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Frequently Asked Questions

Get the answers to the most common travel questions.

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Before You Book

Many people like to visit Europe in the summer when the weather tends to be warmer and drier and there is more daylight. However, it is worth bearing in mind that the prices are lower in the autumn, winter, and spring. Airfares will cost less and with fewer people on vacation, popular attractions will be less crowded – and some may appreciate the cooler weather. Winter travel has its own delights: Christmas markets have been growing in popularity in Ireland and Britian, and holiday decorations make our destinations sparkle. In addition, if you’d like to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, late fall to early spring would be the time.  
You can easily check dates, prices, and book on our website at www.cietours.com, or call our reservations team directly at (800) 243-8687. You can also contact your local travel agent to book any CIE Tours vacation. We accept most major credit cards as well as debit cards. Your online transactions are secure, and all payment details are entered on a secure page and transmitted over Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). As an additional security measure, we require CVV2/CVC2 verification on all credit card and debit card transactions. 
Yes. CIE Tours’ Travel Protection Plan, offered through Trip Mate to U.S. guests, is intended to safeguard your travel investment and your well‐being while on vacation. Policy coverage only becomes effective upon receipt by CIE Tours of the premium, which is required within 14 days of trip deposit.  Your final documents will contain your plan number to reference at www.tripmate.com. This benefit covers only those travel arrangements purchased from CIE Tours. For more information, visit www.cietours.com/trip-protection. 
Our standard tours have about 35 guests traveling on coaches that hold a maximum of 44. We also have Small Group Departures with no more than 26 guests on a full-sized coach.  Look for the “SG” notation on the calendar page found on cietours.com after clicking “Dates & Prices” to find a departure date that works for you. 
Most of our coaches are equipped with emergency restrooms. However, for safety reasons they cannot be used when the coach is in motion. The coach makes frequent rest/bathroom stops, at two-hour intervals or less, for the comfort of all passengers.
CIE Tours guided coach vacations are recommended for ages 8 and older. Those aged 8 to 17 are charged 90% of the full adult rate and must travel with an adult. Unaccompanied travelers must be at least 18 years of age.  Children of any age are permitted on custom groups, private driver tours or self-drive vacations. 
Our coaches are not handicap accessible, so you must be able to get on and off the coach unaided by CIE Tours staff and be able to rotate seats on the coach. If you need extra walking assistance, you may bring a walker or a lightweight, fully collapsible wheelchair that can be stowed in the luggage compartment. You must advise us in advance during the booking process that you will be using a wheelchair or other medical equipment and must also travel with a companion who can push the wheelchair. 
After the stress of organizing a wedding, many newly married couples choose our tours as they are happy to have their honeymoon planned for them. Some enjoy the camaraderie of a group trip, and those looking for a more romantic option might consider a self-drive trip or private driver tour. 
CIE Tours predominantly uses 4 or 5-star hotels, which include some castle properties. All hotels feature a dining room, lounge, bar, and comfortable guest rooms.  Many have leisure and spa facilities, and some are in historic or unique settings. We choose hotels either in central locations or scenic regions, depending on location. We clearly identify all accommodations used on each tour and our website contains photos and detailed descriptions of all featured hotels.
You can request to have a Twin (two separate single beds) or a Double (usually one queen sized bed). Please note that room type assigned upon arrival is subject to each hotel’s discretion and availability.  No more than three people can share a hotel room on our guided coach tours and these triples are limited to a maximum of one per departure and may not be available in all destinations.    A triple room will usually have a double and one twin bed (two beds total). Please note there is no reduction in cost for a third person sharing a room with two others.  For comfort, we suggest that three adults take two separate rooms.
We do not offer the option of a sharing service for passengers traveling solo. Note that all prices on our website are per person, double occupancy.  A single room supplement which affords you the privacy of your own room is clearly listed under the tour price listed on our website. 
Due to the cooler climate in Ireland, Britain and Iceland, most hotels do not have, or need, air-conditioning.  In Italy and Spain, all hotels are air-conditioned. 
A full hot breakfast with a wide variety of selections is included at your hotel each morning.   Lunch is sometimes included, but more often you will be at leisure to go where you like.  Many dinners are included where you will eat with your group either in the hotel or at a local restaurant.  All included dinners are three-course meals with a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert, with tea or coffee included.   Most hotels and restaurants feature a good assortment of poultry, meat, fish and vegetarian options and you will be given choices at all meals.  For lunches or dinners where you will be dining independently, your Tour Director can give you tips on options in your location.  Your itinerary will clearly note which meals are included on each day.  
All our tours include some activities each day to maximize your touring time. However, on days when you are staying in the same hotel for two or more consecutive nights, if you want to take a day off from the scheduled itinerary to play golf, shop, explore or simply relax, just tell your Tour Director that you won’t be participating with the group that day. 
One of the benefits of booking airfare with CIE Tours is that complimentary group transfers are provided on the first and last day of all tours. Transfer information is provided with your tour itinerary.  If you have booked your own flights, ask your travel agent or our contact center about airport transfers available through CIE Tours for an additional fee. 
Small groups provide all the wonderful features of our regular guided vacations, with one key difference: we limit the trip to 26 guests.  We use the same large luxury coach with panoramic views from every seat, the same expertly designed itineraries, and the same insider access, just with fewer people. 
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a spectacular pageant of musicians and performers held each August against the dramatic backdrop of the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.  All tours that include an Edinburgh hotel stay during Tattoo season include tickets for reserved seating at this world-famous event. 
If you have dietary restrictions, please notify us at least four weeks in advance of departure by sending an email to [email protected] or by contacting your travel agent.  While hotels throughout Europe offer a wide variety of foods, we cannot guarantee all requests and it is a good idea to double check once you are in your tour hotel. 
Our All-In Inclusive Advantage means that we include all the necessary ingredients for a successful tour. Many competitors charge additional fees for sightseeing and dinner/shows which can add up. Great hotel accommodations, full breakfast every day, most dinners, some lunches, special evening entertainment, pre-paid admission fees to attractions and the services of an expert Tour Director are all included.  

