Ireland's Iconic Must See Sights

Posted by Tammy Murphy

November 5, 2020 at 12:00 AM

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The dramatic Wild Atlantic Way along south west Ireland's coast and its natural beauty is highlighted again in the new Star Wars movie.

I was mesmerized a few years ago, in the final moments of "Star Wars:  The Force Awakens" watching Jedi master, Luke Skywalker standing on Skellig Michael Island (his hideaway planet) has inspired me to highlight this area for recent travelers.  The world will see much more of this site and many other Irish breathtaking views in "The Last Jedi" as we watch Rey learn the ways of the Force from the exiled Jedi master. 

While Skellig Michael may not be a hideaway planet, it will most certainly take traveler's breath away even more so as they travel the Country Kerry coast.  Can you imagine the view from the Atlantic of  the 714 feet  UNESCO World Heritage site which served as Gaelic Christian monastic settlement from the 6th to the 8th century.  If you travel between March to early October, an hour long boat tours journeys from the coastal village of Portmagee to the island, but absolutely book well in advance, demand is VERY high.  Not for the faint of heart, it can be a rough ride in certain weather conditions.  Once you arrive, you will need to climb hundreds of rock steps to reach the U shaped valley as shown in the movie.

Don't miss the remains of the monastery on a terrace shelf 600 feet above sea level.  In tact and in remarkably good shape, it consists of six beehive huts, two oratories, a medieval church and a graveyard.

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One thing you won't find on Skellig Michael are the beloved Star Wars Porgs.  However, take a closer look  at the large population of puffins (the birds that flock to the island from March to October, their breeding season inspired the creation of porgs).  Film designers were asked to superimpose over the birds instead of digitally removing them which is how porgs were created.  And they don't fear humans. 

If it happens that you can't get to the actual island, filming took place all along the Wild Atlantic Way from the most northern point in Malin Head to the most southern, Brow Head, and several in between. 

Are you dying to see "Star Wars:  The Last Jedi" now to see the places mentioned?  ANd there's more:

County Donegal:  Malin's Head's cliffs near Banba's Crown were used for scenes with the Millennium Falcon. 

County Clare:  Loop Head with its rocky coast is featured in several pivotal scenes.

Dingle Peninsula:  Sybil Head was used quite a lot, sets were constructed to appear like structures on Skellig Michael.   Tip:  I usually suggest travelers visit Dingle Peninsula if they are going in super busy summer time.  Some locals actually believe its prettier and more authentic.

County Cork:  The scenery and rock faces at Brow Head are very similar to Skellig Michael.  Some filming was in abandoned mine shafts as well.

Diehard fans may be tempted to stay where "Luke Skywalker" stayed while filming, The Moorings Guesthouse and Restaurant.

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Not a Star Wars fan?  Can you think of other hugely popular movies with ties to the Emerald Isle?  It's natural beauty, diverse landscapes from stunning cliffs to rugged coastlines, cozy villages to vibrant, bustling city centers, all of which make a lasting impression and desire to visit Ireland.  There are many other movies, all featuring iconic scenes shot in Ireland that will make you want to pack your bags and hop on the next available flight.  Can you guess a few? 

BraveHeart (Trim Castle in County Meath),
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Cliffs of Moher in County Clare)
P.S. I Love You (Wicklow Mountains in Counties of Wicklow, Dublin, Wexford and Carlow)
The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Ashford Castle, County Mayo &  Galway )
Saving Private Ryan (Normandy Beach was shot on Curracloe Beach in County Wexford)
Game of Thrones (Northern Ireland in Winterfell in County Down, and Counties Fermanagh and Antrim)
Titanic (not filmed here, but the real Titanic took on passengers at Cobh (Queenstown then)

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VIP Travel Experience can create that PRICELESS Ireland vacation  along the Wild Atlantic Way and beyond.  We realize that searching for the Ireland Vacation of your dreams can sometimes seem like searching for a needle in a haystack.  Give us a few hints, do you love iconic movie spots, Saint Patrickheritage or genealogygolfcyclingcastles and kingdomshistoryVikings, Myths & Legends, Waterford Crystal, Guinness, Jameson and we will create that dream Irish vacation that you will remember FOREVER.

Don't take the stressful route, sit back and enjoy every moment of your trip with experienced local drivers. 

Local drivers do more than drive you from point a to point b. They enhance your trip with their stories and ties to their beloved country. Absolutely take their word over mine with their recommendations of good, authentic eateries and shopping spots. Be careful what you mention to them, they will move Heaven and Earth to exceed your expectations. Just ask Mr. Tom, his driver, John, saw that he was about to buy a Shillelagh (a walking stick or cane) in one of the tourist areas and he said "Don't buy here". It took several days for John to locate the genuine cane maker, but he would not give up or let Mr. Tom buy anything less than authentic. As the trip was nearing the end,  John drove Mr. Tom and his family several hours out of the way to a Village of Shillelagh in County Wicklow to a family business which hand makes genuine Irish Blackthorn walking sticks.  Not only did he purchase something more authentic, but he learned alot about the history of it as well. 

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If you're to start planning your iconic Ireland adventure, let us know. I would love to explore the possibilities with you. Click here to get in touch with us.
 
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Topics: travel tips, #travelwithfriends, #viptravelexperience, reasons to use a travel consultant, Anniversary Travel, ireland, luxurytravel

Feeling Overworked & Under Traveled?

