On
this Best of Britain & Ireland tour, see Britain’s and Ireland’s
highlights—from the bustling cities to the small towns and from the
breathtaking scenery to the ancient ruins. Traveling through the lands
of queens, kings, and leprechauns, begin and end in London and pass
through England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Stop in some historic towns and
cities, including Oxford, home to some of England’s most famous
colleges; York, England's most complete medieval city with its cobbled
streets and the magnificent York Minster, England’s largest Gothic
cathedral; Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare; Chester,
where a walking tour highlights its Roman remains and black and white
half-timbered buildings; Adare, founded in medieval times and known
today as one of Ireland’s prettiest villages; and Bath, known for the
excavations of Roman baths used for bathing and socializing 2,000 years
ago. Britain and Ireland are known for their green countryside and
stunning scenery, and on this Britain and Ireland tour, you’ll witness
some of their gorgeous landscapes.
Travel through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park
in Wales, with picturesque villages, mountains, and lakes. Follow
Ireland’s Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile panoramic drive with sparkling
seascapes, brightly hued farmhouses, and the breathtaking panorama of
the Lakes of Killarney. Visit the spectacular 668-feet Cliffs of Moher,
with breathtaking views of rugged cliffs dropping into the ocean. Drive
through the Cotswolds, with the rolling hills and picturesque villages,
Northumberland National Park, with its wide-open spaces, and the serene
Lake District, England’s largest natural park.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: LONDONVisit OXFORD Walking
tour STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Explore the town YORK Tour The
Shambles and York Minster EDINBURGH
Guided sightseeing and a visit to Edinburgh Castle THE LAKE DISTRICT
Visit Gretna Green and scenery along the way NORTH WALES A
scenic drive through Snowdonia National Park and take the ferry for the
Irish Sea crossing DUBLIN
Orientation drive GALWAY-CLIFFS OF MOHER RING OF KERRY a 100-mile coastal
panoramic drive KILLARNEY See stunning seascapes
along the way including Lakes from Ladies View COUNTY CORK Visit the Blarney
Stone and the castle CARDIFF Orientation drive STONEHENGEVisit
the prehistoric monument
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites
can be seen or visited on this vacation:
City of Bath
Frontiers of the Roman Empire
Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
Stonehenge
The English Lake District
The great Spa Towns of Europe - Bath
Inside visits and
special features: Shown in UPPERCASE in
the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
OPTIONALS:
Choice of optional excursions at reasonable prices to customize your
own experience. Please find a detailed list in your travel documents
HEADSETS
throughout the tour
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS Airport
transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
LONDON Novotel London West (F)
WETHERBY Mercure Wetherby
Hotel (F) NEWCASTLE Jurys Inn Newcastle (F) EDINBURGH Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh
Murrayfield (F)
WREXHAM Ramada Plaza Wrexham
(F)
DUBLIN The Bonnington Dublin
Hotel (F)
ENNIS Auburn Lodge Hotel
(ST) KILLARNEY Killarney Court Hotel (F)
TRAMORE Majestic Hotel
(F) CARDIFF Novotel Cardiff
(F)
HOTELS -
(SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist Class
(T) Tourist Class
DINING
HIGHLIGHTS
Buffet
breakfasts daily; 4 dinners
TRANSPORTATION Touring by private, first-class,
air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi
GUIDES
Host service in London; Local Guides for city sightseeing; professional
Tour Director while touring
AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
Day 1 Arrive in London,
England Check into your hotel. In the afternoon,
there’s time to rest or start exploring the lively British capital.
Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day2LondonToday is free for exploring on your own
or enjoying our exciting program of optional activities. You may choose
to join a Local Guide for an optional morning sightseeing tour of the
city’s famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben,
Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime
Minister’s Downing Street residence, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham
Palace. The highlight is a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sir
Christopher Wren’s masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. Later,
maybe visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with its spectacular
Crown Jewels. Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London
excursion with dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the
Thames River.
