cie tours complaints

The Scoop: What to Know About CIE Tours

Cie tours is an ireland specialist that also offers tours to the u.k. and europe..

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

CIE Tours is a tour company with a specialty: Ireland. It has been running tours there since 1932 and is currently the largest U.S.-based tour operator that specializes in Ireland. And though CIE Tours has grown to include tours to other countries in the U.K., plus Italy and Iceland, its connection to Ireland remains front and center. That’s largely because it’s owned in part by the Irish government’s national transport company, CIÉ Group (Córas Iompair Éireann).

BEST OF THE BEST: Best Tour Companies for Guided Tours

According to CIE Tours: “This semi-state ownership provides CIE Tours with the stability and reputation of the Irish government behind it.” The company is also noteworthy for its variety of tour types, including standard coach tours, small group tours, independent drive tours, and private tours.

TourScoop Takeaways

• Countries: CIE Tours is an Ireland tour specialist but also offers tours to Scotland, England & Wales, Italy, and Iceland
• Tour Size Average: Standard coach departures max out at 44; small group tours have a maximum of 26 guests. There are also independent self-drive options.
• Tour Type: Primarily coach but there are also self-drive options

How to Book

To book a CIE Tour, you can either book directly with the company or via a travel agent.

Credibility Check

CIE Tours isn’t BBB accredited, but it is partially owned by the Irish government’s national rail transport company. It has a large number of ratings on user-review sites, including 4/5 on Tripadvisor , 4.6 out of 5 on Feefo based on past guest ratings, and 4.2 out of 5 on Facebook .

Tour Destinations

CIE Tours is a specialist operator that focuses on tours to Europe, and specifically Ireland and Britain for guests from North America. It offers escorted and independent tours to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales, and also has itineraries to Italy and Iceland.

CIE Tours has nearly 40 pre-set itineraries that range from five-day tours to multiweek trips. CIE Tours’ trip formats include:

• Guided Vacations : Led by local tour directors, CIE Tours’ Guided Vacations suited to solo travelers, couples, groups, and adult families. These tours have up to 44 people per departure and utilize luxury coaches.
• Small Group Vacations : CIE Tours’ Small Group Vacations are designed for people who prefer to travel with a smaller group. Maxing out at 26 people, these tours still use full-sized coaches, so guests have plenty of room to stretch out (and claim a window seat).
• Group Vacations :  Groups of 10 or more people can arrange to join a larger group on an existing departure or travel privately on an escorted tour. CIE Tours can also custom craft itineraries to suit the preferences of a group, and can focus on anything from ancestry or history to culinary adventures.
• Custom Private Driver Vacations : Designed for groups up to nine people, CIE Tours’ Custom Private Driver Vacations include a private car and driver who mixes local history and insider stories with groups. These tours can be based on a pre-curated itinerary or can be customized for the group.
• Independent Adventures : Independent Adventures give you the structure of an itinerary, curated accommodations, and the self-drive flexibility to move at your own speed. There are both pre-set routes and the option to create your own custom route.

Tour Guides

CIE Tours have a 95% guest satisfaction rating, due in large part (according to the company) to the strength of its tour directors. Guides receive extensive training before becoming CIE tour directors, and then participate in annual workshops to make sure they’re offering guests the most current information and the best experience. And since CIE guides are locals, they are able to offer an insider point of view plus untold history and local legends.

Inclusions/Extras

CIE Tours’ All-In Inclusive Advantage bundles everything on the itinerary in the up-front price for guided tours. Built into the price are:

• Most meals, including daily hot breakfast
• All entrance fees to attractions and experiences
• Traditional entertainment
• All on-tour transportation
• Free Wi-Fi on coaches and in hotels
• CIE Tours travel pack, including high quality backpack and documents holder, luggage strap and tags, travel converters, guidebooks and more
• Handling of one suitcase per person throughout vacation
• All local taxes and hotel service charges

Airfare isn’t included in the base price, but the company offers flight bookings that include complimentary airport transfers plus assistance if flights are canceled.

Typical Travelers

Guests on CIE Tours generally are between 45 and 70 years old. Most are from the U.S. and Canada. Only about 5% of CIE Tours guests are solo travelers; the majority of guests on guided tours are couples or people traveling with friends or family. Since CIE Tours has a strong Great Britain and Ireland focus, it attracts a fair number of travelers looking to learn more about their roots.

