Wow. I vannot say enough about how amazing the 7 day Driftwood tour was! The route included a perfect combination of "standard" tourist sites and towns, but leaned toward off-the-beaten-path gems. There were a thousand and one breathtaking views, amazing food/pubs/holes-in-the-wall, unique hotels, music, and lots of history. Much of this is because out guide Behbinn was AH-MA-ZING! Her knowledge of the history of Ireland and the sites and areas in which we were driving was nothing short of impressivie, but her personal stories and laid back personalities really made for a great experience. She's a treasure! Book your tour now!!!

We had a private tour w/ 13 family members and had a wonderful time. Our driver was Russ and he was awesome (the bomb!!). Russ did a great job of tweaking the itinerary to match our pace and to hit a couple of items that were not on the original plan. Mostly, though, we followed the standard itinerary and it was great. The lodging ranged from very good to outstanding. The meals were delicious. And the attractions, especially as we were a much smaller vehicle than the "standard" tour bus, were fantastic. Having optional add-ons worked really well as the more active and adventurous were accommodated as well as those who wanted to move at a slower pace. The Barrett family's journey on the Russ Bus was an unforgettable experience, we would definitely do a Vagabond tour again!

I chose this tour because I wanted to sit back and let someone else do the driving AND because I wanted a small group to travel with! We traveled in a new BMW van that was roomy and comfortable, where each seat truly did have a view! Don't worry about not having a bathroom on board like big buses! There were plenty of stops to accommodate that! Our tour guide, Mark, was attentive and funny and so knowledgeable! He made us laugh every single day and his love of Ireland was contagious! He also sang to us! Several times!! :) So many details of this trip were handled by Mark and Vagabond/Driftwood which made it so easy to relax and focus on simply having fun. Our accommodations were wonderful! We even stayed in a castle one night! There was plenty of free time to go shop and visit pubs, listen to traditional music, see traditional dance. One night we were treated to a small dance recital by school children who showed off their amazing dances. I am sure that would not have been something even on my radar had I tried to book a trip without a tour!! While I loved so many things about the trip, I must say our last night in Gougane Barra was by far my favorite. Such a beautiful and peaceful place. If you are looking for peace, it's right there!! On our last day of the tour there were hugs and tears and new friendships formed with everyone on our tour. Driftwood, thank you for far exceeding any expectations I had for this trip! Thank you, Mark, for sharing your love of Ireland with all of us. YOU made this trip the best ever!!