Travel Fam Info Hub

National Geographic Journeys~Iconic Ireland
23 May - 31 May 2026
Dublin Roundtrip (DUB Airport Code) 

Passports must be valid at least six months beyond the trip end date.

Our tour company requires insurance policy coverage for medical expenses, evacuation, and repatriation benefits.  Combined coverage together needs to be $200,000 USD per traveler.  This medical coverage itself is not costly, but I do highly recommend a comprehensive policy to include your flight costs, trip interruption, etc.  You can use any insurance provider you prefer, but I recommend Travel Insured or Allianz.  You can book through the links below.  I will send a reminder out about purchasing insurance, as it is ideally purchased just before final payment.  Please purchase a policy that covers you from date you leave home until the date you arrive back home.  

Final Payment:  I will be in touch in mid-March  to collect final payments.  I will email you a secure link.

Good to Go Links:  On 26 January I emailed you each GTG links.  This info is required by our tour company.  Please complete that info ASAP so our final travel documents are not held up.

• Arrive anytime on May 23rd, but please try to be in Dublin by early evening to meet our guide and kick things off.  Please check the ARRIVAL date of your flight to be sure it arrives on May 23rd.  This might mean departing on the 22nd for a flight that arrives on the 23rd.  
• Departing flights out of Dublin on the 31st can be at any time. 

• Please be sure to allow ample time for any connections you have.  Do not try to make a 1 hour connection.  
• Departing flights on the 31st can be at any time. 

If you are flying directly back to the U.S. from Dublin, be aware that  Dublin Airport has US preclearance, which means you can complete US customs and immigration before leaving Ireland. Because of this, flights arrive in the US as domestic arrivals and US connections are typically easy.  Just plan to arrive at the Dublin airport a little early than usual to make time for this.  I'll remind you of this before the end of our trip.

I typically start my flight search on Expedia, but once I find the flight I like I almost always purchase directly with the airline.   It is strongly recommended that you book flights directly with the airline rather than through third party booking sites. If flights are delayed, canceled, or need to be changed, airlines can assist you directly when the ticket was purchased through them. Third party bookings often limit what the airline can do and can cause delays in resolving issues during travel. An exception to this might be if you have a fancy credit card (for Example, AMEX Platinum) that will help you book flights.

*If you booked pre and/or post nights please adjust your flight dates accordingly.

**I can help you arrange for an arrival transfer.  Alternatively you can easily get an uber or taxi upon arrival at the airport.  It is about a 40 min ride to our hotel in Dublin from the airport. 

As a reminder, I sent out your travel vouchers via email on 22 April.  You don't need to print them, but keep them handy in your email in case you are asked for them.  

Getting from the Airport

A cab is generally the easiest way to get from Dublin Airport to the city center where our hotel is. Taxis are easy to get and operate directly outside the terminals, with dispatchers available to assist. Just follow the signs for taxis from the arrivals hall.

Cabs typically run between 25 and 45 euros, depending on traffic, and the ride is usually 30 minutes. You can pay in euros or by credit card. Tipping is not required, but rounding up or adding a couple of euros for good service is appreciated.

I can also arrange a private transfer if you would prefer. Just keep in mind it is usually about twice the cost of a cab, and cabs are very easy. Either way, I am happy to help.

Side note: I was in Ireland this time last year, and every driver was chatty, hilarious, and fully committed to telling stories whether I was ready or not. Expect entertainment.

Hotel Address

Staycity Aparthotels, Little Mary Street
Dublin
Ireland
D07 PKW5

Arriving Early

If you have a pre night booked at the hotel, either through G Adventures or on your own, I recommend letting them know at check in that you are joining a group starting the following day. This helps avoid having to check out and check back in or switch rooms. Just give the front desk a quick heads up.

Tour Start Details

The official start date of the tour is May 23. You can arrive any time that day, or earlier if you are coming in a day early.

On May 23, the hotel will have a sign near the front desk for our G Adventures tour. That will include the time and location to meet our guide that evening.

There are no formal activities that day, just the group meeting and likely an optional dinner.

Our private guide or guides will be with us for the entire trip. On the first evening, they will go over all of the details, where we will go, where we will stay, when and where to meet, and everything you need to know. They are very thorough and also great resources for optional activities during free time.

We have always had amazing local guides with G Adventures. We are in great hands.

Apps to Download

I shared a link for a private WhatsApp group via email on 14 May. Please download the app and join the group ahead of time. Our guide uses it during the trip for daily updates, what to wear, when to meet, and important reminders.

I will also shared a Photocircle link so we can all share photos from the trip.

In May, the Emerald Isle finally turns emerald again. Wildflowers carpet the countryside and gardens burst into colors. The island starts waking up after winter, the days are brighter, and everything feels more energized.

Expect daytime highs in the upper 50s - 60s °F and nighttime lows in the upper 40s - 50s °F.

Pack in layers. Bring comfortable shoes and a rain jacket.  Having options you can add or remove will help you stay comfortable.  

Do not forget your essentials. Passport, medication, a backpack for daytime excursions, chargers, reusable water bottles, and anything you personally rely on when you travel. 

I also always pack a swimsuit because you never know when it will come in handy. 

Bring a power adapter for charging your dual voltage devices such as phones, cameras, laptops, and anything else you normally plug in. For hair dryers, curling irons, or similar items, I only travel with them if they are dual voltage. Traveling with an adapter is easy. Traveling with a converter is not. They are bulky and often do not work well anyway.  Ireland uses type G plugs, with 3 rectangular pins.  I have a couple of universal adapters I purchased off of amazon that basically have a plug for anywhere...they are not expensive and a great thing to include with your electronics when traveling.  

We will be moving around a bit, so simple packing makes life easier. Plan to travel with one suitcase plus a backpack for daytime.

Every traveler is different, so spending money needs will vary. Some people order extra drinks. Some shop more than others. Some barely buy anything. Think about your own habits when planning for drinks, shopping, and tipping.

It is recommended to bring a mix of Euros in cash, plus credit and debit cards. You can order Euros ahead of time from your bank, or use an ATM or currency exchange counter when you arrive in Dublin.  I plan to travel with about €200 in small bills so I can easily tip.  

It is a good idea to contact your bank and/or CC company to let them know you will be traveling.  This helps avoid any fraud alerts on your cards.  Note:  I have found AMEX is not widely accepted in Ireland.  Be sure to have a couple of different forms of payment, which is always good practice when traveling.  (MC, Visa, cash).

Tipping is customary in Europe. A general guideline is 10 percent of the bill for wait staff and a small amount like €1 or €2 for other service providers.

There will be several chances to tip our local guides.  This includes drivers, a guide for a short segment of the tour, etc. You can do this directly, or you can allow our CEO to collect tips as a group. CEO is the G Adventures term for the guide who travels with us for the entire trip. A typical range for local guides is €3 to €5 per day per person, but our CEO will give us guidance on that througout the tour.  

At the end of the trip, if you feel your G Adventures CEO delivered an outstanding experience, a tip is expected and appreciated. The amount is personal. A common guideline is €30 to €40 per person for each week of the trip.