CIE Tours: Irish Gold Self-Drive

Hotel: Royal Marine Hotel (Star Rating: 4)
Originally built in 1863, this hotel today offers 228 air-conditioned guestrooms, all featuring modern decor in natural shades with burgundy touches and light-wood furnishings. Experience fine dining or casual bar food and enjoy the award-winning Sansana SPA and Pier Health Club. Dun Laoghaire has many shops and restaurants to explore. The property overlooks Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Dublin Bay and is located eight miles from Dublin city center. Dublin International Airport is 16 miles away, and can be reached by car or airport coach in approximately 45 minutes. Hotel parking.

Hotel: The Galmont Hotel & Spa (Star Rating: 4)
Established in 2001 in Galway City Centre, The Galmont is one of Ireland's FINEST 4 star hotels. Just a three-minute walk from the central Eyre Square and overlooking Galway Bay, The Galmont (formerly the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Galway) stands in the heart of the city. With a range of guest rooms to choose from, the hotel is home to the award-winning spirit one spa and the best events facilities in the west of Ireland. Whether you're in Galway for a weekend getaway, a family trip or on business, this hotel's central location, helpful team and excellent facilities will make your stay one to remember.

Hotel: The Galmont Hotel & Spa (Star Rating: 4)
Established in 2001 in Galway City Centre, The Galmont is one of Ireland's FINEST 4 star hotels. Just a three-minute walk from the central Eyre Square and overlooking Galway Bay, The Galmont (formerly the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Galway) stands in the heart of the city. With a range of guest rooms to choose from, the hotel is home to the award-winning spirit one spa and the best events facilities in the west of Ireland. Whether you're in Galway for a weekend getaway, a family trip or on business, this hotel's central location, helpful team and excellent facilities will make your stay one to remember.

Hotel: Great Southern Killarney Hotel (Star Rating: 4)
First opened in 1854, this hotel offers old-world charm coupled with up-to-date luxurious facilities and friendly service. Enjoy great food in the elegant dining room and relax in the bar or one of the many sitting areas. Guests will luxuriate in spacious and well-equipped bedrooms, and can take advantage of a full-service leisure center. The hotel is set on 20 acres of secluded, landscaped gardens, yet sits right in the center of Killarney and within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and pubs.

Hotel: Granville Hotel (Star Rating: 4)
This family-run hotel is one of Ireland’s oldest, with significant historical connections, old-world charm and unique features. The friendly and professional staff are dedicated to making your stay pleasant and memorable. Enjoy delicious menus in the attractive dining room. The bar is a lively meeting place, often with live music. Comfortable and well-appointed guest rooms make for a great stay. Set on the waterfront, in the heart of Waterford city, this hotel is within easy walking distance of shopping, Reginald’s Tower and the House of Waterford Crystal.

Hotel: Clayton Hotel Burlington Road (Star Rating: 4)
This lively, modern hotel offers an excellent standard of hospitality, with two bars and two restaurants and 500 fully equipped guest rooms, making it Dublin’s largest hotel. With its many facilities and great location, it makes an ideal base for exploring Dublin. Located on Upper Leeson Street, this hotel is a 20-minute walk to Grafton Street. There is a city bus service right outside the hotel, which is within easy walking distance of Dublin’s “Georgian Mile” and the Grand Canal.

As the leader in Ireland and Britain and one of the longest-standing tour operators in North America, CIE Tours is partnered with the leading tourism authorities, and operates at the highest levels of health and safety guidelines in the US and Europe, including regional and national standards for COVID-19 procedures. We are proud to work in conjunction with the following organizations and charters and operate in compliance with all local and international tourism certification guidelines.
 
Vaccine Requirement

For guests traveling with CIE Tours after January 1, 2023, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are highly recommended, but no longer required.

On the Road

100% of the airflow on the coaches comes from fresh air from outside the vehicle and is continuously run through high efficiency filters.  For those who prefer a smaller group and more independence, we have an extensive offering of small group departures, private driver vacations and self-drive options.

Our Team

Our Tour Directors are not only local experts but are also trained to handle a variety of unexpected situations - including illnesses and emergencies. They are thoroughly trained on enhanced hygiene and physical distancing procedures and ensure that guests know what to expect every step of the way. If any issues arise, we have systems and protocols in place and the Tours Directors also have extensive local support to assist.

