Travelers with CIE Tours who book by February 28, 2018, enjoy upgrades and VIP amenities.
Morristown, N.J. – CIE Tours International has announced this year’s winners of its coveted Awards of Excellence, honoring 84 Irish tourism partners who have been rated “best of the best” by CIE Tours customers. Thirty thousand travelers who took Irish tours last year with Ireland and Britain’s largest tour operator rated their favorite hotels, dining experiences and attractions, resulting in 14 Gold and 70 Merit Award honorees.
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CIE Tours International announcing this year's Awards of Excellence.
All of CIE Tours’ escorted luxury motor-coach tours feature award-winning experiences. Sample trips robust with Gold winners include:
- Irish Heritage and Dromoland Castle – featuring Killarney Horse & Carriage Tours (Best Tour Feature), Killeen House Hotel (Special Dinner Feature), The Merry Ploughboy Pub (Best Event Dinner/Entertainment), Granville Hotel (Best Hotel Dinner), and Dromoland Castle (Best 5 Star Hotel)
- Jewels of Ireland – featuring BrúNa Bóinne Visitor Centre (National Heritage Award), Slieve League Cliffs (Best Visit), Don & Barry’s Kinsale Historic Stroll (Best Walking Tour), Killarney Horse & Carriage Tours, and Cabra Castle Hotel (Best 4 Star Hotel)
- Northern Welcome –featuring Atlantic Sheepdogs (Best Sheep Dog Trial), The Merry Ploughboy Pub, and Kee’s Hotel (Best 3 Star Hotel)
- Elegant Ireland – featuring The Merry Ploughboy Pub, Don & Barry’s Kinsale Historic Stroll, Killarney Horse & Carriage Tours, Killeen House Hotel
And now, CIE Tours is shining the spotlight on award winners with seven brand-new custom itineraries designed as self-drive or private driver packages, which include options for a range of budgets and interests. What’s more, travelers who book these itineraries by Feb. 28 enjoy special perks via CIE Tours’ “Best of the Best” promotion. Guests will be privy to various niceties, from room upgrades to wine and fruit welcome amenities, and even VIP access to special experiences like a chef’s kitchen tour.
A group shot of some of the big winners at the CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence.
Gold Award winners are represented in boldface and Merit Award winners talicized in the list below:
Value, with a 5-star finish
5 nights/6 days; $2,189 based on four people
- Dublin arrival, private transfer to hotel, Hop On Hop Off bus tour and voucher – Ashling Hotel (Dublin)
- Hop On Hop Off, Teeling Distillery – Ashling Hotel (Dublin)
- Meet private driver, Blarney Castle and jaunting car ride to Ross Castle – Great Southern Hotel (Killarney)
- Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula day trip – Great Southern Hotel (Killarney)
- Tarbert Ferry, Cliffs of Moher, afternoon at Dromoland – Dromoland Castle (Shannon)
- Private transfer to Shannon Airport
Foodie tour
8 nights/7 days; $2,932 based on four people
- Dublin arrival, private transfer to hotel, Dublin Foodie Tour – The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin)
- Hop On Hop Off bus tour, Teeling Whiskey Distillery – The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin)
- Meet private driver, National Stud, Kilkenny Craft and Design, Kilkenny Castle – Granville Hotel (Waterford)
- Old English Market, Blarney Castle and Killarney, Killeen House Hotel – The Brehon (Killarney)
- Ring of Kerry, lunch at Davitt’s Kenmare (Best Lunch) – The Brehon (Killarney)
- Adare Village, Cliffs of Moher, Limerick sightseeing – Limerick Strand Hotel (Limerick)
- Private transfer to Shannon Airport
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Value
8 nights/9 days; $3,441 based on four people
- Dublin arrival, private transfer to hotel, Hop On Hop Off bus tour and voucher – Clayton Hotel (Ballsbridge)
- Hop On Hop Off and voucher – Clayton Hotel (Ballsbridge)
- Meet private driver, Cobh Village and Cork panoramic – The River Lee Hotel (Cork)
- West Cork scenic driver, Tagney Tours Jaunting Car to Ross Castle – International Hotel (Killarney)
- Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula day trip – International Hotel (Killarney)
- Adare Village, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren – Galway Bay Hotel (Galway)
- Connemara sightseeing, Kylemore Abbey – Galway Bay Hotel (Galway)
- Galway sightseeing, Clonmacnoise, castle stay – Clontarf Castle Hotel (Dublin)
- Private transfer to Dublin Airport
Most popular drives
10 nights/11 days; $5,172 based on four people