SOLO TRAVEL TOGETHER: 10 Best Tour Companies for Solo Travel

Communication 

About three weeks before the start date of a tour, U.S.-based guests will receive a backpack that includes printed version of all travel documents and vouchers, a document holder, luggage strap and tags, travel converters, and guidebooks. Guests based outside of the U.S. receive the travel pack at the first hotel upon check-in.  Guests can also access electronic versions of the travel documents through the CIE Tours website.  

Loyalty Program

CIE Tours has a straightforward approach to rewarding repeat guests. It offers a past guest discount of $150 per person on guided tours or $75 on self-drive trips. The discount can be combined with other promotions for additional savings. 

Private Options

CIE Tours’ private options are private group tours and private driver tours:

• Custom Private Driver tours allow up to nine passengers the chance to design their own itinerary and set their own pace. Private Driver tours are available in Ireland, Britain, and Iceland.
• Group Vacation tours allows groups of 10 or more passengers to travel privately on their own coach on an existing CIE itinerary or a custom itinerary.  Private Group Vacations are available for all CIE Tours’ destinations.

With both options, CIE Tours’ vacation specialists do all the planning.  Once on tour, travelers get the expertise of a knowledgeable local Tour Director who leads the group and manages logistics.

Sustainability Efforts

CIE Tours is in the early stages of developing its company’s sustainability program. As a U.S. tour operator with an Ireland focus, the company is a major contributor to the rural regions of Ireland, and seeks to support a “wide range of small, local independent businesses.” The company participates in national and local efforts to protect and share the heritage of the destinations in which it operates.

Health and Safety Practices

CIE Tours has comprehensive health and safety standards and works closely with our local partners to align with country-specific health protocols.  CIE Tours tour directors are trained to handle a variety of situations including illnesses and emergencies.  Additionally local support teams on the ground are on call 24/7, with systems and protocols in place for guest safety. 

Family Companies

CIE Tours is a wholly owned subsidiary of holding company, CIÉ Group (Córas Iompair Éireann), the Irish government’s national transport company. CIE Group also operates Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and Irish Rail.

More from TourScoop:

• 9 Tips for Choosing the Best European Tour
• Best Walking, and Trekking, and Hiking Tours
• Great Tour Companies with Independent Tours

Road Scholar Debuts Special Trips for Retired Teachers

New Vacation Trend: European River Cruise Companies Are Now Targeting Family Travelers

New Year Tour Sales: They’re Big and They’re Limited Time

What’s tourscoop.

Tour Scoop’s team of travel experts brings you in-depth tour company overviews, tour itinerary reviews, the latest tour news, and travel tips and advice written just for guided tour travelers like you.

More about us

The Scoop: What to Know About Collette

For more than a century, Collette has been leading award-winning tours.

The Scoop: What to Know About G Adventures

Award-winning small-group adventure-travel tours are the G Adventures specialty.

The Scoop: What to Know About Avalon Waterways

This award-winning river cruise company focuses on experiences and food.

The Scoop: What to Know About Intrepid Travel

Local experts, a focus on sustainability, and immersive small group experiences help set Intrepid Travel apart from other tour operators.

CIE Tours Reviews & Ratings

CIE Tours Tour & Trip Ratings

Member Savings

Sign in  to see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

CIE Tours Reviews

Exasperated

Terrible Company

I waited 20 years for my dream trip to Scotland and Ireland and splurged $7000 on this tour. The second half of touring Ireland was great, the first portion in Scotl...

Tour:   Scottish & Irish Gold - 15 Days/14 Nights

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME/MONEY WITH CIE!

I gave this return 1 star only because that’s the lowest possible option, otherwise they would receive 0 stars!!! I had a trip planned for September of 2021 to Icela...

Tour:   Northern Lights Quest of Iceland

Loved our experience

Loved our experience with our tour guide Mert our CIE tour in July/August of 2015 we have many pictures that we wanted to share with our group — I believe maybe howe...

Our Guide was awesome. John did an amazing job

I took my 80 year old Dad and he bragged about it every day till he passed 5/2...

Tour:   10 Day Taste Of Scotland & Ireland

Both unfair and unacceptable

Like many others here, we have clients booked with CIE Tours, and their tours have been canceled, in one case twice. CIE only offers a future travel credit, without...

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Here is their policy on their own website

Here is their policy on their own website. CIE TOURS CANCELLATIONS: If it becomes necessary to cancel a coach tour prior to departure, at the discretion of the com...

I can't say how disappointed I am with CIE Tours

I can't say how disappointed I am with CIE Tours. I have had to cancel a planned tour of Ireland this year for two due to Covid 19 and the risk involved due to age a...