Our in-country operations and logistics team is on call 24/7. In Ireland alone, we have 30 back-office operations staff with an accumulated 500 years of experience with CIE Tours. This team, based in our Dublin operations office, is always ready to assist you and our Tour Directors in the event of an emergency.

Why travel with us

We go above and beyond to help ensure your trip is just as amazing as you've envisioned. Some of the big (and small) ways we make your vacation special:

Incredible Itineraries

Our vacations balance authentic and exclusive experiences with plenty of down time to let you explore and enjoy on your own. 

All-inclusive Pricing

Our all-in inclusive advantage means everything on your itinerary is included in one up-front price, including sightseeing and many meals.

Carefree Touring

We're with you every step of the way, mapping out the logistics so you can enjoy the experience.

Customized Vacations
Travel the way you want, whether you'd like a guided tour, a customized on-your-own trip, or a private driver tour that lets you set the pace.

Knowledgeable Guides

Our friendly tour directors are storytellers with a passion for sharing the history and traditions of the places you'll visit.

Reliability and Experience

We bring more than nine decades of travel experience to each vacation, and your itinerary has been planned to maximize every moment. 

CIE Tours has in its heritage a passion for service, to care for travelers and share the best of Ireland and other destinations while respectfully inhabiting the places we live, work, and visit. Continuously owned since 1932 by Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), the national transport company of Ireland, CIE Tours is an important contributor to Ireland’s tourism sector and to rural regions. As the largest inbound tour operator of North American visitors to Ireland, we have a unique opportunity to positively impact Irish people, places and culture and help set the standards of responsibility in our sector.

We are committed to offering authentic travel experiences that appeal to a diversity of travelers, delivered with exceptional quality, impeccable service and a commitment to responsible tourism.

We believe in improving the sustainability of our tourism ecosystem through a responsible tourism policy which informs our mission of respecting the places, people and environments we serve.

CIE Tours is aware that its business activities impact upon the environment and we are committed to alleviating those negative impacts.  CIE Tours is a proud signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. In doing so, we pledge to deliver an aligned plan to cut tourism emissions in half by 2030 and aim to reach net-zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050.

To support the creation of and underpinning our policies on responsible tourism, we have aligned with internationally recognised standard frameworks including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) for carbon measurement, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Across the three pillars of social, economic, and environmental and overseen by best-in-class Governance, CIE Tours commits to: 

• Social: Protect and share the heritage and cultural diversity of Ireland, Britain, and other destinations we visit.
• Economic: Provide economic opportunity and ensure benefits accrue to the communities where we travel, live, and serve. 
• Environmental: Work with the tourism industry and partners to support our destinations while furthering national, local and industry environmental priorities.

To achieve this, CIE Tours undertakes specific behaviors in each category:

Social

• We support organizations that promote greater cultural awareness of, and connection between, the US and Ireland, and support diversity of the Irish American experience.
• We welcome people of all backgrounds to join our team in a workplace where they can thrive.
• We foster a culture of responsibility through employee training and awareness of the principles of responsible tourism.
• We collaborate with key stakeholders to identify opportunities for additional impact.
• We provide guests with opportunities to interact with local people and communities while encouraging respect for local landscapes

Economic

• We seek a diverse set of regional and independent businesses to partner with to extend business and economic benefits into local and rural communities.
• We work with local guides and suppliers in each destination, enhancing local livelihoods and our customers’ experience.
• We offer great benefits and fair pay, ensuring employees are treated fairly and respectfully through our Employee Handbook policies.
• We commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion that invite all to participate in the business opportunities we offer.

Environmental

• We find ways to be more efficient and conserve finite resources, on tour and in our workspaces.
• We align with our parent organization Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) and the tourism industry in efforts to measure and reduce emissions.
• We inspire travelers to minimize their waste and reduce unnecessary single-use plastics
• We encourage suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices that support superior travel experiences with a reduced carbon footprint.
• We support projects and organizations that effectively minimize negative environmental or community impacts from tourism.
• We protect the natural landscapes by following the guidelines and regulations set forth in Ireland and in each destination we visit.