Exploring Scotland & Ireland (2024)

Rating

139 reviews

Based on 139 independent reviews

5

95

4

29

3

14

1

1

• Trip Rating:

  

  We saw a lot of sights from the bus, would have liked longer time at stops. Pitlochry needed more than 30 minutes. Overall saw alot, would have liked more time to explore. Our driver Dave, a true gentleman, felt very safe, excellent driving. Collette our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and thoughtful. Additional guides were also very informative and entertaining.

  Lisa Uhron

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  Great vacation experience with experienced and expert managers and guides.

  Terry Cole

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  As advertised with a great tour manager and driver. The best memory was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was why I choose this particular tour and it delivered.

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  Most of the trip was without issue, and provided great experiences. When a transportation issue arose, the emergency help desk was not very helpful in resolving the problem quick enough.

  Douglas Oliver

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  Would have liked less tours of the cities. More countryside, ancient architecture

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  Military Tattoo is Magical!

  Charles Mckinley

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  The tour was entertaining and very educational and very informative. Our tour manager and driver were excellent, as were our local guides.

  John Spence

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  Tatoo and trip variations excellent

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  Met all expectations ,exceded some

  Dale Owings

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  Lots to see and lots to do. This was more of a mission to learn, than a vacation.

  Ronald Bultman

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  every was great from at airport untill drop off at airport

  Stephen Kleiman

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  The walking tours lead by the guides in the cities visited and the places of interest with the people that worked or owned the facilities and shared their knowledge, passion with us.

  George Wakefield

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  Excellent tour guide and bus driver. We enjoyed the tours and most of the hotels were very nice and the breakfasts were good but the dinner choices were outstanding. The tour excursions were also fun and interesting. We saw so many beautiful places and gorgeous scenery.

  Connie Rossow

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  Traveling next time, I would like to stay longer in each town. Extemely tiring to stay one or two nights in 1 hotel and then move on to the next.

  Cynthia Johnston

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  Tour itinerary was fabulous

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  Some of the hotels could have been better, 3 had twin beds and no air conditioning. Wish dinner menus would have featured more local food and not Americanized food. Some of gift shop stops could have been eliminated and more time could have been spent at venues. There was not enough time at Guinness experience. The food at pub prior to Guiness, was the best! Overall what a great experience and I have recommended to friends.

  See Also

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  Patricia Donald

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  Excellent tour manager very attentive, fun and knowledgeable.The bus driver was extremely proficient in his driving. Made everyone feel very safe. Good choices of places to see, hotels were good but be prepared for no air conditioning so room will feel warm at night. The Collette the app was very helpful. I love all the reminders and options. Attention to details is what made this 5 stars.Overall an excellent experience. Would highly recommend this company again.

  Claire Prudhomme

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  Well planned trip. Graham was informative but not overly talkative You could relax during the bus ride I did take one day just to rest rejuvenate Hotel choices good Modern and traditional

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  The trip included many memorable experiences- castles and cathedrals with hundreds of years of history, the beautiful terrain of both countries and the cultures of both. Especially interesting was the Giants Causeway- so unique and beautiful.

  Carol Lohman

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  I enjoyed all aspects of this journey, new places and more understanding of history.

  Mary Kinney

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  Both Conor and Billy did everything possible to accommodate everyone’s needs. The sights were amazing, Conor’s info on places we visited, and Billy’s driving and sense of humor added to the incredible experience. It’s really difficult to mention one memorable experience since they were all so unique. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Collette, this team, and the new friends I made on this journey. They are all a special group of people!

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  We needed more free time for exploration; we ususally had to choose between eating or wandering. If I had known how tight the timing would be, I would have included fewer add-on events.

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  Conor paid attention to the needs of people on the tour. Great explanation of sites and tremendous information. Billy was an excellent driver and very considerate of the people on the tour. I had a wonderful time! The entire tour was memorable.

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  Tour manager was great. Some accommodations were just okay and some of the optionals were over priced.

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  The tour manager and the driver were extraordinary. Some of the hotels and the optional excursions were just okay.