- Belfast arrival, private transfer to hotel, full day at leisure – Europa Hotel (Belfast)
- Meet private river, Belfast sightseeing, Titanic Belfast – Europa Hotel (Belfast)
- Giant’s Causeway, Derry City, Donegal – Mill Park Hotel (Donegal)
- Wild Atlantic, Slieve League Cliffs – Mill Park Hotel (Donegal)
- Sligo scenic drive, Kylemore Abbey, Galway – Galway Bay Hotel (Galway)
- Galway sightseeing, The Burren, Cliffs of Moher – Dromoland Castle (Shannon)
- Limerick sightseeing, Adare Village, Muckross – Aghadoe Heights (Killarney)
- Ring of Kerry day trip and free time in Killarney – Aghadoe Heights (Killarney)
- Blarney Castle, Kilkenny Sightseeing, private driver service concludes – Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (Dublin)
- Hop On Hop Off bus tour and voucher – Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (Dublin)
- Private transfer to Dublin Airport
Off the beaten path
8 nights/9 days; $4,022 based on four people; family focused
- Dublin arrival, private transfer to hotel, Hop On Hop Off bus tour and voucher – Herbert Park Hotel (Best Hotel Service & Hospitality) (Dublin)
- Meet private driver, Belfast sightseeing, Titanic Belfast – Hilton Belfast (Belfast)
- Glens of Antrim, Giant’s Causeway – Hilton Belfast (Belfast)
- Dark Hedges and Derry City walking tour – Mill Park Hotel (Donegal)
- Glenveagh Castle and Park, Donegal Castle – Mill Park Hotel (Donegal)
- Sligo Scenic Drive, Kylemore Abbey – Galway Bay Hotel (Galway)
- Aran Islands/Dun Aengus Fort day trip – Galway Bay Hotel (Galway)
- The Burren, Cliffs of Moher, afternoon at Dromoland – Dromoland Castle (Shannon)
- Private transfer to Shannon Airport
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Luxury
7 nights/8 days; $4,429 based on four people; family focused
- Dublin arrival, private transfer to hotel, Hop On Hop Off bus tour and voucher – The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin)
- Hop On Hop Off and voucher – The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin)
- Meet private driver, Glasnevin Museum, Kilmainham Gaol – The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin)
- Irish National Stud, Kilkenny Village, afternoon at Dromoland – Dromoland Castle (Shannon)
- Cliffs of Moher, Tarbert Ferry, Tangney Tours Jaunting Car to Ross Castle – Killarney Park Hotel (Killarney)
- Dingle Peninsula tour with sheep farm visit – Killarney Park Hotel (Killarney)
- Blarney Castle – Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel (Dublin)
- Private transfer to Dublin Airport
Family
8 nights/9 days; $3,664 based on four people; family focused
- Dublin arrival; private transfer to hotel, Trinity College and Viking Splash Tour – Croke Park Hotel (Dublin)
- Hop On Hop Off bus tour and voucher – Croke Park Hotel (Dublin)
- Meet private driver, Kilkenny Hurling Experience, Waterford – Granville Hotel (Waterford)
- Cobh Village, Cork sightseeing – Actons Hotel (Kinsale)
- Whale watching, afternoon at leisure – Actons Hotel (Kinsale)
- Blarney Castle, Tangney Tours Jaunting Car to Ross Castle – Great Southern Hotel (Killarney)
- Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula with sheep farm visit – Great Southern Hotel (Killarney)
- Adare Village, Bunratty Folk Park, Cliffs of Moher – Old Ground Hotel (Ennis)
- Private transfer to Shannon Airport
Offers are valid on new bookings only, are not valid for group travel, and cannot be combined with other CIE Tours promotions or discounts. For US customers visit CIETours.com here all other customers looking to avail of the visit the website here and call 800-243-8687, or connect with a travel professional.
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CIE Tours International
Ireland and Britain’s largest tour operator, CIE Tours offers fully inclusive and expertly guided vacations to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, from group travel to highly curated private itineraries. Over its 86-year history, the Morristown, New Jersey-based company has earned a reputation for excellence that is rooted in its signature Irish hospitality, the genuine warmth and expertise of its guides and hosts, and a talent for fostering lasting friendships on the road. CIE Tours makes it easy for travelers to immerse themselves in a new place with exclusive access, authentic experiences, and in-depth knowledge that, in the spirit of Celtic heritage, often begins with a story. For more information, visit www.cietours.com.
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