun Mountain and Learn about the social and cultural history of the island while enjoying the spectacular views. Continuing around the ring, the next town you come to is Ballinskelligs which has another beautiful sandy beach and on from there, Waterville, a favourite holiday spot of Charlie Chaplin who visited frequently with his family.

Day 6 - Kerry to Clare

You have got a number of touring options for your journey to Clare from Kerry. The longest but most scenic route includes a short but lovely car ferry trip from Kerry to Clare. This route takes you first through Tralee which is home to the annual ‘Rose of Tralee’ festival and Listowel which has famous literary connections, evident in the Seanchaí Literary centre. You will then travel by ferry across to Clare and drive the coast road passing Milltown Malbay and the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. The more direct route will take you through the town of Adare which has several sites of religious importance and rows of pretty thatched houses and craft shops and the Viking City of Limerick. When you arrive in Clare, check in to the beautiful Cregans Castle Hotel, the perfect honeymoon getaway. From here discover the sights and sounds of the Burren area including the magnificent Cliffs of Moher.

Day 7 - Discovering Clare

From traditional music festivals to open air food markets and walking or cycling alongside wonderful scenery, Clare offers the perfect honeymoon getaway! Some of our favourite attractions in Clare include Bunratty Castle & Folk Village, the magnificent Cliffs of Moher and the hundreds of Neolithic and Megalithic structures to be found in the Burren area. The Burren is one of the largest Karst landscapes in Europe, measuring 250 square kilometres. The Burren national park has some great walking paths that you can take by yourself or ask your tour representative about us booking a walking tour for you with a registered guide. This is truly the best way to experience the Burren because the guide can tell about the local history and culture surrounding the areas you visit. This evening why not spend a few hours in Doolin, a town famous for its wealth of traditional Irish music. You are sure to locate a cosy pub to soak up the lively atmosphere. On a fine evening, head down to Doolin Pier which has become well-known for its stunningly romantic sunsets.

Day 8 - Return to Dublin

You have again a number of options for your return journey to Dublin and your detailed Irish tourism itinerary will help you choose which one to take. The most direct route takes you via the pretty town of Adare with its authentic Irish thatched cottages and several notable historic buildings or the longer route takes you via Cahir with its famous Castle and the Rock of Cashel which was the crowing place of kings including Ireland’s famous high king, Brian Boru.  You may simply decide to travel directly to Dublin in order to get some more Dublin sightseeing in before you leave. On arrival check into Brook’s Hotel and spend your final night of your honeymoon in Ireland in luxury surroundings.

Route map

Tour attractions

2025 Vacations

CONTINUING OUR EARLY 25 IN 25 CELEBRATIONS! 15% Discount on all self drive packages AND only €25pp deposit!

We continue to toast 25 years of creating Ireland vacations by extending our €25pp deposit AND offering you a 15% discount on any of our self-drive vacation packages! Book by 15th November 2024*

*CIE tours and Knitting tours not included

Tour Prices

The 7 Night family tour of Ireland using Kilkenny as a base for your vacation is one of the best ways to see the south of Ireland . This exciting tour stops at some of Irelands top tourist attractions including Rock of Cashel, National Stud and Japanese Gardens, Dublinia, Blarney Castle and an enchanting medieval evening of “ceol agus craic” at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park whilst staying in wonderful child friendly accommodation along the way.

HOTEL KILKENNY FAMILY ROOMS INCLUDING CAR RENTAL

Accommodation Type Price
Jan-Mar & Nov-Dec €2,290
April & October €2,490
May-June €2,790
July-September €2,790

Notes

  • Standard Family Room can sleep 2 Adults & 1 Child or 2 Adults & 2 children when one child sleeps on rollaway bed
  • Larger Family rooms that sleep up to 2+3 are available also
  • All prices quoted in this section are per family as specified

Prices Includes;

  • Detailed Irish Tourism Day Trip Itineraries
  • 7 Nights accommodation in Hotel Kilkenny including full Irish breakfast and taxes
  • 7 Days Family Car rental: 7 Days Manual Transmission Ford Mondeo/Opel Insignia or Similar
  • Included with your car is all compulsory insurances - Collision Damage Waiver insurance (CDW with an excess/deductible), theft protection insurance, location fee of €30, Road fund tax, sales tax at 13.5%, unlimited free mileage, third party liability insurance, 24 hour peace of mind break down cover.

Private Chauffeur Option Available For This Tour

  • Enjoy the services of an experienced and friendly driver guide
  • Luxury vehicles so you get to travel in style and comfort
  • Take the stress out of driving on unfamiliar and sometime narrow roads
  • With our knowledgeable drivers you see more in less time
  • You get to see the scenery instead of worrying about crashing into it!
  • Contact Us for a price quotation today

Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.

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