Vacation dreams can soar with roundtrip airfare to Ireland starting at $199
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – March 2, 2020 – The luck of the Irish is in full force thanks to CIE Tours’ March airfare spectacular. U.S.-based travelers booking a group guided tour or Private Driver vacation to the Emerald Isle with Ireland’s tour leader can get roundtrip airfare to Dublin or Shannon starting at $199 from select East Coast gateways. From other parts of the country, roundtrip fares range up to $499. The offer ends March 27 and is available for travel April 1 – Oct. 31, 2020. Travelers have their choice of CIE Tours’ full suite of group tour itineraries through Ireland or can design their own dream trip with a custom itinerary and private driver. Offer details follow:
From East Coast locations including New York, Newark, Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., economy class roundtrip airfare is $199. From Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Minneapolis, Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis and Raleigh-Durham, economy class roundtrip airfare is $399. And for those based further west, economy class roundtrip airfare is $499 from Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Omaha, St. Louis, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego and Salt Lake City. These airfare rates include all taxes and fees and are in addition to the cost of the CIE Tours guided group tour or private driver vacation. Travelers and their travel advisors should reference promotion code MARCHAIR20 when booking by phone at 800-243-8687. For more details and terms and conditions on this limited time offer, click here.
Irish hospitality is at the heart of every CIE Tours experience, captured through warm, rich storytelling by passionate local experts. CIE Tours offers 23 group itineraries through Ireland, ranging from five to 15 or more days and designed to appeal to a host of interests, be it the romance of Irish castles, the magic of the countryside or the comradery of Irish pub culture. Travelers might consider trying one of CIE Tours’ debut itineraries, like Castles & Manors of Ireland, Ireland South Daytripper or Ireland by Road and Rail, or opt for one of the company’s long-standing popular tours, like Taste of Ireland, Jewels of Ireland or Irish Explorer. Any existing itinerary can be turned into a Private Driver vacation for guests who prefer to travel independently, and CIE Tours’ Irish travel specialists welcome the opportunity to develop custom plans designed around the needs and interests of guests.
About CIE Tours
The premier tour operator for Ireland and Britain vacations, CIE Tours offers fully inclusive and expertly guided vacations to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, from coach tours to small group travel and highly curated private itineraries. To offer travelers even more options, destinations now include Iceland, Italy and cruises along the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Since 1932, 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 CIE Tours.
CIE Tours International 30th Annual Awards of Excellence
Ireland’s best holiday destinations and experiences recognised based on feedback from over 25,000 visitors. Company predicts increased tourist visits as it launches Winter Tours to Ireland from North America for first time.
Tuesday, 28 January 2020: Ireland remains an attractive tourism destination for visitors from North America drawn by the diversity and richness of the experiences offered and the warmth of the traditional Irish welcome which should not be underestimated, according to Elizabeth Crabill, CEO, CIE Tours International.
Speaking at the presentation of CIE Tours International Annual Awards of Excellence Elizabeth Crabill said; “30 years ago CIE Tours International introduced its annual Awards of Excellence to recognise Ireland’s hospitality ambassadors – the people and businesses throughout the country who put Irish tourism on the global stage through the warmth of welcome and quality of service provided to our international visitors.
“Since then Ireland’s tourism sector has changed utterly and grown in reputation but the demand for excellent experiences remains constant. The Irish holiday experience is unique and continues to grow in popularity, so much so that we’re launching new winter tour holidays to Ireland for the first time in 2020. This growth is driven in no small part by our Tour partners, many of whom we are recognising tonight, who are continuously improving their offering. I warmly congratulate tonight’s winners on their achievements and I thank all our partners who work closely with us throughout the year”.
Award Winners
The CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence were first launched in 1990. The awards are presented based on feedback received from over 25,000 customers surveyed throughout the year. The data and information obtained from these surveys is invaluable to CIE Tour partners who use it to continuously improve their offering to their clients.
Each of the CIE Tour partners who qualified for an award, delivered an exceptional quality experience and welcome to visitors, achieving a customer satisfaction rating of over 92%.
