Kurt and Mary Kleinhans, NY, Custom Chauffeur Drive, England, October 2024
Eithne, Kurt and I wanted you to know how much we enjoyed our trip to England!!
Between the initial plans made with Theresa and the finalizations made with you we had one of the best trips we’ve ever taken. We enjoyed your suggested additions and experiences and were so happy we had you arrange for tickets ahead of time.
Our driver/tour guide, Roddy, was excellent. Extremely competent and filled with many fun pieces of information.
The hotels were lovely and the scenery was breathtaking and the people we encountered were so helpful.
Thank you for all your help,
Kurt and Mary Kleinhans, NY
Peggy and Jerry Faerber, TN, Custom Chauffeur Drive, Ireland, England & Scotland, September 2024
We would like to thank the people at Sheenco for making our 50th wedding anniversary celebration and tour fantastic. We couldn’t be happier with our trip. It will be a memory we will hold dear for the rest of our lives. We were well pleased with all our accommodations, meals and drivers. With ten different accommodations, seven different drivers, two train trips and four airline arrivals (departures), there were so many things that could have gone wrong, but everything went smoothly. The trip was well planned and even more importantly it was well executed. All the details came together. Also, because Sheenco told everyone it was our 50th anniversary we received several room upgrades, complimentary bottles of champagne and chocolates–all unexpected but very much appreciated.
Our only problem during the entire trip came on our last day. A driver was supposed to pick us up at our hotel and drive us to the airport. However, the driver called and said he couldn’t make it due to mechanical problems. After a moment of panic, our hotel was able to get us a driver from an uber like company (Freedom Now) and we made it with time to spare. We don’t hold Sheenco responsible; it was beyond their control and it all worked out.
All of our hotel and castle rooms were 5 star and they lived up to their reputation. The food was fabulous, especially the breakfasts which were always included. Breakfasts were so bountiful and of such variety that we usually skipped lunch.
We had seven different drivers and they were all excellent–punctual and safe. Their vehicles were all top notch–Mercedes sedans or Mercedes mini-vans. We had one driver for ten days—Roddy Young, a 48 year old Scot from Glasgow. He was exceptional—witty , knowledgeable, flexible, desirous of pleasing and making sure we enjoyed our trip. Most importantly he was a safe and good driver. He even wore his kelts one day. He drove us a total of 1500 miles. He set the standard by which we judged all the other drivers.
In summary, we loved our trip. We wouldn’t change a thing and even though we spent almost 30 days in the British Isles, there were still plenty of things we didn’t get to see. Maybe there will be a next time.
Gratefully,
Peggy and Jerry Faerber, TN
Karen & John Murphy, OH, Custom Self Drive, Ireland, September 2024
We had the most wonderful time ever! Fantastic does not begin to describe it.
I loved having the car service pick us up and return us to the airport. I wish I could remember our driver, but he was wonderful. He gave us some great advice and was very friendly and knowledgeable.
We had a great time in Dublin! Brooks Hotel was nice. I liked the area the hotel was in. It was very close/walkable.
The Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour is a wonderful way to see the city and not have to walk/drive everywhere. Besides the normal tourist attractions like Trinity College, Dublin Castle, etc. I highly recommend the National Leprechaun Museum. It’s nothing like it sounds, but rather a story telling afternoon/evening and I would absolutely go again. We weren’t able to do the Guiness Tour, they were sold out too soon for us, but we knew we’d be back in a week so it was ok. The reservations for Bank on College Green was a great idea, the building was stunning and we had a table upstairs ready for us, which made us feel special, and the food was great!
I loved Galway! It had a great water-town vibe to it and the shopping area was fabulous. Hardiman Hotel was very nice too, although the lack of air conditioning was unexpected, not a big deal though since it wasn’t hot outside. The young lady at the front desk was extremely helpful and had lots of advice regarding ways to see the Cliffs of Mohr. If you are looking for a suggestion for a great local place for dinner, Murty Rabbits has an awesome fish pie. The atmosphere here was so friendly and laid back. We took a tour bus to see the Cliffs, so we could enjoy the country side and not stress about driving, plus the nap on the way back was nice too.
I don’t have enough words to express our love of Ashford Castle. Our room was beautiful, the Castle and grounds were stunning. The service there was more than I could have imagined. Dinner at The Dungeon may have been the best meal I have ever eaten. John loved the boat tour to the lake’s island where we had a tour guide through 800 year old ruins. It was amazing! We were very sad to leave after only one night. The Hawk Walk was all booked by the time we got there. We could have spent several days there!
One of the suggestions in the itinerary was to stop at Foxford Woolen Mills, and it was a great suggestion! I bought a beautiful blanket and we had great lunch at the café upstairs.
Lough Eske Castle was also lovely. Our suite was amazing, very large, almost the size of a small apartment. But I will say that the outlet situation was not great. There were very few convenient plugs. Not a huge deal, just made using a hair dryer and charging my phone awkward. The service wasn’t as great as the other accommodations. Dinner took a very long time, as if they were understaffed. The first night they were very nice, but the second night we felt a little forgotten about. We were able to drive into Donegal and walk around town. We saw Donegal Castle among other sites had lunch at Olde Castle Seafood Bar, which was very tasty!