Breakfast
Day 3 London–Oxford–Stratford-Upon-Avon–YorkMeet your Tour Director and traveling
companions and depart at 8 am for Oxford. A walking tour takes in the
colleges where Britain’s elite receive their outstanding education.
Then, travel through the lovely Cotswold Hills to Shakespeare’s
Stratford-upon-Avon. Take photos of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and explore
the town at your own pace. Your overnight destination is York.
Today’s Distance: 255 mi/ 410 kmBreakfastDinner
Day4York–Thirsk–NewcastleStand in front of the great structure of
York Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint
streets, including the narrow Shambles. Leaving York, head north and
spend some free time in the charming market town of Thirsk famous for
its association with James Herriot. On the way to Newcastle savor
spectacular views of the North Yorkshire Moors.
Today’s Distance: 91 mi/ 146 kmBreakfast
Day 5 Newcastle–Jedburgh, Scotland–EdinburghSee a section of Hadrian’s Wall, then
motor through wild Northumberland National Park to the Scottish border.
Stop for photos at Jedburgh before arriving in Edinburgh. Here,
sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New
Town.” In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s
Crown Jewels. A suggestion for this evening: a traditional Scottish
night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the
Ceremony of the Haggis.
Today’s Distance: 117 mi/ 188 kmBreakfast
Day6EdinburghYour choice today: an optional morning
excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made world-famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci
Code, and also one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings. You will
have ample time to visit the 15th-century medieval chapel and the
visitor centre, and to take photographs of the ruins of Rosslyn Castle.
Later, join an optional tour with dinner. For departures July 30 and
August 13, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the
world-renowned Military Tattoo.
Breakfast
Day 7 Edinburg–Gretna Green–Lake District,
England–Chester–Wrexham, WalesSouth through the history-steeped
Lowland Hills and a visit to Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to
wed runaway couples. Drive through beautiful scenery in the Lake
District, considered to be the finest of England’s national parks and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Chester, the historic county town on the
Dee River, your walking tour takes in the Roman remains, black and
white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered shopping arcades
called the “Rows.”
Today’s Distance: 268 mi/ 431 kmBreakfastDinner
Day8Wrexham–Betws-Y-Coed–Dublin, IrelandA scenic North Wales drive through the
incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park brings you to lovely
Betws-y-Coed. Then, head over spectacular Llanberis Pass and, finally,
across Britannia Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey. Take your photos at
tongue-twisting Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. At Holyhead, board the ferry for
the Irish Sea crossing to Dublin.
Today’s Distance: 162 mi/ 260 kmBreakfast
Day 9 DublinA day in the “Fair City” starts off with
an orientation drive through Eire’s capital and includes statue-lined
O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy Dublin at
leisure. Why not join an optional dinner evening at the Guinness
Storehouse?
Breakfast
Day10Dublin–Galway–Cliffs of Moher–EnnisHead for dairy-farm country in the heart
of the “Emerald Isle.” Stop in Galway, a popular seaside destination
and a buzzing cosmopolitan district with vibrant shops and a busy
café and bar culture. Then, cross the limestone plateau of The
Burren to visit the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher before heading
for Ennis, county town of Clare. Tonight, we offer an optional
medieval-themed banquet.
Today’s Distance: 214 mi/ 344 kmBreakfast
Day 11 Ennis–Adare–Ring of Kerry–KillarneyStop for photos in Adare, a village
known for its prize-winning thatched cottages and monastic ruins. In
County Kerry, join the road known as the Ring of Kerry for a 100-mile
coastal panoramic drive. Focus your camera on sparkling seascapes,
mountains dotted with brightly hued farmhouses, winding lanes, and
views of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Later, in Killarney,
discover why this is such a popular resort.