  Ellen Gillis

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  The tour was well managed and well paced with only one exception. We got a good snapshot of both countries. We especially enjoyed the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, and the Causeway of the Giants. We would have liked more time in St. Andrews, and a distillery tour later in the day.

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  The tour guide in Derry Ireland.. he was wonderful.

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  We had traveled with Collette; we expected better.

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  Did not enjoy city tours. Expected more of countryside. Dinners should have included wine or beer. No AC in some hotels.

  Pamela Wilson

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  Loved our guide and having all the travel and arrangements taken care of by someone else. Great driver also. Would not recommend bookings thru an agent as you don't get all the information like add on side trips til later.

  Susan Baker

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  Although I paid over $1,000 extra to travel as a single, some of my hotel rooms were inferior to those the rest of the group had. My rooms were in a separate building, above a noisy delivery garage, and in a handicap-access room without a bathtub.

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  I would eliminate the cider farm tour - the ferry and train rides were very nice. It is a shame that many things since we booked the tour were cancelled and the Guinness tour. I prefer hotels that are in small towns that are walkable than the one hotel out in the country. We loved our London extension and our guide was fantastic. We loved Laura Goodman as our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, personable and funny.

  Barbara Skowronski

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  See above discussion, regarding end of tour experience and obtaining resolution of quarantine related issues.

  Thaddeus Szymankiewicz

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  We had a wonderful time because Lorraine and Joe did a great job going over everything. We were fully briefed and prepared for each stop. We enjoyed most stops and the dining provided was very good. Only one hotel was not up to par (based on all the others). My favorite stop was Edinburgh. The tour itself was laid out well but for me, personally, I would preferred a little less shopping. Many enjoyed the shopping though.

  Gerardette Condon

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  Wonderful trip. Can’t wait to go back

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  Problems with information from Collette while quarantined for Covid

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  Excellent from start to finish.

  Susan Steele

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  Great trip and great guide!

  Spencer Sealy

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  Dinner show in a castle included singing, harpist and dancing

  Diane Hendrickson

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  Again Laura was great, some of the hotels were too far off the beaten path and a couple of the excursions were less than other groups I have been on in Ireland

  Susan Marie Piazza

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  Well planned, great sites, tour manager, bus and driver!! MOST hotels were really good in accommodations, service and location! Loved the "extra choice" events!!

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  The tour and experiences were amazing.

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  Sites were very good. I learned a lot about the two countries and the tour was very well laid out.

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  Liked the variety of places and history. Even the weather cooperated,

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  Tour was exceptional. View of Scotland/Ireland phenomenal. Just great overall! Giant's causeway, ocean, titanic museum were great.

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  The included tours were amazing. The optional tours were overpriced and didn't deliver as advertised.

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  I enjoyed all of our trip but I most liked the boat ride on Loch Ness and the visit to the castle - I loved driving though the Highlands seeing the bogs with heather springing out.

  Deborah Boschock

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  I’m not sure I had a favorite but I was surprised and enjoyed thoroughly the Giants Causeway and found the history in Ireland fascinating. The history of Belfast was amazing. I was disappointed our stay in Dublin was short and the hotel was too far out of the city. Loved Scotland and Inverness was beautiful but the stay there was too short as well.

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  This was done earlier I this request.

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  The military tatoo was a highlight

  Linda Chapman

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  The Military Tattoo in Edinburgh!

  Marilyn Schwartz

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  The Military Tattoo was breathtaking!

  Kenton Griffin

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  Military Tattoo program was excellent and a thrilling experience. However there was too much free time.

  Jo Clardy

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  The group was too large for the accommodations. The driver schedule was limited which fine but than to much travel was scheduled so the stops didn't make sense.

  Marcus Colson

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  Very good. Tattoo in Edinburgh and tour of Buckingham Palace in London.

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  Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

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  The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was a highlight.

  Leta Hatfield

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  Northern Ireland was fantastic with local guide

  Estelle Davison

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  Landscape in and around Inverness

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  Been on many tours, I think this was the best.

  John Blom

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  I loved the Scorrish highlands and Edinbrogh. Beautiful country and very hospitable.