Posted by Justin Murphy

December 14, 2017 at 6:30 AM


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What? You’re thinking of skipping your vacation again this year? Americans are among the hardest working people in the world...and receive the fewest vacation days from our employers. So why is it that every year Americans throw away an estimated 415 million vacation days by skipping their vacation! If you are in a leadership role at your place of work, not taking time off from work can prove to be more harmful than beneficial for you or your organization. Here are four reasons why you should be going on vacation this summer.

1. Revive your productivity and with it, your team’s

We all know that small breaks throughout the day help us over the short term, but it’s vital that we take longer breaks from work to sustain and even build our creativity and productivity. Being away from your work environment for a longer period of time will help you gain a fresh perspective about your work, as well as providing you with the opportunity to pursue your other interests. By skipping your vacation, you can have a negative effect on the organization’s morale. It creates frustration and resentment and makes the rest of the team think that if the boss isn’t taking a vacation then maybe they had better not take one either.

2. Vacation time is part of your compensation; it’s not a job “perk”

Remember when you applied for the job? Weren’t your allotted a certain number of vacation days per year part of the compensation package? Vacation time is part of your remuneration for doing the job; it’s not a “perk”. It’s a return on the investment of our time and expertise in helping our organization to reach their objectives. Would you not accept a monetary bonus at the end of the year? Of course, you would! That’s how we need to think of vacations.

 

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3. Serve as a role model for others in your team

Whether you are in a leadership role or an employee, you need to take a vacation! Employees will look to their leaders for guidance on what is allowed and what is frowned upon. What you model at work will determine what your employees do. Despite the workloads that may be building on your desks, it still very important to take time off work in order to maintain your effectiveness in your role.

4. So whether you’re in Bora Bora, Paris or Hawaii, show your team they can manage without you!

While we all like to think that we’re indispensable, the reality is we need to encourage the company’s growth and overall morale. Taking time off from work will encourage team members to develop strategies and abilities that will help them learn how to effectively hold down the fort while you’re away. We need our leaders and employees to bring their best efforts to reaching the organization’s goals. And the best way we can encourage this is to make sure everyone takes their vacations so that they might bring a fresh perspective and new ideas on how to attain their shared goals.

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Hopefully, this will encourage you to understand why skipping your next vacation is so not worth it!

Let us help you bring fresh perspective and new ideas to your workplace by planning your next vacation today! Your employer AND your family will be glad that you did!

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Topics: Italy, passport passion, group travel, ireland, travel, new york, #familytravel, luxurytravel

Fun Ideas For The Whole Family

Posted by Justin Murphy

October 19, 2017 at 7:30 AM

Planning a family vacation isn't always an easy task. You must attempt to accomodate the preferences of adults and children alike. If you're looking for luxury family travel without the hassles of planning the itinerary, allowing you and your family to truly relax while you're on vacation, look to VIP Travel Experience. We have some excellent options that are great for children as well as their parents.  Lately we have seen a big rise in Moms/daughters bonding trips and well as dads/sons golf and fishing trips!!  What a great Christmas idea right?  And there is no shopping neeeded, one phone call is all it takes.

New York

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New York is an incredible destination for your luxury family vacation. Depending on the time of year you choose to visit, you'll enjoy all kinds of attractions the kids will love.  What kinds of things REALLY excite your children, which hobbies and interest, let us know and we will seek out activities that will personalize this vacation and make you look like a ROCKSTAR!!  

Just a few ideas include Broadway  shows or perhaps your daughter may be interested in a Rockette dance class and a backstage tour?  Visit the many great historical sites and museums the city has to offer, but have you considered some of these tours by night?  Shopping Anyone? There is something for all ages.  Did you know that you can visit the hip boutiques of SoHo and NoLita or get exclusive access to Designer Showrooms and Wholesale pricing in the Garment District along with a fashion guide or even have a private stylist guide you?   For the foodies . . . many, many food tours, baking , pizza or chocolate making classes.  Of course, New York City boasts some of the best nightlife and restaurants the country has to offer. 


Italy

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Italy is such a vast, and varying AMAZING country. From the flooded streets of Venice, through the Renaissance town of Florence & Tuscany countryside, to the romantic elegance of Rome, there is something for everyone to enjoy! In Venice everyone can enjoy an authentic gondola serenade. For those of age, wonder around the amazing vineyards in beautiful Tuscany  and you will find tastings of these  amazing Italian wines are plentiful. Or for the whole family, consider going to the market with a local chef and purchase the ingredients to prepare your delicious meal with a local chef.  Italy is a great family travel destination with ancient ruins, parks, spooky places and even children museums.  How exciting, they can be a Roman gladiator for the day or create carnival masks in Venice.  Italy is a hands-on history lesson with many opportunities to bond while learning.

 

Ireland
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Ireland, it hold all things old and new and AMAZING VIEWS. Ireland is one of the safest places to travel, so if worry free vacation is what you're after, look no further. Ireland is becoming one of showbusiness favorite new locales with filming from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and the Game of Thrones series which could be fun tours for everyone to see where these were filmed. You can attend a medieval meal with authentic food and drinks in a REAL LIFE CASTLE! While there make sure you take a quick kiss of the "Stone of Elloquence" so you will be well spoken from then on. Also wonder around all of the rich history Ireland abounds. Book of Kells, Trinity College, Cliffs of Moher, and much much more for the entire family to enjoy


When it comes to luxury family travel, no matter where you go, every one of your needs will be anticipated and taken care of, for every member of your family. You'll finish your vacation feeling relaxed and ready to tackle whatever challenges await you. If you'd like more information about our fabulous luxury vacations for yourself, or for your entire family, contact us for a quote today.

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Topics: Italy, passport passion, group travel, ireland, travel, new york, #familytravel, luxurytravel

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