Group Travel

Because you get –
  • Large selection of tour programs
  • Strong buying power with suppliers
  • Generous tour conductor policy
  • Strong focus on quality
  • Fully inclusive tours with no optional extras
  • Expert assistance with promoting and selling
  • Client satisfaction which converts to repeat business for you
You'll get all the components for a great vacation. We use quality accommodations – mainly superior first class hotels (4-star). Breakfast (full in Ireland and Britain, and buffet in Europe) is included every morning. Dinner is served most evenings and some of these dinners are special banquets or cabaret-style entertainment. Every day a fun sightseeing program enables visitors to see highlights and yet enjoy free time for independent activities.
The sky’s the limit! We use mainly 48-seater coaches. For comfort we prefer to operate with 40 to 44 passengers. If you want an exclusive departure at our brochure rates we require 36 passengers. For fewer than 36 passengers, a small supplement will apply to have an exclusive coach.
Free conductor place or places are offered, depending on your group size.
Off-season rates make tour prices more attractive. Travelers can save up to 30% over high season rates. Remember that Ireland, England and mainland Europe have relatively mild winters, which makes travel enjoyable.
Many travelers realize that they have more fun with a group, especially when all arrangements are handled for them. Is there a special family event to celebrate? Are you a member of a church, club, pub or sporting association? Once you get a core group, we will work with you on the travel program and assist with sales flyers and information. Outside Business Development Managers can help with marketing.
We include all the necessary ingredients for a successful tour. Many competitors charge additional for sightseeing and dinner/shows which can add up to an additional $550 per person. Great hotel accommodations, all breakfasts, most dinners, special evening entertainment, admission fees to attractions, and expert tour escorts and local guides are all included. 
We have more than 65 different motorcoach programs featured in our main brochure and on our website with departures throughout the year.
For administrative purposes, 10 or more paying passengers constitute a group booking on a brochure tour.  The two types of group options for brochure tours are Shared Group Vacations: 10 or more traveling with others on the coach and Private Group Vacations: 10 or more passengers with additional supplement in order to provide exclusive use of private coach and private guide.  
Free conductor place or places are offered, depending on group size.
Our highly trained custom group department is happy to tailor an itinerary to your specifications – taking budget, length of tour and inclusions into consideration.

