Luxury Tour of Ireland and Scotland

We just spent two weeks in Scotland and Ireland, arranged for us by Zicasso’s travel specialists. What a five-star experience! Both of them have traveled extensively in the UK and Ireland, with one having grown up in the UK. They always seemed to know where we wanted to be.

This trip was a bit more challenging due to unexpected spine surgery a mere eight weeks prior to the trip. Between the perfect selection of lovely hotels at all the right locations and the nice people of these two countries, everything was accessible, despite using a walker. We could not have asked for more beautiful vistas, castles, and cultural amenities, ranging from lively Irish pubs to the finest museums (we’re art buffs). We also ate at spectacular restaurants selected by the travel company, in addition to terrific tours tailored to our specific interests.

Not only was the planning for the trip exceptional, but the travel specialists were there for us at a moment’s notice when things went awry. All trains in Scotland were canceled for a day due to 100mph winds from Storm Amy. We were pinned down in Edinburgh (a great place to be trapped) and took in additional sites, while the travel company saw to it that we had a lovely hotel room to spend our extra night in Edinburgh. Many people wound up sleeping in the train station. Our train was rescheduled strategically for the next day by the travel specialists, while we enjoyed Scotland’s National Art Gallery and our vacation continued seamlessly.

The transition from Scotland to Ireland was delightfully easy and our time in Ireland was spent exactly as planned. As I’m unable to drive and did not want my wife to be unable to sightsee while we traveled, the travel company got us (per our request) to far western Ireland and the Aran Islands, where Gaelic languages are still spoken and centuries-old Irish traditions are still maintained. We traveled by train so we could both sit back and take in the beautiful countryside.

There, we used our castle hotel in County Clare as a base for travel by car and enjoyed several days pursuing our own agenda and taking in the splendor of castle living. This was amazing, likely the most elegant place my wife and I have ever stayed, yet the venue had a comfortably casual vibe and an incredibly helpful staff that made accessibility problem-free. We would definitely block out a day just to stay on the castle grounds and enjoy the property and activities if we are able to return.

The Cliffs of Moher were spectacular, as were the Aran Islands, right down to a rainbow which vanished before we could find the “pot of gold” at the end. That being said, we think “the pot of gold” is Ireland itself... the sites, the people, the music, the food… the list is endless. We cleared US Customs in Shannon so we were able to fly to the US with no TSA or customs issues.

We returned to find an itinerary summary prepared by the travel specialists for submission to our travel insurance company for any storm-related refunds that the travel company had not already arranged for us. Simply a wonderful, stress-free trip, with the travel company at work continuously to assure that the experience was optimal, and it was five-star from start to finish. We can’t extend a higher recommendation to Zicasso’s travel specialists for a wonderful, intimate tour of the UK and Ireland.      

Zicasso's trip planner worked with my family for the better part of a year planning our big family trip. She provided exceptional service and planned every detail of our trip. We have a large family, with lots of moving parts. There were many changes in the itinerary along the way and she rolled with all the many changes. She was always polite, courteous, and graceful in her many interactions with our family.

She listened carefully during our initial conversations to help us plan the best trip possible. Being a large family, with multiple generations, she really created the best possible experience, taking in everyone's wishes. Working with her was very relieving, knowing she was taking care of all the details.

Our family's trip took us from the States to Ireland, Scotland, and England. We traveled on planes, trains, ferry, and drove a car. Our trip planner arranged every detail meticulously. We stayed in lovely, quaint, boutique hotels, ate the most wonderful foods, saw the amazing sights, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites across all three countries. From the Cliffs of Moher to the Culloden Moor Memorial to Stonehenge to castles grand and desolate; from beautiful cathedrals to old abbey ruins; from little country pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants; and even spending a couple days in an actual 17th-century castle, every minute was amazing! Truly amazing!

After 15 years of vacationing on small, live-aboard, scuba-diving ships around the world, we wanted our first land-based tour to be extraordinary. We sought a plan to include all drivers, transfers, and hotels, and an itinerary to include private walking and car tours of culturally significant sites and museums. Our goal was to cover, on our first trip to Scotland, the Scottish lowland and highlands, significant city centers, as well as the legendary palaces, lochs, castles, and museums. Moreover, my husband requested we focus on the Pict time period, especially the carved stones, swords, and other fighting devices used throughout the last 3,000 years of Scotland’s “recent” past.  

