2024 Vacations

Book early and save 15%

Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 31st of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.

Tour Overview

‘Excellent’

Overview For the Family Tour of Ireland - Ballycotton Base

We have chosen Ballycotton Bay in East Cork as the base location for your family tour of Ireland. With a rich maritime and historical heritage, East Cork has a unique variety of attractions to offer the discerning family. This corner of Cork really is a sanctuary for Ireland family vacations with a huge range of attractions and activities to keep adults and kids alike entertained.  The beautiful Ballycotton Bay which stretches for about 25 km east to Knockadoon Head will be at your doorstep and family sightseeing in nearby Cobh, Youghal, Midleton and even further afield can be easily accessed.

Your Accommodation For This Tour: The Garryvoe Hotel

We understand that it is often difficult for families to move from location to location so our Ireland with Kids tours are ‘one-centred’ and organised in such a way as you would just collect your car, drive to your hotel and check in for the duration of your stay. When you confirm your tour with us you will receive an inclusive tour pack which will include various day tours that you can chose to take from your base location. You may decide to do all of the tours, a small selection of them or you might simply choose to enjoy the great family facilities of your hotel and its surroundings.

Great Children's Facilities

  • Hotel is directly across from the Ballycotton bay (Blue flag beach)
  • Kiddies splash time every afternoon in the Health Club (Runs all year)
  • Hotel has cinema nights during summer months & holidays on selected evenings
  • Healthy kids menus available
  • Packed lunches for days out available at cost payable to hotel
  • Babysitting services available - at a charge, payable directly to the hotel

Flexible Family Rooming Arrangements

  • Spacious Family Rooms available.
  • The hotel allow children up of all ages and children to age 16 are charged at the child rate.
  • Standard in all family rooms: multichannel television, Fast Free WiFi throughout rooms & hotel, tea/coffee making facilities

Escapes for Mom & Dad

  • Garryvoe Health & Leisure Club facilities include East Cork’s only dedicated two-lane 25m Lap Pool,
  • Extensive Splash Pool area with Water Jet Massage Cannons.
  • Unique to Cork and Ireland - Aqua Jogging Ring, 1200 square feet Gym
  • Sauna Room, Steam Room, Invigorating Outdoor Hot Tub, Aerobics Studio
  • Bar & Restaurant

 

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

  • Aran Islands
  • Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
  • Burren
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Cobh Heritage Centre
  • Conor Pass
  • Dingle Peninsula
  • Doolin
  • Dun Aengus
  • Gap of Dunloe
  • Ring of Kerry
  • Titanic Walk
  • Bantry House & Gardens
  • Blasket Centre
  • Connemara National Park
  • Crag Cave & Kingdom Falconry
  • Desmond Castle & Wine Museum
  • Galway
  • Kylemore Abbey
  • Mizen Head Signal Station
  • Garnish Island
  • Blarney Castle
  • Kenmare
  • Muckross House, Gardens & Traditional Farms

Overnights for this tour

  • The Garryvoe Hotel, Ballycotton 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 - Shannon to Cork

Travelling from Shannon, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park is always a nice stop to begin your honeymoon in Ireland due to its proximity to the airport. Following this, you have two options for your journey to Cork, the direct route will take you very close to Blarney Castle, famous for its stone of eloquence which is said to grant the ‘Gift of the Gab’ to all those that kiss it! Taking a slight detour gives you the option to explore Tipperary and is famous Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle. Places of interest in Cork include Kinsale which is especially nice for honeymoon couples due to its wealth of romantic restaurants and cosy pubs and its overall picturesque setting, Cobh which was the last port of call for millions of Irish people fleeing the harsh reality of Irish life in famine times and beyond and Cork City itself which is fast achieving a reputation as one of Europe's trendiest cities.

Day 2 - Cork to Kerry

Travelling from Shannon, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park is always a nice stop to begin your honeymoon in Ireland due to its proximity to the airport. Following this, you have two options for your journey to Cork, the direct route will take you very close to Blarney Castle, famous for its stone of eloquence which is said to grant the ‘Gift of the Gab’ to all those that kiss it! Taking a slight detour gives you the option to explore Tipperary and is famous Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle. Places of interest in Cork include Kinsale which is especially nice for honeymoon couples due to its wealth of romantic restaurants and cosy pubs and its overall picturesque setting, Cobh which was the last port of call for millions of Irish people fleeing the harsh reality of Irish life in famine times and beyond and Cork City itself which is fast achieving a reputation as one of Europe's trendiest cities.