Before You Travel

Your deluxe travel pack, including documents, will be delivered to you about 3 weeks before your departure.  Your documents include the vouchers for the coach tour and other services, an itinerary, hotel list and our Go-To-Guide booklet. Treat your tour vouchers as you would money, as they are non-refundable. You will need to present the relevant voucher in return for services such as Hop-on, Hop-off bus tours.
The dress code for our tours is casual; be sure to have comfortable walking shoes. Guests on our Irish Heritage tour will enjoy a formal evening at Dromoland Castle and the dress code is "smart casual" (no jeans, leisure wear, or informal open-toed shoes). While touring, we suggest dressing in layers to provide the most comfort, as you can shed and add items if the temperatures fluctuate. For your convenience, we have created a printable packing checklist with our recommendations based on our experience. Visit www.cietours.com/packing-checklist to print your own copy.
On coach tours, you are permitted one piece of luggage and one carry-on bag per person. Porterage between the coach and your hotel room for one piece of luggage per person is included in the cost of all coach tours and these bags will be stored under the coach during transit. . Travelers are responsible for transporting their carry-on bag between the coach and hotel each day.  Luggage should not exceed 30 x 20 x 10 inches and weight should be under 50 lbs; carry-on must be soft-sided, without wheels, and must be small enough to fit under the coach seat. Self-drive clients need to consider the limited trunk capacity, and that soft-sided luggage is easier to stow in the car. Airlines have their own regulations and some carriers charge for checked baggage.
You will need a valid passport with an expiration at least 6 months after your travel dates. As of 2024, guests traveling to Italy & Iceland must also apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver a minimum of 72 hours prior to travel. There is a 7 Euro fee for the application, and it is simple and quick to fill out online.  https://etias.com/etias-application. For specific details by country on other travel documents needed, please reference the Go-to-Guide that will be sent to you in advance.  
Since most components of your guided vacation are included in one up-front price, you will only need money for those meals that are not included on the daily itinerary (such as lunch on some days and dinner when you have an evening at leisure). If you are an avid shopper or enjoy a cocktail in the evening, these costs are incurred at your own expense. Also, it is customary to tip your guide and driver at the end of the tour (please see the question on tipping guidelines for more information). Use credit cards and ATMs to avoid carrying large sums of cash. High denomination bills are not readily accepted for exchange, even in banks, so it is better to carry smaller denominations.
Major credit cards are widely accepted and we recommend you use them to avoid carrying cash. ATMs are widely available and will accept appropriate cards and dispense cash in the local currency. Additional fees may be charged, so please check with your financial institution before you travel. It’s also a good idea to inform your bank that you are traveling overseas to ensure that they don’t block your ATM / credit cards while you are on the road. 
  • Ireland:
    • Driver/Guide (1-person crew) €10 per person, per day; for small group departures, €13 per person, per day
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Guide for walking or city tour €2 per person, per day
    • Private Driver for chauffeur vehicles €25 per person, per day
 
  • England, Scotland or Wales:
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) £7  per person, per day; for small group departures, £8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) £7 per person, per day; for small group departures, £8 per person, per day
    • Guide for walking or city tour £2 per person, per day
    • Private Driver for chauffeur vehicles £20 per person, per day
 
  • Iceland:
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) $7 per person, per day; for small group departures, $8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) $7 per person, per day; for small group departures, $8 per person, per day
    • Private Driver for chauffeur vehicles $25 per person, per day
 
