The Heart and Soul of Ireland Tour: County Donegal & Northern Ireland

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.      

This was the first part of a trip to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. It included our children and grandchildren aged 15, 14, and 10; nine of us in total for eight days all over Ireland in an 11-person van. It was memorable beyond words. It was planned terrifically by Zicasso's travel company, with one exception, and our driver/guide was exceptional. We appreciated his knowledge, humor, and flexibility.

The tours and activities were excellent. We especially liked the Jeanie Johnston famine ship tour, the EPIC museum, the Book of Kells, the sheep dog tour, feeding a baby lamb, the falcon demonstration, and the many historic sites we saw.

Our hotel in Dublin, the hotel in Cork, and most especially the hotel in County Clare were fantastic and well worth the cost. The hotel in Kerry was good as well, but unless you are determined to be in downtown Galway, do not go to the one near Eyre Square. We should have planned to stay an extra day at the hotel/castle and drive into Galway. That was the only planning mistake. There is no way that hotel deserves a four-star rating; two-and-a-half for me.

We are now on the second part of the trip to Northern Ireland without the family, just my husband and I, and except for the rainy day that cancelled a planned boat trip, so far so good. We also have an excellent driver/guide.

Dublin - we loved Dublin with the exception of the following:

We did not like our hotel. It did not come across as a four-star hotel. Service was just okay. We didn't feel safe. There were five homeless tents across the street from the hotel. We were approached by three different homeless people during our stay in Dublin. One stood right in front of my Mom and I, rubbing a marijuana joint and spewing gibberish, another one got in our way and started dancing in front of us so we couldn't move forward, and a third person hit the window of the Uber we were driving in with his bag. These all happened at different times during our stay. The location of our hotel was bad. I would not stay there again nor would I recommend it. We were pretty nervous every time we left the hotel and had to return. If we were to go back, we would stay in the St Stephen Green area. On a positive note, all recommended restaurants in every town/city we visited were excellent! Our driver was outstanding! Would highly recommend him! Our favorite hotel was in Killarney.

We just finished 10 outstanding days in Ireland on a trip that was completely organized and facilitated by Zicasso's travel company. We built the trip around a one-day visit to the Open and, with a lot of advice from our travel company, we visited Dublin, Belfast, and Galway. From each of the cities, we had day trips that were led by a private guide from the company.

Our guide made this trip outstanding. He drove us for seven of the 10 days to the many sites we visited. He was so much more than a good driver. His knowledge of everything we did was extensive and really helped prepare us for what we visited. Additionally, we added and deleted on his recommendation, and all of those moves made the trip better. Some of the deleting, in particular, was because of the weather, and he adjusted to something that made the trip even better. He had a real gift for recognizing immediately our likes and preferences, and adjusted accordingly. Our favorite phrase, which we seemed to say on a daily basis, was, “You did it again," which was in reference to daily tips and/or stops that we made, all of which enhanced our visit to Ireland. He was very professional, punctual, and personable for the entire seven days. He was, without question, the best driver/guide we have encountered in our many trips to Europe. On a personal level, we had great conversations right from the beginning and he seemed more like a good friend than just a driver. I give him my highest recommendation.

As for the travel company, they created a comprehensive plan that addressed the many wonderful sites for us to see in that section of Ireland. Very little of their initial proposal was changed. They were always available when we had questions or concerns before and during the trip. This is a first-class and professional travel agency. I would recommend anyone traveling to Ireland contact this company.

We had a wonderful trip to Ireland and thoroughly enjoyed our stops and hotel along the way. We also enjoyed the pace of our trip: 2 nights in Dublin, 3 nights in Killarney, 2 nights in Galway, and 1 night at Kilkea Castle. Our hotels were absolutely excellent, both in location and service provided.

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!