We went straight to the Giants Causeway on the way to Ballygally. This was the only day the weather didn’t cooperate. The wind was crazy and the rain was chilly, but I did not care. It was fascinating and so much fun!
We adored Ballygally Castle! It was much smaller than the others, but they told stories about the history and had a Ghost Room, which was heartbreakingly fascinating. The Games of Thrones Doors and Glass of Thrones were also very interesting. We didn’t know about those before, but if we are able to go back, we will definitely check those out. We did the Games of Thrones Studio Tour south of Belfast and had a great time. That didn’t leave us much time in Belfast, but we were ok with that.
We drove by Castle Roch on the way back to Dublin. It looked like they were restoring/renovating it so we could not get close, but that was ok. Next we tried to go to Brú na Bóinne, but we accidently went straight to the site instead of the visitors center and they couldn’t sell admission tickets there. Our fault, but not a big deal because I was looking forward to getting back to Dublin.
The Merrion was top notch! The room, the building, the service, all wonderful!! Would definitely like to stay there again and longer than one night. We were able to get tickets to Guiness Tour and had a good time there. We did go to Bang restaurant and it was very good! The concierge was able to call over at the last minute and got us right in.
It is very nice not worrying about finding breakfast before starting our sight-seeing every day. We felt very taken care of everywhere. The people were wonderful, not just the staff, but the locals we spoke to also.
We both agreed that this was the best vacation we ever had!
I hope this information helps. Thank you so very much!
Karen & John Murphy, OH
Bill and Insuk Durham, MA, Custom Self Drive, Ireland, September 2024
Fantastic indeed!
Great sightseeing and hiking aside, negotiating 1200 km of narrow, curvy Irish roads at posted speed limits that defy reason made for a unique adventure. I loved going around corners on two wheels; Insuk was more white-knuckled about it. You did a class job of translating our naive vacation wishes into a meaningful trek through a lot of territory, and you laid out the detailed itinerary thoughtfully. I’d call it intense but practical. We stuffed a lot into each day, but not too much; we hit almost everything you suggested without having to push or exhaust ourselves.
Getting a full day in Dublin was the result of landing at 4:30 am. Can’t remember if I told you or not, but the Davenport Hotel actually opened up a room to us before 1 pm, so we were able to do 6 hrs of wandering, relax for a couple of hours, then go out and wander for another 6 hrs.
Speaking of which, getting Vodaphone SIM cards on the first day was quick and inexpensive. Good strategy.
We walked all over Dublin and Galway, now know the streets like the back of our hand. Hop on hop off bus tours also helped; I highly recommend.
The hotels were way above our expectations. I can’t believe you wrangled us the Presidential Suite in the Knockranny House in Westport! What a treat. We felt like king and queen for a day (2 days actually). As for the other hotels the Park House in Galway had the best location in terms of easy walks to shops, attractions, restaurants etc. Same for the Davenport in Dublin, even though it’s a much bigger town. The Lake Hotel in Killarney was lavish, situated for great hikes to Muckross, but was a bit isolated from the town. Kind of forced us to do both dinners at the hotel. I wonder why the hotel doesn’t run a shuttle to the town.
The Clontarf on the last night took the liberty of changing our room to two double beds, making it sound like an upgrade. I naively assumed double bed meant something different than in the US and didn’t discover the error of my assumption until after we had unpacked and eaten dinner, too late to change. Oh well, tiny beds.
We didn’t get to do Croagh Patrick because of the weather (but we did at least visit the place). And we did have gorgeous views of the mountain the next day from the Knockranny Presidential Suite. The rainy-day Croagh Patrick substitutes you offered, the Clew Bay Heritage Center and the Westport House (the mansion) were unexpected pleasures, probably the most interesting and best narrated of all the castles/museums we visited.
We stopped at the passage graves at Bru na Boinne but could only get to the visitor’s center. On the day we were there, tours of the Newgrange site itself were booked 11 days out! On the other hand, the visitor’s center very is good, worth a visit by itself, you learn a tremendous amount about archeology and details of the neolithic. And you can at least get a peek of Newgrange 800 m away.
The Irish people already have a reputation for warmth and friendliness, so we were prepared for the smiles we received at every turn. Museum docents lavished time on us (those at Newgrange and Westport especially). Two, I repeat two, different shop owners in Dublin actually walked us up the street to target locations (like the Vodaphone shop) when it was clear we couldn’t follow directions in our jet-lagged and underslept condition. Being from Boston, which is already half Irish, it almost seemed like home.
Thanks again!
Bill and Insuk Durham, MA
Clive Lewis, VIC, Custom Self Drive, England, September 2024
Hotels
Bloomsbury: great location, big rooms, very good breakfast room, BUT show recess ridiculously narrow; plastic edge on shower door had a gap of 1-2 mm which flooded the bathroom; plug on basin stuck (which was repaired quickly) and the lighting was designer chic gloomy: impossible to read lift notices: room dark too
Indigo Bath: Great location, big room, good bathroom, good lighting, good breakfast room. A bit of a labyrinth: have to go down to -2, cross through what looked like garden sheds then up to +2: took some getting used to
Arden Stratford: Great location; big room; very good bathroom, roomy feel to the whole hotel. Good breakfast room
Indigo Chester: Great location reasonable breakfast room. The room had two large beds which made it very very cramped. TV came on at 3am (probably previous occupants had sent an automatic turn on: turned me off!) With a couple of exceptions ,the staff a little supercilious including one who stoutly maintained we had not paid for breakfast: I think you were the one to sort him out!