  • Italy:
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Guide for walking or city tour €2 per person, per day
The appropriate adapter (3-prong for Ireland and Britain and 2-prong for Italy and Iceland) will be included in your CIE Tours backpack we will send you before you depart. Hotels provide a shaver outlet in the bathroom and usually have a hair dryer and iron in the room (or will supply them on request). More information can be found in your Go-To Guide booklet which is sent with your travel documents.
Check-in time varies between noon and 3:00pm, depending on the individual hotel. If you arrive in the early part of the day, this can mean a wait at the hotel. Many hotels offer a checked luggage area so you may enjoy this time by taking a walk, having a snack or doing some exploring.
We want you to see as much of the country you are visiting as possible, without spending all your time on the coach. We generally incorporate a sightseeing feature each morning and afternoon. There are breaks at two-hour intervals or less so that you get a chance to stretch your legs, purchase a snack or lunch, take photos or use a restroom. Our comfortable coaches feature oversized windows, reclining seats, overhead storage and free Wi-Fi. Always wear your seat belts; and as a precaution, if you suffer from motion sickness, bring medication with you.
Morning departure time depends on the itinerary to be covered on any particular day. In Britain the tour day begins between 8:00am to 8:30am, while in Ireland the day usually begins between 8:30am and 9:00am. Arrival back to the hotel, or at the next hotel is usually between 4:00pm and 5:00pm. Our coaches make frequent stops for sightseeing, smoking, lunches, snacks and bathroom breaks. You will have breaks at least every two hours.
Many of our tours incorporate walking tours in interesting locations; these are leisurely paced guided walks. You will have free time when you arrive at a hotel in the afternoon when you can to take a walk on your own or use the hotel’s fitness or spa facilities. Pack comfortable shoes with non-slip soles as many historic places have uneven paving.
Most of the hotels on your tour have wonderful leisure facilities and spas. You have some free time most days so be sure to pack a swimsuit and workout clothes.
Most hotels feature laundry and dry cleaning services that can be used when you stay in the same property for two nights. However, they do not offer self-service facilities. Check with the hotel's website to see exactly what services they can offer.
Many hotels in Europe do not provide washcloths so it is a good idea to bring some with you. Guest rooms have TVs and hair dryers; some also offer an iron and ironing board. Hotels also provide a shaver outlet in the bathroom. For exact information, please check the hotel’s website.
Most small medical devices, for example C-PAP machines are permitted on tour. If you travel with a C-PAP machine, be aware that distilled water is not always readily available in stores. Some, but not all, pharmacies stock supplies. Bring distilled water with you or contact one of the hotels and arrange this directly with them.
If you need to bring insulin, please be sure to bring a box to store it in together with freezable ice packs. Hotels can store the insulin for you and can freeze the ice packs to help you keep it cold when traveling on the coach. If you take prescription drugs, ensure that you have an ample supply for the duration of your trip and always keep them with you. Any medication must be in its labeled container when going through airport security and customs.
CIE Tours could not exist without our great locally employed tour directors – they are the envy of the travel industry. From the moment you land, your tour director is there to welcome you, handle your luggage, drive you from place to place and give you daily commentaries. Tour directors help make history and culture come alive and create a superb experience with daily doses of humor, information and assistance.
Once you meet your tour director, you don’t have to handle your luggage for the rest of your journey! At every hotel, your suitcase is delivered to your bedroom door and collected before departure. However, luggage is restricted to one suitcase and one piece of carry-on baggage per person.
You can get international currency at home several ways. With a bank account: You can request currency at your bank and they should receive your order within 3 to 4 days depending on the bank. Without a bank account: To get the local currency of the country you are traveling in, use any local ATM after you arrive or exchange your home currency for local at currency exchange shops.

