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ToursSince the fall of 1999, we have hosted nearly 5,000 guests at Castledaly Manor, County Westmeath, Ireland. Many of our guests enjoyed themselves so much that they have booked second, third and even fourth trip back to the Manor house. View Tour Details Castledaly Manor is located near Athlone in the midlands of Ireland. Guests enjoy the 16th century manor house that has been completely updated with private baths, fine furniture, and a quaint pub and restaurant. Guests enjoy having Castledaly Manor as their home base, which is centrally located for visiting the many attractions in Ireland. General Trip Questions General Manor Questions Reservations/Payments Transportation Ireland Questions Tours/Recreation Family Lineage Where is Castledaly Manor? How often are tours to Ireland and what is included in the cost? Groups depart weekly from Chicago, O'Hare on Wednesday and return from Dublin the following Thursday. The package includes roundtrip airfare, seven nights accommodations, and breakfast daily. top What are the rooms at Castledaly like? There are ten rooms in the Manor itself, reachable by steps only. There are twelve additional rooms located in the restored sable block within a short walk across the courtyard behind the Manor. All rooms are en suite(or have a private bathroom). Most rooms are furnished with one queen size bed, while a few rooms have a twin bed available. We have three rooms that can accommodate up to three guests. top May I request a specific room or room location? You may request a room, however final room arrangements are made by the Castledaly management. Room #1 and Room #24 are larger and require an extra $90 to reserve. top How can I check availability and make a reservation? Call Amy at County Clare (414) 290-6101in Milwaukee, or Laura at St. Brendans in Green Bay (920) 884-8484 for more information. top Can I pay for the trip with my credit or debit card? Yes, Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted for payment. top How far in advance must I make my reservation? We can reserve a place for you as soon as you have made your plans. Unfortunately the airfare may increase as the date of your trip grows nearer. Your deposit and your Mandatory Registration Form should be sent in 10-14 days after making your reservation. The names on your registration form must match your passports exactly. Tickets will be ordered 1-2 business days after receiving your deposit. Aer Lingus charges $200 a passenger if there are corrections to be made. top What if I want to cancel my trip or change my plans? Since tickets are purchased when your deposit is received, cancellation fees are the full cost of your tickets. Aer Lingus may make a consideration for the death of an immediate family member. Tickets may be exchanged for use on another Aer Lingus flight within twelve months with the charge of $200 per person. top Where can I get travel insurance? Travel Guard "Protect Assist" at 1-800-549-9037 provides travel insurance. Fees cost usually around $75 depending upon the age and the cost of the tour. Medicare does not cover you in Ireland. Guests over the age of 65 are encouraged to purchase travel insurance. top Can you tell me more about the flight schedule? Aer Lingus flights depart Chicago, O'Hare on Wednesday evening and arrives in Dublin on Thursday morning (Ireland time). Return flights depart Dublin and arrive at O'Hare on the following Thursday. Flight times vary. This seven-hour flight includes one meal, snacks, beverages and two movies. top Can I request a specific seat or meal? Seat allocations can be requested by your Castledaly Tour Coordinator. You can make special meal requests, such as vegetarian or diabetic, by calling Aer Lingus at (800) 474-7424. top What transportation do you recommend to O'Hare Airport? Coach USA travels between Milwaukee and O'Hare hourly for about $45 per person round trip. There are several pick up points. Call (262) 542-8861 or (877) 324-7767 for more information. top How much luggage can I bring? Aer Lingus allows two pieces of checked luggage per person, not exceeding 80 pounds combined. One carry-on is permitted per person. top What type of money should I bring? Ireland's currency is the Euro. Money can be exchanged once you arrive in Ireland, but Irish banks will not exchange $100 bills. Most credit cards are accepted at the manor and throughout Ireland. Most people bring travellers checks along. If you chose to purchase travellers checks, we recommend $20 denominations. top What is the time difference? Ireland is six hours ahead of central time. top How can I get to the manor from the Dublin airport? We have a shuttle bus available to get you to and from the airport which is 75 miles away for a fee of about 25 Euros each way. This fee will be collected at the end of your stay. Please let us know as soon as possible if you plan to use the shuttle service to ensure that the bus will wait for you. Our driver will be in the arrivals hall with a "Castledaly Manor" sign. top What are the alternatives to travel around Ireland? Rail between Dublin and Athlone is about two hours. Fares and schedules can be checked at www.irishrail.ie Taxi fare between Castledaly and Athlone is about 13-15 Euro for the round trip. Bus connections between Athlone and Moate to most places in ireland are very good. A City Link bus just outside the shops across from the arrivals area in Dublin can also take you from Dublin to Moate every 15 minutes past the hour. top How much can I expect to spend on meals in Ireland? You can plan on spending 10-25 Euros on meals. top What is the "traditional Irish breakfast" included in the cost? Breakfast is different every day and can consist of eggs, bacon, sausage, black and white pudding, fried tomatoes and/or porridge(oatmeal) plus an array of other breakfast items. top How can I rent a car? Cars can be rented at Dublin airport or once you are at Castledaly. If you know your rental plans, the car can usually be brought to the house the night before you need it. Larger cars or automatics are not readily available from local sources. Prices range from 60 Euro per day for a subcompact to 80 Euro per day for a mid size sedan with manual transmission. Our program is designed so it is not necessary for you to rent a car. There is much to do and see by foot, taxi, train and shuttle during your stay. top How large are the towns Athlone and Moate? Athlone has a population of 25,000 while Moate's population is only 1,500. top Does the Manor have internet access? No, but there is an internet cafe in Athlone. top What is the daily tour schedule? The tour schedule changes weekly depending on the weather and availability of attractions. The General manager, tour bus driver, and the group itself often modify the schedule. all tours are optional and only one tour is offered per day. The following is a sample of some of the tour offerings:
Am I on my own or is there a guided tour in the cities? You are on your own in Dublin, and for some of the time in Galway and Kilkenny. We offer maps and suggestions for your own exploration of these interesting and historic cities. top Is there a church near by and can we still fit in the Sunday tour? Saint Ciaran's Catholic Church is a 15 minute walk from the Manor. Our Sunday tours depart at 11am. top Can I fish, ride a horse, golf, or rent bicycles near by? Yes, our staff can help set up these activities for you in Athlone. top What golf courses are nearby and how can I make arrangements? There are 8 golf courses which can be reached by taxi or rental car. Our staff is happy to schedule a tee time. A round of golf costs approximately 50-80 Euro per person at most courses. Most courses have club rentals available. top What is the weather like? What clothing should I pack? There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad packing, and it never rains in the pubs. Spring and Fall are similar to Wisconsin. Irish summers are cooler while winters are warmer. The grass stays green and golf is played year round. Sweatshirts, windbreakers, slacks, and rubber soled walking shoes are the clothing of choice in Ireland. Bring a sport coat or dress if you plan to dine in expensive restaurants. We also recommend an umbrella and, for the optimists, sunglasses. top Can someone help me find my
grandparents farm?
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