Hi, I'm Deirdre 👋
In my job as Sales & Marketing Manager for Vagabond Tours, I frequently get asked this question:
"Why should we choose a Vagabond or Driftwood Tour of Ireland over other Irish tour operators?".
As a local, I've witnessed how Vagabond's small-group tours offer an unparalleled experience. In my first 2 weeks with the company, I went away on an 8 Day Wild Irish Rover Tour, to experience our tours firsthand.
Whatever the reason for your vacation to Ireland — a family adventure, a romantic getaway or an impulsive last-minute trip — you want your trip to be memorable.
In the following article, I've listed what I hope are some compelling reasons about why you should consider a Vagabond or Driftwood Tour of Ireland.
⚠️ Full Disclosure: I had a little help from the lovely folk who have sent us a Trip Advisor review. Join me as I share the reasons that past guests chose Vagabond.
Small Group Tours - Like Travelling with Family!
First things first, we are a small group tour company.
Only ever touring with a maximum of 15 guests allows us to give back to our guests.
Our VagaGuides can provide a level of care that would be challenging if there were, for instance, 50 people on the tour vehicle with us.
Small group sizes give us greater flexibility to style each day's activities to the preferences of group.
As one recent customer put it:
"Our tour guide/driver Tomas was a joy. His knowledge of his country as well as his wonderful sense of humor made our group turn into family."
This review captures the spirit of our tours.
Overall, I believe small-group tours give you — our guest — a better experience with the gorgeous places you visit and the friendly and authentic Irish people you meet.
Get Off The Beaten Path (A Lot!)
Another benefit to our small group ethos is more easily going off the beaten path.
This is a core value at Vagabond & Driftwood. Down the backroads and away from tourist traps, we can show you the real Ireland.
One recent guest told us on TripAdvisor how much she enjoyed heading off the beaten path:
"Everything about the tour was superb. Brendan was kind and full of great information. He took us off the beaten path to places we never would have known of. We saw so many beautiful places and did so many unique things- sheep dog demo, feeding baby lambs, sea safari, the list goes on and on."
Of course, we do bring you to must-see sights, such as:
- 🌊 The Cliffs of Moher
- ⛰️ The Giant's Causeway
- 💋 Blarney Castle
The difference is that we know what time to visit these destinations to best beat the crowds. After all, why waste time queuing when you could be off exploring some other hidden gems?
Savour the feeling of adventure and genuine discovery as you visit amazing sights that are not listed in Ireland guidebooks.
Under the guidance of our experienced guides, you can unearth these hidden gems for yourself.
Your Personal Travel Guide To Ireland
Entertainers.
Historians.
Raconteurs.
Singers.
Poets.
Comedians.
Mother hens.
That's just a few ways that our team of expert VagaGuides have been described by past guests.
Our VagaGuides add that secret sauce to your experience in Ireland.
They are a dynamic bunch, who love their jobs and are highly-trained to deliver personal service from the minute you step onboard.
We have found that one of the things guests are thankful for — besides the personality of our guides — is the lack of stress while touring with Vagabond & Driftwood.
The VagaGuides take care of the itinerary, they clean the vehicle at day's end, help you book optional activities, introduce you to each area's history and recommend their favourite spots to eat.
In short, our VagaGuide team help you make the most of your time in Ireland.
As a previous customer summed it up:
"Our guide, Angela, was a gift; knowledgeable, good humored, sensitive to others, competent, efficient. Her good humor and interest in other built us into a traveling community. Her sly humor and engaging laugh inspired a number of ongoing jokes that only added to our group enjoyment."
Personalised Service From The First Call Or Email
As you can imagine, after running tours of Ireland for 23 seasons, we have learned a trick or two along the way.
Listening to guest feedback has helps us fine-tune our tours each and every year. So you'll always be getting the best possible version of the tour.
Your experience doesn't start when you meet us in person in Dublin on Day 1. Rather, we insist on personal service from the first point of contact.
Did you know that we offer personalised itineraries once you've confirmed your tour?
Plus all guests have the option of print-friendly itineraries — when you need to print it all out, plan your flights in advance with your travel buddies and make this exciting vacation just a little more real!
As a recent guest put it on TripAdvisor:
"From the very beginning,when researching options for a first-time trip to Ireland ... Vagabond Tours provided a flawless experience. Danielle answered all my questions leading up to the trip.
The website and pretrip materials were very thorough and informative. Of course, being professionals, every detail was well-planned, check-ins at all the hotels was smooth, the itinerary was perfect for our needs and we learned a ton about Ireland."
If you came here questioning why you should choose Vagabond or Driftwood Tours of Ireland, I hope that we have in some way answered your concerns.
Get In Touch
Our friendly team at VagaHQ in Wicklow will be glad to answer any other queries you might have:
For active Vagabond Cultural Adventures enquiries contact John: johnboy@vagabond.ie
For relaxed Driftwood Journeys of Discovery enquiries contact Danielle: daniellle@vagabond.ie