On the Road

If you have access to phone or internet, please contact our office. Call +353-1-7031888 or email [email protected] and advise us of approximately when you will be arriving. We will alert our personnel in Ireland or Britain to ensure they are aware. If you are scheduled to take our group transfer and you miss it, we recommend that you take a cab from the airport to the first hotel where you will meet the tour. If you are delayed longer than a day, you should make your way to the relevant hotel on the tour. A cab or public transport may be most suitable method of getting to the next hotel which may be a distance from your arrival airport. Any additional expenses for transportation or accommodation to catch up with the tour will be at your own expense. We regret that we cannot issue any refunds or credits for any missed portions of the tour.
If you become ill on a tour or have an emergency situation at home, advise your tour director immediately. We can facilitate medical assistance, and we can assist with return flight changes. With more than 90 years of experience, we are highly skilled at handling every type of emergency while ensuring limited disruption to other passengers. CIE Tours highly recommends the purchase of travel insurance prior to the start of your vacation to protect your travel investment in the event something like this happens.
VAT (Value Added Tax) is included in the selling price of all goods in our European destinations.  Non-European Union resident purchasing goods to take home may claim a VAT refund for goods of a certain value once the relevant forms have been completed at time of purchase. This can save you up to 20%, depending on products purchased. 
Free WI-FI aboard coaches enables you to keep in contact and share your travels with friends and family back home. Most hotels will offer internet services, some in guest rooms and some in the lobby only. As some hotels charge for WI-FI, you should check rates with the front desk in your hotel.  If you carry a mobile phone, check usage rates with your provider before departing and remember to switch off roaming. In Europe, pre-paid calling cards offer excellent rates and are on sale in many stores. You can also buy a simple mobile phone with pre-paid minutes. In some parts of Europe you may experience poor mobile phone or wifi signals.

Custom Group Vacations

Basically whatever you would like to have! Of course, you will have coach transportation with a driver/guide throughout, hotels and breakfasts. Then you can choose whatever sightseeing, meals and entertainment that appeal to you and your group.
There are many castle hotels at different price points. Some are 5-star top-of-the-line properties, but there are also some 4-star and 3-star castle hotels offering the wonderful atmosphere of a historic experience at often reasonable rates.
Because you can –
  • Design any itinerary for any season
  • Benefit from CIE Tours’ competitive rates which are passed along to you
  • Include special interest features not offered on scheduled tours
  • Travel on your own exclusive coach
  • Offer the tour as a fundraiser for your local church or organization
As you will have exclusive transportation and services of a driver/guide, we suggest a minimum of 20 paying passengers. However, by using a smaller vehicle we can keep costs down and put together a program for 10 or more paying passengers.
We offer a standard 5% early commitment benefit on most of our brochure groups when booking early. Contact the group department for further details. Custom Groups are sold at a net—therefore discounts are not offered.
Yes, you'll have the support of local BDM as well as complimentary flyers. 
Once your group is confirmed you will be sent a link for a flyer request form. Simply fill out the form and a flyer will be created and sent back to you for review. Turnaround time is typically 3 to 5 business days. 
We can provide a custom URL for group leaders to book passengers directly online or you may share this link with your group travelers to book it themselves.  We find most agents and group leaders handle the bookings for all passengers.
From your group summary page, you will find a list of all the group passengers and can access them individually by clicking the link to their reservation.
CIE Tours does not provide child car seats or booster seats.  You are required to bring your own child car seat or booster seat when traveling with a child.  Please be sure to check the local guidelines regarding age and weight requirements based on your destination.

Travel Documents

You will receive your travel documents approximately 21 days prior to your tour departure date provided that full payment has been received. This includes the vouchers for tours and other services, an itinerary, hotel list and our Go-To-Guide booklet in PDF format. You have prepaid for your tour vouchers, so treat them as you would money as they are non-refundable. You will need to present the relevant voucher in return for services such as hop-on, hop-off bus tours.
CIE Tours' All-In Inclusive Advantage means that all travelers get a deluxe travel pack including a backpack, travel adapter, water bottle, Go-To-Guide booklet, luggage straps, and luggage tags. 
Yes, we are happy to email you a copy of your documents.
Yes, documents can be mailed to two different addresses for a nominal fee of $25.

Travel Protection

Your vacation is an important investment and travel insurance can protect you and your belongings while on your trip. For more information, contact your travel agent or CIE Tours' contact center, or visit www.cietours.com/travel-protection. 
Yes, CIE Tours offers a custom insurance plan for groups of 10 or more. Please contact your travel agent or CIE Tours contact center for more information.

