U.S. travelers have every reason to feel the luck o’ the Irish this March. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, CIE Tours International, Ireland’s premier guided vacation resource, has unveiled its best airfare offer of the year. Those traveling from the East Coast – New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), Hartford (BDL), Washington, D.C. (IAD), Orlando (MCO), and Miami (MIA) – can snag roundtrip airfare to Dublin or Shannon for $499. Out of Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA), airfare is $699. Both rates include tax and fuel surcharge. Better still, these prices cover high‐season travel, with no blackout dates from April 1 through Dec. 31, 2018. While the travel opportunities are seemingly endless, the offer is not and must be booked by March 20, 2018. CIE Tours’ St. Patrick’s Day‐inspired special is valid for bookings in conjunction with any CIE Tours Ireland guided vacation of seven or more days that starts at $1,150 or higher.
To learn more about CIE Tours’ incredible Irish journeys and March airfare offer, visit http://www.cietours.com/us/stpatricks2018 or connect with a travel professional. The airfare offer is available by phone only: call 800‐559‐0388 and reference STPATRICKS18.
A sampling of guided Irish vacations that can be paired with CIE Tours’ March special:
- Taste of Ireland: 7 days from $1,150 per person (land only). This fast‐paced jaunt through the Emerald Isle starts with an introduction to the historic heart of Dublin. Next, guests can kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” at Blarney Castle and explore the Blarney Woollen Mills for Irish goods.. A drive along the 100‐mile Ring of Kerry offers epic coastal views. Star Wars: The Last Jedi fans will appreciate a stop at the Skellig Experience, from which they can see the gorgeous rocky offshore island that became Luke’s hideaway. A taste of Irish farm life comes by way of a sheepdog demonstration before guests cross the River Shannon Estuary by ferry to explore the Cliffs of Moher. The tour continues through Galway and concludes in Dublin. Unique experiences are peppered throughout, including an Irish song and dancing demonstration and a medieval‐style feast in a castle.
- Irish Gold: 8 or 9 days from $1,595 per person (land only). Travelers seeking a leisurely pace to take in Ireland’s most acclaimed sights will gravitate toward this trip. In Dublin they’ll view the priceless 8th century Book of Kells at Trinity College. Next in the heartland, guests visit the banks of the mighty River Shannon and see the elaborate Celtic crosses of Clonmacnoise. During a stay in Galway they’ll explore scenic Connemara, Kylemore Abbey and take a short catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour. Traveling south around Galway Bay, guests will watch sheepdog demonstrations and view the Cliffs of Moher. A traditional horse‐drawn jaunting car ride through the Killarney National Park is a highlight, followed by a traditional drive along the Ring of Kerry. Stops at Skellig Experience, the Blarney Castle and Waterford, among others, finally lead travelers back to Dublin.
- Jewels of Ireland: 14 or 15 days from $2,800 per person (land only). CIE Tours’ most comprehensive Irish experience affords travelers ample time to soak in the country’s vibrant culture and rich history. Starting in Dublin, the guest journey includes iconic points like Blarney Castle, and unexpected treasures like Kinsale, an old fishing town now renowned for sailing and gourmet food. The rugged western coastline of Cork comes by way of Clonakilty and Skibbereen, and Ross Castle in Killarney National Park is accessed via a horse‐drawn jaunting car ride. On the Dingle Peninsula, guests take a scenic boat trip and can sip a traditional Irish coffee at the South Pole Inn, once the home of a famed Antarctic explorer. Sheepdogs demonstrate their herding skills in Caherconnell, before guests visit a charming village in the Burren and then explore the medieval city walls and other attractions of Galway. Ireland’s only fjord is seen during a catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, followed by a homestead visit including a farmhouse lunch. A stop at the magnificent country estate Lissadell House in County Sligo is followed by a visit to Belleek Pottery in County Fermanagh to see craftspeople create their renowned fine china. Day 10 includes the Slieve League Cliffs and time in Donegal. Thereafter, guests take a walking tour of Derry’s medieval walls, and explore the Giant’s Causeway and its enormous hexagonal columns formed more than 60 million years ago. In Belfast, travelers will see the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built. The tour moves on to historic Drogheda for local beer sampling, and travelers conclude in Dublin.