3 couples booked a trip with Cie to Ireland

3 couples booked a trip with Cie to Ireland and they canceled due to corona virus. They are refusing to give us a refund and offering a trip cridut only or charging...

charged administrative fee for air fare

charged administrative fee for air fare when Aer Lingus was providing full 100% refunds. I was booked on a tour then Covid came and Ireland closed. My tour was cance...

Best tour ever!

we weren't sure about doing a tour when went to Ireland. After a t...

Compare with CIE Tours

Want to give a huge shout-out to cie tours.

Want to give a huge shout-out to CIE Tours. My teenage daughter and I were supposed to travel to Ireland in July. CIE gave us a travel voucher for the full amount we...

I have been on 4 tours and have never been disapointed

Yes .I have traveled to Ireland with a couple of other Tour Companies,but none come close to CIE. I tell people here in Ontario tot take any chances, if you wish to...

Both, my wife and I had a great fortnight

Both, my wife and I had a great fortnight doing the Scotland and Ireland Tour in August 2019. The Irish Driver/Tour Director-unfortunately I can't remember his name...

Fantastic tour company

Fantastic tour company. Love how everything is included in the pr...

Fantastic tour company. Love how everything is included in the pri...

I am still waiting for my only partial refund

I am still waiting for my only partial refund of a $5,000 trip that I booked to Ireland. They must be running a Ponzzi scheme here. They keep saying the refund of o...

By refunding our money on a cancelled tri

By refunding our money on a cancelled trip. We don’t want...

reschedule our dream vacation

In light of the unprecedented situation in the travel industry as a result of COVID 19, which canceled our Irish vacation I am pleased to say I received a phone call...

It was absolutely amazing!!!

We took the Ireland tour Mar 3-12, 2020. It was absolutely amazing!!! We had a fabulous tour guide who took us to interesting places and he had a wealth of informati...

DO NOT USE!!!

DO NOT USE!!! Terrible company!! With travel being banned they are not able to hold up their end of the contract (understandably). However, they refuse to refund mo...

202 match your criteria (1 - 20 shown)

Related categories

Related Travel Companies

CIE Tours International, Inc.

Cie tours international, inc. reviews ( 3 ).

We received check from the Airline on June 13th . CIE TOURS in return refunded [redacted] in the amount of $84.20 back to his credit card ending in [redacted] on June 14th.

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it... before sending it.] Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me, though it took too long and too much effort on my part to get them to refund the unused fare.  CIE needs to be more proactive in their customer service. Regards, [redacted]

Review: CIE Tours has acknowledged that they owe me a refund of $509 for my deposit on a tour to Ireland following the cancellation, but has failed to issue. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!Desired Settlement: CIE TOURS will send me my refund for the $509 that I placed as a deposit with all due haste, and without delay.

Write a review of CIE Tours International, Inc.

Cie tours international, inc. rating.

Description: Tours - Operators & Promoters, Tour Operators (NAICS: 561520)

Address: 10 N Park Pl Ste 510, Morristown, New Jersey, United States, 07960-7101

Add contact information for CIE Tours International, Inc.

Cie Tours International

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

100 E Hanover Ave

Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927

You Might Also Consider

AJM Limousine

Proving transportation to airports, trains, ships, business meetings or dinners, or anywhere you need to go. read more

in Town Car Service

Carmel Car and Limo Service

Jim C. said "I'm surprised that these guys have such low ratings. Used to use them all the time 10 yrs ago in NYC with no problem and used them again recently from JFK to NYC with no problem. Made an appointment over the phone a couple of days…" read more

in Limos, Airport Shuttles

Drivo Rent A Car

We take pride in our exceptional customer service and hassle-free rental experience with one of the cheapest prices in the market. read more

in Car Rental

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Cie Tours International .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