Fourteen overall award winners were announced, who each achieved the highest customer rating in their category:
Best 5 Star Hotel: Dromoland Castle (Clare)
Best 4 Star Hotel: The Lodge at Ashford Castle (Mayo)
Best 3 Star Hotel: Clew Bay Hotel (Mayo)
Best Hotel Accommodation: Kilronan Castle (Roscommon)
Best Hotel Dinner: Cabra Castle Hotel (Cavan)
Best Hotel Service & Hospitality: Cahernane House Hotel (Kerry)
Best Event Dinner/Entertainment: The Crosskeys Inn (Antrim)
Special Dinner Feature: Killeen House Hotel (Kerry)
Best Tour Feature: Killarney Horse & Carriage Tours (Kerry)
Best Walking Tour: Westport Walking Tour (Mayo)
Best Visit: Teeling Whiskey Distillery (Dublin)
Best Lunch: The Glyde Inn (Louth)
Best Sheep Dog Trial: Atlantic Sheepdogs (Sligo)
National Heritage Award: Shannon Heritage (Clare)
Merit Awards were also presented to 71 hotels and tourist attractions who achieved a customer rating of 92% or higher (see full list below).
Positive Outlook for 2020
CIE Tours International is the largest specialist tour operator bringing visitors from North America to Ireland, booking over 350,000 bed nights during the year. Crabill is predicting a better year in 2020 based on advanced bookings received.
“We’re very pleased with the level of bookings received from clients travelling to Europe in 2020 which is up on this time last year. We launched a new website which has been a huge success and with the launch of our new Winter Tours, we will increase visitor numbers further this year. These new tours will extend the season which will benefit rural communities, many of whom are not covered by other operators”.
For further information please contact:
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications: 01 7038620 / 086 8143710 / laurie@mkc.ie
2019 CIE Tours International Awards – Merit Winners:
Leinster Hotel Merit Winners
Dublin
Clayton Hotel Burlington Road
Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
The Gibson Hotel
Academy Plaza Hotel
Croke Park Hotel
Clontarf Castle Hotel
Maldron Hotel Pearse St.
Radisson Blu St. Helen’s
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel
Ashling Hotel
Herbert Park Hotel
Shelbourne Hotel
Meath
Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort
Munster Hotel Merit Winners
Clare
Armada Hotel, Spanish Point
Old Ground Hotel, Ennis
Cork
The River Lee Hotel
Kerry
Killarney Plaza Hotel
Killarney Avenue Hotel
Killarney Towers Hotel
International Hotel Killarney
Great Southern, Killarney
Dingle Skellig Hotel
Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
The Brehon , Killarney
Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa
The Dunloe Hotel and Gardens
Waterford
Granville Hotel
Ulster Hotel Merit Winners
Belfast
Stormont Hotel
Europa Hotel
Grand Central Hotel Belfast
Culloden Estate and Spa
Connaught Hotel Merit Winners
Galway
Galway Bay Hotel
Mayo
Hotel Westport
Leinster Visit Merit Winner
Offaly
Clonmacnoise
Dublin
Malahide Castle
St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin
Glasnevin Museum
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
Dalkey Castle Heritage Centre
Cooks Academy
Kilmainham Gaol
Kildare
Irish National Stud & Gardens
Meath
Brú na Bóinne Newgrange & Knowth
Wicklow
Glendalough Visitor Centre
Wexford
Dunbrody Emigrant Ship
Kilkenny
Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny
Kilkenny Castle
Greta Power Bungalow B&B
Munster Visit Merit Winner
Clare
Cliffs of Moher
Cork
Jameson Experience Midleton
Charles Fort Kinsale
Blarney Castle
Limerick
Foynes Flying Boat Museum
Kerry
Muckross House and Gardens
Tangney Tours Jaunting Car
John B Keane’s Pub
Waterford
House of Waterford Crystal
Marine Bar Waterford
Ulster Visit Merit Winner
Donegal
Donegal Castle
Glenveagh Castle & National Park
Slieve League Cliffs
Antrim
The Causeway Coast Discovery Centre
Giant’s Causeway
Down
Hillsborough Castle
Down Cathedral
Connaught Visit Merit Winner
Galway
Dún Aonghasa
Connemara Celtic Crystal
Dan O’Hara Homestead
Kylemore Abbey
Mayo
Westport House
Ballintubber Abbey
About CIE Tours International:
CIE Tours International (www.cietours.com), a member of the CIE Group, is one of Ireland’s longest established speciality tour operators, celebrating 88 years in business this year. In 2019, the company booked over 350,000 bed nights throughout the country. Employing 150 people, with offices in Dublin, London and New Jersey, it operates all-inclusive coach tours and fly-drive programmes to Ireland as well as coach tours of Britain and mainland Europe. It also provides combined tours of Ireland and the UK. In 2019 the company introduced new tours to Italy and Iceland.