  Dianna Wilson

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  Most memorable was St.Andrews Scotland and Enniskillan Ireland. I was able to play golf right outside my hotel in Ireland Love seeing Portrush too

  Billy Beavers

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  My most memorable experience was the Scotish Highlands and Irish Coastline! They were amazingly beautiful!!!

  Teressa Beavers

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  Great itinerary and experienced and knowledgeable tour guide, Marc Pastucci. We saw more than we expected and never felt rushed or feeling we missed anything portrayed in the travel outline, which was filled with good information.

  John Rice

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  we saw many places we would not have if we booked the trip ourselves -

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  we knew it would be a busy trip; however, there were several places/stops we would have liked to spend more time.

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  Read previous comments. I have already commented.

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  Visiting the small towns along the way.

  Gail Jackson

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  the castle accomdation was not at all a castle experience from what it adevertised so i was a bit disappointed but the hotel was not badmy favorite place would be the derry town, the Maldron hotel was excellentfood was great,room was spacious, nice & clean located in the center of town easy to explore

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  Extremely enjoyable trip.

  Patricia Fichtner

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  The whole tour was my faverite memorial experience.

  Edwin Fichtner

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  Very informative tour. Optional tours were also wonderful. Tour guide, Chad, and driver, Tommy, did a wonderful job!

  Harriet Litvack

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  Loved the itinerary.. did all the optional tours which are great except in Dublin which we did last year on a different itinerary..Loved being on the Royal Yacht Britannia.. Titanic Museum & Bagpipe lessons..

  Patricia Hess

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  Excellent, caring, and expert tour guide and coach driver. Rated accommodations "good" because of Ballachulish Hotel. Personnel were surly a couple of times. Room heat nearly impossible to regulate. Food not as good as all other venues. Regarding tours: Coach tour guide in Glasgow was very poor. Ronan in Londonderry was the absolute best. The Guinness Storehouse tour was disappointing. We did not get to see actual brewery operations, which we thought we would. Large and loud groups interfered with each other. The tour guide presented very little substantive information on the process. More "ooh and ahh" factoids than anything else. The special event meals were uniformly excellent. Suggestion: Let people know up front that if they purchase all of the options, they will be on the go almost continuously. If they want to do serious shopping or seeing things and meeting people at a more leisurely pace, they will need to pass on an option now and then. It was truly a wonderful trip.

  Paul Galli

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  The countryside was beautiful. We learned so much History. Things we would have never learned.

  Delbert Chase

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  Titanic, Britania, Parks, Edinburg

  Joelle

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  Collette customized the tour to work with our radio station to include music stops. Edinburgh was our favorite stop.

  Richard Towson

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  The military ratio was unimaginable and spectacular. Love the varied modes of transportation through the Highlands across the Irish Sea to the Titanic, Derry, to Guinness.

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  The tour guide did an excellent job. The tour was well organized.

  Thomas Mccartin

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  We had a wonderful time exploring places we had never been before

  Lea Conner

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  Seeing Scotland for the first time.

  Bernadette Mccormick

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  Everything was memorable!

  The Kemmerleys

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  I liked many parts of the tour. It was a great time.

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  It was a good over-all exploration of both Scotland and Ireland

  Carol Taylor

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  Interesting and friendly tour members of all ages. The Titanic center in Belfast and the Guinness brewery in Dublin were my favorites, but everything else was very close behind!

  Glenn Lausch

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  Good food. Great hotels.Loved Marc and Brian. We were well taken care of!Saw things I thought I would never get to see, like NorthernIreland.

  Joanne Pruett

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  A few of the hotels were not that good

  Terrance Gleman

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  The Military Tattoo was great, loved it!

  Jeanine Owens

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  I have already provided feedback directly to Collette

  Harry Hurley

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  Great itinerary and hotels but needed experienced tour manager to complement those positives. Tattoo was outstanding, day in Glasgow was a wasted day due to the locale and mix-up with scheduling local guide. Derry train trip was not ho-hum and not worth the time. The rest of the trip was above average.

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  Tour manager was incompetent and I’ll prepared. Places visited, especially in Ireland, were good.Spent too much time in Scottish Highlands. Boring.Glasgow was a very uninteresting stop.Train ride was not scenic as promised.