I would not recommend this tour company, nor take another tour with them. A friend and I took The Highlights of Britain tour, for 14 days/13 nights. Most of the hotels were dirty, the included breakfasts lacking, and the included dinners no better. All the included dinners were in the hotel, not one out, not one with included wine or drinks. All wine/cocktails had to be ordered at the bar and none of the bartenders seemed to be able to do more than poor a beer or glass of wine. Drinks were very expensive...example when ordering something as ordinary as Gin/Vodka and tonic, you were charged for the alcohol and again for the tonic! We had very long days most of the tour and typically didn't reach the hotel until 6 or 6:30 which left no time to relax and get ready for dinner. In several locations, we weren't able to change for dinner at all due to tight time table and or our luggage not being delivered in time. None of the meals were special or representative of the area we were in. While in Edinburgh, we attended the Military Tattoo. This very special event doesn't start until 9:30 pm which get's you back to the hotel around 12mn (if you're lucky and everyone get's to the meeting place). The tour director expected everyone to be up for breakfast at 7 am and departure at 8am, even though our next event was fairly close by and not pressed time wise. None of us were happy about that, and finally someone spoke up and got him to change the departure by at least an hour. He said he hadn't thought about it, was just going by what was on the computer. As a tour guide who's done this for a good number of years, I would expect a bit more common sense. The coach isn't particularly comfortable with limited leg room, and really no where to put a carryon. The coach holds 44 people, but thankfully our tour group was 36 people which gave the larger folks (tall men with long legs), the ability to move to a seat on their own...even with that many of them said they were still uncomfortable. Comparing the comfort to Insight Tours leaves CIE really lacking. We had hours on the coach in total silence. I've taken 2 other tours where the guide talked about the area we were in, or what we were seeing out the window. This tour guide didn't do much of that, and when asked a few questions about things seen, he didn't know and or googled it. We had a good time, met nice people and enjoyed what we saw; but the tour could have been better with clean hotels, better meals, etc.

My husband and I purchased the small group Scottish and Irish Gold trip, airline tickets, and trip insurance from CIE for the trip leaving in Sept. 2023 for a grand total of a little over $13,000. This included being met at the airport and a group trip from the airport to the hotel in Scotland. This review is not about the trip, but about CIE's service. We never got to Scotland or Ireland. CIE's booking agents are pleasant, professional, and knowledgeable. A few weeks before the trip we received a call saying the last leg of our flight changed. We needed to okay a different flight. We also needed to find our own ride from the airport to the hotel or book a shuttle with CIE at the additional cost of $200 and we would miss our first excursion. We paid for the shuttle. The next day I had a panic attack and called CIE asking to please try to find a different flight so we would be met at the airport. The agent was very patient and but there were no other flights. She explained that after getting our luggage we would call the shuttle company. They would expect our call, send someone we would meet them at the car. We decided to still go on the trip. When we arrived at our airport to get our tickets and have our TSA pre-check numbers added to them there was a problem with my ticket. Airline personnel were having trouble getting a ticket for me and my pre-check number didn't work. They finally printed a ticket and said it would probably be okay by the time we got to the gate. When I scanned my ticket to get on the plane, a "DO NOT BOARD" message came up. The airline person said they never saw a message like this before. My husband didn't have any problem with his ticket. They worked on it, held the plane, and finally we were allowed to fly to O'Hare Airport. The flight was delayed for engine problems and was finally cancelled. We called CIE's emergency number 3 times as we kept learning more about our next step. The person who answered says he gives the info to CIE and that someone from CIE would call us. NO ONE EVER CALLED. We decided to fly back home because we would miss 3 days of our trip and have no idea how we would get to the bus. No one ever called to learn why we didn't show up for the shuttle that was expecting our call or at the hotel in Scotland or even to ask what happened to us. A few days later we contacted CIE about getting our money back. The only way to contact the help desk is by email. We explained what happened. The email came back saying that because we didn't cancel our trip 24 hours before the start of our trip we weren't entitled to a reimbursement. If there were any questions call the given number. We called that number only to get a booking agent who couldn't help us. We sent another email and explained what happened, asked to have someone call us or give us a phone number so we could speak with someone. The email we received back from them was the same as the first one. We called the number given a second time and asked to speak with someone at the help desk. The CIE agent said he didn't have a phone number for the help desk. We'd have to email them. Then we asked to speak to a manager. He said he didn't have a phone number for the manager. The manager was the help desk. Next we emailed to let them know that after trying to work with them and getting no help we would have to leave a poor review. Then the email we received said file with Trip Mate Insurance with "trip interruption" as the reason. We filed all the paperwork with Trip Mate and were told it would be 30 days for the outcome. 30 days later our request was denied. We called and were told it was because our trip was cancelled less than 24 hours in advance. We told them it was an interruption because we started on the trip and the flight was cancelled. The Trip Mate agent said CIE told them we never left on the trip. If we sent proof of the flight cancellation our claim would be reopened and we would hear in 30 days. 30 days later, no response. Another phone call and speaking with a manager we were told that it looked like we should get a refund. 3 months after the initial filing we finally received our refund.

09/10/2022 14 Day bus tour of Ireland and Scotland. Beautiful countryside and enjoyed a few places we went to but not worth the money at all. I know this company has been in business for 90 years but recently the trip of a lifetime was a trip of misery. The small group we paid for was combined into a large group of 36 people. We were crammed in this bus, told not to move seats. The CIE tour leader left on day 5, so the tour bus leader was the bus driver. We were stuck in the back of the bus. He was nice to the people in the front and yelled at us that he is NOT going to repeat himself. Plus we got covid on the bus. SO MANY PEOPLE. Beautiful scenery and a few nice hotels, but not worth the $ or stress. I wish I would have read the reviews. I trusted the travel agent. BEWARE!!