Airline Reservations

As the leading tour operator to Ireland and Britain, CIE Tours' bargaining position is unmatched, ensuring that we offer the most competitive airfare in the industry. Fares are available in all classes of service. 
Certainly! Wheelchairs can be requested by our air department.
You may check in for your flight online 24 hours prior to your departure date. Online check in typically closes 2 or 3 hours before the flight departs. 
You should plan on arriving for your flight a minimum of 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. This allows you time to check in and pass through security to the boarding area.
Yes, most of CIE Tours' negotiated fares allow for mileage accrual.
Unfortunately no. CIE Tours' negotiated fares do not allow for payment with frequent flyer miles.
Absolutely, special meals can be requested through our air department. 
Yes. Most airlines offer reserved seat selection prior to departure, but seats are never guaranteed by the airline. Airlines may reassign seats for operational reasons. Passengers are encouraged to reconfirm their seat assignments and any other special requests directly with their airline prior to departure.
CIE Tours' negotatied airfare is guaranteed until final payment (not including taxes and fees, which are subject to change). Occasionally the airlines will offer even greater discounts with shorter ticketing deadlines.  
TSA Pre✓® provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. airports. Global Entry provides the TSA Pre✓ benefits plus expedited US customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States. TSA Pre✓ costs $85 and Global Entry costs $100 for a five year membership. Travelers interested in Global Entry must apply through the Trusted Traveler Program website. Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA Pre✓.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that has authority over the security of the traveling public in the United States. Chiefly concerned with air travel, the TSA employs screening officers in airports, armed federal air marshals on planes, and mobile teams of dog handlers and explosives specialists.
Code sharing is a marketing arrangement in which an airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline and sells tickets for that flight. When flights are code share, it may or may not be possible to assign seats.  Please check with our Air Department.  
Bulkheads are seats that have a wall in front and usually separate the different cabins of the plane. These seats cannot be assigned by the air department. 
Should your luggage be delayed by your airline, it is the airline’s responsibility to ensure that it is delivered to you while you are traveling. Please complete a claim form at the airline desk upon arrival. You may wish to provide a copy of your hotel list so the baggage will be delivered directly to you.

Private Driver Vacations

A private driver package is a luxury customized tour of Ireland and/or the UK with a personal private driver, allowing passengers to see destinations through the eyes of a local.
Our luxury specialists work with you to ensure a personally crafted vacation encompassing recommended routes, hotels and activities to suit your personal tastes. This, accompanied by our long-standing relationships with valued partners, ensures a memorable and stress-free experience. Our drivers relish the opportunity to unfold the hidden beauties of their homeland, taking guests beyond the surface for a truly immersive experience. You'll explore local villages, medieval castles and rugged countryside accompanied by a local expert.
Absolutely! Our team regularly creates custom castle vacations and itineraries.
We require a minimum of 3 consecutive days with driver AND 3 nights of accommodation to be booked through CIE Tours per destination.
Private Driver vacations are for guests who are looking for a more personal and heightened experience and prefer a more customized itinerary. Some considerations include those who are hesitant about driving on the “wrong” side of the road on a self-drive tour, guests who are participating in ancestry searches, and leisure enthusiasts including golfers, foodies and much more!
Yes, 1-9 passengers only. (10+ passengers is considered a Group and handled by our specialized Groups department.)
We can typically book 18 months to 8 weeks in advance. Lead times will vary throughout the year, depending on departure date and available inventory.  All bookings are customized and will be confirmed on a case-by-case basis to ensure we can assign a driver and confirm hotels.
The cost of a private driver tour depends on multiple factors. The destination, number of nights, types of accommodations, and number of people to name a few.  We say that if you see an Ireland/Northern Ireland motor coach tour that you like, the cost to turn it into a private driver will be about two times more per person. For the UK, it could be up to three times more per person as a rough estimate. For more pricing, we offer some examples on the Private Driver page of our website. 
All accommodations and driver’s services (includes gasoline, tolls, parking, driver’s meals and accommodations) are included, as are breakfast daily (except for the day of arrival), private transfers to and from the airport, and sightseeing and admission costs where applicable. CIE Tours also offers negotiated airfare for easy one-stop shopping. 
The package price does not include gratuities, flights, lunches and dinners.
  • Ireland:
    • Driver/Guide (1-person crew) €10 per person, per day; for small group departures, €13 per person, per day
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Guide for walking or city tour €2 per person, per day
    • Private Driver for chauffeur vehicles €25 per person, per day
 
