This is the place for updates on our upcoming Ireland Getaways and for additional information that pertains to your November 7th, 2010 jaunt to the Land of the Leprechaun! Latest Updates...click here EXTENSIVE IRELAND FAQ - CLICK HERE! Ireland: Some Questions and Answers! Q. Do I need to take a hair dryer with me? A. No, they are supplied in each room at the hotel. Q. Is there Internet service at the hotels? A. There may be, but the best bet will be the very inexpensive Internet Cafes located near our hotel in downtown Killarney. Q. What is the electric voltage in Ireland? A. 220 volts. You'll need an adapter to operate most US devices; there normally is a 110 volt electric outlet for shavers in the hotels, but we find it does not always work properly. Q. How about money exchange, etc? A. You may want to bring a small amount of euros with you. You can get such in pre-packaged amounts at AAA offices, or change dollars to euros at most banks here, though most may have to order it for you. Upon our early arrival in Ireland, only the Bureau De Change (not the Irish banks) will be open. We suggest only changing a small amount there. Wait until we arrive in Bray to change the bulk of your dollars. The exchange rate will be better at the local banks and there are several a few blocks away from the hotels! Traveler's Cheques can be exchanged at the bank, with your passport as ID, and you can get them in Euros at many AAA offices in the US. We do not recommend taking Traveler's Cheques in US Dollars. If you take cash, DO NOT take any $100 bills! Due to counterfeit problems, these cannot be exchanged; stick to $50s and under. See below for details on AAA Tip Paks. There is always a variable surcharge for any money exchange, be it at an ATM, Bank or Bureau de Change. We recommend against the use of pre-paid Visa or American Express Travel Cards. Carefully check any purchases that are charged to your credit card directly in US Dollars - often the merchant builds in a hefty premium as part of the exchange rate, but sometimes it CAN BE a better deal... Q. What about credit cards? A. MasterCard and Visa are accepted at most larger stores and restaurants; American Express to a lesser extent. Discover is a US-based card and will not be accepted in Ireland - leave home without it! There are ATMs at banks and the at airport. Credit cards may not be accepted at small shops and other establishments, especially out in the country however, so please keep that in mind! Check with your credit card company to see what fees they levy on ATM transactions in Ireland, as well as foreign exchange fees on purchases. That way the bargain you thought you had might remain as such!! Q. How is the weather in Ireland this time of year? A. Changeable! It will likely be in the 50s by day and upper 40s by night. Expect some rain and some sun. The rain only makes things greener on the Emerald Isle! Dress in layers and take some rain gear with you – at least an umbrella and water resistant shoes and perhaps a raincoat – that way, it won't rain at all!! See the Irish weather link near the bottom of this page for much more on the weather in the Emerald Isle! Q. How do we tip the driver-guide? A. That is entirely at your discretion...We would suggest perhaps 4 to 6 Euros per person per day as a general guide – more or less is up to you and how you feel about the service provided. You may give it to the driver-guide on the last evening or even as we load or depart the coach on the day we head home from Shannon. We'll provide envelopes for you, so not to worry! Q. Is there a rest room on the coach? A. No, unfortunately. Frequent stops will be made however, including for any “emergency” situation. Q. May I leave the group to do my own “thing” one day? A. Certainly! Just be sure to let us know ahead of time so we don't lose you! Nothing is mandatory on this tour!! Q. How should I pack? A. As lightly as possible; you are limited to ONE checked bag on the coach (therefore ONE checked bag on Aer Lingus) per person, NOT to exceed 62 linear inches and 70 lbs each – not that we intend to help with bags that heavy!! You may also bring one carry-on, (needs to be tagged as well) which must weigh 13 pounds or LESS and be within 22X18X10 inches in dimension and one “personal item” (camera bag, purse, etc) per person. Keep ALL medications and film in your carry-on please! See the Aer Lingus baggage info below for more details...For general carry-on baggage guidance, please click here! Note the new restrictions on liquids - if in doubt, put them in a zip-lock bag and then into your CHECKED baggage!!! See the "3-1-1" rules link on our facts page - or click here (PDF download brochure). Q. How about smoking in Ireland? A. Currently, all pubs are still nonsmoking – let's hope it stays that way! Coaches are also nonsmoking. We request that ALL of our rooms at the hotel be nonsmoking! For a great road map of the country simply click here! Click here for the latest Dollar-to-Euro exchange rate!