We did the Taste of Ireland small group tour. It was such a wonderful experience. Everything was taken care of from picking up bags outside our room doors to hotel check-ins with bags delivered to our rooms. Not only was Ireland more beautiful than we expected, driver/tour guide, Brian, made it an amazing experience. He was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the trip. This was our first time tour so I have nothing to compare it to, but I would definitely go with CIE if they are available in another country we visit. A few things I would suggest, I will do my own airfare next time. Since we didn't book our flights, Aer Lingus wouldn't let us change our seats prior to going to the airport. We did upgrade to business class, which was expensive but worth it for an overnight flight. Also, review your itinerary for nights that dinner is not provided. Find out estimated arrival time and make reservations ahead of time. When we arrived at Killarney all the recommend restaurants were booked. We did find a place with outdoor seating but there were other restaurants we were looking forward to. Just to point out how the driver went above and beyond, my wife's maiden name is O'Brien. When we went to Bunratty Castle, which was owned by the O'Brien clan way back when, the driver spoke to the people and surprised us by being named the Lord and Lady of the dinner. He really went out of his way to make the trip special.

CIE worst tour company ever experienced.. We spent close to $8,000 for this bus tour. Tour guide Mike awful and very rude. Rushed us everywhere and never present. If we asked him a question he would snap back. He talked about his ex wife. We drove long hauls & then had only 40minutes to see the Kelvingrove museum. have to have bags out the door at 7am and not get to our next hotel until 5-6pm-then rush for dinner. Our guide would constantly called tour Scottish Dream which was wrong.He was confused but he insisted he was right until we all said that we wanted clarification. Truly a BUS TOUR, since we were on BUS more than Tours. We droves long. if lucky we got on a ferry to get to use a bathroom. When transferred to other guide she got on the bus and said " YOU POOR POOR PEOPLE". Scotland guide would stop for what he called as a "QUICK PIC". Take a picture in 5 minutes, hurry back on bus! They didn't supply water on bus.If we wanted water, we would have to pay 1 Euro. We were not allowed to use the bus toilet. NICKLE and DIMED on our trip for 15 days.They tell you about the tipping process! The food No matter where we went it was the same menu.Chicken, salmon or vegetarian. Like eating BAD FOOD AT HOTEL WEDDING. Taken to a restaurant, but were not able to order off the regular menu. Same choices-chicken, salmon or vegetarian every evening. The flavor of the food was bland.Rushed at dinner. We had to pay for our wine, soda or cocktails. Charged for soda water. Scottish evening at the hotel was tacky. Breakfast same everywhere we went. Pre-made food. Scrambled eggs had a bad odor and watery. One morning I put scrambled eggs in my plate, there was a bad odor coming from eggs my husband said DO NOT EAT THAT! We opted for the oatmeal (porridge) which was watery.Ireland Guide was nicer but still same kind of format. Pay 1 euro to the bus driver for a bottle of water. No use of bus bathroom. Guides never came on our tours, they disappeared the minute you walked off the bus.Ireland guide was better. Hotels were pretty on outside but rooms rundown. One hotel I had no hot water.The manager was under bathroom sink trying to fix hot water issue. The hotels were 3 star. In Dublin we stayed at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road.AWFUL.Given a handicap room with a hospital bathroom falling apart. It just had a curtain for a shower and a chair. They charged us for a bagged breakfast when we left early in the morning for our flight. It was a muffin, banana and yogurt. No coffee or water. To go on a tour and pay so much money , not be given water on long haul drives, not served wine with dinner, not given a choice of restaurant quality food and be treated like cattle was just horrible. So before you think of using CIE, Think again and use another company.

See all photos from G J. for Cie Tours International

We took the Scottish Isles and Glen Tour through CIE International Tours. It was a bus tour through the Scottish Highlands. We were disappointed with the meals provided. The meals were not a taste of Scotland rather they were tasteless and meager. When meals were not provided we were not guided to reasonable restaurants. Most of the time was spent finding and asking others where to eat. Our guide should have had this information available. Many of the tours were self guided. It would have been better to have a guide describing what we were seeing. For example, we went to the Culloden Battlefield and Museum. The museum was fine. But without a guide we missed the importance of the actual field. We left confused. Also we went on the Loch Ness Cruise. It was not a real cruise. Come to find out, it just a ride to Urquhart Castle that we already saw. We just dropped off and pick up more passengers. it was a waste of time and money. This is just a few of the many disappointments with the tour. We found it very frustrating working with the CIE organization. They discounted our concerns and, even after contacting the CEO, all our complaints fell on deaf ears. CIE offered little compensation for dissatisfaction. As a result, we would not recommend this tour at all. It makes us question other tours they offer.

