Frequently Asked Questions About Private Tours of Ireland

A private chauffeur tour of Ireland gives you the freedom to explore the country with your own private driver-guide and a personalised itinerary. Rather than following a fixed group-tour schedule, your journey is planned around your interests, the places you'd like to visit and how much time you want to spend exploring.

It is a more personal way to experience Ireland, with the flexibility to enjoy scenic routes, local attractions and interesting stops along the way.

A private chauffeur tour is arranged for your own travelling party, rather than a group of unrelated travellers. Your itinerary can be tailored to your interests and preferred pace, and you have more flexibility over where to stop and how long to spend at each destination.

A group coach tour generally follows a set route and timetable shared with other passengers. A private tour offers a more individual way to discover Ireland.

Private tours are designed around your own travelling party. Your tour will be completely private and customized for you. Your journey can be planned around your group's interests and preferences.

A private driver-guided tour can be a good option if you have just one day to explore, as well as for longer journeys around Ireland. The best route depends on your starting point, available time and the places you would most like to see.

If you share your travel date and what you'd like to experience, Emerald Irish Tours can help you explore a suitable itinerary.

Yes. A private driver-guide can help first-time visitors discover Ireland without having to navigate unfamiliar roads, plan every stop or manage the logistics of a busy sightseeing schedule.

Your itinerary can include well-known highlights as well as smaller places and experiences that match your interests.

Yes. A personalised itinerary is one of the main advantages of a private tour. Your route can be planned around the places you want to visit, your interests, the length of your stay and your preferred pace.

Whether you are interested in Ireland's scenery, history, castles, gardens, traditional villages, food or culture, your tour can be shaped around the experiences that matter most to you.

Ireland offers a wide variety of places to explore, from dramatic coastal scenery and historic sites to traditional towns, countryside and cultural attractions.

Depending on your itinerary, you might visit places such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, County Kerry, Galway, Connemara, Kilkenny or the historic sites of Ireland's Ancient East. The best destinations depend on where you are staying, how long you have and what you would most like to see.

Yes. A multi-day private tour can be planned around the regions and experiences you want to discover. Your route can take account of your arrival and departure arrangements, overnight stops, sightseeing interests and the amount of travelling you want to do each day.

The aim is to create a practical itinerary that allows you to enjoy Ireland without making every day feel rushed.

A private itinerary gives you the opportunity to explore beyond the most familiar attractions. If you have a particular village, historic site, scenic drive, family connection or local experience in mind, let us know when making your enquiry.

We can discuss how it might fit into your route and available time.

Private tours offer more flexibility than fixed group itineraries. Depending on the day's route, timings and practical arrangements, there may be opportunities to adjust stops or spend longer at a place you particularly enjoy.

It is best to discuss any major changes with your driver-guide so that the rest of the day's journey can be planned sensibly.

Yes. Emerald Irish Tours can arrange private airport collection from Dublin Airport or Shannon Airport. Your tour can be planned around your arrival time, preferred starting point and the places you'd like to visit.

Airport collections from other locations can be discussed when planning your tour. Let us know which airport you are arriving at and where you'd like your journey to begin, and we can discuss the arrangements.

Yes. Your private Ireland tour does not have to start and finish in the same location. We can discuss different collection and drop-off points and plan your itinerary around your flights and travel arrangements.

Yes. Hotel and accommodation collections can be arranged as part of your private tour. Simply provide your accommodation details when making your enquiry so that the collection arrangements can be included in your plans.

Yes. You do not need to have a complete itinerary before making an enquiry. Tell us how long you will be in Ireland, who is travelling and the kinds of experiences you enjoy.

We can use that information as a starting point for discussing destinations and creating an itinerary that suits your trip.

We can help with accommodation recommendations as part of planning your private Ireland tour but we do not book accommodation for you.

We can discuss the locations, style of accommodation and budget that suit your preferences, helping you choose convenient places to stay along your route.

That depends on your itinerary. Some tours involve moving between different regions, while others may include two or more nights in the same location. We can plan overnight stops around your destinations and how you prefer to travel.