Wordsworth Hotel Grasmere: Picturesque Hotel beautiful location good parking : lovely room, (Woodrow Wilson suite) Breakfast room just: I think they need an actual chef! Staff not local and not much help, although friendly…..I think the owners need a good kick up the bum: badly run though not the fault of the staff
The Grand York: the best! Genuinely friendly and helpful staff; enormous room; very good bathroom. Terrific breakfast and dinner. I’ve stayed in quite a few 5 star pubs, but this had to rate as one of the best.
Ashdowne Park: This hotel was superb. Very professional where the previous one was utterly amateurish and shambolic. The rooms were palatial very well appointed and we had a superb dinner in the luxurious dining room
Itinerary
By and large stuck to Sheenco Itinerary
The weather was pretty good by and large first storm occurred on the drive to Highclere Castle and Bath and continued through the night and into our tour of Stonehenge but it lifted in the days in Bath, where it was overcast but fine. Again, when we drove from Stratford to the lakes district, it poured, but when we arrived in Grasmere, the clouds lifted, and we had five very sunny days.
The trip to King Charles private gardens at High Grove was fascinating, as was the tour of Highclere Castle although the weather prevented us looking through the park
Your idea of the base in Stratford and exploring the Cotswolds from there was spot on. Such pretty country, such picturesque villages. Perhaps I would exclude Cheltenham where we went to see the composer Holst’s house. The steam train ride was interesting: steam train affecionados are a breed apart!
We were so lucky with the brilliant weather in the lakes District….so much to see and do….again stunning scenery…again to base ourselves in Grasmere was a good call on your part. The drive from Keswick and the Buttermore Loop, the steam yacht at Coniston and Beatrix Potter at Hilltop were some of the many highlights
so once again Eithne, thanks for a terrific tour!
Clive Lewis, VIC
Mike & Michelle Fink, KY, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, September 2024
Eithne,
What a wonderful trip! Ireland is beautiful – green as green can be. You did a fabulous job for us, and we are very appreciative of your details and hard work. You had us mapped out perfectly.
The hotels you picked were top notch and the food was super. The castle for 2 nights was the highlight of our trip and Truffle Honey was over the top perfection!
We will be back and hope you will guide us again.
Thank you so much,
Mike & Michelle Fink, KY
Michelle & Matt Schimpler, MD, Custom Self Drive, Scotland, September 2024
Yes, we had an amazing time! Scotland is very beautiful and magical. Our favorite accommodation was the Waldorf Astoria The Caledonian. The service, the rooms (we had two different ones) they were comfortable and quiet. The concierge there was great. And the breakfast buffet was such a huge selection. The car company that picked us up and drove back to airport were wonderful people. Our flight was delayed and the first driver waited for us to get there and the last day Edinburgh was having road issues and they were late (supposed to be picked up at 8:45 our different driver finally reached us at 9:40) again there were road problems so not their fault and they were on it to get us to airport in time (and he did!) so we really liked the car service.
I can also say that Georgie at Enterprise car rental is awesome. Super friendly and helpful and went out of her way to make us feel comfortable about driving on left side of the road.
My husband and I thank you all that from day one of planning (with Shonni) this vacation to all the e-mails (Eithne) and answering all our questions to going out of way to make sure rental was changed for our time to make it work for us, to wanting to make sure about dinner reservations and having our itinerary planned out perfectly (Eithne) we appreciate and thank you all!!
Michelle & Matt Schimpler, MD
Joe Skrzypczak, CT, Custom Chauffeur Driven, England & Scotland, September 2024
The trip was fantastic!! All drivers were on time. The castles stays were great.
Definitely will use Sheenco again. Already thinking Scotland!
We did learn a lot about ourselves on this trip too. We love the castles and suite room size. Don’t like cities and prefer countryside and places that have golf and gardens. Love being driven everywhere. And don’t like hoping from one place to another. Packing and unpacking was a drag. Next time we will stay at each place minimum 3 nights.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you Naomi and the Sheenco staff for putting together a wonderful trip.
Joe Skrzypczak, CT
Alan Cox, NC, Custom Self Drive, Ireland, August 2024
We are back home from a truly wonderful 10 days in Ireland. Thank you so much for your help. The weather was amazing. The scenery – barren rocks (Burren), rocky coasts, green countryside, mountains (especially on DIngle and the Conor Pass), and small towns were amazing as well. Your mountains, by the way, are part of the same chain we have in North Carolina (the Applachian Mountains), from back when the continents were connected.
We loved the cleanliness, even signs saying one town was the “Tidiest.” We loved the friendly people. We struck up some long conversations with gardeners, wedding folks, servers, and regular folk.
