We are just back from Ireland. Louise was very good at listening to what we wanted out of our trip and she was very flexible when we changed our minds about things, which we did several times. She was very responsive to all our communications.

We loved all of the experiences she provided for us: Chocolate-making class; basket-weaving class; crystal-cutting demo; sheep dog demo; a mini walk on the Burren rocks; foraging and then a cooking class over the fire. The food tour in Galway was such fun! And the falconer experience at Ashford Castle was not to be missed.

Our driver/guide, Linda, was quite good. She was an excellent, careful driver. She was quite personable, resourceful and flexible—she managed to get us different experiences when it rained us out of some.

My husband needed a clinic on short notice. The team found one for us, got us there with no fuss, and had us on our way quickly without missing a beat.

The Hayfield Manor and Ballynahinch Castle were wonderful hotels that we thoroughly enjoyed.

We were referred to Louise and Rachael’s team for a trip to Scotland for our 25th Anniversary. We were assigned Rachael as our agent, and she was a joy to work with. Eventually, we decided to go the London, Edinburgh, Isle of Skye, Glencoe and back to Edinburgh before heading to Oxford for a day before leaving. We left on June 11th, arriving in London on the 12th, and flew home on June 24th.

We planned the majority of the portions of London & all of Oxford, but Rachael planned the majority of the trip, selected our tour guide/driver for the majority of the Scotland trip, and handled the purchasing of tickets for the activities in Scotland. I would highly recommend this company.

It was an amazing trip. Rachael was extremely knowledgeable about the country and what we would want to see. As an example, I had never heard of the Clava Cairns, and when we told her wanted to go to Culloden, she immediately said the Cairns are close and are special, and she was absolutely correct. I also wasn’t sure about Glencoe, but it was incredibly beautiful and turned out to be one of my husband’s favorite parts of the trip.

We wouldn’t have enjoyed the trip as much without the selection of the tour guide & driver Rachael gave us. She paired us perfectly, and Emy’s depth of knowledge about the history of the country, trails, trees, etc. demonstrated her love of the wonders and gift that is Scotland. Emy chose walks and hikes that were beautiful and on our fitness level.

In honor of our 25th anniversary, the company presented us with a Quaich cup. It was a beautiful and special moment.

It also says a lot about the company that when Emy needed to leave early for a family issue, the company gave us another driver/tour guide to finish the trip and drive us back to Edinburgh without any hiccups.

“I was not particularly interested in touring castles or museums, preferring to enjoy the countryside, nature, learning about Irish people.”

As Wendy always says, having the right fixer makes all the difference when the unexpected happens. Such was the case with Louise, who was recommended to me by Wendy Perrin to plan my trip to Ireland.

From the beginning, Louise was fantastic in responding to our original trip request, calling promptly to discuss our goals for the trip, putting together an interesting itinerary which fit our budget. Then surprise…just 2 weeks out from the trip date, one of my two travel companions suffered a serious injury which prevented him from being able to travel!

Despite early recommendations (and reminders!) from Wendy and from Louise, my friend had failed to purchase travel insurance for himself. Though the terms of the trip clearly stated no refunds at that point, Louise graciously went above and beyond to negotiate with our selected hotels a very generous refund so that my friend received relief on the costs of the rooms. She was under no obligation to do this, and her effort was deeply appreciated by both of us!

While we missed our travel companion who had to cancel, two of us went on to enjoy a glorious two weeks. I’d long wanted to visit the land of my maternal ancestors and Ireland did not disappoint. Louise recommended I look into booking an appointment to explore my Irish roots with a genealogist at the EPIC Museum (Irish Emigration Museum) in Dublin. It was an enlightening and joyful experience with a delightful expert to uncover the names of my direct ancestors and learn more about their emigration to the United States as well as their early years as immigrants. I highly recommend this experience to future travelers with Irish ancestry. The museum itself is fascinating and well presented.

After a lively day in Dublin, we were collected by our fantastic guide/driver, Fionnuala, with whom we spent the next 8 days. She was so very pleasant, knowledgeable, attentive, helpful, an absolute joy.

Our experiences were delightful. I had shared with Louise that I was not particularly interested in touring castles or museums, preferring to enjoy the countryside, nature, learning about Irish people and their lifestyles.

We explored Killarney National Park in a private boat, spent a morning learning about various species and importance of seaweed with a foraging and foodie expert, marveled at the Cliffs of Moher, explored the fantastic island of Inis Mor, largest of the Aran Islands with a charming goat farmer who seemed to know every inch and every person living on the island, had a picnic on a beach on the small Inishlaken Island with a fourth-generation fisherman, and visited a local sheep farm in Connemara with a private sheepdog demonstration.

The most memorable day was a private visit with a charming cattle farmer in The Burren, the amazing landscape of limestone plateaus in County Clare. From Frank, we learned about the lifestyle in The Burren as well as the incredible array of wildflowers for which the area is famous. This particular area was included in our itinerary but did not happen on the day scheduled. When Fionnuala understood how important it was to me, she went to work with the main office to arrange the extended visit to explore the Burren in depth on another day. Their prompt efforts to make this last-minute arrangement provided a memory that will last a lifetime!

We had comfortable accommodations along the way and lovely meals in pubs and restaurants either included in our tour, or recommended to us by Fionnuala to enjoy on our own. Contrary to what we were told by some who had visited Ireland, we had such good food experiences—from pubs to inventive new restaurants, we were treated to every type of delicious fresh seafood imaginable as well as scrumptious fowl and lamb. Divine!

Every recommendation by Louise and Fionnuala was perfection.

I highly recommend Louise and her team when thinking of a trip to Ireland.

Our last-minute family trip to Ireland transformed into one of our most treasured vacations, thanks to the exceptional planning of Louise and her team.

From the moment our guide Denis greeted us at Dublin Airport, we knew we were in extraordinary hands. His profound knowledge of Irish history, politics, and customs elevated our journey from simple sightseeing to genuine cultural immersion—he was genuinely exceptional. Louise’s thoughtfully crafted itinerary masterfully balanced active exploration with meaningful cultural experiences, creating perfect rhythm throughout our adventure.

The bicycle tour of Inis Mór in the Aran Islands revealed fascinating prehistoric stone forts and pristine landscapes seemingly untouched by time. Our return boat journey offered a breathtaking perspective of the majestic Cliffs of Moher from the sea. Denis’s expertise in navigating the unique, fissured plateaus of the Burren landscape led us to discover hidden prehistoric tombs and vibrant wildflower fields that would have remained unknown to us otherwise.

Killarney National Park was truly spectacular. Hiking the historic Old Kenmare Road provided stunning vistas, while visits to the impressive Muckross House and Ross Castle connected us to Ireland’s rich heritage. The Gap of Dunloe captured our hearts completely—we’re already planning a return trip specifically to explore its hiking trails more extensively.

Our final days in Dublin rounded out the journey perfectly. Visiting the Book of Kells was an absolute must-see. The food and history tour through the characterful Liberties district introduced us to Dublin’s culinary treasures and fascinating stories, while charming local shops offered unique keepsakes of our Irish adventure.

The accommodations selected by Louise enhanced our experience throughout, with Gregans Castle standing out as truly outstanding—a place we’re determined to revisit. Our culinary journey through Ireland featured too many delightful meals to enumerate, though memorable highlights include the refined dining at Gregans Castle, The Winding Stair, and the authentic combination of traditional Irish fare and lively local music at Darkey Kelly’s.

This masterfully orchestrated journey by Louise and the team has left us with cherished memories and a deep desire to return to the Emerald Isle. A big thank you to The WOW List for connecting us with Louise!