Kennedy's Kitchen

A Musical Adventure with Kennedy’s Kitchen through Donegal, Derry and Belfast

October 13 - 22, 2024     $3,290 Per Person, Double Occupancy from Chicago

Day by Day Itinerary

Sun., Oct. 13 – CHICAGO / DUBLIN                  (I)

Today we depart Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on the non-stop flight to Dublin, Ireland.

Mon., Oct. 14 – DUBLIN / DONEGAL            (I,D)

After landing at Dublin Airport our Driver/Guide will welcome us to Ireland.  Leaving the airport we’ll journey west into the Irish countryside, stopping along the way at the ruins of the Creevelea Friary in County Leitrim.  Founded in 1508, the remains of this extensive friary include the church, the cloister and domestic buildings.  Next, we’ll journey to the town of Sligo, a vibrant coastal town known for its literary and musical heritage, and closely associated with W.B. Yeats’s poetry, prose, and drama.  We’ll have time for a pint at Hargadon’s Pub, before heading north for a stop at Drumcliffe, at the foot of Benbulben, to view the final resting place of Yeats.  Afterwards we’ll head for Donegal Town, County Donegal, where joHn’s family roots run deep.  We’ll have dinner at our hotel, perfectly located on “The Diamond,” the heart of Donegal Town, and our home for the first three nights in Ireland.

Tues., Oct. 15 – DONEGAL                                 (B)

Today we’ll explore the wildest part of the Wild Atlantic Way.  We take in the raw beauty of County Donegal, including the astounding panorama of the Slieve League Cliffs, which are three times the height of the better-known Cliffs of Moher.  Words fail to capture the majesty of these, the tallest sea-cliffs in Europe.  This might be a good day to pack a lunch to hike and explore a bit further along the cliffs.  Chris and joHn will be looking to make music with friends this evening in one of the local pubs to be named later. 

Wed., Oct. 16 – DONEGAL                                 (B)

After breakfast today we’ll embark on a drive through the Blue Stack Mountains.  The scenery is magnificent, with mountains, valleys, streams and waterfalls cascading down toward the Wild Atlantic.  This afternoon we’ll soak up more beautiful scenery on a Donegal Harbor cruise that travels around the seven Green Islands.  Voted the “coolest place on the planet” by National Geographic, there is only one place to really soak up the beauty of the Donegal coast, and that’s by boat!  And, joHn and Chris will be looking to make more music with friends in a local pub to be named later. 

Thurs., Oct. 17 – DONEGAL / DOWNINGS (B,D)

This morning we’ll say goodbye to Donegal Town and head north to Downings.  We’ll stop at Grianan of Aileach, a hilltop stone fort dating from 1700 BC, where we’ll enjoy breathtaking views of three counties and the rugged Donegal coastline. Depending on time and weather, we’ll enjoy a leisurely drive up to Downings, choosing the route that suits best - there are no bad options!  Tonight we will enjoy a relaxing dinner at our hotel, our home for the next three nights.

Fri., Oct. 18 – DOWNINGS                             (B,L)

After breakfast in the hotel this morning, we’ll set out to visit Glenveagh National Park, the second largest National Park in Ireland, home to Glenveagh Castle grounds, Lough Veagh, and much of the Derryveagh Mountains.  Here we’ll see some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Ireland, which is surely one of the reasons Lonely Planet has voted County Donegal one of the 10 best regions in the world to visit in 2024.  Tonight, it’s back to the local pub for a mighty music session.

Sat., Oct. 19 – DOWNINGS                                (B)

Today is free to explore and find your own adventures, creating memories to last a lifetime. There are so many things to do in Downings: horseback riding; fishing; hiking; golf; kayaking;          cycling or just relax and enjoy music at one of the local pubs.  Weather dependent, and for those       interested, we’ll arrange a lovely cruise featuring music and more breath-taking scenery.  And, of course, more music in the local pub.

Sun., Oct. 20 – DOWNINGS / BELFAST      (B,D)

“Adieu to you dark Donegal, my dear old native land, in dreams I always see your hills, your      towering mountains grand…” This morning we say goodbye to Donegal and head into Northern Ireland.  Our first stop is the city of Derry where we’ll have a walking tour of the Derry Walls with our guide, Ruairi O’hEara.  Then it’s off to County Antrim where we’ll visit the Giant’s Causeway, a mass of 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns formed over 60 million years ago.  Then we’ll continue along the coastal drive to Belfast via the famous Green Glens of Antrim. This evening we enjoy a group dinner at our  hotel, and our home for the last two nights in   Ireland.     

Mon., Oct. 21 – BELFAST                                  (B)

After breakfast we’ll set off on our guided city tour; we’ll see the raw side of Belfast city and its colorful, often tragic, history, as we make our way up the Falls Road and down the Shankhill, the main Catholic and Protestant areas that were home to the bloody battle grounds.  We’ll also visit Crumlin Road Gaol to discover over 150 years of history in  Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian era prison.  Then we’ll head to Titanic Belfast, a fascinating and moving interactive experience.  Explore the shipyard, walk the decks, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of Titanic in the city where it all began.  Tonight is our last night before leaving the Emerald Isle, so we’ll be sure to enjoy music and more craic before settling in for the night.