Irish roads are something else! So narrow, windy, no shoulders, just rock walls and bushes. I did fine driving, although the car did get a lot of surface scratches from bushes. One of the smart things I did was buy some scratch polish at a car shop before turning the car in. It passed inspection. (You might want to let people know about the roads.)
Hotelwise – nothing beats Gregan’s Castle Hotel. Ballyseede Castle Hotel grew on us a lot and it was nice to have a place for 5 days so we could roam, not pack. The OLd Ground Hotel was a nice place, particularly since it was a “city center” (or maybe “town center”) hotel. Food at all 3 was very good. Nice breakfasts. We had one dinner at Gregans (the menu is limited) and it was one of the most elegant we’ve ever had. We ended up have four dinners at Ballyseede – 2 in the informal room, and 2 in the dining room. All very good. Lots of potatoes (at one of the meals I think we had 4 different types of potatoes). We had both dinners at Old Ground. The first was great and as we walked around town nothing seemed better for the second night. Ennis town center, by the way, has a bit of construction going on in the pedestrian area.
Sightseeing highlights were Dingle Peninsula, the Flying Boat museum, Ardfert cathedral ruins (had a great 25 minute private discussion with the attendant who knew about all 6 churches on the site), Cliffs of Mohr (although we didn’t walk to them, some of it was blocked off due to 2 people dying from falling recently). The boat ride was enjoyable. We recommend telling people to sit on the top, not inside. Lots of people inside got seasick.
Kenmare was pretty. We did some of the Ring of Kerry; it would have taking too long to do the whole thing. Muckross was pleasant in the National Forest. Bunratty Farms and Castle were very nice. Especially the Farms; that’s where we had a 20 minute conversation with the gardener who we stumbled upon. She has been there 28 years, and talked about her children (the different plants).
We weren’t impressed with Galway – we were there midday and not when the pubs were active. Turns out we like nature more than cities. Someone recommended visiting Ballybunion beach. We we not impressed.
I may have left some things out, but this gives you a good idea of what our trip was. We drove 1074 miles.
We would definitely use you again. We would be happy to recommend you to anyone. I did not view you all as “travel agents” (at least those in the US), but rather as “Irish Expert Travel Advisors.”
Thanks to you and all the team that worked with us.
Alan Cox, NC
David Gray, VA, Custom Chauffeur Driven, England, August 2024
The trip was fantastic! The hotel was perfect and our guide, Glyn, was wonderful. Couldn’t imagine it being better!
Thank you!
David Gray, VA
Paul Walsh, ME, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, July 2024
I am writing this email to you to commend you and your team (Shonni and Naomi) for having planned a spectacular trip to Ireland to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. The trip was very complex including 20 individuals including our eleven grandchildren from the ages of 17 to 6.
The trip could not have gone any better!!!!! We will all have memories that will last the rest of our lives.
Thank you for what you do and how well you do it. You have an outstanding team. Shonni and Naomi are expert at what they do. The drivers, Kenny and Martin, were incredibly thoughtful and professional. And the photographer, Nick, was also a true professional and very talented with a great eye.
Paul Walsh, ME
Jerry Cox, MI, Custom Self Drive, Ireland, May 2024
Back home and happy for it, but the trip was excellent. It was my third trip to Ireland, but the last was over twenty years ago and so much has changed…but not the magnificent golf courses, they were superb! I had already played them all except Ardglass and Portstewart so I knew what I was in for. The two new ones didn’t disappoint. As for Ballybunion and Lahinch no golfer should ever go to Ireland and not play those. Ditto Portmarnock and Royal Dublin. I’m still very sad we missed Royal County Down and Royal Portrush but that is the way it goes. As for the hotels they were uniformly fantastic, especially Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney. As for the car, be sure to tell your clients if they are traveling as a foursome with golf clubs to get the largest available SUV. As a threesome we barely had room in a standard SUV for three golf bags and three suitcases.
The only negative comment I would make, and it has nothing to do with you and your crew’s work, was that the itinerary was too ambitious. When planning the trip, I was thinking like I was still 40 and I am twice that age. It turned out to be too much walking and too much driving. Here are five “rules,” I suggest you consider booking future golf trips to Ireland, even with experienced golfers, especially older ones:
NEVER book a tee time after 1:00 pm. The rounds are usually 5 hours and late tee times like we had really screw up your evenings, especially with the driving.
NEVER book two tee times in one day. It is simply too arduous, especially with almost always walking the course and with the driving to the next site.
Try to book golf on alternating days even if that means you have to play fewer courses or elongate your stay. It would make the experience much more enjoyable.
If you are arriving in the North, have Pounds Sterling currency in hand; if in the Republic have Euros. You can use a card at hotels and shops, but not for caddies.
Try to book two even three consecutive nights in the hotels and then drive to the courses you intend to play in the morning for an early tee time.
On the several days we had late tee times, we did not get to our hotel for the night until after 9:00 and in one instance almost 10:00. The kitchens were closed so we missed dinner entirely. I should never have agreed to the late tee times. Bad planning on my part, for which I take full responsibility!
