Ireland - A journey for me, a journey for you...

Standing at the Edge of a Dream

Imagine standing on windswept cliffs so high you feel like you're at the edge of the world, hearing the waves of the wild Atlantic crash below, and the echoes of ancient stories all around you.  That is where I will be soon!  Slieve League in Donegal, the highest sea cliffs in all of Europe.  This October, I am heading to Ireland for the very first time, and I can hardly put into words what it means to me. 

Why Ireland Feels Like Home Already

I don't just plan trips.  I live them, breathe them, and carry them with me. For as long as I can remember, Ireland and her Celtic cousins, Scotland, Wales and England have been calling to me.  To walk those cobblestone streets, to hear the music spilling out of the pubs, to sip a pint in a 100-year-old pub...this is a dream I have carried for years. 

What This Journey Holds

On this FAM trip (short for "familiarization trip") with CIE Tours, I will be exploring Dublin, Galway, Donegal, Derry, and Belfast.  A FAM trip is designed for travel advisors to personally experience a destination including its tours, hotels, and cultural highlights so that when I plan for my clients, I am speaking firsthand knowledge rather than research. 

I am especially thrilled to be travelling with CIE Tours, a company that has been sharing the magic of Ireland and beyond for over 90 years.  They are known for creating immersive, worry free experiences that go far deeper than simply seeing the sights.  With expert local guides, hand-picked hotels, and itineraries that balance iconic highlights with hidden gems.  CIE Tours makes it possible to truly connect with the culture and the people.  

The itinerary reads like a dream.  Sean's Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland; the Titanic Museum in Belfast; the music filled streets of Galway; and the otherworldly beauty of Giant's Causeway.

I am also especially excited to be visiting 7 different hotels during my journey.  I will be stepping into the lobbies, seeing the rooms, dining in the restaurants, and truly experiencing them.  This kind of firsthand knowledge in invaluable because it mean that when I recommend a place to stay, I know exactly what kind of traveler it is right for.

All of these firsthand experiences will be the difference between guessing and knowing.

A Journey Written on My Heart

Travel, at its best, is not about ticking boxes.  It is about connection.  It is about somewhere new and feeling like you have somehow been there before.  That is what I want for my clients.  Not just trips...but memories that root themselves deep in your story.

This trip to Ireland is one I feel deeply aligned with - a destination I carry in my soul.  While my roots and DNA run deepest in Scotland and England, Ireland has always felt like a close second and a place that feels both familiar and brand new at the same time. 

Experiencing it for myself allows me to bring that same sense of wonder, history, and belonging to every itinerary I design for those whole feel the same towards the Emerald Isle. 

Walking Ireland Together

As I pack my bags and prepare to step onto Irish soil for the first time, know this:  I will be walking it for me, but I will also be walking it for you.  Every hotel tour, every story I hear, every stunning viewpoint I stand upon, I will be gathering the pieces that help me create your Irish adventure when you are ready to go.

Ireland is not just a destination.  For some, it is a place to check off a bucket list or to uncover ancestral roots.  For others, it is a place to capture breathtaking views or to dive deep into rich and complicated history and culture.  No matter how you experience it, Ireland has a story to tell and every traveller will take home memories that last a lifetime.  

I cannot wait to share mine with you and help you craft your own unforgettable journey.