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5 Brendan Vacations Reviews & Ratings
60% Recommend
4.2 out of 5
Value:
4.2
Guide:
4.2
Activities:
4.2
Lodging:
4.2
Transportation:
4.2
Meals:
4.2
Tour Reviews
B
Barbara
Does Not Recommend
had a wonderful time July 2018
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
We just went on Iconic Ireland and Ashford Castle and had a wonderful time. This was our first bus tour and we didn't know quite what to expect, however, we couldn't have had a more perfect time. Ireland is a beautiful country and we were stunned and thrilled with all the beauty we were able to see. The hotels were great - some definitely better than others but all were comfortable. My only complaint was that our last hotel had no ac and Ireland was experiencing a heat wave so the fan didn't help very much. That wasn't anyone's fault and I just went with the flow. Barbara (our guide) and Marina (our driver) were great and genuinely seemed to be concerned with everyone's comfort. The grande finale of Ashford Castle was incredible. Such a beautiful place and to be able to stay a night there was incredible. I ended up doing the Hawk Walk and horseback riding and I would recommend both - especially the hawk walk to anyone - I think people who are good riders would probably get to do more than we did but it was still great. I would recommend Brendan and this trip to anyone. Perfect amount of down time and activity. Loved it!
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JL
Jo LaFalce
Recommends
it was fabulous! July 2018
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
My husband and I recently went to Ireland on a Brendan Vacations tour...first tour we've even been on...and it was fabulous! From start to finish everything about the trip was perfect. Frances O'Doherty our Tour Director and Hugo our driver made this trip exceptional and unforgettable. Hugo's driving skills are phenomenal!! Frances is the sweetest, warmest, friendliest and most organized individual you'll ever meet. She is so knowledgeable about all things Irish and has a way of imparting that knowledge in a memorable and special way. I was a little nervous about staying in a different hotel every night and being on the go every minute but it was glorious. Our luggage was always handled for us, hotel check-ins were done in advance so we never had to go through check-in ourselves, meal vouchers and exhibit tickets were all prepared in advance, etc. It was totally seamless for everyone on the tour. It was a large group but we all became the best of friends by the end of the trip. We will definitely use Brendan Vacations in the future and highly recommend them to anyone interested in tour travel!!!
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TO
Tara Ocskasy
Recommends
my cruise planners was wonderful October 2017
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
Just wanted to say that the trip me my 23 year old son my mom and my nephew and niece who booked our trip through Valerie and Debbie from my cruise planners was wonderful. Valerie and Debbie took care of everything from beginning to the end. The bed and breakfast that we stayed at Lough Kiern hosts Ellie and Kevin were wonderful. They took care of everything and were very informative and helpful. I would definitely recommend staying there to anyone
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C
Cathy
Recommends
Excellent service made our trip a pleasure August 2017
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
I just returned from an amazing trip with Brendan vacations. We booked a private chauffeur as we traveled from Dublin to the West of Ireland. Our driver's name was Seamus MacTiernan and he was an excellent guide as we traveled over 2500 miles seeing the sites and visiting family in very rural area. We could not have accomplished all that we did without Seamus. He was a pleasure to be with and his hospitality and excellent service made our trip a pleasure. We could not have seen as much as we did without him and we knew from the onset of out trip that we had the right person and perfect schedule I highly recommend a personal driver and indeed Seamus himself if you are ever in Ireland as you maximize your time and it is a hassle free vacation plus you eliminate the stress of driving. Thanks Seamus...it was a pleasure getting to know you!
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From Brendan Vacations
Brendan Vacations is the premier Ireland and Scotland destination expert, backed by more than 50 years of planning authentic Celtic travel experiences from its office in the heart of Dublin. Guided by its mantra ‘taking you personally,’ Brendan Vacations is passionate about delivering deeply immersive, tailor-made experiences across five travel styles: fully Guided Tour packages, independent Private Chauffeur, Lux Self-Drive, Self-Drive and Locally Hosted Rail vacations. Through the warmth of Brendan Vacations’ highly personalized service, guests will stay in hand-selected accommodations - including castles and B&Bs, explore the iconic landscapes of Scotland and Ireland, and meet local people passionate about sharing their stories. Brendan Vacations is a proud member of The Travel Corporation family of brands.
Associations:
Travel is an incredible gift. It has the ability to open our eyes to the unique cultures and spellbinding beauty of the natural world. But with this gift comes a responsibility – to protect the world as we know it. At TreadRight, our mission is clear; to have a positive impact on the people and communities we visit, to protect wildlife and marine life, and to care for the planet we call home.
A not-for-profit organization created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation has supported some 60-plus sustainable tourism projects worldwide.
United States Tour Operators Association, American Society of Travel Agents
2012
--2012 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards
2011
--2011 Travel Age West WAVE Award “Best Tour Operator”
--2011 American Express “Supplier of the Year” Award
Trips & Specials
Offers Year-Round
Past travelers save up to 5% with Global Travel Rewards program
Save up to 5% on groups of 9+
Book back to back trips and save up to 2.5%
Kids save up to 10% everyday
Highlights
- Kinlochard: Join the Wood family at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard for a home-cooked Scottish Be My Guest lunch, tales of Rob Roy and a few foot-tapping ceilidh tunes.