The best guided bus tour we've ever taken. The Irish Adventure tour encompasses the circumference of the island of Ireland and Murt the tour guide/driver was the best guide. So much history learned in 9 days. Five stars all the way!!!!

Very Deceptive. The tour guides will except you to sit down before the tour starts and do marketing materials for them, this took hours. Then, they will inform you of expectation of their tips at the end of the tour. The tour went okay but the guide was usually no where to be found once the bus stopped at the assigned attraction. In short, there was really no need to pay CIE for the guide only the transportation. This company is horrible, my advice is stay away!!!!

This company kept my airfare for which they received a full credit from the airline. I was transferred to several representatives who claimed that they did not receive a refund from the airline during the pandemic. The flight to Italy was cancelled for several months and the agency that booked the Italian tour could only convince CIE to return a portion of the over $6000.00 that I paid for this trip. Don't trust this company.

I was supposed to be picked up at the airport. This did not happen. I had to take a taxi to the hotel. A day before the trip was over, we had a Covid test. Multiple people were positive. We were not allowed on the bus and had to find our way back to the hotel. We were then treated very poorly. We were essentially left to our own devices. We were told to contact our travel insurance carriers and had to manage our trip from there. I had to arrange my transportation to a new hotel and my flight home. Not to mention the stress of being in a foreign country all alone. once they have your money, you are on your own .

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Precision NY Chauffeur & Airport Transportation Service

Michelle D. said "Precision has been a great experience!! The driver was so polite and friendly!! The SUV was extremely clean! The driver even offered us water before we started the trip! This has by far been one of the best car services that I've…" read more

in Airport Shuttles, Town Car Service, Limos

Jersey Slingshot

We are accepting bookings starting April 15th, 2024! NJ Slingshot Rentals offers an exhilarating and unique way for local residents and NYC tourists to explore the vibrant streets in the NY/NJ area. Our fleet of sleek and stylish… read more

People Also Viewed

E-World Travel & Tours

Aspire Down Under

C & D Global Specialists

Last Moment Discount Travel Club

Crown Travel

RubysTravel

Chubit Travel

Kensington Traveler Services

H & S Travel & Tours

Best of Cedar Knolls

Things to do in Cedar Knolls

People found Cie Tours International by searching for…

Rock Mining Cedar Knolls

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Fun Places for Teens

Transportation

Other Places Nearby

Find more Tours near Cie Tours International

Find more Travel Services near Cie Tours International

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

• Ireland Tourism
• Ireland Hotels
• Ireland Bed and Breakfast
• Ireland Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Ireland
• Ireland Restaurants
• Things to Do in Ireland
• Ireland Travel Forum
• Ireland Photos
• All Ireland Hotels
• Ireland Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Ireland
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Review of CIE Tour - Ireland Forum

• Europe    
• Ireland    

Review of CIE Tour

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Europe forums
• Ireland forum

When I first contacted CIE, I spoke to a woman who admitted she was new to the organization. Her lack of confidence didn’t help me in my decision to choose CIE. I actually contacted someone who was, I believe, a regional manager who helped me make my reservations, etc. After that, everything went smoothly. CIE was always easy to contact, via phone or email, and quick to respond to my inquiries.

We left Atlanta via Delta. We had selected Delta Comfort +, a seat that’s a little wider with more leg room for a higher price, of course. We had done this before and it was great for comfort and sleeping. Sadly, although our ticket said Comfort+, the seat was not. Our knees were squished up against the seat in front of us. On the way home, however, we were in the seats we paid for. Of course, I contacted CIE regarding the error. As of this writing, it has not been resolved.

As I mentioned before, our tour was a small tour. This turned out to be better than expected. Everyone was great on the trip. Not a grumpy person on board. We had lots of laughs, got to know each other and looked out for each other while out and about. I was impressed with the crowd. I’m glad I selected a small tour. I can’t imagine how it would have been with 40 or more folks on board.

About the bus itself. Although I guess I expected a smaller bus, it was a large coach so we had plenty of space to spread out. Seats are assigned and rotated so everyone gets a chance to sit up front but if you don’t want to sit with the crowd, you can move to an unoccupied seat. The seats were comfy and there was plenty of storage space. It was always clean each day, including the windows. Please note, CIE doesn’t want you to use the bathroom on board unless it’s an emergency. It’s a safety issue because you’re not allowed to be up when the bus is moving. The driver does stop every hour and a half or so, so it wasn’t a problem for us.