Yes. If you have a particular style of accommodation in mind, tell us when making your enquiry. We can discuss suitable options based on your preferences, budget and itinerary.

Yes, we can give recommendations but we do not book accommodation.

A driver-guide combines the practical role of driving you between destinations with sharing local knowledge about the places you visit. Along the way, they can offer context about Ireland's history, culture, landscapes and local life, helping you understand more about the places you see.

Having a local driver-guide also means you can enjoy the journey without needing to concentrate on driving, directions or unfamiliar roads.

Hiring a car gives you independence, but you are responsible for driving, navigation, parking and planning your route. With a private driver-guide, you can relax and enjoy the scenery while someone familiar with the roads takes care of the journey.

You also have the benefit of local knowledge and the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Ireland as you travel.

Your driver-guide can share local knowledge and suggestions that may help you get more from your journey. Recommendations can include interesting places to stop, scenic viewpoints and local attractions, depending on your route and the time available.

You can also tell us about your own interests in advance so they can be considered when planning your itinerary.

Yes. We can create private Irish ancestry and heritage tours for visitors who want to explore their family connections to Ireland. Your journey can include ancestral towns, villages and places connected to your family history.

If you know where your ancestors came from, share those details with us when making your enquiry. Even a family name or an approximate location can be a useful starting point for discussing your journey.

Yes. If you have information about your family's Irish origins, we can discuss how to include those locations in your private itinerary. This might involve visiting a particular town, village, parish or county connected to your family.

The more information you can provide, the easier it is to plan a meaningful journey around your heritage.

Yes. Golf can be included as part of a customised private Ireland tour. If you have particular courses in mind, tell us which ones you'd like to play and how many days you would like to dedicate to golf. Your itinerary can then be planned around your golfing interests and other places you'd like to explore.

Yes. Your private tour can be tailored to include luxury accommodation, fine dining and special experiences, depending on your interests and budget. We can discuss the style of holiday you have in mind and plan an itinerary around your preferences.

Yes. Ireland has a rich food and cultural heritage, and these interests can be included in a private itinerary. You might enjoy traditional pubs, local food experiences, historic towns, cultural attractions and opportunities to discover the traditions of different regions.

Yes. Ireland has an extraordinary history, from ancient monuments and medieval castles to historic towns and important cultural sites. We can include historical attractions and places of interest in your itinerary, depending on your preferred route and available time.

A private family tour can be a good way to explore Ireland with children because the itinerary can be planned around your family's interests and preferred pace. You can discuss the ages of your children and the types of experiences they enjoy when planning your trip.

The route can then take account of sightseeing, breaks and activities that help make the journey enjoyable for everyone.

Yes. A private multi-generational tour can bring different generations together while taking account of their individual interests and needs.

The itinerary can balance sightseeing and activities for children and teenagers with scenic stops, history and cultural experiences for adults and grandparents. The pace, walking involved and daily travel distances can also be considered when planning the journey.

If someone in your party has limited mobility, please mention this when making your enquiry. It is helpful to understand how far they are comfortable walking, whether they use a mobility aid and whether steps or uneven ground may be difficult.

This allows us to discuss suitable routes and attractions. Accessibility varies between Irish attractions and historic sites, so individual stops should be checked before they are included in your itinerary.

If you are travelling with young children, please tell us their ages and any child-seat requirements when enquiring. This is important so that suitable arrangements can be discussed before your tour is confirmed.

Emerald Irish Tours provides private transportation for your travelling party. The vehicle arrangements depend on your group size and tour requirements. Please let us know how many people are travelling so that suitable arrangements can be discussed.

We cater for couples, families and small private groups. The number of passengers depends on the vehicle required and the arrangements for your particular tour. Please include your group size when requesting a quotation.

Luggage capacity depends on the vehicle and the number of passengers travelling. If you are bringing large suitcases, golf clubs, mobility equipment or additional bags, please mention this when making your enquiry so that suitable arrangements can be discussed.

Walking requirements depend on the destinations and attractions included in your itinerary. Some places involve very little walking, while others may require longer walks or uneven paths. Let us know about any mobility requirements or walking preferences so that we can take these into account when planning your journey.