Tues., Oct. 22 – BELFAST / CHICAGO    (B,I)

All too soon our Up Here It’s Different tour comes to an end. This morning we make our way to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in for our non-stop flight to Chicago.

* * * Welcome Home * * *

Meal Codes

I = In-flight meals    B = Breakfast    D = Dinner

The Vacation Price Includes:

Economy-class air transportation by scheduled airline service

Transportation by deluxe private motor coach with  accompanying Driver Guide

First class hotel accommodations

Irish breakfast each morning at the hotels, and meals as shown in the Day by Day Itinerary

Sightseeing as detailed in the Day by Day Itinerary including applicable entrance fees

Luggage handling for one suitcase per person at the hotels.

Taxes for included ground services and airline fuel surcharge and taxes.

The Vacation Price Does Not Include:  Items of a personal nature such as passport fees and destination   entry requirements; luggage handling at airports; gratuities to the Driver Guide and Tour Guide(s); meals other than those stated above; and Travel Protection

TOUR CONDITIONS 

TOUR DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT: Reservations may be made by check or major credit card. Credit cards can be accepted for payment(s); however, the vacation price reflects a 4% cash discount. Please call InterTrav at 630-377-5840 to arrange payment by credit card; 4% of the payment amount will be assessed on credit card payments. You will be  invoiced for the balance of payment due on or before Friday, July 12, 2024. Reservation requests received after Friday, July 12, 2024, are subject to tour availability.

ARRANGEMENTS:  The tour price is based on a minimum participation of 24 persons and includes planning, and  operational charges and is quoted on the current rate of exchange, tariff rates and airfares in effect as of November 1, 2023.  In the event of a marked increase in foreign currency or in tariff rates, the cost is subject to  revision.

TOUR PRICING: This is a package tour in which group airfares and land tour costs have been combined in the most  advantageous way.  Should you wish to deviate from the package tour by changing your departure and/or return dates of travel, this will eliminate the advantages of the package tour price.  There will be a service charge of $100 per person for altering the airline itinerary, plus any additional charges assessed by the airlines.

CANCELLATION: If after making your initial deposit you find it necessary to cancel from the tour for any reason, there is a cancellation charge equal to the per person deposit up to 90 days prior to departure. For cancellation between 89 and 60 days prior to departure, there is a cancellation charge equal to 50% of the tour cost. For cancellation within 59 days of departure, the cancellation charge is 100% of the tour cost. IMPORTANT: Cancellations will not be accepted by telephone and must be sent in writing to: InterTrav Corporation, 203 State Avenue, St. Charles, Illinois 60174, or emailed to travel@intertravcorp.com

TRAVEL PROTECTION: For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information and rates, please review the product flyer enclosed. If you would like to enroll, fill out the enrollment form and return it with your tour reservation form. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the  insurance Policy. To view/download the policy, go to: https://policy.travelexinsurance.com/GPZ-1023. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535). 

PASSPORTS AND VISAS: Your tour requires a passport valid for the duration of your travel. If you do not already have your passport, or it will expire before your return date, we suggest you apply for it immediately. No visas are required for your tour. However, if you are a citizen of a country other than the United States, you must advise us in writing with your Reservation Application, as other travel documents may be required.

RESPONSIBILITY

JOHN KENNEDY and/or INTERTRAV CORPORATION, 203 State Avenue, St. Charles, Illinois 60174, and its employees, shareholders, agents, and representatives (InterTrav) uses third party suppliers to arrange tours, transportation, sightseeing, lodging, and all other services related to this tour. InterTrav is an independent contractor and is not an employee, agent, or representative of any of these suppliers. InterTrav does not own, manage, operate, supervise, or control any transportation, vehicle, airplane, hotel or restaurants, or any other entity that supplies services related to your tour. InterTrav is not affiliated with any other tour operator. All suppliers are independent  contractors and are not agents or employees or representatives of InterTrav. All tickets, receipts, coupons, and vouchers are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by each supplier, and by accepting the coupons, vouchers, and tickets, or utilizing the services, all customers agree that neither InterTrav, nor its employees, agents, or representatives are or shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred or change in schedule by any person in connection with any means of transportation; nor for any loss, damage or injury to person or property or otherwise, in connection with any service supplied or not supplied resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrence beyond the control of InterTrav by reason of any event beyond the control of any agency or supplier, or occurring without the fault or negligence of such agency or supplier.  InterTrav assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss, injury or damage or loss of any traveler that may result from any act or omission on the part of others; InterTrav assumes no responsibility or liability for personal property; and      InterTrav shall be relieved of any obligations under these terms and conditions in the event of any strike, labor dispute, act of God, or of government, fire, war, whether declared or not, terrorism, insurrection, riot, theft, pilferage, epidemic, pandemic, illness, physical injury, quarantine, medical or customs or immigration regulation, delay, or cancellation. InterTrav accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen items. InterTrav reserves the right to refuse any participant or potential participant at its sole discretion. No refund will be made for voluntary absence from the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking.

The above tour conditions are provided in addition to the full terms and conditions of travel which can be found here grouptripsandtravel.com/booking-agreement-terms-conditions/. By booking this trip you are agreeing to be bound by the full terms and conditions of travel in addition to the tour conditions above. It is therefore vital that you read the full terms and conditions before making any booking. Making a booking is indicative of your agreement to be bound by all of the terms and conditions.