Our last single just turned into a twin, so...we now have ONE single remaining at the very reasonable $229 supplement! PARKING is now FULL at the agency...Kindly make arrangements to be dropped off for our Sunday departure on November 7...Thanks! :) Our charter coach to Boston/Logan has been secured. This year, we'll be traveling with Peter Pan Bus Lines out of Springfield - top notch folks. If need be, we have arranged a stop in Sturbridge, MA for passenger pick-up of any folks who live in that area. That stop is at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant on Route 20, just a few feet from I-84, by the way! Should our final passenger list not require that, we'll simply bypass Sturbridge. 2009 DVD Update! The DVD from our 2009 Killarney Getaway is complete! Each couple or single will receive a copy, which is now in the mail. Once you receive it, by all means pass it around and pass the word so we can fill this year's trip...and spread the beauty that is Ireland! Kindly let us know if you like it? We think it will be a fun keepsake...Thanks very much. - Donna and Dennis Document Party Alert! The date for our Document Party and buffet is set for Saturday, October 23 at 6pm, Town & Country Restaurant, 820 Park Avenue, Bloomfield Center. PLEASE mark your calendars and plan to join us for some great food and fun. Once again, we'll show last year's DVD, give away some neat door prizes, answer all questions and distribute documents. You'll meet your fellow travelers, perhaps make some carpool arrangements for the local coach to Boston (as parking is just about full here) and have some terrific home-made food! More on this as time progresses. See you there...D&D CLICK HERE for a source of 3 ounce or less travel toiletries & other travel essentials that will pass TSA muster! Click here for a route map of the Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. One way fare from the city center to Bray is currently 2.75Euro (about $3.75USD) * * * * * * * * * * We'll be flying from Boston to Dublin each way this year and the hotel is just 34 miles from the airport, so we'll either stop along the way for breakfast upon our arrival or partake of it at our hotel - we'll keep you posted on that! For NOW, there is NO checked baggage fee for the FIRST bag, per traveler, on Aer Lingus. A 2nd checked bag will set you back $50 - for the moment - at check-in, so...our advice is to keep it to ONE checked bag, one small carry-on and one personal item per person and avoid any fees! Again, we'll keep you posted if this changes. JOHN O'NEILL has been requested once again, as our driver/guide for the week. We fully expect, God willing, to have him with us for the week! Our coach charter from Bloomfield to Boston/Logan, is, as always, at our cost and we request that ALL passengers participate so that the rate is the lowest, being divided equally among all of us...Of course, thsi does not apply to our out-of-state travelers!Thanks. ***For a map to us at 16 Brooke St, Bloomfield, [CLICK HERE]*** **This tour has a 100% cancellation penalty (thus the travel protection insurance!). Why is the insurance mandatory? Even in the very unlikely event that you have medical insurance that will cover you in Ireland for accident/illness, etc, that insurance will NOT cover you should you have to cancel for such reasons prior to departure! Your medical insurance will also NOT cover you if you have to cancel due to a pre-existing condition of any kind (or such a situation with a traveling companion or immediate family member) OR if the Tour Operator (Sceptre Tours) or the Airline Carrier (Aer Lingus) defaults financially or fails to operate, causing the tour not to operate! We therefore will decline to accept any group passengers who for whatever reasons opt not to purchase such coverage...It is for YOUR protection as well as ours! Thanks for understanding... Insurance premium is based on age and total trip cost. Please ask for details...Insurance protection provided by Travel Insured of East Hartford, CT. * * * * * * * * * * There is a sit-down restaurant - Houlihans - just beyond security and to the left, in Logan Terminal E. We expect to have time for dinner if you'd like, or there is a food court to the right after security... Dinner will be served (such as it is) not long after take-off; a VERY minimal breakfast snack will be served prior to landing in Dublin. We will be served a full Irish breakfast while enroute to Bray on the morning of our arrival however! It's probably best to wait for our arrival in Bray however, where there are several banks right near the hotel, to change any money! Seating configuration for Aer Lingus' Airbus Aircraft is 2/4/2: a window and aisle, four in the center section and another aisle/window making each row 8 across. This gives each row 2 window and 4 aisle seats, but undoubtedly some folks may be in the center of the "center" section, however, most of our group is usually (note - "usually") seated fairly near each other, but again, it's the luck of the draw so pleeease...grin and bear it!! Thanks! Current Aer Lingus flight schedule, subject to change of course: Depart Boston Sunday, Nov 7 at 7:30pm; arrive Dublin 7:50am Monday, Nov 8, EI 132 Depart Dublin Saturday, Nov 13 at 1:50pm, arrive Boston 4:05pm, EI 137 We should arrive back in Bloomfield by 7pm or earlier, depending on traffic/weather... Upon arrival in Dublin, we'll pass through immigration (have your landing card - which will be given on board the aircraft - and passport ready). After that, we'll proceed to bag claim. You'll collect your luggage (free carts are available) and pass through the GREEN customs channel (nothing to declare) and into the arrivals hall. Our driver/guide will meet us there and we'll then proceed to the coach. CURRENT Aer Lingus Baggage Guidelines for OUR trip: Flights to and from the USA only - Economy ClassTo comply with TSA regulations, passengers will be subject to secondary security screening immediately prior to boarding. CARRY ON INFO:
CHECKED BAGGAGE INFO: New Free Baggage Allowance as of 7/1/09:
For the LATEST rules and regulations related to baggage and security, go to www.aerlingus.com DIRECTIONS TO D&D TRAVEL: To reach us from I-91 north, take the I-291/Windsor Route 218 exit 35B, stay to the left; go left at the end of the ramp and follow west to the light at Blue Hills Ave. Take a right, get into the LEFT lane, go to your 2nd light and turn left onto Park Avenue, at the BP Station. Take your 2nd right onto Nelson Dr and then a left at the stop sign onto Brooke - we are at #16 - the last house on the right at the dead end...From Bloomfield Center, follow Park Ave (Rt 178) east, make NO turns and then go left on Nelson and left onto Brooke St. We are 2 miles from the center of town...From I-91 south, take the Rt 218 exit 35, go right at the end of the ramp and continue as above. From Rt 178 in Bloomfield Center, simply head east toward Windsor; make NO turns! Go 2 miles and take a left onto Nelson Drive, then a left onto Brooke. We suggest you make a "dry run" if you are not familiar with the area, as we MUST depart by 2:00pm and will be UNABLE to wait for anyone!!! Thanks!
D & D TRAVEL SERVICES, LLC: (860) 243-9458 or (800) 613-0282 click to email us: dennis@ddtvl.com |
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