Ireland, the second biggest island in Europe, is home to rolling hills of green, a rich and charming culture, and wonderfully welcoming people. There are lively cosmopolitan cities to explore as well as many remote villages to discover. Our European specialist Diane returned from her Irish journey and told us about some of her favorite experiences in the emerald isle.

 

Adare Manor

 

Adare Manor in Limerick welcomed Diane with classically warm Irish hospitality and homemade personalized dessert. Among the many memorable experiences, Diane enjoyed the ax-throwing experience they provide.

 

Helicopter ride to the Aran Islands

 

Flying in a helicopter is often considered to be the best way to see the expansive landscapes that the country is known for. Diane had the opportunity to ride from Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare over to Killarney National Park. After, they soared up to the west coast and the Cliffs of Moher. From here they took off for the remote Aran Islands where they stopped for lunch, indulging in fresh crab and lobster claws caught that day. She then flew back to Ashford Castle, in Cong.

 

Ashford Castle

 

The 800-year-old castle sits on a 350-acre estate with landscaped gardens, woodlands, and an emerald lake. Diane enjoyed the Halk-walk experience they offered, saying “it was really awesome handling those giant, beautiful birds so close up”. The setting is gorgeous, the staff friendly and accommodating. The wine tasting in the cellars of the castle was a special treat as well!

 

Cliffs of Moher

 

The iconic jagged cliffs along the west coast of Ireland protect the island from the wild Atlantic ocean. “Walking with a guide along the cliffs and getting a geologic history and all the general history while looking out over the sea and seeing the islands and the rainbows made it a really special hike. I also learned that some of the cliff faces are the settings for scenes in both The Princess Bride and Harry Potter – The Half Blood Prince”

 

The Many, Many Rainbows

 

Probably one of the most memorable moments from Ireland is the number of rainbows that she saw, everywhere. The unpredictable weather of the North Atlantic absolutely has its advantages!

 

Are you dreaming of exploring the luxury side of Ireland?

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Our travels started back in March of 2020. Our trip started and included a great week in Tahiti then New Zealand. Although that’s when Covid exploded while we were there in Tahiti. That’s when we found out they had closed the border into NZ. Thankfully we had Esplanade to get us back home. We finally got back on track to New Zealand this March. We had a full itinerary planned. When we arrived, we had a driver waiting for us to take us to our Glamorous hotel with a great view of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Mountains in the background. We traveled to Milford Sound by bus then traveled thru out the scenic Milford Sound. Then they flew us back to our hotel. Another trip was on a Steamboat that took us to Farm. We had a great dinner there and tour of the farm that included the sheep dogs working the sheep. We could go on and on about this trip. The people from NZ our super nice. This trip was great from start to finish. Truly a bucket list trip. Esplanade will definitely be our choice for international travel, without a doubt. <br />

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