FAQ

Question 1

Passport, visa & entry requirements

Accepted Answer

- In order to enter Ireland, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to [goaheadtours.com/myaccount](goaheadtours.com/myaccount).

Question 2

Tour pacing & mobility

Accepted Answer

* You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across uneven terrain, including dirt paths and unpaved trails, with some hills and steep stairs.
* Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
* You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
* Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
* If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Question 3

Transportation & arrival information

Accepted Answer

- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Dublin. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
- Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- All other included transportation is by private motor coach.

Question 4

Baggage allowance

Accepted Answer

* Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
* Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
* Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
* Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Question 5

Clothing & packing tips

Accepted Answer

*   We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
*   A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
*   You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
*   It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Question 6

Health

Accepted Answer

- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at [**cdc.gov**](https://www.cdc.gov).
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to [goaheadtours.com/myaccount](goaheadtours.com/myaccount).

Question 7

Cuisine

Accepted Answer

* Ireland’s farming scene and deep roots in tradition make for hearty pub meals, (stew or shepherd’s pie, anyone?). But there’s also an emerging movement of farm-to-table and sea-to-table dishes, and an impressive network of high-quality food and beverage producers.
* Guinness stout is an international sensation, but locals might favor Murphy's, depending on where you are. A large selection of handcrafted cider is also widely available, thanks to thriving apple orchards on the east coast and inland to Kilkenny and Tipperary. While wine may not come to mind when you imagine Irish beverages, wine production is up-and-coming in County Cork. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a draught of Irish whisky, particularly the ever-popular Jameson.
* Dublin has seen something of a culinary revolution, and the city now boasts an impressive array of new restaurants offering exciting cuisine with continental Europe, Asian, and even American influences.
* West Cork is a foodie hub in Ireland, where everything from local produce, meat, seafood, and dairy products are featured in every farm-to-table meal.
* Some of the must-try local foods on this tour include homemade cheese from County Kilkenny, wild mushrooms on the Beara Peninsula, smoked fish, mussels, and chocolate. Soda bread is delicious, very filling, and served with many meals. Nibble a scone at afternoon tea with a pat of high-quality butter from County Kerry.

Question 8

Electricity & air conditioning

Accepted Answer

* Ireland operates within 230-240 volts and use a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
* We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
* The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
* Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Question 9

Connectivity

Accepted Answer

*   Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though charges may apply.
*   There is no internet access on the motor coach.
*   Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Question 10

Time zones

Accepted Answer

* Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
* When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm on tour.

Question 11

Currency

Accepted Answer

* You will use the euro on tour.
* Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
* We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
* You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
* Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
* International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Question 12

Tipping

Accepted Answer

- At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $4USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.

Ireland with Erica Wides

Pull up a pub stool for Sunday roasts, good pints, and quintessential Irish craic.

Your tour package includes

Included highlights

Itinerary

Overnight Flight

Day 1: Travel day

Dublin

Day 2: Arrival in Dublin & Michelin-sar dinner

Hotels

The Samuel Hotel

Kilkenny - River Court Hotel

Flights

Add our airfare and you’ll get:

Weather

Kilkenny, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

FAQ