I expected to have a tour guide along with a driver. Our driver was also our tour guide. He was good, but I felt that driving and talking at the same time was really unsafe. The roads in Ireland are not just narrow, but VERY narrow. Driving a huge coach on these roads has got to be a challenge for even the most experienced driver. Often we would have to stop so another bus or truck could get by. Often our driver would tell us he was going to stop talking because he needed to concentrate on driving. I’d like to think that a driver (of any kind) needs to concentrate on driving all the time! I think the driver/tour guide combo is a huge safety risk. I don’t know how many accidents CIE has each year, but any safety expert in the U.S. would say a driver needs to focus on driving.

The driver/tour guide was good to excellent. He talked about where we were going, things along the way, and the general history of Ireland. He remained professional the entire time. He always was open to answering questions. The Irish people are resilient and persistent, that’s for sure. I was impressed at the cleanliness of the cities and the countryside. It seems Ireland’s people take great pride in their homes. It was nice to see.

I enjoyed most of the stops. You’ll have to decide if what CIE offers is of interest to you. The Elegant Ireland tour has some great places to visit like the Cliffs of Mohr as well as some lame things to do such as the boat tour of Lough Corrib (a lake). I don’t think any tour is going to be perfect unless you do a private tour. Most of the city tours had local guides. We had city tours in Dublin , Galway , Ennis and Kinsale . The Dublin, Ennis and Kinsale tours were great. These people were interesting, animated and knew their stuff. The Galway tour guide was below average. He mostly talked about where to shop and eat and about himself. Dull as dishwater.

As with any tour, mornings were early. The latest time we left was 9:30 a.m. because it was Sunday. The earliest was 8 a.m. So if you’re a night owl, mornings could be a problem for you. And as with any tour, some days it seemed we drove forever before getting anywhere.

CIE promotes having WiFi on the bus. I would say it worked well maybe 50 to 60% of the time. I know this irritated some people on board.

I would criticize CIE for scheduling too many hotel dinners. In Galway, Kilarney, Ennis, Roscarberry and Dublin we ate in the hotel. In fact, in Roscarberry, we ate two evening meals in the hotel. Although the meals were acceptable to good, it would have been more fun to go to a local restaurant. I felt like CIE was cheaping out by scheduling dinners in the hotel. We ate out a meal in Dublin (Merry Ploughboys) and in Kilarney (Killeen House). That’s it. All breakfast meals were in the hotel, of course. There was one time we had lunch in a travel center along the highway on our way to somewhere. I was ticked off as I didn’t come to Ireland for fast food. Other on-our-own lunches were in the cities we were visiting and seafood chowder was always a great choice.

Hotels were generally nice. St Helen’s Radisson Blu in Dublin was an old historical estate from 1750s. It was comfortable, but it was away from the city center. The bus system is easy to use, but it would have been nicer to just step out of the hotel into downtown Dublin. (My husband thought the hotel was run down. I found it charming.) The hotels in Galway and Ennis were comfortable as well. The hotel in Kilarney, the Aghadoe, was wonderful. Five star! It was difficult, then, when we arrived in Rosscarberry at the Celtic Ross Hotel for two nights. I could describe the Celtic Ross Hotel as a glorified Motel 6. (Do not be fooled by the website. They hired a wonderful photographer who made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.) This hotel struggled to be a 3 star. In addition, Rosscaberry is a small village. There was nothing in town to see or do except the church and a few bar/restaurants. Very disappointing.

Would I do another CIE tour? I’m not sure. CIE has been around for a long time. They are tour experts but CIE tours are pricey. I’m not sure that where we stayed, where we ate and what we visited was worth the money. On the plus side, I wouldn’t have been able to drive those narrow roads! And I appreciated someone handling my luggage each day. I also really enjoyed the group of people on the tour. Overall, I would give the tour a B-. Maybe my expectations are too high. You’ll have to be the judge.

Good read. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for taking the time to post. Especially thanks for the many details and personal experiences. And for the cost I do not feel your expectations are out of line.

I wish there was a catagory just for organized tours that was more user-friendly so people could find them easier, then reviews would not relegated to the forum and potentially be hidden away. Newcomers do not know to use the green Search feature.

I expected to open this and be faced with the regular hype. I didn't expect a good honest review.

For that I thank you.

Yup, you win some, you lose some.