I did all of the driving and with the walking, the toll was great. Again, this was my idea but I would never do it again! Apart from all of that, it was a truly great experience and my Son and Grandson had the time of their lives. I rate the trip a 9. The only 10 I ever saw was Bo Derrick, and she was actually a 11! LOL….
All the Best!
Jerry Cox, MI
Susan Fallon, TX, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, May 2024
The trip was enjoyed by everyone and I’m still grateful for your managing to catch us up to our other two travelers who had gotten in on time. The hotels were all very nice – Ashford Castle was in a class by itself. The Dylan was the least favorite as the group had their first experience with smaller beds and the atmosphere was not quite the same as the Traditional hotels like Killarney Park. Danny was an excellent guide – always early. I can’t travel ever again without Sheenco’s help.
Thank you again for a first class experience and service.
Susan Fallon, TX
Eileen & Thomas Houlihan, PA, Custom Self Drive, Ireland, April 2024
We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the many sights we visited during our travels through the Emerald Isle! The highlights were certainly the accommodations at the Merrion Hotel, The Muckross Park Hotel, Ashford Castle and the Carton Hotel. Less so was the rather disappointing, bland room we had at the Hardiman Hotel in Galway. We were told that the room we were provided was due to our late arrival and that they would consider moving us to a different room the next day. We declined the offer since it would be for a single night’s stay and not worth the effort. Jennifer and Jean-Noel’s accomodations were much more what we would have expected.
Among the other notable highlights was the Ring of Kerry tour and our delightful driver, Jerry. He was an exceptional tour guide and congenial host. We very much enjoyed our day with him!
The EPIC museum was truly outstanding, memorable and moving. We spent over four hours wandering through the many exhibits and stories about the Irish Diaspora. Of course Ashford Castle was magnificent: the grounds, accomodations, the dining areas and the staff were all truly first class. We took in the boat ride on the Lough Corrib piloted by Captain Patrick, who provided an overview of the Castle, its history and owners, and the geological significance of the Lough. We could have spent more time at Ashford!
Aside from these few faux pas, our trip was wonderful and we thank you and your colleagues at Sheenco for organizing a wonderful holiday for the Houlihans and Roussels!
Eileen & Thomas Houlihan, PA
Stephen Lukas, PA, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Scotland/Ireland, October 2023
We made it home on Saturday full of great memories. Sheenco did an excellent job of arranging both Ireland and Scotland itineraries. Harvey’s Point (Sandhouse Hotel) was outstanding… 5 star rating by all 36 of us. Great food, service and the rooms were spectacular.
Frank, our tour guide/driver was absolutely terrific. Great sense of humor, very positive, very knowledgeable, very patient…loved by all!!
All of the itinerary arranged was perfect and enjoyed. We learned much and so loved Belfast. Many of us found out more about our relatives and we were visited by many family members of some of our travelling gang!!
Scotland was perfect. The transportation was on time, very courteous and informative. Both hotels were fabulous and the itinerary scheduled perfect!!
The PIAC group thanks you and so do I. We would recommend Sheenco as a very worthwhile trip coordinator!
Thanks and Slainte
Stephen Lukas, PA
Stanton & Lorie Lanier, GA, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Scotland, September 2023
My wife Lorie and I did have a wonderful Scotland trip September 15-22. A rating of “10” for sure, with experiences, touring, lodging, and meals. Our private driver Maurice McKendrick was fantastic and superior in every respect. Thank you for helping us celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary with such a beautiful experience of Scotland!
Wishing you all the best,
Stanton & Lorie Lanier, GA
Mandy Gideons, MA, Escorted Castle Tour, Ireland, September 2023
The trip was amazing and I liked the accommodations even better than the Scotland castles last September! I particularly liked Ashford Castle and Glenlo Abbey, especially since we got to spend two nights at each of these locations. That allowed us to spend more time exploring those hotels.
Mandy Gideons, MA
Ruth Byers, NC, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, September 2023
Just wanted to thank you for all you did for us in arranging such a wonderful trip. The Merchant Hotel in Belfast, omg amazing. Our driver knew a personal driver that took us around one evening in Belfast and gave us an amazing history lesson. All the places you worked out for us were amazing. We had a spectacular safe driver Sean Coffey and, he made it a very cool personal experience. I can’t thank you enough. We will use you again in the future I will definitely let all my friends know as they are planning trips for next summer.
Happy fall y’all
Ruth Byers, NC
Kevin Krause, AB Canada, Custom Self Drive, England & Scotland, September 2023
Thank you again for the amazing trip organization and support, my parents and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and found the support was amazing. All the itinerary was outstanding and all the hotels/castles/accommodation great. Thank you again for the great work and will highly recommend to fellow travellers.
Kevin Krause, AB
Johnnie Holley, TX, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, September 2023
I want to thank you all for a great trip.
All in all a great trip. We are considering a trip next spring to Wales and will contact you for information.
Johnnie Holley, TX
Mark Perrone, MA, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, September 2023
Our trip was amazing!! A year ago, we sat at dinner and decided to go to Ireland, each was asked to write down what they wanted to see:
- The west coast
- Sleep in castles
- See the Titanic Museum in Belfast
- See Edinburgh Castle
- Tour Outlander sights in Scotland.