Today’s Distance: 189 mi/ 304 kmBreakfastDinner
Day12Killarney–Blarney–Dungarvan–TramoreCross the Kerry Mountains and through
County Cork to Blarney, famous for its magical Stone of Eloquence. Time
to see the castle, and shop for Irish crafts and handmade crystal.
Drive past Cork, the country’s second-largest city, and via Dungarvan
to Tramore. Why not join an optional pub tour before dinner at your
hotel?
Today’s Distance: 131 mi/ 210 kmBreakfastDinner
Day13Tramore–Cardiff, WalesAn early start for the short drive to
Rosslare. In just under four hours, you cross St. George’s Channel by
ferry to South Wales. Continue through rich dairy farmland to Cardiff,
where an orientation drive introduces you to the capital’s major
attractions: Cardiff Castle, Cathays Park, Millennium Stadium, and the
stately civic buildings. Tonight, why not join an evening of Welsh
entertainment and dinner?
Today’s Distance: 159 mi/ 257 kmBreakfast
Day14Cardiff–Bath, England–Stonehenge–LondonA day packed with highlights begins as
you cross the spectacular Severn Bridge into England. Stop in the
elegant Georgian city of Bath, famous for its Roman relics, before
visiting Stonehenge, still an intriguing mystery. Explore the visitor
centre with its imaginative exhibitions, then admire the magnificence
of the monument up close. After returning to London around 3:30 pm, how
about celebrating the success of your tour with a night out on the town?
Today’s Distance: 171 mi/ 275 kmBreakfast
Day15LondonYour vacation ends with breakfast this
morning.
Breakfast
The
Best of Britain and Ireland
15 Day Tour
From $2499USD
(Less
applicable COSMOS
PROMO(S) and Gardner Travel
Discounts)
CLICK HERE to Request ourLOW
UNPUBLISHED RATEand
availability for this tour below:
You
may REQUEST information
for this tour via our email response here and we will return a complete
and detailed quote
OR CALL
US
at
1-877-510-4653
and we will be happy to personally assist you at every turn.
Exceptional
Vacations
Celebrating
over 90 Years of Touring!
YOUR
TOUR DIRECTOR
JULIE ANNE BARNETT
Escorting
tours for more than 20 years
The start of a tour is exciting. Clients look forward to experiencing
everything they believe it will be. And me? I know it's even better. At
the end of each tour, I ask, "Is our country what you expected?" They
invariably say, "It's so much more." That makes me a proud Tour
Director!
Prices
are
per person based on double occupancy and are land only. We also offer
competitive group-based airfares from your home city airport that fit
with this particular touring program.
Toll
Free Call
1-877-510-4653 USAandCanada
We
provide an additional agency
point-of-sale discountfor most Globus, Cosmos
and Avalon
Waterways
tour programs. Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
TALK
TO AN EXPERIENCED
As
a
full-service travel provider, we can help you in finding your
perfect tour at the best price available, today. We've been
representing the GLOBUS Family of
Brands for
over 40 years as a Premier Agency
Partner - a designation only awarded to the top tier agencies
that are authorized to represent the full Globus Family of Brands. We
can take you all the way from your own hometown to
some of the most beautiful touring experiences in Europe and then back
again - all with the expertise of a seasoned COSMOS professional
representative.
When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our
own professional COSMOS Certified travel specialists.
REQUESTING
AVAILABILITY
We will check your requested tour
program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in
the questionnaire above and reply back to you as soon as
possible. Of course
the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in
matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass
along your information that you provide to any third party for any
reason (see Liabilities
and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your
information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout
our website. We
are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday
(except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 |
817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via
email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your
email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the
availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and
resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may
request from our listed programs. We will respond to your
requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components
of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon
double occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Thank
you for
your interest in this quality Cosmos Tour by The GLOBUS Family
of Brands!
Randy
C.
Gardner President Gardner Travel
Service,
Inc.
More
than three decades ago Cosmos
pioneered the idea of quality value
travel
to Europe. Since then we've developed and refined the concept of
vacation
packages. Over a million people have come back to us for a second or
third
vacation...or more!