  Jean Kudra

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  The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was one of the best parts of the tour and the rest of Scotland was great. Ireland was rich in history and so interesting we loved it

  Andrew Andrews

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  Tattoo, Loch Ness and Belfast.

  Frances Mower

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  Edinburgh Military Tattoo was the hi-lite.

  Susan Yarber

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  Nice job by tour manager interesting tours bus drivers good other people on tour very friendly hotels mostly ok food ok

  Andrew Scopelitis

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  The countries are beautiful, the coach and driver, fantastic. Our guide, second to none. If the hotels had been exceptional, I would have rated the tour a 5. Dublin and Derry hotels were located 30 minutes from city center. We could not stroll around the city in our down time. One hotel was at most, 2 stars. The views from our rooms at different hotels included a fire escape, rooftop kitchen vents, a brick wall, railroad tracks with all night trains and a parking lot.The Irish music and dancing at the Folk Park was my favorite event.

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  The whole trip was memorable.

  Sharon Neal

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  Pricing for the tour was very fair.A couple of the hotels, especially Barberstown Castle, were too far from the city or town we were touring. Again, the optional evenings were very expensive. However, we did take advantage of the Dublin lunch and Guinness tour and felt the pricing on that provided good value.Our favorite city was Edinburgh and we purposely arrived there three days before the tour began. We also really liked seeing St. Andrews and the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, Lochness, and were impressed by Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and Dublin. We also scheduled three days in Dublin post-tour and found that a good decision, as well. Tour guides hired for some stops were very good, except for the one in Glasgow. She initially failed to keep track of our group and raced through tour. The others were very entertaining, armed with enlightening stories and history.

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  We had the best tour guide he was fantastic would do a tour with him again

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  Exceeded expectations....

  John Clay

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  So so on extra trips. Not sure may be overpriced for what you see and eat

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  Exceeded expectations and provided amazing information as well as gorgeous scenery

  Michael Bincsik

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  First and foremost, our tour guide was excellent. Marc knew the history of the area quite well and was able to answer almost all of the questions asked by the group. Our time In Edinburgh was interesting especially the "vaults" in the old town. The lake boat ride on Loch Ness was very nice, and no, we did not find the monster. Of particular interest to me was the "local guide" in Belfast. Our Irish, Chinese, Buddhist guide was so interesting when he was telling us about "The Troubles" period in Northern Irish History. Walking the wall there was quite an experience. Londonderry was just as interesting. When you go, look for the statue of the two children trying to touch hands, indicating that the children will solve the problems between the Catholics and Protestants. As usual the accommodations were quite excellent, especially Colloden Inn and Spa. I hope they keep this in the future. This experience is interesting for the history education you will get.The food, as usual, is excellent. The haggis is an acquired taste and one not for me. It can be had at most breakfasts and dinners. I usually went for the fish and lamb which are the specialties in all three countries. Breakfast is usually the typical European offerings -- baked beans, ham, sausage, cheese, roasted tomatoes, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, excellent breads, etc. You'll always be able to get a good start on the day.

• Trip Rating:

  

  First and foremost, our tour guide was excellent. Marc knew the history of the area quite well and was able to answer almost all of the questions asked by the group. Our time In Edinburgh was interesting especially the "vaults" in the old town. The lake boat ride on Loch Ness was very nice, and no, we did not find the monster. Of particular interest to me was the "local guide" in Belfast. Our Irish, Chinese, Buddhist guide was so interesting when he was telling us about "The Troubles" period in Northern Irish History. Walking the wall there was quite an experience. Londonderry was just as interesting. When you go, look for the statue of the two children trying to touch hands, indicating that the children will solve the problems between the Catholics and Protestants. As usual the accommodations were quite excellent, especially Colloden Inn and Spa. I hope they keep this in the future. This experience is interesting for the history education you will get.The food, as usual, is excellent. The haggis is an acquired taste and one not for me. It can be had at most breakfasts and dinners. I usually went for the fish and lamb which are the specialties in all three countries. Breakfast is usually the typical European offerings -- baked beans, ham, sausage, cheese, roasted tomatoes, hot and cold cereals, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, excellent breads, etc. You'll always be able to get a good start on the day.