Resolve to hop the pond in 2020: Book in January to score two‐for-one airfare on select CIE Tours Irish and U.K. adventures.
Traveling twosomes must book by Jan. 31 with promotion code 2FOR120 for departures April 1 – May 31 and Sept. 15 – Dec. 31; restrictions apply*
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Jan. 2, 2020 – Add an overseas adventure to that New Year’s resolutions list: CIE Tours, the Irish tour leader with almost 90 years of experience, has announced a two‐for‐one airfare promotion for those who book select 2020 guided vacations in Ireland and the U.K. before the month ends. Travelers must book by Jan. 31, 2020 for travel departures within one of two windows: April 1 – May 31 or Sept. 15 – Dec. 31. The limited‐time offer is valid on a total of 20 tours to Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, with appealing options for everything from a couple’s getaway to a mother‐and‐daughter adventure, bro‐cation and more.
Travelers and travel advisors must book by phone and mention promotion code 2FOR120 to qualify for the two‐for‐one airfare offer, which is available for travel from the U.S. and Canada only. To learn more about terms and itinerary details, visit cietours.com or connect with a travel professional.
Following is just a sampling of the 20 select guided tours available with the offer:
Best of Ireland South: Guests experience the best of Ireland in one week with this perfect introductory tour that begins in Dublin. Along the way, they enjoy a tour of Trinity College and visit to Book of Kells, a sheep-herding demonstration, Blarney Castle, the majestic Cliffs of Moher, beautiful Dingle Peninsula, a walking tour of Galway, and a medieval‐style Irish feast.
Irish Heritage: CIE Tours’ longest‐running Ireland tour showcases all the classic sights and rich history of the Emerald Isle. Highlights include King John’s Castle with its costumed guides and touchscreen technology, the Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, and a jaunting car ride to Ross Castle and Killarney Estate. Guests can trace their ancestry at Cobh Heritage Centre, tour the House of Waterford Crystal, and venture through the Wicklow Mountains to mystical Glendalough before wrapping up the tour in Dublin.
Irish Spirit: This leisurely Irish tour covers the spectacular scenery of the countryside and seaside, with plenty of stops to explore vibrant towns from coast to coast, including Waterford, Kilkenny and the village of Cong (of The Quiet Man fame). Other highlights of this Dublin round-trip include a tour and whiskey sampling at the Jameson Experience, the Ring of Kerry drive, a jaunting car ride in Killarney, a visit to Clonmacnoise Monastic Site and a lively evening at Dublin’s Abbey Tavern.
Great British Cities: Guests explore Edinburgh, York and London at a leisurely pace with two‐ and three‐night stays in each. They’ll enjoy city sightseeing tours, pub evenings, and excursions to the golfing town of St. Andrews, the fishing port of Whitby, Shakespeare’s Stratford‐upon‐Avon, and more.
For more information, visit www.cietours.com, call 800‐243‐8687, or connect with a travel professional.
About CIE Tours
The premier tour operator for Ireland and Britain vacations, CIE Tours offers fully inclusive and expertly guided vacations to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, from coach tours to small group travel and highly curated private itineraries. To offer travelers even more options, destinations now include Iceland, Italy and cruises along the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Since 1932, 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 CIE Tours.
