Best Of

Before we went on this trip, I read everything I could about this tour on the forum, because I was so excited, so now that I’ve gone, I thought some readers might appreciate my notes. It was the first time my husband and I traveled to Europe and our 4th Tauck Tour.
We arrived at Dromoland Castle at about 6:30 am and were jet lagged. In the lobby, the reception person took our name and explained our room was not ready, which I expected. He encouraged us to have some coffee/tea and pastries that were complimentary. Mike at the castle was so nice and showed us to the Drawing Room where we could relax and explained breakfast was not open until 7:30. No one else was in the room and there were very comfortable couches and chairs with floor to ceiling windows. I rested my eyes for about an hour.
When breakfast was open, the hostess explained the cost was 50 euros per person and that included the large continental breakfast and anything off the menu. Breakfast was included the morning after our stay and looking back, we probably should’ve just had the complimentary coffee and pastry on this first day. Lucky for us our room was ready at 8:30 am! We were so happy to take a short nap before we went on the History Walking Tour around the castle. I had scheduled a horseback ride, but my husband thought he would fall off the horse if he didn’t get more sleep. After a 2 hour nap, he was ready and Sarah at Castlefergus Equestrian was very accommodating, so we rode horses at 4 pm. The castle “rang up” a taxi for us which cost 10 euros each way and our driver, Gerry Dolan was nice. The ride was fantastic as I noted in a previous post. For dinner this night, we ate at The Fig Tree which is near the golf course. The employees at the castle gave us a ride there, even though it is a short walk. We really liked this restaurant and I had Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert as someone else posted how good it was. Kind of like cake, more that pudding with a tasty toffee topping. Really good.

Day 1 of the tour we had free time until dinner, so my husband did the Falconry Experience which was great! I paid as a spectator and was happy to take photos and learn about the birds from Jack. I really loved the Dromoland Castle! Just to sit and read or walk around the grounds was relaxing. Mike who brought us to our room, explained all the beverages (water, lemonades, sodas), shortbread cookies and potato chips are complimentary. On one warm day, we wanted more lemonade, so I asked the receptionist if I could buy 2 bottles. Oh no, she said, what is your room number and we will bring you more, no cost. The following day, they would replenish cookies and chips we ate. During the early evening, there was a turn down service where they folded down the bed, gave us more water and tasty chocolate. One evening we met the ladies and asked if we could have the light weight quilt vs the heavy down comforter and they took care of that for us. At the welcome dinner, there were 2 surprises which I won’t give away, but that is part of the fun of travel. It was “wow”. Our tour director, Suzanne Cole was a great guide. She gave us information, but wasn’t overbearing.

On Day 2 we went to the Cliffs Of Moher and were so lucky to have a sunny gorgeous day. Lunch at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis was very good, as were all of our meals. There wasn’t much time to walk around the town, but that was fine. We got back to the castle about 3 pm.

Day 3 was a trip to Blarney Village and some people in our group kissed the stone. I didn’t want the germs, but enjoyed the nice gardens around the castle and the village stores. We had lunch on our own at Christy’s which was good. We learned that when you are ready to leave, you go up to the bar to pay your bill. They didn’t give us a check, but I overheard the waitress telling someone else.
The private recital at St. Finn’s Cathedral was lovely (a word you hear a lot of in Ireland). Dinner at Perrot’s restaurant was very good and we asked to eat here twice, vs the Orchid Restaurant which was more gourmet. The Hayfield Manor is a beautiful, cozy, comfortable hotel. I mailed some postcards here and when I asked where I could buy postage, they said “we will take care of that for you” (no charge).

Day 4, we visited Charles Fort which was interesting and then onto Kinsale. I loved this town. It was small, but we didn’t run out of things to see. We had lunch at the White House, which was good. Funny they never heard of having an Arnold Palmer, or even when we explained half iced tea/half lemonade. My husband bought a tiramisu dessert at one of the food trucks in town. It was perfect. I bought a silver Celtic Cross necklace from Kinsale Silver where the man makes his own jewelry. I thought the price of 58 euros was more than fair.
Behind the Hayfield Manor is the Bloom Bar, on their property, but a few steps behind the hotel. If you have a chance, you should come here for a drink. It’s all glass and the sides open with the nice weather. The roof is louvered so they can open it in nice weather, which we had. I think the Tauck notes indicate the afternoon is free in Cork on this day, but we got back around 5 pm.

Day 5, we go to Waterford for a tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory which was very interesting. I was surprised at how it is made by hand. There are beautiful display pieces and some pieces you can buy. 70 euros for a small Christmas ornament is too much for me. We had enough time for lunch and to walk down the street to the Viking ship. Lunch across the road at the cafe was just so-so. The menu seemed more like a brunch menu. Our group dinner at the Doheny and Nesbitt pub tonight, just a short walk from our hotel, was fun. The Cottage Pie was delicious. To us, The Shelbourne Hotel is just ok. I guess we were really spoiled by Dromoland and the Hayfield Manor. The location is perfect and the meals are good, but it does not seem fair to have a stocked refrigerator with a note that anything you take, will be charged to your room.

Day 6 we go on a city tour by bus, so we get a lay of the land. The EPIC museum was very interesting and there is a nice cafe in this “mall” area of the museum. They gave my husband a mini cupcake with his latte. We both enjoyed the Ballyknocken Cooking School. I learned some baking tips and Tauck gave us a little paperback cookbook from here.

Day 7 is our final full day and we are free to do what we want. We wanted to see St. Patrick’s Cathedral so we walked through St. Stephen’s Green which is a large park. Suzanne assured us that Dublin is a safe city, so we felt comfortable walking everywhere today. Some large tour buses arrived at St. Patrick’s just after us (just before 9 am) but it is so big, the crowds are not a problem. It was 10 euros pp for senior admission. We walked to Grafton Street where there are many stores, restaurants and street musicians. Cafe Nero coffee shop was a good stop to rest and have a latte. Ginos had great gelato. Kilkenny Department Store is nice with most things made in Ireland. It was starting to rain (we only had 2 days of light rain part of the day) and when we got back to the hotel, we wanted a cup of tea. No. 27 is a bar hotel, but it has more than drinks! We shared a meal, had tea and relaxed before our farewell dinner.

This was a great trip with great people on our tour, the people who live in Ireland are so nice and polite (you don’t hear any horns beeping in traffic), perfect weather and great food. The hotels provide hair dryers which can be used in your room (not bathrooms) next to large mirrors and desks, outlets nearby. I felt like I learned about the country and people who live here. Suzanne was a great director and we traveled in mid-May on a classic tour. Temperatures were from the low 60’s to mid 70’s so layered clothing works out well.