Shades of Ireland featuring Northern Ireland (Dublin to Belfast) (2026)

Traveler Reviews

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  Christine

  May 27th, 2026
  A thoroughly enjoyable and informative trip around Ireland. The itinerary covered all I wanted to see and the guide...
  A thoroughly enjoyable and informative trip around Ireland. The itinerary covered all I wanted to see and the guide was a wealth of knowledge. It was extremely well organised with daily activities all running to plan.Show more
  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Collette

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your Shades of Ireland program. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the services provided, as well as your experience with your Collette Tour Manager. It’s always our goal to deliver memorable and seamless travel experiences, and we truly appreciate your kind comments. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you on another Collette tour in the future. Sincerely, Collette's Traveler Relations Team

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  Kent

  May 17th, 2026
  The trip was managed very well. Activities went as planned. We were kept well informed and updated throughout the...
  The trip was managed very well. Activities went as planned. We were kept well informed and updated throughout the trip. The weather was great. This was our first time we took a trip like this and plan to do more.Show more
  Traveled in May 2026
  

  Reply from: Collette

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your Shades of Ireland program. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the services provided, as well as your experience with your Collette Tour Manager. It’s always our goal to deliver memorable and seamless travel experiences, and we truly appreciate your kind comments. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you on another Collette tour in the future. Sincerely, Collette's Traveler Relations Team

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  Donna

  April 2nd, 2026
  Great tour guide. Effective tour bus driver. Excellent choice of itinerary for a helpful means of better...
  Great tour guide. Effective tour bus driver. Excellent choice of itinerary for a helpful means of better understanding the country and culture.Show more
  Traveled in March 2026
  

  Reply from: Collette

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your Sunny Portugal featuring Porto program. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the services provided, as well as your experience with your Collette Tour Manager and Driver. It’s always our goal to deliver memorable and seamless travel experiences, and we truly appreciate your kind comments. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you on another Collette tour in the future. Sincerely, Collette's Traveler Relations Team

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  Johhan

  July 21st, 2025
  An Exceptional Shades of Ireland Tour (13 Day - Dublin to Belfast) Experience with Collette We recently completed...
  An Exceptional Shades of Ireland Tour (13 Day - Dublin to Belfast) Experience with Collette We recently completed Collette’s Shades of Ireland tour, and the entire journey exceeded expectations in every meaningful way. From immersive excursions to seamless logistics, this experience showcased the best of Irish hospitality, culture, and natural beauty. Tour Leadership A special highlight was our Tour Manager, John Fitzgibbon, whose deep historical knowledge, outstanding organizational skills, and warm communication made each day informative and enjoyable. John kept our group on track without ever feeling rushed, always available to answer questions or lend support with genuine care. His storytelling and professionalism were central to the tour’s success. Motor Coach Experience Our motor coach was clean, comfortable, and well maintained — a relaxing and reliable way to travel through Ireland’s varied landscapes. Our coach operator, Mark, provided steady hands and calm energy throughout. Courteous and professional, he navigated tight roads with expertise, making every leg of the journey smooth and safe. Excursions & Optional Tours The itinerary struck a beautiful balance between structured sightseeing and optional experiences. Highlights included the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, a lively Medieval Banquet dinner that treated our family to pageantry and meals fit for royalty, and impactful visits to the Titanic Belfast Experience, Giant’s Causeway, and Cliffs of Moher — each delivering its own unique blend of history, legend, and breathtaking scenery. We have no regrets about the optional tours; they enhanced the trip in every way. Accommodations Our hotels were clean, professionally staffed, and well maintained. We traveled during an unseasonably warm stretch, and while most properties in Ireland understandably don’t offer air conditioning, staff did their best to accommodate guests. A special shoutout to the Sligo Park Hotel, whose team went above and beyond — even heading into town to purchase additional fans for our group. That level of care didn’t go unnoticed. Meals The included meals were well prepared and culturally rich, offering insight into Ireland’s heritage through regional flavors. As a culinary sidenote: if dining independently in Derry, take note that The Exchange serves spicy dishes that might surprise your taste buds. Plan accordingly — unless you like your food with fireworks. Air & Transfer Logistics Our international flight with Aer Lingus was actually better than expected, especially compared to the volume of negative reviews online. It wasn’t luxury, but it was reliable and comfortable enough for a long-haul journey. In terms of transfers: there’s typically no need to arrange transport from Dublin Airport to local accommodations unless traveling with a large party. However, booking return transfers from Belfast to Dublin Airport is highly recommended — far more efficient and cost-effective than taxis or rideshare options. Pre-Tour & Documentation Pre-tour communication and documentation from Collette were handled clearly and professionally. No improvements needed in this area. The online survey post-tour was also thorough and gave us space to reflect on all elements of the journey. We highly recommend Collette’s Shades of Ireland tour to anyone seeking an enriching, well-managed exploration of Ireland. Outstanding professionals like John and Mark made this experience both memorable and meaningful.Show more
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  Traveled in June 2025
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  Wayne

