English Christmas Tour: Majesty and Magic on Display

Zicasso’s travel specialist and team were fantastic to work with. They were extremely responsive and ensured all details were taken care of for our trip.

We just spent two weeks in Scotland and Ireland, arranged for us by Zicasso’s travel specialists. What a five-star experience! Both of them have traveled extensively in the UK and Ireland, with one having grown up in the UK. They always seemed to know where we wanted to be.

This trip was a bit more challenging due to unexpected spine surgery a mere eight weeks prior to the trip. Between the perfect selection of lovely hotels at all the right locations and the nice people of these two countries, everything was accessible, despite using a walker. We could not have asked for more beautiful vistas, castles, and cultural amenities, ranging from lively Irish pubs to the finest museums (we’re art buffs). We also ate at spectacular restaurants selected by the travel company, in addition to terrific tours tailored to our specific interests.

Not only was the planning for the trip exceptional, but the travel specialists were there for us at a moment’s notice when things went awry. All trains in Scotland were canceled for a day due to 100mph winds from Storm Amy. We were pinned down in Edinburgh (a great place to be trapped) and took in additional sites, while the travel company saw to it that we had a lovely hotel room to spend our extra night in Edinburgh. Many people wound up sleeping in the train station. Our train was rescheduled strategically for the next day by the travel specialists, while we enjoyed Scotland’s National Art Gallery and our vacation continued seamlessly.

The transition from Scotland to Ireland was delightfully easy and our time in Ireland was spent exactly as planned. As I’m unable to drive and did not want my wife to be unable to sightsee while we traveled, the travel company got us (per our request) to far western Ireland and the Aran Islands, where Gaelic languages are still spoken and centuries-old Irish traditions are still maintained. We traveled by train so we could both sit back and take in the beautiful countryside.

There, we used our castle hotel in County Clare as a base for travel by car and enjoyed several days pursuing our own agenda and taking in the splendor of castle living. This was amazing, likely the most elegant place my wife and I have ever stayed, yet the venue had a comfortably casual vibe and an incredibly helpful staff that made accessibility problem-free. We would definitely block out a day just to stay on the castle grounds and enjoy the property and activities if we are able to return.

The Cliffs of Moher were spectacular, as were the Aran Islands, right down to a rainbow which vanished before we could find the “pot of gold” at the end. That being said, we think “the pot of gold” is Ireland itself... the sites, the people, the music, the food… the list is endless. We cleared US Customs in Shannon so we were able to fly to the US with no TSA or customs issues.

We returned to find an itinerary summary prepared by the travel specialists for submission to our travel insurance company for any storm-related refunds that the travel company had not already arranged for us. Simply a wonderful, stress-free trip, with the travel company at work continuously to assure that the experience was optimal, and it was five-star from start to finish. We can’t extend a higher recommendation to Zicasso’s travel specialists for a wonderful, intimate tour of the UK and Ireland.      

This was a perfect vacation. The itinerary set up by Zicasso's travel company was exactly what we wanted. We got to see a lot of Ireland and learn about each area, with a great mix of walking, sightseeing, experiences, relaxation, and culinary delights.

Our four accommodations in Ireland were top-notch. It was hard to leave each one because they were so lovely. And the food was exceptional at each meal (including breakfast!).

Our guide/driver was fantastic and really worked to make the trip perfect. He was professional, knowledgeable, and 110% prepared every day. He was able to adapt our itinerary each day to the weather, our energy levels, and even interests that emerged during our discussions. He knew each area we visited really well and provided so much interesting information and history. He was a very good driver and was always thoughtful, courteous, kind, and friendly. It was a pleasure to spend the 10 days with him.

Our one and only complaint about the trip was the room temperature in our first two hotels.

Zicasso's travel designer listened to our travel requests and our budget, and did an excellent job of putting them together to give us a great trip. We got to see the sights we hoped to and traveling between them was well laid out for us.

Zicasso's travel company did a superb job planning a trip to cover all of the priorities we had given them. They provided a comprehensive binder with all the information we needed, together with a mobile link to our daily schedule that proved invaluable for navigating during the trip. Our lodgings and guides were first-rate. We were very pleased with their services and would be happy to work with them again.

We had a great time in England and Scotland. Zicasso's travel company did a great job planning and managing the entire process for us. We chose them because they listened to our needs to start. Secondly, their plan was smart and well orchestrated. We are really happy we chose this travel company.