Frequently Asked Questions

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What you can expect from a B&B

Also known as a Guest House.  A B&B is usually a traditional family home that has been converted. The most common types of rooms available in B&B’s are doubles or twins. Family rooms – one double bed and one single bed (suitable for 3 adults) are also available in many B&B’s and there are single rooms, however, single rooms often come at a supplement. You will find a hospitality tray with tea and coffee making facilities and a TV in the room. All bed linen and towels are provided. Breakfast is provided in the morning and is included in the price. Vegetarian options are available on request.

B&B En-suite (most common type of accommodation)

The showering and toilet facilities are within the bedroom for your own private use.

What you can expect from a Hotel

A Hotel is a larger property, offering the same room types as a B&B en-suite. Some hotels have a bar or restaurant for the use of their guests and normally provide evening meals. All bedding and linen are provided. Breakfast is provided in the morning and is included in the price.

Room types available in B&B’s or Hotels

Double room – 1 double bed = sleeps 2 people

Twin room – 2 single beds = sleeps 2 people

Single room – 1 single bed = sleeps 1 person

Family room/ Triple Room – 1 double bed and 1 single bed = sleeps 3 people

How many people are on an escorted coach tour?

All escorted coach tours have a maximum of 40 passengers with the exception of the Manor Royal tour which has a maximum of 30 passengers per departure.

How much luggage can I take on an escorted coach tour?

Royal Irish Tours permits one piece of luggage and a carry-on bag per person.

Is there a restroom on the bus?

Yes there is however it is meant for emergencies only.  Our tours make frequent stops every 1 to 2 hours at a time.  Your driver/guide will inform you when the next stop will be.

Are transfers included on your escorted tours?

Our tours match up with Air Transat’s flight times on day 1 of the tour and the last day of the tour.  If you are arriving/departing on an alternate airline, please contact Royal Irish Tours to verify if we can offer free transfers.  Otherwise, you can purchase separate transfers  through us or make alternate arrangements to meet the group at the hotel.

You may check into rooms between 1:00pm and 3:00pm, depending on the hotel policy.   If your room is not ready, you can ask the concierge to hold on to your bags while you explore the nearest town or grab lunch.

What about travel times on a coach tour?

In Ireland the general rule of thumb is: bags are outside your room at 7:00am, breakfast at 8:00am and leave the hotel by 9:00am. The tour will make plenty of stops during the day for visits, lunch, photo stops and comfort stops.   Arrival at the next hotel is usually between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.

What is the pace of each tour?

All of our tours are leisurely paced and provide plenty of stops so you are never on the coach for too long.  For the most part, our tours will overnight at least 2 nights in each hotel.

How much walking is involved on each tour?

We do incorporate some walking tours in places such as Derry in Northern Ireland. These are leisurely-paced guided walks.  If you feel you are not able to participate, you do not have to.

What is a table d’hote dinner?

It’s a 4- or 5-course meal with a choice of appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts. If you have specific dietary restrictions please advise your waiter/waitress and they will be able to assist.

How much money do I need to carry?

You will need money for lunch each day and some dinners where specified on the tour itinerary.

Lunch cost an average of EUR15 per day and dinner from EUR20 and up.

For larger purchases, we suggest using your credit card (Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted) and/or using an ATM machine to avoid carrying a large amount of cash.

It is customary to tip your driver and guide.  We recommend as follows:

Driver/Guide:  € 3.00 per day. Local sightseeing guides:  € 1.00 per day

Can I combine a coach tour with a self-drive program or with a second coach tour?

Absolutely! Call to speak to one of our representatives and we are more than happy to make the arrangements for you.

Do children travel on coach tours?

Minimum age to travel on our coach tours is 7 years of age.

A valid Canadian passport is required to visit the island of Ireland and no visa is required. However, if you are travelling on a passport issued by another country (although a resident in Canada), please check visa requirements with the embassy.

We recommend that your passport be valid between 3 to 6 months following your return to Canada.

For further information on Canadian Passports, visit http://www.passport.gc.ca/info/

Embassy of Ireland:

Suite 1105, 130 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 / Web http://www.embassyofireland.ca/

Canadian Embassy, Dublin: 

65 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 /   Tel:  (353) (0) 1 417 4100

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND  – Emergency Police, Fire, Ambulance:  Tel  112 or 999

NORTHERN IRELAND – Emergency Police, Fire, Ambulance:  Tel  999

These numbers are free of charge but should only be used in cases of genuine emergency.  On answer, state which service you require, wait to be connected to that service, and then clearly state the location of where the assistance is required.

Ireland is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Clocks are put forward 1 hour mid-March and back 1 hour at the end of October. During summer it stays light until as late as 23:00hrs but by mid-December it can be dark by 16:00hrs.

Ireland’s climate is influenced most by the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it doesn’t have the extreme temperatures that other countries at similar latitude would have. The average temperature is a mild 10°C.  A major warm ocean current called the North Atlantic Drift keeps sea temperatures mild too. Hills and mountains, mainly around the coast, shelter the rest of the island from strong winds coming off the ocean.  So while the weather can be changeable – it’s rarely extreme.

Average Monthly Temperatures – Dublin

Wondering what to bring? You’ll need to be adaptable. So go for layers that you can put on or take off as the temperature changes. Bring a sweater, even in summer; waterproofs to accompany all outdoor activities; sunglasses; comfortable walking shoes and an umbrella.

You can only book by calling our reservations department directly at 1-866-907-8687 or by contacting your local travel agent.
We accept Visa, Mastercard & American Express
All prices are displayed and quoted in CAD.

For our coach tours, we have space for one suitcase as well as 1 carry-on bag. We work with several airline carriers, who each have their own airline restrictions. Please check our ‘Flights’ section on this site for baggage restrictions for your flight.

We will ship documents by regular mail approximately 30 days prior to departure. If you require documents earlier, we need sufficient notice to arrange for early delivery. For new bookings made within 3 weeks prior to departure will be sent electronically.
Please read through all your paperwork to ensure that everything is correct.