Planning Your Tour FAQs

All of our tours depart from Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel [Google Maps location] on either Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays between 7.50am and 8.30am.

Please plan to arrive at the Grand Canal Hotel at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

All of our tours leave from our pick-up/drop-off point at the Grand Canal Hotel in Dublin.

Our pick-up times from the Grand Canal Hotel vary by tour:

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.

Serviced laundry facilities are available on tours that stay 2 nights in the following towns:

• 🧺 Dingle - Check which tours visit Dingle

While travel insurance is not a requirement for our tours, we strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance cover before your trip to Ireland.

Your policy should cover all medical costs associated with travel.

Yes, there are regular comfort stops along the tour route where you can avail of restroom facilities.

Simply ask your VagaGuide if you're unsure when the next stop is coming

Are you a citizen of the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand?

If so, you DO NOT require a visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland for the sole purpose of tourism.

Ireland's climate can be unpredictable. We often see four seasons in one hour, let alone one day!

We highly recommend packing a high quality waterproof jacket and wearing light layers of clothing. This will allow you to adapt to our charmingly ever-changing weather.

To help you plan your return flights, here are the days and times that our tours return to Dublin.

The return point for all tours is Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel

No.

Current medical guidelines in Ireland state that you do not have to take a COVID-19 test if you have respiratory symptoms unless a doctor requests you to do so.

Passport validity requirements for Ireland depend on your citizenship and whether a visa is required.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: There is NO requirement for US, Canadian, Australian or Aotearoa/New Zealand citizens visiting Ireland for tourism to have 6 months validity on their passports.

Plan ahead and you should be able to use your CPAP machine in Ireland with no problems.

Past guests have reported that finding distilled water and packing a suitable power adapter are the main challenges.

Ireland’s landscapes are truly breathtaking and we understand when you want to capture the magic from above. But before you launch your drone, it’s important to know that Ireland has some strict rules.

To keep things safe and stress free, you must follow Irish drone regulations, respect no-fly zones and be mindful of fellow guests, local communities and wildlife.

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.

It's never been easier to fly direct from the USA or Canada to Ireland.

21 cities in the US and 5 cities in Canada boast direct flight connections with Ireland.

All of our tours pick-up and drop-off from the same point in Dublin - the Grand Canal Hotel.

The Grand Canal Hotel is located just south of Dublin city centre.

Brexit has now happened and it's business as usual here at Vagabond & Driftwood Tours.

There has been zero disruption to our tours visiting Northern Ireland.

All Vagabond and Driftwood customer correspondence is carried out by email.

This includes your booking confirmation and other important pre-departure information.

Don't worry! There's no need to print your booking confirmation or voucher.

Simply bring the digital copy of your voucher with you on a smartphone or other device when you travel to Ireland.

Show this to your VagaGuide tour guide on the morning of Day 1 to confirm your place on the tour.

Dublin Airport is the best airport to fly to for Vagabond & Driftwood Tours.

That's because our pickup and dropoff point for all tours is Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel.

There is no other Irish airport within convenient driving distance.

Find out about flight connections to Ireland from North America

Your passport is the most important travel document you'll need to visit Ireland.

To board our tours, you'll need to show us proof of your tour voucher (either on your device or in printed form). Your voucher will be emailed to you before your tour.

The only other document we require is your disclaimer. This can be signed digitally. We'll email you a link to complete this process before your tour.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Check Your Passport Expiry Date Before Booking. Remember to check that your passport is in date for the duration of your stay in Ireland.

Anytime is a good time to visit Ireland!

Ireland is a welcoming place to visit. Irish people are renowned for friendliness.

Travellers are generally made to feel welcome. Irish society is socially progressive and crime is rare. The Global Peace Index awarded Ireland 2nd place on its 2024 list of the most peaceful countries in the world.

All you need is love.

But you'll also need the following items to travel to Ireland and tour with us.

We want our small-group tours to be as accessible as possible. Our friendly Sales team do their utmost to help you choose a tour itinerary that suits your needs

To fully enjoy both of our tour styles, all guests must have a minimum level of fitness. Full mobility is crucial.

Most Vagabond & Driftwood tour guests whose itineraries include Northern Ireland (NI) require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

If you are a US, Canadian, Australian or NZ citizen who does not reside in Ireland and you are taking one of these tours that visit Northern Ireland, you will require an ETA prior to travel.