Our clients'
repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value and
experience
we offer.
If you've never
taken a package vacation, consider this: Traveling with Cosmos is less
expensive, more comfortable, and far easier than going it alone. Our
volume
contracting for hotels and services provides you with travel at
wholesale
prices. A Cosmos package is carefully planned to make the best possible
use of your time.
Our team of
experts has refined our itineraries to combine the must-see sights with
significant time on your own, offering more choice and flexibility. You
can travel relaxed and hassle-free, knowing that we've taken care of
all
the details. Once you've
discovered the special advantages of traveling with Cosmos, you'll
never
want to travel any other way again. Cosmos is "A Smart Way To Go."
Guidance At
the heart of every great Cosmos tour are the friendly, knowledgeable
folks who show you around and help you maximize your free time. We go
to incredible lengths to find the most professional Tour Directors and
Local Guides. They deliver commentary in English, but are multilingual
so they can navigate Europe with ease and give you the richest
experience possible.
Headsets
For all guided visits and included sightseeing in Europe, Cosmos will
provide personal audio headsets. See tour itinerary for details.
The Right Balance
No one enjoys a vacation where every second is spent on a schedule. We
build free time into every Cosmos vacation, so you can eat, shop, and
explore the way you want. Your Tour Director and Local Guides can offer
suggestions for things to see and do-or you can join one of our many
intriguing optional excursions.
Sightseeing
Our packages include guided sightseeing and scenic highlights that
reveal the best of Europe, North America, and South America. Enjoy
inside visits of the must-see sites with knowledgeable Local Guides who
will bring each destination to life. Inside visits and special features
are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description. See individual
itinerary pages to learn what is included in your vacation.
Personalize Your
Vacation with MyCosmos
Cosmos lets you enhance your tour with optional excursions that are
meaningful to you. Whether you enjoy art, music, food, wine, history,
or whatever, we give you the freedom to truly personalize your trip.
Best of all, you can make your selections-and even pre-pay-in advance
online at Cosmos.com/MyCosmos.
Cosmos
Takes
Care of Your
HotelsWhere
you stay makes all the difference After a day's
traveling you want to relax at a comfortable, clean, and attractive
hotel.
We have chosen hotels with the best rooms, service, and food for the
money.
Of course, they vary as different countries have different standards.
However,
we ensure that everywhere you get the best available in cleanliness and
comfort.
Cosmos hotels
are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally and
others
in residential areas. Especially in large cities we sometimes prefer
good
hotels in residential areas on the outskirts to less desirable or
overpriced
downtown hotels.
Rooms at all
our hotels include private facilities: private bath or shower and a
toilet.
Triple rooms
are usually no larger than twin rooms and the third bed is often a
roll-away
bed put into a twin-bedded room just for the night.
Cosmos
specifies
your hotels Our hotels
are mainly superior tourist-class (ST) and tourist-class (T)
establishments,
but we also feature some first-class (F) hotels. Cosmos hotel ratings
follow
standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by
national
tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel is
determined
by our quality controllers.
We reserve
the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour pages with hotels of
equivalent standard. With your Cosmos travel documents you'll receive a
list of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your
tour.
Stretch
Your
Vacation Dollars Value-packed
vacations at bargain prices. With Cosmos,
a company that specializes in package travel arrangements, you'll visit
the world without spending a fortune. Because all our buying power is
devoted
to package travel, our clout with suppliers is powerfully concentrated
-- and we pass the savings on to you with affordable vacation packages
for every budget.
Singles
save
with "guaranteed share" rates More than one-third
of all people traveling with Cosmos are traveling independently. We
therefore
accept reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis. We charge singles
the
basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded
rooms.
For mutual comfort we adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms.