- Stirling:
- Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Specialist as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- St. Andrews: Visit the university town where the famous beach scene from 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed and see the golf course where the sport was created.
- Scottish Highlands: Admire picturesque lochs and glens as you travel through the Scottish Highlands.
- Fort William: Enjoy an excellent view of Ben Nevis from the World War II Commando Memorial.
- Glencoe: Visit this Highland village on Loch Leven.
- Glasgow: See the grand public buildings of Glasgow, including George Square.
- Stirling: Visit Stirling and see its castle, once the seat of Scottish royalty.
- Explore Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
- Discover Glasgow and Stirling
- Visit Edinburgh Castle, Pitlochry, the Isle of Skye, Glasgow Cathedral, Culloden Battlefield, Stirling Castle and a whisky distillery.
Highlights
- Kinlochard: Join the Wood family at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard for a home-cooked Scottish Be My Guest dinner, tales of Rob Roy and a few foot-tapping ceilidh tunes.
- Glasgow: Visit Glengoyne, known as Scotland's most beautiful whisky distillery, for a tour and a tasting of their unique Highland single malt whisky.
- Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Specialist as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- St. Andrews: Visit the university town where the famous beach scene from 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed and see the golf course where the sport was created.
- Scottish Highlands: Admire picturesque lochs and glens as you travel through the Scottish Highlands.
- Inverness: At the exciting Culloden Visitor Centre, discover why the Battle of Culloden lasted only an hour yet changed the Highland way of life forever.
- Fort William: Enjoy an excellent view of Ben Nevis from the World War II Commando Memorial.
- Glencoe: Visit this Highland village on Loch Leven.
- Glasgow: See the grand public buildings of Glasgow, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
- Stirling: Visit Stirling and see its castle, once the seat of Scottish royalty.
- Explore Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
- Discover Glasgow and Stirling
- Visit Edinburgh Castle, Pitlochry, the Isle of Skye, Glasgow Cathedral, Culloden Battlefield, Stirling Castle and a whisky distillery.
Highlights
- : Explore Dublin, Titanic Story in Cobh and Killarney National Park with a Local Specialist
- : Discover Waterford, Cork and Killarney
- : Visit Trinity College, Glendalough, Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Torc Waterfall, Foynes Flying Boat Museum and the Cliffs of Moher
- : View St. Kevin's Cross in Glendalough and King John's Castle in Limerick
- : See Dublin's Georgian Squares
- : Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry
- Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.
- Cobh: Join a Local Specialist on a walking tour through the historic port city of Cobh.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence.
- Torc Waterfall: Visit the Torc Waterfall with a Local Specialist.
- Ring of Kerry: Admire Ireland's enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
- Cliffs of Moher: Stop by the Exhibition Centre and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs.
- Wexford: Enjoy a visit to a seal rescue centre and learn how injured seals from the coast of Ireland are rehabilitated into the wild.
- Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
- Foynes: Visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum, the only dedicated flying boat museum in the world, to gain insight into the rich history of aviation.
- Cork: Discover centuries of tumultuous history staying at the Maldron Shandon hotel, a building that has survived wars, fires and threats of demolition to become the grand hotel it is today.
- Killarney: It's 1930s Ireland revisited. Visit the working farms of Muckross taking you back to a time of traditional farming. Learn how to churn butter and dine in the Quilles Farmhouse against the scenic backdrop of the lakes of Killarney.
Highlights
- : Explore Belfast, Londonderry and Dublin with a Local Specialist
- : Discover Donegal, Galway, Cork and Waterford
- : Visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast, the Giant's Causeway, Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, the John F. Kennedy Arboretum and the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross and Waterford Crystal
- : View the Antrim Coast and the Marian Shrine in Knock
- : See City Hall in Belfast, the Cathedral of Galway and Trinity College and the Georgian Squares in Dublin
- : Scenic Cruise across the Shannon Estuary
- : Scenic Drive of the Ring of Kerry
- Belfast: Discover the full story of the Titanic at the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction and monument in Belfast.
- Belleek: See traditional craftsmen at work at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, one of the oldest working potteries in the world.
- Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
- New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.
- Belfast: Join a Local Specialist to hear about the history of the city and learn of its progress and current prosperity. See the murals in different locations indicating the political sentiments of local residents.
- Londonderry: With a Local Specialist explore inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street.
- Knock: In the pilgrimage town of Knock, visit the beautiful Marian Shrine, where the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and John the Evangelist are said to have appeared to the townsfolk in 1879.
- Kylemore Abbey amp; Victorian Walled Garden: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
- Cliffs of Moher: Stop by the Exhibition Centre and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts! Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence.
- Cork: Your Travel Director will show you the Grand Parade and South Mall, along with City Hall and the Opera House.
- Kilkenny: Meet an experienced hurling player for a fun session to learn about and try for yourself this 3,000-year-old discipline and proud legacy of Ireland's heritage.
- New Ross: Dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy, whose great-grandfather was born nearby, this arboretum contains a plant collection of presidential proportions.
- Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House.
- Bushmills: In Northern Ireland you'll discover the legend of the Giant's Causeway as you explore with an expert, who'll explain how your visit helps conserve this iconic natural landmark.
- Wicklow: Traditional Irish fare with an Italian twist is served up at Glenealy House near Dublin with the charming Fulvio family on hand to share their story.
