Vacations are precious. Especially annual family vacations. But it can be a challenge to please everyone, so we have some top tips, recommendations, and essentials to help you organise a trip of a lifetime that suits everybody — from Granny to the tiny tots.
Overland Ireland has created this handy guide to help you plan your ultimate family trip to Ireland. If we inspire you to book with us, take a look at our small group tours of Ireland, our private tours of Ireland, and our custom Ireland tours.
Your family activity holiday in Ireland could be only a few clicks away!
The Ideal Trip to Ireland with Family Means Finding Something for Everyone
Family holidays are no longer just Mom, Dad and 2.5 children. We are seeing groups of all shapes and sizes arranging family adventures in Ireland. We welcome the challenge of creating perfect Ireland family vacations to include grandparents, cousins, in-laws, outlaws and step-families. Every combination is unique and requires special consideration when travelling to the Emerald Isle.
At Overland, we offer such a wide range of experiences we can guarantee that everyone on tour will go home with a massive smile on their faces.
Choosing Family-Focused Accommodation in Ireland
With a small family group, we can arrange the best tried-and-loved local accommodation. We love introducing families to our guesthouse accommodation providers. They are the most welcoming hosts and we can privately book their rooms for your clan. Kids can bunk together while parents have their own private space to unwind after a day of sharing incredible experiences.
But we also stay at fantastic hotels on your family trip to Ireland. We can even put you up in a castle! No matter what the combination is, we’ve got you covered.
Family-friendly Food and Entertainment in Ireland
Food and entertainment is probably one of the best things about a trip to Ireland with family. You can be sure that we have happily done all the tasting and testing to make sure you go to the best places!
Our local guides know all the best eateries, night-time hotspots, traditional pubs, and quirky shops! Ireland has come on leaps and bounds in the gourmet food scene.
You may not come to Ireland for the food but we promise you won’t be disappointed. Everyone and all dietary requirements are catered for. Our guides will give you fantastic recommendations everywhere you go on your family holiday in Ireland.
Create Lasting Memories of Ireland
Family activity holidays in Ireland are all about creating memories. Without the distractions of home life, everyone can focus on having fun, bonding, and creating lifelong memories with each other.
We create an easy pace on tour. We take away the stress of organising locations to visit, rounding up the group each day, chauffeuring everyone to and from experiences, and enlightening them with entertaining stories and Irish history. You can leave all responsibilities at the door and let us whisk you away on a stress-free family tour of Ireland.
Celebrate a Special Occasion in Ireland
We cannot think of a better way to celebrate a special occasion than taking a trip to Ireland with family. Whether a child has just graduated or a grandad has reached a milestone birthday, your nearest and dearest should be close when celebrating life.
Why not plan this occasion together? Your brood can come from the four corners of the world and meet up for unforgettable family adventures in Ireland
Budget for a Family Trip to Ireland
It is important for families to have a budget in mind for their holiday. We are mindful that every family is different, so we tweak itineraries when planning Ireland family vacations.
Our tours typically include more activities and experiences as part of the package than any other tour company in Ireland. For your peace of mind, we strive to avoid hidden costs during your trip. This makes for more enjoyable Ireland family vacations, as there’s no anxiety about unexpected additional expenses.
And while we’re talking money, we always recommend having some cash handy. Ireland is becoming increasingly credit card friendly, and you likely won’t have any issues in the bigger towns and cities.
But in many rural areas, cash is very much still king. We’d hate for you to miss out on a great purchase in a local market or jump in a taxi with a driver who prefers cash, so remember to keep some Euros in your pocket.
Visiting Ireland’s Folk Parks
Visiting our famous interactive folk parks during your Irish adventure is a great way to learn about our history and is very engaging for the smaller people in your group!
Bunratty Castle Folk Park gets great reviews from customers. They even have Medieval and Traditional Irish Banquets on site. These evenings will entertain the whole family with toe-tapping tunes, great food, and wonderful performers!
Ask our team at Overland HQ all about it.
Exciting Experiences on Your Family Activity Holiday in Ireland
The aim when planning the perfect trip to Ireland with family is to make sure everyone is entertained and smiling throughout. All our experiences can be enjoyed at your own pace and are mostly suited for young and old alike.
We love how family members surprise us when we organise a group activity. Mum becomes more daring when challenged by the kids, while Dad shows his clumsy side. Granny and Grandad can even dive into the action, or take part as a happy bystander or chief photographer! Our motto is that it’s your holiday and you should do it your way!
When choosing experiences and activities for Ireland family vacations, we focus on the things you won’t get at home, that are both challenging and fun, and, most importantly, inclusive of the entire group.
Before you come, send us everyone’s bucket list. We will schedule it all into the itinerary, even if it is burying Dad in the sand or getting a giant ice cream cone!
We will make sure it is the best beach and the most delicious cone Ireland has to offer.
Ireland’s Best Hiking & Walking Destinations For Families
Let one of our local guides take you on a breathtaking hike or a historical walk on your tour of Ireland. Barry in Kinsale will enrapture you with tales from this celebrated harbour town, a local legend in County Clare will take you on a mind-blowing hike across the Cliffs of Moher with the waves crashing 100 metres beneath, and on to the hometown of traditional Irish music – Doolin.
There are hundreds of coastal and discovery trails. Overland Ireland takes guests off the beaten track to add some excitement and mystery to a simple amble or more challenging hike, making our tours perfect for family activity holidays in Ireland.
Everyone can take these experiences at their own pace! It is your vacation and we want you to do it your way! You can even top off your trip of a lifetime by taking on Croagh Patrick Mountain – named after the man who is responsible for St Patrick’s Day and painting the town green around the world every March 17th.
Planning for Travel Time in Ireland
On an Overland Ireland family tour, we keep travel time to a minimum. Ireland is a fairly compact country and you can cover a lot of ground in a short space of time. Because we have small groups, we can go off the beaten track and every day is an epic adventure discovering the nooks and crannies of this wonderful land.
Families appreciate the short distances when travelling with younger kids. They want to be in the great outdoors and we love showing them all the hidden gems.
Ireland’s Family-Friendly Festivals
If you are lucky enough to coordinate your holiday at the same time as one of our festivals, you and your family are in for a treat! There are so many to choose from. Visit Galway for the Arts, Horse Racing, or Oyster festivals.
Get yourself giggling at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival or go to any town on St Patrick’s Day to celebrate the most Irish Day of the year! Halloween is a big celebration here.
This holiday originated in Ireland as a pagan festival called Samhain to mark the harvest season and to ward off evil spirits! The Macnas Halloween Parade is a sight to behold in Galway and Dublin during the October break.
So all you have to do to plan your perfect family trip to Ireland is decide who’s coming and get in touch. Ask us to create an incredible itinerary, especially for you!
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