Nine Days of Black Friday: CIE Tours’ Biggest Sale of the Year — 15% Off on More Than 30 Dream Vacations to Ireland, Britain, Iceland and Italy
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Nov. 25, 2019 – CIE Tours, the Irish tour leader with more than 87 years of experience, is getting a head start on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals with a nine-day sale, launching today, that offers 15-percent savings on more than 30 of its 2020 guided vacations. This means that more than half of all tours are on sale, including brand-new tours as well as some of CIE Tours’ most popular trips in Ireland, Britain, Iceland and Italy. Using the promotion code BLACKFRIDAY2019, travelers can book anytime between now and next Tuesday, Dec. 3, for departures Jan. 1 – July 31, 2020 and Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2020. Offer details and restrictions are online at cietours.com/black-Friday-deals.
As many as 33 land-only tours, ranging from six to 23 days, qualify for the 15-percent-off discount. There are itineraries appealing to a wide array of interests, from adventure travelers to history buffs to Irish-Americans seeking to connect with their family legacy. A sampling:
New! Ireland by Road & Rail: Guests explore Ireland via modern coach, rail, boat and even a vintage double-decker bus—complete with afternoon tea—on this eight-day adventure that starts and ends in Dublin. Classic attractions like the Guinness Storehouse, the Book of Kells and Waterford Crystal are paired with hidden treasures like Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory—one of the smallest and most remote chocolate factories in the world. Other highlights include beautiful Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher and lively Galway City.
New! Ireland South Daytripper: Guests live like locals in the picturesque village of Adare for five nights of this tour, staying at a luxury, family-run hotel and taking day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, around the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula, and a scenic rail journey to the seaport town of Cobh—the last port of call for the Titanic. Along the way, they’ll enjoy a sheepdog demonstration, jaunting car ride, a drink at the South Pole Inn, and a visit to Blarney Castle. Capping off the tour is a private pub experience in Dublin and free time to explore before a final night’s stay in Ireland’s capital city.
New! Best of London & Paris: Guests experience two of the world’s great capital cities on this special tour. It starts with afternoon tea while touring London in a vintage double-decker Routemaster. The next few days include the British Museum, a London pub food tour, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Then it’s off to Paris by Eurostar train, followed by a Seine River cruise. Days five and six include the Louvre, Montmartre, and plenty of free time to explore the City of Lights.
New! Taste of England: Starting in London and ending in Liverpool, this sweeping tour of England combines the Best of Northern England and Best of Southern England tours in one, treating Anglophile travelers to all the main attractions of this fascinating country—and so much more. Punting on the River Cam, stops for tours and samplings at Shepherd Neame Brewery, the Lakes Distillery and Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, and a vintage train ride from the Goathland Station that portrayed Hogsmeade Station in the first “Harry Potter” film are among the authentic experiences’ guests will enjoy along the way.
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way: From the Cliffs of Moher to lively Galway to windswept Achill Island, travelers will discover magnificent views as they explore the world’s longest coastal drive along Ireland’s western and northern coastlines. The tour continues with a foraging adventure on the Sligo Food Trail, the Giants Causeway, a day each in Belfast and Dublin, and more.
Northern Welcome: Showcasing the rich culture and stunning natural beauty of Northern Ireland, this tour begins and ends in Dublin. Along the way, guests can admire the magnificent Mourne Mountains and peaceful coastline as they travel north to tour ancient Down Cathedral and the historical burial place of St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. They’ll explore Belfast and visit the magnificent Titanic Belfast, then round the scenic Inishowen peninsula before stops in Donegal and Galway.
Best of Britain: This comprehensive tour of England, Scotland and Wales spans Britain’s great cities—London, Edinburgh and Cardiff—as well as charming countryside villages. Along the way there are castles to explore, including Windsor, Bamburgh, Edinburgh and Cardiff, and ancient sites like Stonehenge and the Roman Baths. Guests stop in Liverpool for the British Music Experience and an evening at the famous Cavern Club before heading to London for independent sightseeing and a Tower of London tour.
For more information on CIE Tours, visit www.cietours.com, call 800-243-8687, or connect with a travel professional.
About CIE Tours
The premier tour operator for Ireland and Britain vacations, CIE Tours offers fully inclusive and expertly guided vacations to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, from coach tours to small group travel and highly curated private itineraries. These destinations have expanded to Iceland and Italy this year with CIE Tours’ newest itineraries, and 2020 will herald further travel opportunities for CIE Tours’ guests with the debut of new cruises along the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Since 1932, 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 CIE Tours.