  Edward Blotzer

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  Great organization. Knowledgeable tour guide. Excellent driver.

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  Wonderful tour guidebut phone app from Collette was horrible

  Cynthia Bernier

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  I love that everything is organized and I don’t have to be considered with any of the details. I just show up and enjoy. It was perfect

  Constance Nielsen

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  A great bargain for the experience. Chose this tour from Collette because they went to both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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  Great selection of city to visit

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  My highlight was the Giants Causeway. Our tour director, **************, was excellent and very knowledgeable.

  Irene Gavriluk

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  St Andrews and the Titanic Museum

  Betty Fitzgerald

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  Favorite was the entertainment at the Irish pub in Dublin on last night of tripLeast favorite: my fall in Edinburth hotel room on first night of trip.

  Avonne Mcclure

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  Edinburgh Military Tatoo at the Edinburgh Castle. It was a fabulous show of bagpipers, bands, and dancers.

  Cynthia White Borer

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  This is a MUST if you are going to Edinburgh. It was pure magic.

  Karen Meiring

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  Beautiful countries and great people on the tour.

  Patricia Charley

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  We were very satisfied from the beginning to the end of our tour!

  Mary Tschosik

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  St Andrews and Glenleigh Castle

  Hoyt Mcclure

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  I loved seeing Belfast, but the entire tour was excellent.

  David Grover

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  End of tour staying in rooms attached to the castle

  Gregory Martucci

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  I enjoy castles and glad when there is enough time to see it all. Would have like to see the castle/abbey in St Andrews but it was not offered.

  Joanna Balne

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  Generally very good. Some tours I thought were lacking. I St Andrew they just dropped us by the golf course which very few seemed interested in. Nobody knew but the castle ruins were just down the street. It might have been nice to drop those interested down there. The local guide in Derry showed us very little but talked a lot about the protestant-catholic tensions in Ireland.

  Thomas Balne

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  Great trip, enough time to do some exploring on my own.

  Beatrice Naylor

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  Loved Belfast. Enjoyed Uroquadt

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  Favorite was the Coastal Causeway and the walled city of Derry.

  Victory Boone

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  The only thing that I would say that keeps this trip from being excellent is the limited amount of time we have at our many destinations. In stating this, I also realize that in order to cover the places we saw that this unfortunately, with the time we have to tour, is necessary. Loch Ness boat trip and Edinburgh were my most favourite parts. Northern Ireland was so steeped in history, Titanic was amazing.... it probably would have been easier to ask what was my least favourite ...which was Glasgow but probably only because we were there for such a short time and the City tour was impeded by something going on which closed main streets while we were there.

  Debra Mcarthur

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  Saw so many amazing things on this fast-paced tour, but my favorite place was Edinburgh--so rich with history!

  Marie

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  My most memorable experience was walking up the 18th fairway at St Andrews Golf Course and taking my picture on the Swilcan Bridge. I am an avid golfer and ot was a dream come true.

  Elaine

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  Our only complaint was our arrival in Edinburgh. Our flight was 15 minutes early and we cleared customs in 45 minutes. When we got to the arrival area and had no idea what to do. The driver said they planned to pick up an hour after scheduled arrival time.

  Michael

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  More time at sights. Maybe check in at hotels a bit later.

• Trip Rating:

  

  1. Royal Yacht was an excellent stop.2. Edinburgh Castle should be included. We went on our own.3. Giant's Causeway and the tour of Derry and Belfast.4. Hotels were excellent except for The City Hotel in Derry. Service in restaurant was unacceptable. Waiter lost our tables order and we had a very long wait to be fed. At breakfast, it took forever to get coffee and tea.5. Ulster American Folk Park was great but we felt we needed more time to see the entire park.6. The Farewell Dinner and show was definitely not a highlight. The venue was overpacked(at least 6 tour buses). It was difficult to see the show because the waiters decided to collect for the bar orders at that time. They were all standing in our way.

  Frances S.