Lochs and Legends of Scotland & Ireland
Business Development Team member Kathy visited Scotland and Ireland with CIE Tours International, visiting top sights and picturesque towns throughout her 10-day escorted tour. Hear from Kathy about what made her trip a “5++ on a scale of 1 to 5.”
Tell us about your trip and where you traveled to!
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to travel with CIE Tours International to Scotland & Ireland. My tour took place in mid-July, so the temperature ranged from 59-74 degrees and the month of July has over 16 + hours of sunlight a day. With included sightseeing, excellent hotels, full breakfasts, some lunches and most dinners, including specialty dinners with entertainment, the trip was effortless.
What is great about traveling this way?
An organized tour helped me maximize my time spent in these vast and picturesque destinations with so many attractions, from cultural and historical wonders to food and music. The luxury motor coach was very comfortable, fully air conditioned with commentaries of the country, history, scenery and upcoming sightseeing stops. The Coach driver Pat was very informative on the Scotland & Ireland. He had been with the company for 21 years. His knowledge of the countries, patience and most of all his Irish accent was a delight for 10 days of travel.
At each destination, we had local guides who explained the history and we learned about Scotland & Ireland from the Medieval era all the way to the present time. Having the local guides gave us the opportunity to skip the lines, getting right into the castles, museums and churches. I found the commentaries either from the local guides or from our driver Pat gave us a true feeling of living through the centuries with some wonderful folklore stories.
What advice do you have for travelers taking this type of trip?
Pack light with layered clothes and take comfortable shoes. Most of the sightseeing was in historical areas with cobblestone streets, uneven paths and narrow steps. CIE Tours International provided weather ponchos and backpacks that are a must when travelling in these countries.
Who would be the perfect person to take this trip?
The passengers ages on my trip ranged from 15 to 83 years of age with multi-generation families, couples, friends and single travelers. Some travelers, like myself, were first timers for the escorted bus tour. As we traveled together during the 10 days, CIE Tours International made sure we were seated in different locations on the coach, giving everyone the opportunity to meet, greet and to become fast friends.
What is the one must-see place travelers should visit?
The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is claimed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Though we didn’t see her, it was fun to experience this fabled area!
How did you stay connected while you were traveling?
In this day and age, the most important feature that we all had was Wi-Fi on the coach and in the hotels. This gave us the opportunity to upload our photos to Facebook or to family and friends back home. Some of the hotels even had USB access in the rooms, but it’s a must to travel with an international converter to recharge cameras and phones.
Looking to book a comprehensive guided or self-drive tour of Scotland or Ireland? Contact a Travel Advisor to find the tour that’s best for you!