You need to have been accepted for an ETA before you embark on your trip to the UK, including Northern Ireland.

From 2025 onwards, if you are taking a tour with us that visits Northern Ireland, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) pre-clearance.

Rest assured, the ETA application process is simple and affordable.

The application for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costs £16 (UK sterling). 

You can apply online or via the UK ETA App:

Before you start the application process for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), you will need the following:

• The passport you will travel with (not a photocopy);

It should take 3 working days to process an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This is an estimate. Real times may vary.

Please be aware, your application may be approved earlier or later than another person in your travelling group who applied at the same time.

You must apply before you depart. However, you can travel to the UK or Northern Ireland while you are awaiting a decision on your application.

The email address you used during your application will receive a notification confirming you've successfully acquired an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

Your passport will be digitally linked to the ETA.

Once approved, your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is valid for 2 years.

A new application for an ETA is required if you obtain a new passport during that period.

All of our tours leave from our pick-up/drop-off point at the Grand Canal Hotel in Dublin.

Our pick-up times from the Grand Canal Hotel vary by tour:

We do not book flights on behalf of our guests.

This gives you complete flexibility over your flight departure and arrival dates, your chosen airports and preferred airlines, not to mention the opportunity to take advantage of sales, promotions and frequent flyer programmes.

Please email us at enquiries@vagabond.ie with any questions about your tour.

To help you plan your return flights, here are the days and times that our tours return to Dublin.

The return point for all tours is Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel

Dublin Airport is the best airport to fly to for Vagabond & Driftwood Tours.

That's because our pickup and dropoff point for all tours is Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel.

There is no other Irish airport within convenient driving distance.

Find out about flight connections to Ireland from North America

Airport transfers are not included in our tour prices.

Taxis cost between €22-38 from Dublin Airport to downtown Dublin.

This taxi fare is dependent on several factors:

• The exact location of your hotel in Dublin;
• The number of passengers;
• The time that you hail the taxi (8pm-8am weekdays and all day Sundays and public holidays is a higher rate);

Private transfer and public transport options are also available from Dublin airport to the city centre.

Learn how to get from Dublin Airport to downtown Dublin

It's never been easier to fly direct from the USA or Canada to Ireland.

21 cities in the US and 5 cities in Canada boast direct flight connections with Ireland.

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.

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.

Travel light.

That's the one travel tip that we hear again and again from guests who have experienced our tours.

Serviced laundry facilities are available on tours that stay 2 nights in the following towns:

• 🧺 Dingle - Check which tours visit Dingle

Short answer = Yes.

We heartily recommend packing bug repellent in your suitcase when travelling to Ireland.

Unless you're travelling to Ireland from the UK, you will need an electrical plug adapter to use your devices and/or appliances here.

Luckily, power adapters are inexpensive and readily available in Ireland.

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.

You won't need to pack formal attire or fancy shoes when visiting Ireland.

Socialising at pubs and restaurants in Ireland is usually a relaxed and casual affair.

Jeans and sneakers are totally acceptable in 99.9% of the bars, pubs, hotels and restaurants that you frequent on our tours.

Read more about what to pack for a tour of Ireland

Hiking poles are not required for our hikes.

If you would prefer to use them, please bring collapsible hiking poles that fit easily into your luggage.

Our tour vehicles come equipped with one spare set of hiking poles in case a guest requires them at short notice.

All other equipment required for optional adventure activities will be provided by our suppliers.

Your passport is the most important travel document you'll need to visit Ireland.

To board our tours, you'll need to show us proof of your tour voucher (either on your device or in printed form). Your voucher will be emailed to you before your tour.

The only other document we require is your disclaimer. This can be signed digitally. We'll email you a link to complete this process before your tour.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Check Your Passport Expiry Date Before Booking. Remember to check that your passport is in date for the duration of your stay in Ireland.

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.

There are two currencies used on the island of Ireland. Which one you need, depends on which part of Ireland you're visiting.

You'll use Euro (€) while visiting the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland's currency is the Pound sterling (£).

We recommend bringing a small amount of cash in euros to Ireland with you.

Around €300 euro should be more than enough to get you through your first days in Dublin.

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.