Life On Tour

The industry standard in Ireland is €15 per person, per day. But this is, of course, at your discretion.

Our team of VagaGuide tour guides really appreciate any tips that come their way after leading a Vagabond or Driftwood small-group tour.

All of our tours are fully guided by our team of expert driver guides.

We call them VagaGuides.

Lunches and dinners are not included on Vagabond and Driftwood Tours. You are free to choose your own lunches and dinners.

Your VagaGuide tour guide will recommend their favourite cafes, restaurants and shops. We find that this flexible approach to included meals allows us to cater for diverse tastes, budgets and diets.

All hotel breakfasts are included in your tour price.

If you have your heart set on a particular restaurant in Ireland, we recommend pre-booking in advance. Pre-booking may be especially necessary during busy travel periods or peak season (May - September), when demand can be high.

For all tours visiting Dingle, we strongly recommend pre-booking popular restaurants in advance during peak season. Rest assured, this is only recommended for higher end dining. There are plentiful casual food options in which don't require pre-booking.

Ireland is one of the best destinations on the planet for people with dietary requirements.

That said, please alert us to your specific needs before your tour departure: enquiries@vagabond.ie

Although it can be a bonding experience — and a lot of fun — there's absolutely no obligation to eat with your fellow guests while touring.

Everyone is free to do their own thing.

Owing to the remote nature of some hotels on our tours, there will occasionally be only a single choice for evening dining.

Your VagaGuide can help make group reservations for restaurants if you do want to dine with fellow guests.

When your Vagabond or Driftwood tour overnights in a town, expect a myriad of great dining options.

Kinsale, Dingle, Waterford and Kilkenny are all notable for a wide choice in restaurants.

Past guests tell us that eating gluten-free in Ireland is easily achievable. All menus in Ireland must list allergens by law.

Coeliacs and those with wheat intolerances can find GF options in restaurants, cafes and supermarkets, as well as at hotel breakfasts.

Yes, in most cases, it is perfectly safe to drink the tap water in Ireland. In fact, according to the official statistics by Irish Water, 99.6% of households currently receive a water supply that is safe to drink.

Instead of buying water bottles, refill your reusable water bottle at your hotel or at one of the stops on the Ireland Tap Map app.

To make everyone's tour run smoothly, we operate strict limits on baggage size. Plan to bring 1x compact suitcase as well as 1x daypack or backpack, per guest booking.

Your single large piece of luggage should weigh no more than 51lb (23kg) and measure no longer than 31” (79cm) along its longest side. This 31 inch (79cm) limit includes any wheels that may protrude from the suitcase or bag.

Yes, you'll be required to move your bag in and out of each hotel room.

Your VagaGuide tour guide will load and unload your baggage from the tour vehicle.

Most of our hotels do not offer porterage services.

It's difficult to access your main luggage or suitcase while on tour. Luggage is securely packed in our tour vehicles. As a result, it's not easy for your driver guide to access individual items of baggage during the day.

However, you can easily access your luggage at each hotel. So that you have your travel essentials close at hand, we recommend bringing a daypack, or backpack, that you can keep beside you in the tour vehicle.

You'll love touring Ireland on Vagabond & Driftwood customised tour vehicles. All guests rotate seats so that everyone gets to meet everyone.

Our two different tour styles travel in two different types of vehicle. For your comfort, we limit our tour group sizes to a maximum of 15 guests for Driftwood and 13 guests for Vagabond.

Most hotels in Ireland do not have air conditioning.

The climate in Ireland usually isn't hot enough to warrant air conditioning.

In periods of prolonged warm weather, hotels that don’t have air conditioning will normally install fans in the bedrooms.

Find out more about Irish weather and the best time to visit Ireland

All of your hotel rooms on tour provide hairdryers.

Please note that, in some cases, Irish hotel hairdryers may not be the most powerful models.

All of our hotels offer double, twin and single room types. Doubles have 1x bed, twins have 2x separate beds and singles have 1x bed.

When booking with us, please select a room requirement for each passenger listed. Choose your room type based on each person sharing.

The standard bed size in Ireland equates to a US Queen (60" x 80"). This may vary with hotel or room type.

We put great effort into selecting accommodation for both Vagabond Cultural Adventures and Driftwood Journeys of Discovery.

You will be staying at small family-run hotels, high quality guesthouses or even an Irish castle hotel!

Your group will start exploring between 8.45-9.30am each morning.

Each evening, your group will return to your hotel at around 6pm.

Yes, you'll be required to move your bag in and out of each hotel room.

Your VagaGuide tour guide will load and unload your baggage from the tour vehicle.

Most of our hotels do not offer porterage services.

Yes, all hotel rooms on Vagabond and Driftwood Tours of Ireland are ensuite.

Expect your own separate bathroom with toilet, sink and shower unit and/or combined shower and bath.

We operate a strict no smoking policy on all of our tour vehicles.

Vaping and e-cigarettes are also not allowed while on board our tour vehicles.

🚭 Smoking Ban In Ireland

Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places in Ireland and in all workplaces.

Smoking is also not permitted inside your hotel. However, all hotels will provide outdoor smoking areas.

The ban on smoking in Ireland includes company vehicles (cars and vans) as well as offices, pubs/bars and restaurants.

Dreaming of a night in a romantic Irish castle?

The following Driftwood Journeys of Discovery spend at least one night in a castle hotel:

Are you coming to Dublin in 2025 or 2026?

Use this list of major events in Dublin to plan your trip and get the best hotel rates and availability.

The following hotels on Vagabond & Driftwood Tour hotels have pools and spa facilities.