ANAHEIM, Calif., March 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This year marks the beginning of 'The Gathering', Ireland's year-long celebration of culture and tradition, and Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com) invites travelers to join in the festivities on a hassle-free guided vacation. Trafalgar offers 9 First Class and 4 CostSaver itineraries that take guests deep inside the homeland of the celebrated Saint of the Emerald Isle, St. Patrick, offering up truly authentic insider experiences that travelers can't get any other way.
There's no better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year than to book a trip with Trafalgar in 2013—from kissing the Blarney Stone to visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral to enjoying a pint at a local pub, you'll see it all. Plus your journey will Trafalgar will be filled with unique Insider Experiences. Hear local 'Cabbie commentary' in a special Black Cab ride. Learn to pull the perfect pint at the Guinness Brewery. Dine with a local family on their farm and learn to make Guinness Stew and soda bread during a cooking demonstration.
"Over 37 million Americans claim Irish ancestry—including President Obama, and with 2013 being the year of The Gathering, there's no better time for travelers to head overseas for this once-in-a-lifetime cultural celebration," says Paul Wiseman, President of Trafalgar USA. "Travelers will enjoy Ireland's famous hospitality as much as ever this year with every resident playing host for The Gathering, plus our Travel Directors and Local Guides share an authentic insider's view of this popular destination."
For a video on The Gathering from Tourism Ireland, visit: http://youtu.be/Km7_q9eBqjw
With savings of up to $496 per couple to Ireland, travelers can take advantage of additional savings with Trafalgar's 5% Early Payment Discount on 2013 Europe and Britain guided vacations that are booked and paid for by April 30th, 2013.**
Trafalgar's Top Ireland Vacations:
Best of Ireland
11 days starting at $2085
Save up to $107 per person if booked and paid in full by April 30, 2013*
An 11-day journey to the most interesting and picturesque parts of the country, Trafalgar's Best of Ireland trip is a comfortably-paced vacation starting and ending in Dublin. The trip makes overnight stops in Sligo, Limerick, Killarney and Cork, as well as day stops in Blarney, Kilkenny, Galway and the Cliffs of Moher to name a few. Following a Welcome Reception with a traditional Irish meal and drinks in a pub, guests spent the next day seeing the sights in Dublin and visiting the Guinness Storehouse for an included tour of the famous brewery before exploring the city on their own. On the journey to Cork, guests stop at the Irish National Stud farm, dedicated to rearing world-class thoroughbreds. It's all sightseeing and marveling in the beauty of the Emerald Isle for the next few days, spending two nights in Killarney and two in Sligo before heading back to Dublin for a Farewell Dinner with wine at a local restaurant with fellow travelers.
http://www.trafalgar.com/usa/best-of-ireland-2013
Scenic Ireland – At Leisure vacation
9 days starting at $1765
Save up to $94 per person if booked and paid in full by April 30, 2013*
The 9-day Scenic Ireland offers the perfect opportunity to explore the Irish countryside at a relaxed pace. The trip starts with a few days in lively Dublin, where guests will receive a morning tour with a Local Guide then enjoy a day of free time to explore the city by themselves. Next, a visit to Blarney Castle means guests can get the Irish gift of gab as they tilt themselves upside down to kiss the infamous Blarney Stone. At the breathtaking Dingle Peninsula, Europe's most westerly point, Trafalgar guests are treated to a special Be My Guest dinner on a beautiful family-owned farm, where they will dine with locals and savor traditional Irish fare. Traveling on to Killaloe on Lough Derg, guests will finish their journey with a Guinness stew and soda bread cooking demonstration which they'll get to enjoy afterwards.
http://www.trafalgar.com/usa/scenic-ireland-2013
Britain & Ireland Panorama
20 days starting at $3850
Save up to $205 per person if booked and paid in full by April 30, 2013*
Trafalgar's 20-day Britain & Ireland Panorama journeys through England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Beginning and ending in London, the trip takes guests to iconic cities like York, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Limerick and Cork. There is no end to the fantastic Insider Experiences included in this trip, from a visit to the famed Guinness Storehouse in Dublin to pour a pint to a visit to the house of Waterford Crystal for a tour of the workshop. In the medieval city of Edinburgh, Trafalgar guests get a guided tour of the looming castle and also receive tickets to the world-famous military tattoo when on a corresponding departure date! History buffs will love an excursion to Cornish, where they will explore Plymouth and see the Mayflower steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for North America. Lovers of the Bard will delight at a stop in Stratford-upon-Avon to walk around the birthplace of Shakespeare and see Anne Hathaway's cottage.
http://www.trafalgar.com/usa/britain-and-ireland-panorama-2013
For More Information:
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *Based on Trafalgar's 5% Early Payment Discount on 2013 Europe summer vacations when full payment is made by 04/30/13. Savings will vary by itinerary and are not valid on all vacations and/or departure dates. Savings of 5% is only applicable to trips featured in the First Class, CostSaver, At Leisure & Family Experiences brochures. **Sample savings of up to $496 per couple ($248 per person) is based on Trafalgar's Early Payment Discount on the Britain & Ireland Grandeur itinerary, departing 7/18/2013 if booked and paid in full by April 30, 2013. Featured prices are per person, land only and based on double occupancy. Subject to availability and offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Other conditions may apply. CST#2077132-20
About Trafalgar
Trafalgar is the world's leading guided vacation company offering exceptional quality and value itineraries to a range of exciting destinations. With 65 years of experience and unrivaled local expertise, Trafalgar provides an authentic insider's view to create truly unique travel experiences in Europe, Britain, Eastern Mediterranean, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, USA
and Canada. Visit www.trafalgar.com for more.
2007 to 2012: Winner, Best Tour Operator category, Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards
2010, 2011, 2012: Winner, Best Tour Operator, Europe, TravelAge West WAVE Awards
2010, 2011: Winner, Travel Weekly Gold Magellan Awards
The Trafalgar logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=14727