It was nice to read something about a group tour that wasn't an ad. It would have been nice if they would have turned you loose at night for dinner. I hope you get a chance to return at some point. Thanks for the write up.

The buses drop you in the center of town, easy duffle bag drag to lodging. Multiple day tours options from the city center. I know some of the tours out of Killarney, they were able to make special stops @ the numerous lodgings heading out towards Muckross House, to pick up people who couldn't walk to the TI parking lot downtown. The 19 seat or so van tours seem to be worth the extra Euro's. Easier on and off, not so nerve wracking to be on.

Those drivers are good.

thanks for sharing your bus tour trip....it was really nice to read a "real" tour experience....

I think you're right Tony.

https://www.actonshotelkinsale.com/en/

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

• restaurant reservations 1:19 am
• Hilton Dublin or Clayton Hotel Charlemont? 12:56 am
• Need Accomodation 5:22 pm
• Yeats footsteps 4:58 pm
• The Old Military Road south from Dublin 4:54 pm
• Driving tips Dublin Airport to Kilkenny/Rock of Cashel/Cahir 4:26 pm
• 8 & 10 year old to Ireland 4:15 pm
• Your absolute highlight in county Kerry? 4:11 pm
• Drive : Portrush to Donegal 3:38 pm
• Ireland itinerary 3:37 pm
• Croagh Patrick Pathway 3:34 pm
• Best casual eats near Dublin University yesterday
• reading, movies or documentaries to prep for our trip? yesterday
• Lucan to Dublin city center by bus and to airport by car? yesterday
• Ireland in March - is weather a problem? 13 replies
• Weather in December/January 13 replies
• Castles To Stay In 3 replies
• wheres the best place to stay in ireland? 11 replies
• September weather 9 replies
• Monastery/Convent Lodging in Ireland 10 replies
• Car Rental Insurance in Ireland 287 replies
• First timers - best places to visit in Ireland? 10 replies
• Current gas prices?? 16 replies
• Exploring Ireland Self Drive Tour 102 replies

Ireland Hotels and Places to Stay

• How do I start to plan my trip to Ireland?
• When I visited Ireland, I wished I had. . . . . . .
• Driving in Ireland + Road Conditions + Vehicle Size + Trip Reports: Updated 2023-2024
• Car Rental Insurance Ireland Updated 2024 + Options to Pay for Coverage
• Which are the best guidebooks to Ireland?
• Public Transport Ireland + 2024 Updated Resources +Trip Reports Ireland No Car
• Collective Knowledge: How often have you visited Ireland?
• Packing: What Should I Wear and What Essentials Should I Bring?
• What are the most popular things to see and do in Ireland?
• The Burren, a unique landscape - why visit?
• Connemara - where the tour busses don't go
• Ireland's Enduring Appeal by Eddie L
• What is the weather like in Ireland and when is the best time to visit?
• Can I use my electrical appliances in Ireland?
• Should I tip in Ireland?
• What's the best way to change money?
• What about pub etiquette in Ireland?
• What are the 10 must see things including
• What is a Heritage Card and how do I get one?
• Where can I find pet friendly accommodation in Ireland?
• What do I need to know about bed and breakfast accommodation?
• Travelling the back roads of Western Ireland Part 2
• Travelling the back roads of Western Ireland Part 1
• Some Information for Newbies

• Sign Up For Emails
• Get A Free Brochure

• All Destinations
• England & Wales
• Multi-Destination
• All Travel Types
• ​Guided Tours
• Guided Small Groups
• Group Travel
• Custom Private Driver
• Independent Adventures
• 2025 Early Bird Discount
• Last Minute Deals
• 2025 Tours Available
• Repeat Guest Savings
• Group Discount
• Solo Travel
• Honoring Heroes
• All Travel Deals & Promotions
• The CIE Tours Difference
• CIE Tours Travel Blog
• Guest Reviews
• Responsible Tourism
• Health & Safety

We’ll be glad to assist. Simply fill in the form or use the phone numbers below.

Got a question?

Fill in your details here and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Speak to our experts

Contact Center

Mon – Fri, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm ET

Sat – 10:00 am – 3:00 pm ET

Customer Service

Mon – Fri, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET  

Office Locations

10 North Park Place Suite 510 Morristown, NJ 07960  

35 Lower Abbey Street Dublin 1, D01 H560

Want to learn more?

Explore our FAQ

Get answers to the most-asked questions about traveling to Europe with CIE Tours.

Follow us on Facebook to read our posts and share your stories with past and future travellers.

Get a free brochure

Discover the perfect destination for your next trip in the CIE Tours brochure.