I sent this list in and got a response from Janice that included everything on the list (and then some) the only thing we changed was the final hotel. I guess the best compliment is the trip was exactly what we asked for.
Hotels were beautiful, the included breakfast was top notch. The Thompsons did have a couple hotel issues; at Ashford Castle, their room was not ready until 6PM (it was tight as we had a dinner reservation there at 6:30). At Balmoral, their luggage got misplaced and their room wasn’t as nice as ours. But the hotel relocated them upstairs and we found the luggage mixed in with ours, so all ended well. Our only regret was we should have spent an addition day at Ashford, we just didn’t have the time explore all it had to offer.
The drivers were exceptionable; Ted in Ireland offered good suggestions, lots of laughs, never rushed us, added some interesting stops along the way (that only a native would know about) and found us some unique pubs when we insisted, we stop every 2 hours for a “pub break”.
Steve the “Outlander driver” was also great, let us explain what we wanted to see then brought us around, he also added relevant stops on the way. Steve was fulfilled the “pub break rules” our tour with him was 10AM to 6PM but he happily dropped us off at 7:30 saying he was more interested in us enjoying the whole day, nice guy.
The drivers between airports and hotel were also very informative and gave us ideas on things to see and do in the short time we were with them.
The restaurants Aine suggested were all very fine establishments, different in their own way, glad we had you make the reservations as we noticed every place was busy. We filled our lunches with pub food (remember “pub break” so it balanced out the good stuff at night and gave us a overall feeling for the food and drink locally. Also note that Aine called us one night to check in (very thoughtful)
In the end this was a great adventure, exactly as I visioned it, I owe it all to Janice who put it together and regards also to Aine who did the fabulous dining experiences. Thank you all so much.
Mark Perrone, MA
Susan Fallon, TX, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Scotland, August 2023
We had a fantastic time. Even the weather cooperated – most days . We packed a lot into six days and enjoyed the sight seeing, food, people, and our guide Morris was fantastic. Our airport pick up and drop off gentlemen were on time and very friendly. The Bonham was wonderful with the staff helping us to get a driver for the first day we were there to do a little extra around Edinburgh. My daughter is severely gluten sensitive and we were delighted to find that Scotland is ahead of the curve on gluten free menus choices. However the folks at all our hotels and their staff were so accommodating I’m confident they could meet and please anyone with dietary challenges. The hotels were amazing in decor and comfort. The only comment there would be, don’t forget your adapter! Scotland is amazingly clean and so green! I could rattle on and on but I’ll just have to go back for another visit. Sheenco was very very responsive to my few emails during the trip and I never felt frustration at not being able to reach the office. Overall an 11! Thanks for one of my best experiences ever.
Susan Fallon, TX
William & Kay McCann, NC, Custom Chauffeur Driven, England/Scotland, July 2023
We wanted to let you know how appreciative we are at the assistance we received from Sheenco in planning our Scotland vacation.
We absolutely loved our driver Steven. He was very information and always so polite. We were so happy to have him there as a guide. We loved the hotel in Edinburgh (the Caledonian). The rooms were fabulous and the service was top notch. The hotel in Ft. William was a little “quirky”. The rooms were not exactly on par with the precious hotel but the food was amazing (best we had the whole trip). The hotel in Invergordon, Kincraig Castle, was also very nice. It was a little far from the town and we probably would of been better off staying in Inverness. We were traveling with young adults (early 20s) and they were a little bored in the country hotels. I think they would of been happier staying in towns with a little bit of night life. We did have fun as a family though. We really liked the hotel in :Pitlochry. It was walking distance to the town and we enjoyed our meal there as well. The last night we stayed at the Cringletie and it was such a pretty castle. We unfortunately did not get to explore the grounds as it rained the whole time we were there. It was an amazing dinner for the last night and a beautiful area. In hind sight I probably would of stayed in Edinburgh proper the last night. We had such a great time and I really appreciate all the expertise on the hotels and sights to see.
Thanks,
William & Kay McCann, NC
Tana King, IN, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, June 2023
We had a great trip. We were very happy with our driver, Paddy Noonan. He was great. By the end of the trip, we felt we had a new friend.
Jim loved his golf. His favorite course was the Old Head. They let him take a buggy to take me around to see the course after he was finished with his round. It was definitely a stunning course on the ocean.
Our favorite hotel was the K Club. It was just a lovely place and great service and food. Jim also enjoyed his golf there. The Lake Hotel was very nice. We had a lovely view from our room of the ruins there on the property. The restaurant had very good food. The Lodge at Ashford Castle was very nice. Our view was really lovely. The food was outstanding. The Mill Park Hotel was very nice and we had a very spacious nice room there. We also really liked the Ballygally Castle hotel. We had a great ocean view room. Loved the beautiful gardens there at castle. Loved watching everyone enjoying the beach and ocean across the street from us. We had a lovely room at the Carton House and enjoyed the time we were there. Just didn’t get to explore it much as we met our friends for dinner and was visiting with them. Had to leave the next morning so didn’t have time to look around.
