Ireland and Scotland Family Tour: Movies, Legends, and Castles

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed many of the features of the trip. All of the hotels were very nice and the overnight stay in the castle was the cherry on top. We were able to get a tour of the castle and I would recommend to others that they include the stay in their trip, and that they request a tour to get the full experience.

Having free time in Edinburgh with just a few tours was very nice and then getting to see the countryside and the beautiful Isle of Skye was great. As Mark said, our driver was excellent or, as he would say, lovely. He really helped to give us some local insight and took us to some off-the-beaten-track places, in addition to getting us to all the stops on the tour. My husband and I would highly recommend our driver for any Scotland tour.

All in all, an excellent trip. Thank you!

Zicasso’s travel specialists were excellent to work with, as we adjusted our itinerary many times from initial contact to the time of travel. Our travel party significantly reduced in number and they worked with us to put together a great tour of Scotland (Edinburgh, including the castle, Royal Holyrood Palace, and a day trip to Stirling Castle with a great chauffeur/guide) and Ireland, arranging our flight to Dublin with transportation to Galway, then return via train for activities in Dublin. We had a wonderful trip and would highly recommend the travel company.

My wife and I enjoyed a perfectly glorious 17-day adventure in Scotland, thanks to Zicasso’s travel specialists.

The trip was amazing. The perfect route, well-paced, excellent (and varied) accommodations. It was a wonderful blend of scenery, culture, history, and independence, everything we had discussed during the planning phase. We hardly even noticed a few boating glitches (rescheduled and cancelled ferries). They really did not impact the journey much at all.

The travel company could not have planned better weather for us, mostly sunny days with blue skies. My photos are fabulous. Even the locals were shocked at how lovely it was for an extended period of time. We packed with just the right layers and never needed to use rain gear. For Scotland we were indeed very fortunate. The food also was a pleasant surprise. Of course breakfasts were consistently delicious and ample, but we really enjoyed our bites out, mostly for dinners and occasional lunches in a wide variety of settings, from pubs, to higher-end restaurants, even some ethnic establishments. All were great.

We were inspired to visit Scotland thanks in part to our fascination with the series Outlander, the history, culture, scenery. None of it disappointed. The trip was planned as a road trip, renting a car following two full days exploring Edinburgh on foot. Our route took us to Dunnottar Castle, Balmoral, Inverness, Ullapool, the Outer Hebrides (Lewis and Harris), Skye, Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and Stirling. As 70-somethings, we were incredibly active on each day, hitting 20,000 steps on many of them. Lots of town/city walking, and many hikes along the way as well, including waterfalls and beaches. And castles, museums, battlefields everywhere, so much to explore.

A few random things:

Lake Katrine boat ride and bicycling was definitely a highlight, so glad we fit that in.

Taking the train to Glasgow on the final day was definitely worthwhile (actually our longest day on foot, 27,000+ steps). Loved the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, made it to the Cathedral and Necropolis, and lingered for dinner in Merchant Square. We felt that city was vastly under-rated.

Our greatest challenge was the driving. We had done Australia the same way last year, so were comfortable with the left-right issue. But we found the roads throughout Scotland to be very narrow, often one-laned, and in terrible disrepair, with potholes at every turn. Thankfully we were not there in high season. We could only imagine how difficult it could be with way more tourists on the road. Having additional car insurance was very wise planning indeed, thank you!

We definitely want to report how pleased we were, with the trip and the travel company’s services. The travel specialist was always incredibly responsive and reassuring as things surfaced along the way. Communications were never a problem. We would definitely use this travel company again, perhaps they might even suggest our next great adventure. Scotland is a must-see for everyone.

Amy and David P.

If you're considering a trip to Ireland, stop searching and book with Zicasso's travel company. Our travel specialist planned an incredible weeklong itinerary that struck the perfect balance between Ireland's iconic landmarks and the hidden gems we never would have discovered on our own. Every day felt thoughtfully designed and every detail was flawlessly executed.

From the moment we were greeted at the airport until our final departure, everything was seamless. Our accommodations were excellent, our tickets were always waiting for us, and we never had to worry about logistics. All we had to do was enjoy Ireland.

The true highlight of our trip, however, was our driver. He was far more than a driver. He quickly became an ambassador for his country, an outstanding storyteller, and a wonderful travel companion. His knowledge of Ireland's history, culture, and local traditions brought every destination to life. Along the way, he introduced us to some of his favorite local spots and shared stories that you simply won't find in a guidebook. Watching his beloved Galway hurling team qualify for the championship while we were there made the experience even more memorable and his enthusiasm for Ireland was contagious.

He was endlessly patient, flexible, and attentive. He anticipated our needs before we did and made sure we never missed a special viewpoint, photo opportunity, or worthwhile stop. It seemed like he knew someone everywhere we went and it was obvious why. His warmth, professionalism, and genuine kindness left an impression on everyone he met.

In just one week, we experienced Dublin, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Galway, Blarney Castle, a fascinating sheepdog demonstration, some of the best chocolate we've ever tasted (Irish dairy really is that good!), the breathtaking Kerry Cliffs, the Cliffs of Moher, the spectacular landscapes of Connemara—our favorite region of the trip—and finished at the beautiful Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland. It was the perfect blend of history, scenery, culture, and fun.

This trip was our celebration of 25 years of marriage and we truly cannot imagine a better way to have marked the occasion. The travel company exceeded every expectation and our travel specialist's careful planning made it all possible.

If you're looking for an unforgettable Irish vacation, where every detail is taken care of, I recommend this travel company without hesitation. And if you have the opportunity, request our driver. It will be one of the best decisions you make. He didn't just show us Ireland; he helped us experience it.

We had a wonderful trip. Everything went smoothly. We liked that we were always in contact through WhatsApp. That was very helpful and gave us a security blanket.

Our itinerary was planned through a Zicasso travel expert. The guides/drivers she chose were terrific. They were full of information and stories of each place we visited, and they answered all of our questions. One of a few outstanding ones was in Scotland. We had him on two occasions and enjoyed his knowledge and wit. The knowledge of our guide in Edinburgh was outstanding. The tour in Dublin was with a super guide. He is sending us a recap of our tour. In Ireland, for our tour of Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, our guide was wonderful with his knowledge of the area and his charm and wit. We had a great time with him. In Killarney, we had a guide for the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. He gave us a map with both days highlighted so we would remember where we were. He took us to the most beautiful places and had so much information and charm. We had two days with him and they were wonderful. Our Kilkenny guide went out of his way to get us as close to the Rock of Cashel. He also had so much information as we traveled. All these tour guides/drivers were so good. Our travel specialist did such a fantastic job of choosing this guides!!

Our trip to Scotland was wonderful from start to finish. The scenery was breathtaking, the history and culture were fascinating, and every stop felt memorable in its own way. We especially appreciated the friendly people and well-planned experiences, including chauffeurs in luxury cars, staying in a carriage house on the shores of Loch Lomond, a visit with a shepherd who was well-versed in local history, and private bagpipe performances.

My wife had the unexpected pleasure of learning the right way to drink whisky. The highlight of the trip was spending three hours with the chieftain of my clan (MacLean), while receiving a personalized tour of Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. It was a truly unforgettable adventure and we would highly recommend it to anyone considering a visit to Scotland.

This was my second trip planned by Zicasso. If you can afford it, Zicasso is the only way to travel, wherever you want to go.