For expert help planning your Ireland vacation, call a travel specialist at 1-800-942-3301
| ESSENTIAL BRITAIN and IRELAND (GB2008)
An 11-Day tour starting from $1,889
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vacation Overview This comprehensive 11-day vacation gives you an insight into all five countries of the British Isles. Start with visits to prehistoric Stonehenge and the extraordinary excavations of the Roman Baths. Then travel via Cardiff and through South Wales to board the ferry for the crossing to Ireland. Watch the craftsmen at work at the Waterford Crystal factory, admire the stallions at the Irish National Stud, and relax in Dublin before heading north past the Mountains of Mourne to vibrant Belfast. Another ferry crossing takes you to Scotland and its capital city of Edinburgh, where a guided city tour includes a visit to the castle. The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s magnificent Floors Castle, a walking tour through York, and Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon are the final highlights of this journey. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meals 9 full English breakfasts (FB); 3 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus and coffee, and a welcome drink before dinner at your hotel in Bristol Hotels LONDON Novotel London West (F), BRISTOL Jurys (F), WATERFORD Fitzwilton (F) or Granville (F), DUBLIN Royal Marine (SF) at Dun Laoghaire, EDINBURGH The George (SF), YORK Novotel (F) or Ramada (F), LONDON Ramada Hyde Park (F)
Day 1:
Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2: Arrival in London, England. Uniformed Globus Hosts will be waiting to welcome you. After checking into your hotel and an afternoon at leisure we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with dinner followed by a guided illuminations cruise on the River Thames. Day 3: London–Bath–Bristol. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart London at 8 a.m. for a memorable day’s sightseeing. Take a stroll in picturesque Salisbury with its vast cathedral, the ultimate in Early English Gothic; try to figure out the riddle of STONEHENGE; in the elegant Georgian city of Bath see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. Tonight’s destination is Bristol with its historic harbor from where John Cabot sailed in 1497 to discover America. Before dinner join your Tour Director for a toast to happy touring with a congenial group. (FB,D) Day 4: Bristol–Cardiff, Wales–Waterford, Ireland. On your Bristol orientation tour focus on Brunel’s daring Clifton Suspension Bridge and SS Great Britain. Cross the Severn Road Bridge to the Welsh capital. An orientation drive here features the major attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, and the stately civic buildings. Continue along the South Wales coast to Pembroke where your ferry will be waiting. Sail across St. George’s Channel to Rosslare on the Emerald Isle and proceed to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. (FB,D) Day 5: Waterford–Dublin. This morning look forward to a visit to the world-famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY, then in Kilkenny take a stroll in this pretty county town. Later, horseracing country with a visit to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Drive across the Curragh and on arrival in Dublin, top the day with your Tour Director’s dining recommendation. (FB) Day 6: Dublin. An orientation drive in Ireland’s capital city includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then visit Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (FB) Day 7: Dublin–Belfast, Northern Ireland–Edinburgh, Scotland. Landscapes strewn with Ireland’s typical round towers line the route northwards, crossing the River Boyne and over the border into Northern Ireland. Skirt the Mountains of Mourne and in Belfast, where the Titanic was built, take in the city’s vibrant history and view the impressive City Hall. Next, board your fast ferry to cross the North Channel to Stranraer on Scotland’s southwest coast and continue through the Scottish Lowlands to Edinburgh. (FB) Day 8: Edinburgh. Morning city sightseeing with a local expert introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The afternoon is free to enjoy this “Prince of Cities” at your own pace or maybe join an optional excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by The Da Vinci Code novel. Tonight relax and enjoy our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. For departure numbers 0730 through 0816 tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO, a vast spectacle of massed Scottish pipe bands which takes place in an arena on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (FB) Day 9: Edinburgh–York, England. This morning visit magnificent FLOORS CASTLE, the stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe. On past the abbey ruins at Jedburgh and the house of Mary, Queen of Scots, into wild Northumberland National Park. Later, inspect a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman coast-to-coast defense against marauding northern tribes. In York, England’s most complete medieval city, stand in awe in front of the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets including the narrow Shambles. (FB,D) Day 10: York–Stratford–London. Skirt Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest on the way to Stratfordupon-Avon. Take your pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE, and enjoy lunchtime exploring this fascinating Elizabethan town at your own pace. On return to London at about 3:30 p.m., a shownight theatre evening would be the best finale to your vacation; ask your Tour Director. (FB) Day 11: Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)
City Highlights STONEHENGE Visit the prehistoric monumentBATH Visit the Roman relicsBRISTOL Orientation driveCARDIFF Orientation driveWATERFORD Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factoryKILDARE Guided tour of the Irish National StudDUBLIN Orientation drive, visit Trinity CollegeEDINBURGH Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh CastleFLOORS Visit the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s stately homeYORK Walking tourSTRATFORD Picture stop at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Shakespeare’s birthplaceFERRIESCross the Irish Sea Pembroke-Rosslare and by Stena Line’s High Speed Service Belfast-Stranraer Price Details US Single room supplement: $467Triple room reduction per person: $69Extra nights per person in London:Apr.: in single room $142, in twin room $86, in triple room $75May-Oct.: in single room $232, in twin room $165, in triple room $146 CURRENT SPECIALS: Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Discount for young travelers Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Pay less for your second vacation We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.
Triple room reduction On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.
Avoid the single room supplement We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!
Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel? Right now when you book between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!
*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||