Day 3 - Romantic Kerry

Kerry is an essential stop on any Ireland Honeymoon because of its wonderfully romantic sweeping sea views and curious history. Kerry is a great stop for the budget conscious traveller looking for an affordable tour of Ireland due to its many free touring attractions including those found on the remarkable Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry. Because of the Dingle Peninsula's isolated position beside the North Atlantic Ocean there is a remarkable preservation of over 2,000 monuments.  Killarney, known as the gateway to the Ring of Kerry is famous for its lakes which are all free to visit. Recommended stops include Torc Waterfall where the Owengariff river cascades through breath-taking wooded glens and the Gap of Dunloe where Ice Age glaciers once carved a dramatic mountain pass through which the ‘gap’ offers spectacular views of three small lakes. 

Day 4 - Galway

Due to its compact size, Galway city is easily explored on foot. The redeveloped Eyre Square area encloses a pleasant courtyard and park, nearby you will find a new shopping centre leading out to shop street which is lined both sides with a mix of cafés, restaurants, traditional and modern shops.    The city comes alive during the summer months with tourists not just from overseas but also other parts of Ireland. Sites of interest include the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, the old Spanish Arch and the Claddagh, which the famous Claddagh ring is named after. Galway city is a great place to enjoy some traditional Irish music with many pubs having live music on a weekly and in some cases a daily basis. You will also find many lovely restaurants to enjoy a romantic meal, Galway has something to suit every visitor’s taste buds and pocket! If you are looking for an affordable meal, our best advice is to eat a pub lunch in the afternoons from 12-3, most pubs do a main course for €10-12, if you prefer to eat later, expect to pay a little bit more.

Day 5 - Connemara

Your time in Connemara may well be the highlight of your honeymoon in Ireland! This wild region of Galway encompasses serene seascapes, rugged coastlines and magnificent mountains. Visit Kylemore Abbey which is often referred to as Ireland’s most romantic Castle as it was built by Mitchell Henry for his wife having fallen in love with the area whilst they visited on honeymoon!  Further west visit the town of Clifden with its colourful buildings, craft shops and lively pubs. Drive the breath-taking Sky road from Clifden passing desolate scenery and the narrow inlet at Clifden Bay, from here you could easily take the coastal route to the village of Roundstone. Your Irish Tourism itinerary will guide you with all the route options that you could possibly take.

Day 6 - Travel to Clare

You can’t miss the Burren when travelling the coast road from Galway to Clare, and you will find Romance in every corner of it! Scramble over karst limestone formations where the bleak landscape and unusual plants give the area an other-worldly ambience. In the Southern area of the Burren the limestone rock gives way to the black shale and sandstone that form the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are one of Ireland’s most visited attractions offering outstanding views. Well-worn visitor walkways lead in both directions, offering various viewing points. With tickets less than €7 per person, the Cliffs of Moher are an essential stop on any affordable honeymoon in Ireland. 

Day 7 - Exploring Clare

Clare has lots of lovely beaches to explore there’s Bishop’s Quarter in Ballyvaughan which has fabulous views across Galway Bay and over the Burren, Kilkee beach is quite small but has a lovely village beside it with a few nice spots to eat, Lahinch is widely considered to be one of Irelands finest beaches and is a hot spot for surfing and other water sport. At night we recommend spending a few hours in Doolin, which is often considered the traditional music capital of Ireland. You are surely to find a comfortable pub to spend the last evening of your honeymoon soaking up the lively atmosphere. On a sunny evening, join the crowds at Doolin Pier which has become famous for its stunning sunsets that somehow give the watcher a great appreciation for life and nature.

Route map

Tour attractions

2024 Vacations

Book early and save 15%

Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 31st of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.

Tour Prices

Below, you will find a price for Ireland Family Vacation – Ballycotton 7 Nights self drive tour of Ireland including your car rental. We offer you very competitive rates for our car rental inclusive packages. Pricing for other accommodation and transport options is also available upon request. All prices quoted in this section are per family as specified.

FAMILY PRICE INCLUDING 7 DAYS CAR RENTAL

Accommodation Type B&B's 3* Hotels 4*Hotels & Manor Houses Combination
Jan-Mar & Nov-Dec €886 €1,041 €1,247 €1,066
April & October €886 €1,090 €1,390 €1,190
May-June €990 €1,433 €1,775 €1,390
July -September €1,090 €1,554 €1,890 €1,490

Notes

Prices above include:

  • 7 Nights accommodation in the Garryvoe Hotel 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.
  • This hotel accept children to age 16 sharing with two full paying adults

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.

Detailed Enquiry Form

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For customers based in North America, please note that as we are based in Ireland, we are 5 hours ahead of EST.

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