Breakfast at your guest house starts around 8:00 AM and the tour group will be hitting the road between 8:30 and 9:00 AM. During the day, you’ll visit various sites, enjoy free time for lunch, and have spontaneous photo stops. Bathroom breaks are built into the tour route. You’ll get to your overnight town between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. Your guide will point out dining and pub options and you can choose where you’d like to eat. With free time in the evening, you could go for a walk, watch the sun set, enjoy a pint of Guinness, or have a chat with the locals.

People often ask “How much time is spent on the mini-bus?”. With our style of tour, the routes have been designed to take you on some of the most scenic back roads of Ireland. So, you may not get somewhere the fastest, but you’ll see the best of Ireland along the way. On a typical day, you’ll spend approximately 2 to 4 hours on the mini bus, with plenty of stops along the way. We intentionally break up travel time to make the journey as enjoyable as possible. Most driving segments last only 45 minutes to an hour at a time.

Ireland is somewhat of a non-tipping country, but tipping is expected in some situations:

• In pubs, the bartender does not expect a tip for each drink order. However, if you order drinks at a table, a tip is expected depending on your group size.
• Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but you can round up to the next Euro.
• At restaurants and cafes with table service, a 10%-15% tip is customary, or more if the service was exceptional. In nicer restaurants, you may see a “Service Charge” on the bill. This equals a tip.
• For your tour guide, a standard amount is €15- €20 per person per day of the tour, or whatever you decide is appropriate. All guide tips are greatly appreciated..

Breakfast each day is included in the tour price. To give you time to explore restaurants and towns, you have free time each day for lunches and dinners. This gives you the flexibility to find the food you like and spend what you want. When you arrive in a town, your tour guide will provide recommendations for pubs and restaurants.

In most areas, you will be able to spend as much or as little as you like. A lunch of a sandwich, beverage, and chips can cost about €15. A sit-down dinner in the evening can cost €20 to €25. A pint of Guinness costs about €5. A glass of wine costs €7 to €10. On average, one may spend €30 to €40 per day on food and drinks, depending on your tastes. The good news is that cuisine is as varied in Ireland as elsewhere. You can choose to eat at a very fine restaurant or pick up delicious fish and chips from a local food truck.

For more information about WiFi, cell phone plans, and SIM cards, visit our Ireland Travel Tips & Packing Guide page.