  • England, Scotland or Wales:
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) £7  per person, per day; for small group departures, £8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) £7 per person, per day; for small group departures, £8 per person, per day
    • Guide for walking or city tour £2 per person, per day
    • Private Driver for chauffeur vehicles £20 per person, per day
 
  • Iceland:
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) $7 per person, per day; for small group departures, $8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) $7 per person, per day; for small group departures, $8 per person, per day
    • Private Driver for chauffeur vehicles $25 per person, per day
 
  • Italy:
    • Tour Director (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Driver (part of 2-person crew) €7 per person, per day; for small group departures, €8 per person, per day
    • Guide for walking or city tour €2 per person, per day
Unfortunately, gratuities cannot be prepaid.
Full breakfast is included daily (except for the day of arrival). Since your vacation is fully customizable, you can opt to include other meals such as specialty dinner shows. 
No there is no age limit: We cater to infants and elderly. We can arrange a baby seat, crib in the hotel room, wheelchair accessibility and any other needs. 
Our drivers are locally employed, knowledgeable on history and culture, full of humor and stories (i.e. Irish craic), and provide personal assistance throughout the journey (e.g. hotel check-in, getting into attractions, dining at the best places).
Yes, to ensure comfort for both driver and passengers we recommend a limit of 150 to 200 miles max (4 hours) per day.
The driver will generally meet passengers at hotel at 9 AM and return to hotel by 5 PM; however, with a private tour, hours are flexible and can be customized based on the clients' request. 
We use different types of cars, depending on the number of passengers: Mercedes Sedan: 1 – 2 passenger(s); Mercedes Viano (7 seater): 3 – 5 passengers; Mercedes Sprinter (12 seater): 6 – 9 passengers (or similar vehicles may be substituted).
CIE Tours books 3, 4, & 5 star hotels, along with castle/manor style properties.
Unfortunately no, these are considered domestic flights and must be arranged independently (by agent/passenger).
Please see your individual tour policy for payment date. 
A non-refundable deposit of $250 per person is required.
Easy installment plans are available for payments.
Your final set of documents will be sent out 10 to 20 days prior to departure and includes a backpack, luggage straps/tags, travel adapter, your itinerary, and any vouchers needed prior to when you meet your driver.
CIE Tours does not provide child car seats or booster seats.  You are required to bring your own child car seat or booster seat when traveling with a child.  Please be sure to check the local guidelines regarding age and weight requirements based on your destination.

Independent Adventures

Independent adventures are for those who’d like to have the full CIE Tours experience from the privacy of their own car.  With our Classic Itineraries collection, you can follow one of our pre-set tours with a rental car or with a private driver.  Or we can help you plan your ideal custom trip with our Traveler’s Choice program complete with your own rental car.   All independent vacations include accommodations, daily breakfast and your rental car or car and driver. Wherever you stay, you’ll be treated like a CIE Tours guest, and have the advantage of getting the competitive pricing we can access thanks to our long-established relationships with hospitality providers.  For details on Self-Drive Classic Itineraries or With Driver Classic Itineraries, please call us at (800) 243-8687.
At this time independent vacations are only available in Ireland; however, we offer custom private driver options that can take you throughout Scotland, England, and Wales, and Iceland in addition to Ireland. 
 
As many or as few as you would like; you can rent a minivan to accommodate up to 7 people or book multiple cars to accommodate your party size.  
 
Through our Classic Itineraries collection, most of our Ireland tours have been turned into independent adventures with all the planning done for you.  You can take these as self-drive vacations or with your own driver/guide.   
 
A self-drive or private driver vacation is perfect for families with children! We are happy to request car seats and boosters for you with the car rental company. You will pay for these extras when you pick up the car. 
 