The hotel we liked the least was the Montenotte Hotel. They had a very jolly doorman that greeted us and that was very nice. When we got to our room the door would not open and a bellman tried unsuccessfully to open it for us. After repeated attempts a young man and woman came with new batteries and took the lock apart and it was fixed. The view from the restaurant was certainly something. With only one restaurant we were limited on meals. The buffet breakfast was very nice.
Over all the trip was just great. Paddy was a good guide for us and he really made my trip by taking me to Seskinore, the home of the McClintock ancestors. The principal of the school invited me in and was happy to tell me about the McClintock family. He also took me to the church the McClintocks built. It was a special part of the trip for me.
We thank you and your people for putting the trip together for us. We do appreciate it.
Again, we thank you. We have some great memories from this trip.
Tara King, IN
Heather Gahir, MI, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, June 2023
The planning phase was very easy and the people who helped us to plan were very helpful. They assisted us in building an itinerary that incorporated all the elements we were looking for. Our driver, Douglas, was a very good and safe driver and also was a kind and considerate person. He did a wonderful job making sure that we were comfortable and happy throughout the trip. The team was very responsive and when we had questions while we were on the trip, they were very quick to respond, even outside of business hours.
In all we had a wonderful holiday and I truly enjoyed working with the Sheenco team.
Heather Gahir, MI
Graeme Don, AK, Custom Self Drive, Ireland, June 2023
Our time in Ireland was very enjoyable. The Irish are very hospitable hosts. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather (most of the time) and this no doubt enhanced the beauty of the scenery and enjoyment of the amazing gardens and historic sites.
All the arrangements went smoothly.
The time we were in Ireland (6 – 26 June) proved to be a good time to travel. The weather was good and there was not too much pressure on the tourist sites. Consequently we did not have to book many activities in advance which allowed more flexibility in our daily schedule and helped us meet a tight itinerary. With the benefit of hindsight approximately 3 more days to complete the trip which would have given us more relaxation time.
Accommodation – Ashford Castle, the Lake Hotel & Carton House were the standout hotels. The Lake Hotel was particularly good for a 4 star and the family hospitality feel was evident. Fine dining at Ashford was a memorable highlight.
Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny was disappointing for a 4 star. There were four maintenance faults in our room which I advised the staff of when we checked out. While they did not have any significant impact on the enjoyment of our stay, I believe a 4 star hotel should not be so reliant on guests to identify and report maintenance issues.
Rental Car (from Enterprise)
The service and processing at pick-up and return was very good. The vehicle, a Toyota Corolla hybrid, was a good selection for the narrow roads and was fuel efficient. However the car was not very clean when we picked it up and had over 87,000km on the clock. On the road it showed its age; there was a moderate vibration from what appeared to be wheel(s) out of balance. Overall it fell short of our expectations.
Thank you for organizing our trip.
Angela Olea, AZ, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, June 2023
A Remarkable Journey through Ireland
I recently had the pleasure of entrusting Sheenco Travel with the planning and coordination of my two-week vacation to Ireland, and I cannot speak highly enough of the exceptional experience they provided. From the very beginning, their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine passion for creating unforgettable journeys were evident.
The team at Sheenco Travel went above and beyond to tailor every aspect of my trip to my preferences and interests. They took the time to truly understand what I was looking for, and their knowledge of Ireland’s hidden gems ensured that my itinerary was filled with captivating destinations and unique experiences.
The accommodations recommended by Sheenco Travel were nothing short of spectacular. Each castle and hotel I stayed in offered unparalleled comfort, breathtaking views, and warm hospitality. It was evident that Sheenco Travel had established strong relationships with these establishments, as I was treated like a valued guest wherever I went.
One of the highlights of my trip was the personalized tours and excursions arranged by Sheenco Travel. Their attention to detail shone through in every aspect, from the knowledgeable local guides to the seamless logistics. Whether it was exploring ancient castles, savoring traditional Irish cuisine, or immersing myself in the vibrant culture, every moment was meticulously planned and expertly executed.
Throughout my journey, Sheenco Travel’s commitment to customer satisfaction was truly remarkable. They were readily available to address any questions or concerns, ensuring that I felt supported and cared for every step of the way. Their dedication to creating a seamless and stress-free experience was evident in the flawless execution of my travel arrangements.
I cannot recommend Sheenco Travel highly enough for anyone considering a trip to Ireland. Their expertise, personalized approach, and unwavering commitment to excellence set them apart from the rest. Thanks to Sheenco Travel, my vacation was an absolute dream come true, filled with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Sheenco Travel has truly mastered the art of curating extraordinary journeys, and I am grateful for their expertise in making my time in Ireland an unforgettable adventure. I wholeheartedly endorse Sheenco Travel for anyone seeking an exceptional travel experience that exceeds all expectations.
Angela Olea, AZ
Tanya Cecka, WA, Custom Self Drive, Scotland/Ireland, May 2023
We had a fantastic vacation, thank you so much! Was just what we wanted, spontaneous, yet planned!
Your itinerary suggestions were great, let us pick & choose as we went.
