POT O' GOLD: The "1,000 Welcomes Passport" savings
program from Tourism Ireland and Aer Lingus provides discounts and
perks to clients heading for the Emerald Isle on sale air fares
from the Irish flag carrier this spring and summer. Many U.S.
operators, including Sceptre Ireland, Celtic Tours, CIE
International and Brian Moore International are offering the "1,000
Welcomes Passport" as part of standard tour packages. Visit www.irelandvacations.com or www.aerlingus.com
for more. Sample discounts -- most of which are available through
Aug. 31 -- include:
• Dining: In Dublin, one free bottle of wine per couple, weekdays,
at the Fado Restaurant at The Mansion House, and a two-course lunch
and pre-theater dinner menus priced at under $27 at the Commons
Restaurant.
• Sightseeing: Discounts at the National Gallery of Ireland in
Dublin of 40% on Millennium Wing Exhibition entrance and 15% in the
gift shop; and 15% off on scheduled cruises on Killary Cruises in
Galway.
• Shopping: The Royal Tara China Visitor Centre in Galway offers a
10% shopping discount, plus free factory tours; while the Chester
Beatty Library in Dublin offers a 10% discount on all gift shop
buys.
• Health and Beauty: Temple Country House and Spa in Westmeath, and
the Rosemary Spa and Seaweed Baths in Westport, County Mayo, have
discounted all midweek programs through Aug. 1 by 10%.
• Sports: Save 10% on standard rates at the Malahide Golf Club in
Dublin and horseback riding holidays at Horsetrek Ireland in County
Down.
E-DUCATION: Check out Tourism Ireland's
Shamrock Club destination specialist Web site at www.shamrockclub.net/register. Once you've joined, you
can log onto the recently upgraded site for access to online
education and certification modules and other features. For more,
contact Tourism Ireland's John Daly at (212) 418-0835, or visit the
site.
TOUR-A-LOO-RAH: Celtic Tours guaranteed select
departures on three of its most popular motorcoach tours from May
through August: the 10-night Celtic Dream; the five-night Celtic
Delight; and the nine-night Celtic Adventure. All departures
include three- and four-star accommodations, breakfast daily, most
dinners, entertainment, admissions and sightseeing. Clients save
$90 to $128 on the tours as part of the "1,000 Welcomes" campaign
when packages are booked and paid in full by May 15. Celtic pays
travel agents 10% to 15% on the land portion. For details, call
(800) 833-4373; visit www.celtictours.com; or e-mail [email protected].
SEEING GREEN: Sceptre Ireland extended the
booking window for its Emerald package to July 15 for travel this
fall. Rates for travel Nov. 1 to Dec. 16 start at $399 for
departures from New York (Kennedy), Boston, Baltimore and
Washington. The package includes roundtrip air, six nights in hotel
and farmhouse bed-and-breakfasts, a weeklong car rental with
unlimited mileage, breakfast daily, an Irish Coffee welcome
get-together, sales tax, VAT and services of Sceptre's offices in
Ireland. The package is based on two people traveling midweek
sharing double occupancy accommodations. Sceptre Ireland pays 10%
commission to agents. For more information, call (800) 221-0924 or
visit www.sceptreireland.com.