Description
nnTravel in deluxe style on this holiday aboard aJG Explorercoach.nnOur exploration of Northern Ireland offers the perfect combination of cosmopolitan city life, unrivalled coastal and mountain scenery plus dramatic natural wonders, including the ancient stone edifices of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Titanic Belfast provides a fascinating insight into the famous liner in the city where it all began, and we also head south to lively Dublin to complete our getaway.
Itinerary
What's Included
- Return coach travel (seeJG Explorer Coachestab for more info)- Ferry crossings- 4 nights at a selected 4-star hotel with dinner & breakfast- 1 night at a selected 3-star hotel in the Dublin area with dinner- 1 breakfast on the return ferry home- Excursions to the Mountains of Mourne, Giant's Causeway, Derry~Londonderry, Belfast, Titanic Belfast & Dublin- Guided walking tour of Derry~Londonderry with a local guide- Guided city tour of Belfast with our tour manager- Escorted by a tour manager in IrelandnnOptional locally guided city tour of Dublin (£14pp)
Hotels
We'll stay at one of three hotels in Ireland:nnThe 4-star Ballymascanlon House Hotel is set in beautiful parkland approximately two miles north of Dundalk, complete with fantastic leisure facilities. The en-suite rooms offer free Wi-Fi, satellite TV and tea and coffee-making facilities.nnThe 4-star La Mon Hotel & Country Club in Castlereagh is set in beautiful, peaceful countryside, close to Belfast. This award-winning hotel features a bar & restaurant, an indoor swimming pool, wellness & fitness centre and free WiFi.nnThe 4-star family-run Four Seasons Hotel is located on the northern outskirts of Monaghan. The hotel offers well-appointed en-suite rooms, a bar and restaurant and guests have free use of the leisure facilities which include an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and gym.nnWe also spend our last night in a conveniently located 3-star hotel in the Dublin area.nn
Itinerary
Day 1We catch the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin where we meet our tour manager. We continue onwards to our hotel in Dundalk, our base for the next four nights.Day 2 - Mountains of MourneWe enjoy a drive through the spectacular Mountains of Mourne, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stopping to explore some of the region's towns along the way. Hillsborough is a delightful town that is home to a beautiful castle and scenic wooded parkland and lakes. The popular seaside resort of Newcastle is the picturesque gateway to the Kingdom of Mourne where Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest mountain, sweeps down to the sea, while Downpatrick's cathedral is said to be the burial place of St Patrick.Day 3 - Giant's Causeway & Derry~LondonderryOur day begins at the Giant's Causeway, named for the enormous volcanic columns that make this National Trust-owned site such an incredible place to visit. From here we head to Derry~Londonderry - the only completely walled city on the island of Ireland. We enjoy a walking tour with a local guide, where highlights include the gleaming Peace Bridgeacross the River Foyle, St Columb's cathedral and the beautiful Guildhall.Day 4 - Guided city tour of Belfast & Titanic BelfastWe take a guided tour of the vibrant city of Belfast with our tour manager. Belfast is now a thriving, modern metropolis with a colourful history - as a key player in the Industrial Revolution; it was the centre for the Irish linen and tobacco industries. We also pay a visit to Titanic Belfast, a fantastic exhibition located on the site of the original shipyard in which the famous liner was built, that brings the maiden voyage of the Titanic to life.Day 5 - Dublin (with optional guided tour £14pp)Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we spend an afternoon at leisure. Just some of the sights here include the historic Temple Bar area, known as the entertainment and cultural quarter of Dublin, and Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland set in 40 acres of cobbled squares, gardens and parks. We also have the option to join a locally guided tour of the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.Day 6We check out of our hotel very early to catch the ferry back to Holyhead; therefore a voucher will be provided to enjoy breakfast on board. On arrival in Holyhead, we continue our journey home.Due to ferry times, coach pickup times may be very early in the morning.
JG Explorer
JG Explorer coachesnWe are pleased to introduceJG Explorer- a brand-new deluxe coach, thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated coach experience and ensure your journey is special and memorable.
Exclusive to the JG Travel Group, the design of these coaches has been meticulously thought through with your comfort in mind - with only 44 seats meaning more room on board and padded seats. There's improved legroom and a footrest, making certain that wherever you sit, you'll be able to relax and enjoy your journey. We know it's the small things that make a big difference in terms of ease and added convenience, so ourJG Explorercoaches feature a floor-level, rear-mounted toilet, accessible to all customers.
On-board entertainment throughout your journey is easy to find on theJG Explorer,with access to Azimut, our wireless media system, providing films and quizzes. Simply bring along your smartphone or iPad and enjoy this entertainment interruption-free, with the use of our extra reliable Wi-Fi, free to all passengers and a handy USB port at each seat.nnThe layout of theJG Explorerincludes a floor-level, rear-mounted kitchen with a sink, an espresso machine to purchase delicious Nespresso coffee, dispensed by your driver during comfort breaks, and a fridge stocked with cold drinks and milk. Customers are welcome to help themselves to complimentary JG bottles, that can be used for refill at the built-in cold-water filter, cutting down on the need for disposable plastic bottles and doing our part for the environment.