We loved the Bonham & it was the perfect place to start our trip! However, we found Norwood Hall, although lovely, quite an unfriendly jolt after it. Could just be our own bias with the snooty French staff, we were glad we were only there 1 night.
Explorer Pass
We used it for 5 castles/fort & it did save us $. But what it also did was give us clout. When we showed up to 1 without reservations & it was full, they let us in. We always received a “fantastic” when we used it and “sorry” when they weren’t on the list. And I had downloaded the app & it always knew where we were, even when we didn’t! And it also had great suggestions of locations with pics & descriptions to see near us. (Stone circles/cairns, etc)
Again, a wonderful, “Bucket List” trip, thank you!
Tanya & Carl Cecka, WA
Geraldine Merino, FL, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, May 2023
This trip was FABULOUS!!! Excellent 5* accommodations. A family trip that was wonderful. Trip route and driver were excellent. Ireland is beautiful and welcoming. We plan to go again. Best vacation ever! Thank you Sheenco!!
Geraldine Merino, FL
Larla Rucker, TX, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Scotland, April 2023
I am happy to express how wonderful the trip was, and the beauty that is Scotland. Maurice was exceptional and very gracious with us. (I’m thinking we were not easy!) My Favorite castle was Inverlochy Castle. The staff were very welcoming and we did enjoy the dining experience the first night. I really liked Eleanor! Staying more than one night was a relief for us, and we realized by that stay that we needed to go to the castle earlier in the day to actually experience being there. Kincraig has such a warm and welcoming staff. We appreciated the sense of comfort and the dining allowed us to order from the menu. Our view was not photo worthy since out our window looked out to a dirt patch. However, the room was a great size and enjoyable. Overall, all places were comfortable.
Feedback from my experience would be that we tried to stay at too many castles with such full days. Although Crossbasket appeared to be a beautiful setting we arrived later in the evening from our first day adventures not having eaten (that’s our doing) so our option was to dine there. It seemed that they worked us in for the dinner although there were only two other tables, it took 3 hours. I’m still processing how that happened. We actually had very little interaction with the staff for our short stay. That is the only place I would not choose to go again.
I think it would be a good idea for people to understand that moving every night may take a toll and although you are staying at a castle, you are only there a short time. Letting people know that if they plan on eating at the castle to be prepared for a long sitting. Cringletie allowed us to order from the lunch menu and skip out quickly….we just needed packing and rest time. Nothing to do with cost, we enjoyed spending money! It is just lovely there, baby lambs were part of our view. Regarding gratuity I needed a tutorial on what was appropriate or expected at each hotel, and hopefully we gave Maurice a favorable one. We do understand the general gratuity expectations, just not what I mentioned. The day the ferry did not run from Armadale to Mallaig and we were required to drive back was obviously too long for all of us.
Your staff is incredible. The multiple responses and follow ups were so appreciated. I am very grateful to Rebecca for trying to make sure we had separated twin beds. That was a comedy routine at some hotels. Making a recommendation of Sheenco will be my pleasure, I’ll also recommend they ask for Maurice! I’m looking forward to my next booking for Ireland.
Thank you
Larla Rucker, TX
Katherine Mistilis, TN, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, February 2023
We had a fabulous trip to Ireland 2/16/23-2/26/23. It would be difficult to tell you favorite accommodations as all were outstanding. There is not a negative thing to say about Harvey’s Point. Our room had been upgraded and was the largest room I have ever seen. We had 2 bathrooms. We did not have a view as they were all Kings and Cynthia and I required 2 beds. Every amenity you could think of was in the room. Every employee went out of the way to help in every way. The food was delicious and service over the top.
Ashford was next and Catherine, who is Manager in Rooms Division upgraded Cynthia and me to a gorgeous room with fireplace, etc. it was the same room we had in 2006. The other rooms were not so nice and very small and one couple said they would not go back to Ashford. She said they had nothing in their room, not even a minibar. If we go back, I would request upgraded rooms for all. One guest said the room sets the stage for your impression of the castle.
Adare Manor was next and I had requested corner rooms for all and no one got them. However all in my group got very nice large rooms that they loved except Cynthia and me. Our room was exactly half as large as the rest of the group. I asked for a different room and the manager kept me waiting for a full 30 minutes and then told me there wasn’t another room. The girl at front desk said they were about 70% occupied. Nothing was done for me until Rebecca called Kevin who was MOD and that got the ball rolling. I guess it was ok since we got the preferred room at Ashford.
Adare was, I think preferred over Ashford with my group. We would not want the tasting menu again however. I realize that is the only choice in the Oak Room but it lasted from 8:00-12:00 and we were all exhausted. They were very slow with long waits between courses. Possible that they didn’t have enough servers especially at first.
Transportation was perfect and we all loved Jerry. No problems at all. He went out of his way to make us comfortable and to please us in every way.
It was great to get to meet Gary at the Merrian Hotel. Everyone’s rooms were ready except mine and they suggested we have tea while we waited and that’s where Gary and I met. I appreciated such nice gifts from him and enjoyed our visit very much. We love the hotel and MOD was very kind to us.
My hats off to the staff at Sheenco!
Katherine Mistilis, TN
