Best Ireland Castle Vacation Packages

Booking a package tour is the most economical way
to experience an Ireland castle vacation.

My top 5 recommendations will have you living like royalty and saving money all at the same time!

Do you want the freedom and flexibility to explore Ireland at your own pace that only a self-drive tour can offer?

Or would you prefer to sit back, enjoy the scenery, and listen to your experienced guide explain all the wonders of the Emerald Isle?

There's something for everyone on this page featuring my choices for the Top 5 Ireland Castle Vacation Packages.

Self-Drive Tours

Freedom and flexibility are the reason people opt for self-drive tours.

"Irish Castles and Manors"
This 9-day tour includes driving a rental car and sleeping in a castle every night as part of the package. If you book this Ireland castle vacation package you can look forward to staying in some of the world's most famous castles, such as Adare Manor, Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, Waterford Castle, and more!

From Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland, to the Gourmet Capital of Ireland in Kinsale...the Irish Castles and Manors Tour gives you the opportunity to see the best Ireland has to offer...but see it all at your own pace.

You'll have as much time as you like to take in the magnificent scenery of Killarney National Park with its beautiful lakes and the Ring of Kerry. This tour also lets you explore the Burren and Cliffs of Moher in County Clare as well as the sacred mountain known as "Croagh Patrick".

This is just a hint of all the delightful and memorable sights you will be able to enjoy on this tour of the Emerald Isle. With such a comprehensive itinerary, yet the independence to explore at your own pace, then bed down each and every night in a castle...this package is my choice for the Best Overall Ireland Castle Vacation Package!

"North of Ireland"
This fabulous 12-day self-drive tour starts in the heart of Dublin, where you can take in the sights and sounds of Ireland's most lively city. Don't miss the Book of Kells at the Trinity College Library.

Then you set off for the North where you can take in such mystical sites as NewGrange and the Hill of Tara. Or perhaps you prefer to play golf at one of the world's top 10 courses, the Royal Co. Down Golf Club.

This Ireland castle vacation package includes overnight stays in several castles, such as Cabra, Belleek, Ross Lake, and Ballynahinch. But it also affords you the opportunity to take in both the traditional music sessions of some of Ireland's most famous pubs as well as some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world like Giant's Causeway, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher. Other highlights of this package are the Bushmills Distillery and Glenveagh National Park!

Not only is this Ireland castle vacation package a great value, but you'll get 50% off admission to all the top attractions as well as other exclusive discounts on any Ireland vacation package by joining the Irish Circle Global Community at Irish Abroad!

Guided Tours

1 2 Travel offers the best values in escorted Ireland castle vacation packages. The three we feature here even include round-trip airfare!

"Irish Harmony"
This 9-day Ireland castle vacation package combines deluxe accommodations, dining at award-winning restaurants, and comprehensive sightseeing to give you a truly memorable vacation!

Your Irish Harmony tour begins in Dublin where you can see the beautiful homes of the "Georgian Mile" and visit the Old Library at Trinity College where the world-famous Book of Kells is on display.

Then you will move on to the rest of Ireland, touring such popular sites as the Waterford Crystal Factory and Kilkenny Castle. But you'll also get to take in some of the most scenic views in the world in Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, The Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher.

Your Irish Harmony tour saves the best for last, when you'll stay in the luxurious Dromoland Castle to get the royal treatment you deserve and add the finishing touches on a vacation you will remember for a lifetime.

"Irish Supreme"
Sightseeing on this Ireland castle vacation features many of the same top attractions as the Irish Harmony tour, but it's 3 days longer and provides you with the ultimate in elegance and luxury every step of the way!

Not only will you spend a night in Dromoland Castle, but you get to enjoy two nights in Ashford Castle as well! Other nights feature accommodations in some of Ireland's finest 5-star hotels.

In addition to the sites included in the Irish Harmony tour, the Irish Supreme Tour also takes you to Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, and the legendary city of Galway...birthplace of the Claddagh Ring.

"Irish Tradition"
Another 12-day tour of Ireland offering superior first-class accommodations, but this package lets you take a little slower pace with mostly 2-night stays throughout your vacation.

The Irish Tradition Tour is the perfect combination of history and scenery and is best suited for people wishing to reconnect with their Irish Roots and really soak in the beauty of the Emerald Isle at its finest.

You'll enjoy the breathtaking scenery of The Cliffs of Moher and the Lakes of Killarney. You'll have the fun of kissing the legendary Blarney Stone, taking the whiskey-tasting tour of the Old Jameson Distillery, and the medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle. You'll be treated to a performance at Abbey or Gate Theatre in Dublin. You'll learn all about the process of making Ireland's finest crafts at places like the Waterford Crystal and the Belleek China Factories.

And although with this Ireland castle vacation package there is only one night you'll sleep in a castle, at Bunratty, you'll tour several castles to round out your vacation-of-a-lifetime, including Blarney, Knappogue, Glenveagh, and Dublin Castle!

Think an Ireland Castle Vacation
is simply beyond your budget?

If you think your budget won't allow you to stay in a castle, think again. The cost of an Ireland castle vacation varies widely depending upon which castle you will call home. Luxury has its price, of course, and the 5-star monuments to Ireland's noble past will cost you more than the less-lavish ones.

But you can get great values if you know where to look and when to go.

I can assure you the castle vacation packages featured here give you both the quality and value you deserve!

Know when to go
You can save money on every part of your vacation if you choose to travel during the off-peak season in Ireland - between late September and March - including the expense of staying in an Irish castle. Not only will you save money, but consider how much more relaxed your vacation will be when you won't have to fight the crowds on your days of sightseeing! And, of course, no-one can deny how lovely the Emerald Isle is around Harvest Time.

Knowing about the castles where you're going
If you do decide to book an Ireland castle vacation elsewhere be sure to ask your travel agent for a list of the castles where you will be staying and then research them online to ensure that they offer both the quality and value you deserve. To make it easier for you to find the best Irish castle hotel in the region you plan to visit, review my regional guide to the best Ireland hotel castles.

Now you know...

Now you know my choices for the best Ireland castle vacation packages - both independent and escorted tours.

• You know that booking one of these packages is the most economical way to have an Ireland castle vacation.
• You know where to find exclusive discounts on every part of your Ireland vacation.
• And you know that going to the right places at the right time can make your castle vacation more affordable than you ever imagined.

I hope that, armed with this information, nothing will stop you now from making your fantasy of an Ireland castle vacation finally come true!

Even if you have to save a little while or make some small sacrifices to make your dream a reality, staying in a castle in the land of Celtic gods and Irish warriors can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you with very special memories and plenty of great stories to tell your grandchildren for years to come.

I sincerely hope you decide to do that for yourself and for them. And I hope I have helped make it just a little more attainable! Good luck and be sure to share your Ireland castle vacation story with me when you return!

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