  June 5th, 2025
  Probably the two best things were the Titanic museum and the Guinness brewery tour. We enjoyed the tour of the...
  Probably the two best things were the Titanic museum and the Guinness brewery tour. We enjoyed the tour of the coastline overlooking the cliffs of Mohr and the Giants steppingstones. Also, the Blarney Stone and Castle. In fact, we could've spent a whole day there at Blarney. Also the Waterford factory was memorable. Our complaint is why Collette routed our flight from Dulles international airport to Heathrow and then back to Dublin instead of just flying us directly from Dulles to Dublin and the reverse coming back? I am guessing it was cheaper to do it that way. Recommend that in the future you also offer a direct flight option too with the understanding one will have to pay more. We are sure that a lot of people would be more than happy to pay a few hundred dollars more for a non-stop direct flight.Show more
  Traveled in April 2025

  Review collected by Collette
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  Pamela

  June 5th, 2025
  My favorite (of many, many wonderful experiences) was the Welcome Dinner and show at Dublin House Party. Throughout...
  My favorite (of many, many wonderful experiences) was the Welcome Dinner and show at Dublin House Party. Throughout the tour we had wonderful food, but that was the best Irish stew we had. The quality of the entertainment afterwards was amazing! Also, we had a traveler become ill and have to go to the hospital. John Fitzgibbon could not have been better.Show more
  Traveled in April 2025

  Review collected by Collette
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  Libby

  June 5th, 2025
  This was a wonderful trip and experience. We saw so much of this beautiful country! Our tour manager and coach driver...
  This was a wonderful trip and experience. We saw so much of this beautiful country! Our tour manager and coach driver were A+++. I highly recommend both the Shaded of Ireland tour and ColletteShow more
  Traveled in April 2025

  Review collected by Collette
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  Ricky

  June 5th, 2025
  I got sick after 2 days on the tour and ended up in the hospital for 9 days, missing the rest of the tour. John gave...
  I got sick after 2 days on the tour and ended up in the hospital for 9 days, missing the rest of the tour. John gave us very valuable insight into where to go and get treatment. He made sure I and my wife were taken care of.Show more
  Traveled in April 2025

  Review collected by Collette
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  Marilyn

  June 5th, 2025
  Cliffs of Moher and Waterford Chrystal Factory.
  Traveled in April 2025

  Review collected by Collette
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  Marian

  June 5th, 2025
  The whole Collette Shades of Ireland tour was so well planned. The days were full of included tours and free time to...
  The whole Collette Shades of Ireland tour was so well planned. The days were full of included tours and free time to explore the cities and sights on our own. Our group tour manager Sean enthusiastically shared his Irish culture and history with humor and clarity. Our Coach driver Dan maneuvered through the tight city streets and narrow country roads with driving skills like no other! I found the Irish citizens to be very warm, helpful and so welcoming.Show more
  Traveled in April 2025

  Review collected by Collette