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Ireland: Galway & Connemara Coast 2008

What's Included | Rating | Accommodations | Extensions | Ways to Save

Hop on your bicycle and explore the beautiful Irish countryside, where the present day coexists with dramatic reminders of the past. Become enchanted with lovely coves and verdant landscapes marked by ancient stone walls.   Detailed Itinerary

BEHOLD the startling, rugged beauty of the Burren from your VBT bicycle EXPLORE timeless and remote Inishmor Island where authentic Gaelic is still spoken ENJOY a night out on the town in lively Galway ADMIRE the stunning views from the cliffs of Moher PEDAL through the picturesque countryside of counties Clare, Connemara and Galaway WANDER among mystic Celtic stones, monuments and holy wells LEARN about local history customs and culture from a local expert HEAR traditional Irish folk music over a pint of Guinness in one of Lisdoonvarna's classic pubs

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Air-Inclusive Tour Roundtrip international airfare 8 nights in 3- and 4-star Irish hotels and a guesthouse 14 meals - 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners Transfers AND the option to add our Low-Cost Trip Extensions: Pre-trip: London • 3 nights $495 Post-trip: Dublin • 2 nights $295 FREE use of our custom VBT bicycle and helmet Service of two bilingual VBT Trip Leaders FULL VAN SUPPORT Daily route directions and maps Sightseeing and cultural activities 5% Frequent Traveler Credit to use on your next VBT vacation Special Good Buy discount Land-Only Tour 6 nights in 3- and 4-star Irish hotels and a guesthouse 12 meals - 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners FREE use of our custom VBT bicycle and helmet Service of two bilingual VBT Trip Leaders FULL VAN SUPPORT Daily route directions and maps Sightseeing and cultural activities 5% Frequent Traveler Credit to use on your next VBT vacation Special Good Buy discount

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Rating Level: Easy/Moderate This tour offers a combination of easy terrain mixed with moderate hills. Our VBT van support is always available for those who need assistance with the hills. Ideal for enthusiastic beginners to experienced cyclists. Full Van Support: Enjoy more flexibility and choice with full van support throughout your vacation. Group Size: 14-20 Daily Mileage: 18 – 45 miles Daily Cycling Times: 2 – 5 hours Avg. Daily High Temperature: Galway: Apr 48° May 52° Jun 63° Jul 65° Aug 66° Sep 61°

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Kilmurvey Guesthouse This small, quaint, family-run guesthouse is located at the base of Dun Aengus, a famous Druid site. Call one of the 18th-century stone-built house’s 12 cozy rooms home while you explore the beautiful and historic Aran Island of Inís Mór, off the Galway coast. website: www.kilmurveyhouse.com Old Ground Hotel The Old Ground Hotel is a former manor house dating back to the 18th century. A magnificent ivy-clad exterior retains the splendor of a by-gone age while the inside boasts the conveniences of a modern hotel. website: www.oldgroundhotel.com Park House Hotel At the Park House Hotel, Galway you are guaranteed a warm welcome, exceptional service, luxury accommodation and an experience that will bring you back for more. With it’s superb and convenient location in the heart of city centre Galway, the Park House Hotel also offers a private secure car-park on hotel grounds. This Galway Hotel blends the warmth and personality of a boutique hotel with the style and luxury of a contemporary 4 Star international hotel. website: www.parkhousehotel.ie Sheedy's Country House and Restaurant Experience one of Ireland’s 'best loved small hotels and restaurants'. Built in the early 1700s, it is the second-oldest building in town and is located next to Ireland’s only natural spa. website: www.sheedys.com The Schoolhouse Hotel Unique, intimate and ideally located within 10 minutes walk of Dublin city center, Grafton Street and the city’s main tourist attractions, the four star Schoolhouse Hotel exudes a warm friendly atmosphere. website: www.schoolhousehotel.com Zetland Country House Hotel Built originally as a Sporting Lodge in the early 1800s, the hotel derives its name from the Earl of Zetland, a frequent visitor in the last century. Today, the Prendergast family has recreated the charm and elegance of those days combined with all the sophisticated luxury expected by discerning guests website: www.zetland.com

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London 2008 3 nights for only $ 495 Three nights at the Millennium Bailey’s Hotel • Daily English breakfast • Full information packet • Airport transfers Explore romantic, history-rich London on your own and at your own pace! Cruise the Thames past Big Ben and London Bridge, or stroll the beautiful grounds of Kensington Gardens. Tour the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Gallery, or catch the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Browse and buy at Harrods, the world-famous department store. Take in a show at a London theatre, then mingle with Londoners in the pubs of the lively West End. Britain’s capital city is filled with limitless opportunities for discovery. Available only with the Air Inclusive Package. Note: Single supplement for this extension is $ 265. top Dublin 2008 2 nights for only $ 295 Two nights in a centrally-located hotel • Daily breakfast • Full information packet Airport transfers Charming Dublin is among Europe’s oldest and most culturally rich cities, from literature and art to history and architecture. Explore according to your own curiosities, which may lead you to Trinity College, where you can see the Book of Kells, and Merrion Square. Visit the Dublin Writers’ Museum, which pays tribute to Irish literary figures including Wilde, Shaw, Joyce, Yeats and Beckett. See a show at the Abbey Theatre, or shop on Grafton Street. In the evening, stop in for a pint at one of the many pubs and chic restaurants in the historic Temple Bar area. Available only with the Air Inclusive Package. Note: Single supplement for this extension is $ 225.

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Group Discount Program: You can earn a FREE VBT tour with our generous group discount program. Click here for details. Refer a Friend and Earn $100 Travel Credit: If you refer a Friend to VBT and they choose to travel with us, you earn $100 travel credit toward your next trip and your friend gets $50 off their first VBT trip. Click here for details. Good Buy Plan: The earlier you pay, the more you save. If you book early and pay in full by check, you can lock in your trip cost plus earn up to a 10% discount. 5% Frequent Traveler Credit: You will automatically receive a 5% travel credit good for your next VBT trip. This credit is good for one full year. Savings for Single Travelers: If you are on a bicycle tour where sharing is possible and you would like to share a room, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. We will charge you only 50% of the single supplement; if a match is available, we will refund you the single supplement after you return. If requested and available, single supplement is $385. Best Value Guaranteed: Click here for details. We reserve the right to correct errors. top