Depending on your travel style, you’ll stay in either pre-selected hotels or stay in your choice of accommodations including hotels, B&Bs, castles and manors. 
 
B&B is a bed and breakfast accommodation in Ireland. These are usually family homes or private residences with around 6 bedrooms; all rooms include a private bath and breakfast is included in the morning.  
 
Once you have paid for your self-drive vacation you can visit http://www.reserveabandb.com to select your accommodations 
 
Yes, we require a minimum of 3 nights.  If staying in Dublin only and a rental car is not purchased, a minimum of 6 nights is required. 
 
CIE Tours enjoys a decade long relationship with Hertz, a premier car rental company in Ireland. 
 
Absolutely, this is very common; however, there may be a surcharge from the car rental company. 
 
Yes. In Ireland they drive on the left side of the road. 
 
Yes, GPS is included in the CIE Tours contract with our car rental partner. 
The minimum age for drivers is 23 years old. Only vehicles in groups B&E will be allowed for rental. There will also be a daily surcharge for young drivers: €26 daily. The maximum age is 79 years old, this will require a letter from your doctor stating full health issued 1 month prior, along with a letter from your insurance company that says that there have been no accidents in the past 5 years. 
 
You can pick up and drop off the vehicles from several locations. These include Dublin Airport, Dublin Downtown, Shannon Airport, Cork Airport, Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, Waterford Airport, Wexford, Knock Airport, Sligo Airport, Kerry Airport and Derry. 
 
Yes, an additional driver can be added at a daily cost of 9.50 EUR per day. This is paid directly to Hertz at time of pickup. 
 
No, but a driver must have one year’s driving experience and produce a valid driver’s license issued in their state/country of residence and reflecting no driving infractions. 
 
Our car rental prices include standard third-party liability insurance. In addition, we have included Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) & Theft Protection (TP) in our rates ($260 per week value if purchased separately).  You will have the option to purchase additional coverage in the form of Hertz Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) at time of booking. This will protect you from possible CDW deductible charges of €1,200 – 2,500. 
Gas, parking fees and tolls are paid locally and are not included in the package. 
 
 

Explore our destinations

  • Blarney Castle
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Giant’s Causeway
  • Galway
  • Dublin
  • Killarney
  • Guinness Storehouse
  • Brú na Boinne Visitor Center
  • Ring of Kerry

Pubs are about more than just Irish beer and whiskey—people come to enjoy music, laughs, and the legendary Irish wit.

  • Highlands
  • Loch Ness
  • St Andrews
  • Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
  • Isle of Skye
  • Blair Athol Distillery
  • Glencoe Mountains
  • Loch Lomond
  • Edinburgh Castle

Head off the beaten path to see the treasures on Scotland's rugged islands on Scottish Isles & Glens

  • Tower of London
  • Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Cardiff Castle
  • Lake District
  • Stonehenge
  • Canterbury Cathedral
  • Cavern Club
  • Cotswolds
  • Windsor Castle

See castles and cathedrals, Oxford and Cambridge, the Lake District and Liverpool as you circle England on the English Odyssey.

  • Colosseum
  • Vatican
  • Roman Forum
  • Accademia
  • Isle of Capri
  • Sorrento
  • Venice Gondola Ride
  • Bologna
  • Sistine Chapel

Every region in Italy has their own unique way to enjoy pasta—and there are more than 600 different pasta shapes to try.

  • Blue Lagoon
  • Golden Circle
  • Reynisfjara Beach
  • Skaftafell National Park
  • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
  • Northern Lights
  • Lava Center
  • Secret Lagoon
  • Strokkur Geysir

Blame the Vikings for the lack of trees in Iceland's stunning landscapes. They deforested much of the country when they arrived here in the 700s.

  • Trinity College
  • Urquhart Castle
  • Dingle Peninsula
  • Louvre
  • Trafalgar Square
  • Conwy
  • York Minster
  • Westminster Abbey
  • Waterford Crystal

The McCarthy family built the legendary Blarney castle, with its stone that gives those who kiss it the gift of eloquence.

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