The ideal length of an Ireland tour depends on how much of the country you want to explore and how relaxed you'd like your journey to be. Many visitors choose a week or longer to experience several regions without rushing. We can create private tours ranging from shorter visits to multi-week journeys, depending on your travel plans.

Ireland can be enjoyed throughout the year, with each season offering something different. The summer months generally bring longer daylight hours, while spring and autumn can offer a quieter sightseeing experience. The best time to visit depends on your interests, preferred activities and travel dates.

Absolutely. You don't need to arrive with a complete itinerary. Tell us how long you have, where you are arriving and the experiences you'd most like to enjoy. We can recommend regions, destinations and routes that make sense for your available time.

We aim to create practical itineraries that balance sightseeing with time on the road. Ireland may look small on a map, but winding country roads, scenic routes and stops along the way can make journeys longer than expected. We take your preferred pace and the places you want to visit into account when planning your route.

Yes. Your itinerary can be planned around the balance of sightseeing and free time that suits you. If you would like time to explore a town independently, enjoy a leisurely lunch, browse local shops or simply take in the scenery, let us know when planning your tour.

The cost of a private chauffeur tour depends on several factors, including the length of the tour, route, number of travellers, vehicle requirements and the arrangements involved.

A one-day private tour will have different costs from a multi-day journey around Ireland. The best way to receive an accurate price is to share your proposed dates, group size and the type of itinerary you have in mind.

Emerald Irish Tours can then discuss your requirements and provide a quotation based on your plans.

The tour price will usually include private driver, private vehicle, taxes, tolls, fuel and all associated costs.

Flights, accommodation, meals, attraction admissions, and any additional activities are not included in the tour price.

Entrance fees and activities are not included and will need to be paid separately.

Some attractions may require separate admission tickets or advance reservations.

A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to secure the booking, with the remaining 80% payable a week before the tour start date.

Once you have reviewed and agreed to your proposed itinerary and quotation, we will explain the booking process and the steps needed to confirm your tour. Your booking details will include the applicable payment arrangements and terms.

Cancellation terms depend on the booking arrangements and should be provided before your tour is confirmed. We recommend reviewing the cancellation and payment conditions carefully before making a booking.

If your travel plans change, please contact us as soon as possible. We can discuss the requested changes and whether they can be accommodated. Any changes may depend on availability, timing and existing arrangements.

We recommend that visitors consider suitable travel insurance before travelling to Ireland. Travel insurance can provide protection against certain unexpected events, depending on the policy and cover selected.

Irish weather can be unpredictable, and conditions can change throughout the day. Your driver-guide can discuss suitable alternatives where possible, depending on the weather, your itinerary and the attractions available. It is useful to have some flexibility in your plans.

Booking as early as possible is advisable, particularly if you are travelling during the busy summer months or have specific dates and destinations in mind.

Early planning gives you more time to discuss your itinerary and make arrangements for your trip. If your travel dates are approaching, it is still worth enquiring about availability.

The more information you can provide, the easier it is to understand what kind of tour would suit you. When enquiring, it is helpful to include:

• Your preferred travel dates.

• The number of people travelling.

• The ages of any children in your group.

• Your arrival and departure locations.

• Whether you are interested in a day tour or a multi-day itinerary.

• The places and experiences you would most like to enjoy.

• Any mobility, accessibility or other practical requirements.

You do not need to have every detail decided. Your initial enquiry is a starting point for discussing your plans.

Once you submit your enquiry, Martina or Carmel will get back to you within 24 hours. We offer a complimentary, no-obligation call to learn more about your plans, discuss the places you'd like to visit and answer any questions you may have.

Following our conversation, if you'd like to go ahead, we'll put together a personalised itinerary based on your interests, preferred pace and travel plans. You'll have the opportunity to review the proposed itinerary before making a decision.

There is no pressure to book. Our aim is to help you plan a private tour of Ireland that is right for you.

Yes. You do not need to have a complete itinerary before making an enquiry. Tell us how long you will be in Ireland, who is travelling and the kinds of experiences you enjoy.

We can use that information as a starting point for discussing destinations and creating an itinerary that suits your trip.