Our travel company was one of three firms we solicited for a proposal on a luxury vacation in Scotland. Only this Zicasso company hit these targets out of the box with a much better agenda than the competition and very competitive pricing. Moreover, their tour included a recommendation for a two-hour sword-fighting lesson, followed the next day by a visit to a private sword-fabricating forge!!

We returned home four days ago from our remarkable 13-day trip. The highlights of our trip are too exhaustive to even list. Three fantasy-fulfilling high points comprised three nights in a luxury castle bed and breakfast on the west coast, and visits to Inner Hebrides islands, including Iona, where I purchased two sterling Celtic penannular brooches. This was topped off with the commissioning of two swords from the forge, a Claymore and a basket hilt to be custom made using ancient techniques that will result in a pair of one-off customized designs including scabbard carvings and decorated multi-layer battle-ready blades.  

Overall, the tour used amazing guides, including two who wore kilts and full Scottish dress throughout their tours, provided a plethora of castles, and enough alone time to explore the local area and relax while eating the best meat and seafood imaginable, culminating end-to-end in the best vacation of our lives!!

Based on our experience, I cannot entreat you strongly enough to at least get an offer of services from this travel company. We submit you will not be disappointed in the offer or the fulfillment.

We had a wonderful trip. Everything went smoothly. We liked that we were always in contact through WhatsApp. That was very helpful and gave us a security blanket.

Our itinerary was planned through a Zicasso travel expert. The guides/drivers she chose were terrific. They were full of information and stories of each place we visited, and they answered all of our questions. One of a few outstanding ones was in Scotland. We had him on two occasions and enjoyed his knowledge and wit. The knowledge of our guide in Edinburgh was outstanding. The tour in Dublin was with a super guide. He is sending us a recap of our tour. In Ireland, for our tour of Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, our guide was wonderful with his knowledge of the area and his charm and wit. We had a great time with him. In Killarney, we had a guide for the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. He gave us a map with both days highlighted so we would remember where we were. He took us to the most beautiful places and had so much information and charm. We had two days with him and they were wonderful. Our Kilkenny guide went out of his way to get us as close to the Rock of Cashel. He also had so much information as we traveled. All these tour guides/drivers were so good. Our travel specialist did such a fantastic job of choosing this guides!!

This Ireland trip was absolutely incredible. Our family of 13 ranged from three to 70 years old and we loved it so much. Working with Zicasso’s travel agent was so easy. During the planning stage, she accommodated my calls and emails, executing perfectly on a flawless itinerary.

We loved starting out in Dublin and then traveling to the stunning Irish countryside by way of private driver. We saw so much, from the Rock of Cashel to the Blarney Stone, the English market in Cork, and the café in Cork, which was a highlight for us!

Our absolute favorite accommodation was our lodge in County Kerry, which was a stunning property that took our experience to the next level.

The Gap of Dunloe and Cliffs of Moher were two of our favorite tours.

The travel company handled all the logistics with precision! Every transfer, tour, and activity was meticulously planned, allowing my family and me to fully immerse without worry. And our guide/driver, well, he was the absolute best. He became the 14th family member by the end of our eight-day road trip together!

Zicasso’s tour planner did a wonderful job responding to us and tailoring our 8-day Scotland trip to our desires. At her recommendation, we utilized a driver rather than rent a car, and that maximized our experience and minimized driving anxiety. Our driver was fantastic! He moved us comfortably and smoothly through our itinerary with humor, local knowledge, and history.  Lodging and required entry tickets were prearranged and any questions that arose were speedily handled by our driver and agent.

Trip highlights to the central Highlands included garden and ground visits at Edinburgh, Glamis, Drummond, and Sterling castles, Scone Palace, Branklyn Gardens, Jupiter Artland, and The Kelpies. My wife wanted to include The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels, which is not a convenient spot to visit. By having our driver pick us at the Edinburgh airport upon our arrival, we were able to maximize our first day and include Abbotsford House. Our tour company was great.