"Guaranteed
shares" are not available for extra nights before or after your tour,
on
tours with overnight trains, or on train or cruise extensions. If we cannot
find a roommate for a traveler who has booked on a "guaranteed share"
basis,
we'll absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be
accommodated
in a single room at no extra charge. Of course we
do offer single rooms when available to those who prefer to travel solo
and pay the single supplement.
Triple
room
reduction Cosmos grants
a reduction to three people who travel together and share the same
accommodation.
Triple room reductions, when available, are listed in the Dates and
Prices
box on the tour page.
A word of caution:
Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms, and the third bed,
if there is one, is often a rollaway bed put in a twin-bedded room for
the night.
Discount
for
young tour members Cosmos grants
a 10 percent discount on the land tour price to travelers who are under
18 years old on the tour departure date, provided they are accompanied
by an adult. We do not accept children under eight on our tours because
we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Cosmos Vacations
Offer Flexibility Joining late and
leaving early*
Many Cosmos land arrangements start and end in London. If you have
already spent time in the British capital, you may want to skip one or
more of the included London nights or even join at the first overnight
hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Agent for any reductions that
apply to your vacation for joining late or leaving early. Vacations
with these reductions are sold on a land-only basis.
A
professional team takes care of you in London
For any help or information you might require during your London stay,
please contact the Cosmos hospitality desk at your hotel. Our
knowledgeable staff will serve you with a smile; give you guidance on
what to do and where to go; and arrange excursions, evening
entertainment, and theater outings for you.
Extra
nights*
If you'd like more hotel nights than we've provided at the start or end
of your tour, we can make reservations for you at the rates quoted
below, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation.
Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath,
breakfast, service charges, and taxes.
Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your
tour. Extra pre-tour nights in London are not available if you join
your tour later than Day 2.
Every effort is made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your
tour stays. If space at the tour hotel is not available, alternative
accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When
this is the case, the transfer to and from the tour hotel is at our
expense.
As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights
before and/or after a tour, unless they are needed to bridge the gap
between two Cosmos vacations. During particularly busy periods, hotel
space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to
sell extra nights.
Trust
& Travel Insurance
For
generations, Globus has worked
hard to provide the best on-trip experiences, world-class customer
service, and the best consumer protection plans available in the travel
industry.
DETAILS
OF THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR QUOTES.
and The Globus
Family of
Brands
More than 90
years ago, Antonio Mantegazza bought a rowboat to transport commercial
goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Who could know that rowboat
would launch the world's leading escorted travel company? Today Globus
is a global, family-owned company reaching every corner of the world.
Globus is now the first choice among individuals looking for vacations
with both domestic and international travel in a variety of styles to
six continents and hundreds of itineraries to choose from (see Globus History video right).
Antonio's
frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to
consider opportunities in a different market - tourism. His
entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some
motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In
1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring
called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches
which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.
By
1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches
and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and
the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours
and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the
leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus
pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class
European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its
Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring
for the cost-conscious British traveler.
The
coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon
introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday
packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos
air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline,
Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used
Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most
successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets
and its own engineering division.
Under
the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president
and son of Antonio, Globus began expanding its markets beyond Great
Britain and North America. Since 1974, travel packages have been sold
in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia.
Starting in the 70s, the company also aggressively expanded its
offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour
operator with packages to Africa, South and North America, Europe, the
South Pacific and Asia.
Today,
the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated
by a network of more than 32 independent tourism and aviation
businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals
worldwide. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms carry over 500,000
passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of
guided vacations worldwide. Globus attributes its success to the ideals
of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard
work, love for travel, and commitment have guided the company. These
values are the cornerstone on which Globus was built and will continue
to grow.
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On
this Best of Britain & Ireland tour, see Britain’s and Ireland’s
highlights—from the bustling cities to the small towns and from the
breathtaking scenery to the ancient ruins. Traveling through the lands
of queens, kings, and leprechauns, begin and end in London and pass
through England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
