roadwarrier

Oh Boy!!

Many thanks for yet another amazing TR. Stumbled across it now - been hiding in the African Bushveld for a few days to recharge my batteries. Have not read your blog, but I hope that the weather has treated you well and that the trip is turning out great.
^^

Garvey6

Mr. SFO777,

I'm not a huge poster here on FT (more of a voyeur). Been following your TR's for years and am a big fan of yours here in Chicago. My friends were just at Ballyfin and shared many of the same positive impressions as you. I forwarded them a link to your TR.

And please keep being as candid and honest as possible - frankly its what makes your TR's so awesome.

ordogg

LOL - I think SFO777 has a cyberstalking bully LOL

dr4881

Thank you for this great trip report. (And all of your reports). I retired this year after 28 years of service at an airline with all those years in inflight service and management. It's nice to read experiences with an appreciation for superior customer service onboard, which, unfortunately, is often rare these days.

SFO777

Thank you NoLaGent. No 380 on the return, but I'll save the embarrassing details for that installment.

Thanks so much andymcdonnell. There is just so much natural beauty in Ireland. Beautiful.

It was part of the entire package and was arranged thru our Virtuoso TA.

Thanks very much roadwarrier. Hope you had an nice time in the Bushveld.

Thank you Garvey6 for your kind comments. They are much appreciated.

Thanks so much dr4881. Great service in the air is indeed alive and well, just a little harder to find than years ago.

SFO777

Killarney

Our home for the next two nights was the pleasant Killarney Park Hotel, perfectly located in the center of the charming city of Killarney.











Our suite...















After a drink the hotel bar, we head a block and a half up the street to Ross Hotel and Cellar One.



Nice atmosphere and good food.







After dinner, we explored Main Street.





Due to insurance reasons?? LOL.



We spent part of the next day visiting our friends' family in nearby Listowel. Then back to the hotel, drinks at the bar and then to Cronins, a local favourite. Someone's having fun.























The next morning, I headed out bright and early for a quick trip thru KIllarney National Park. What a glorious calm and sunny morning.























Ross Castle.























Pretty funny as our horse queues for the lights just like the cars.

SFO777

None of us relished a 5+ hour drive from Killarny to Cong via the Cliffs of Moher as proposed on our initial itinerary. With spectacular scenery all along the west coast, the idea of a helicopter just seemed to make sense, as long as the weather cooperated. Just 5 minutes from The Killarney Park Hotel was the Killarney Racetrack where our chopper and pilot Liam met us at 10:45am. We discussed with him what we wanted to see along the way and a few minutes later, we were airborne for a fabulous 90 minute trip to and up the coast, with sites that one just can't see from the ground.













Ross Castle, which we had seen earlier that morning from the ground.















Less than 15 minutes after takeoff, we were at the coast which features one great looking golf course after another.









































Buzzing Trump International at Doonbeg.























And the Cliffs of Moher, the scenic highlight of Ireland's spectacular west coast.

























And continuing up the coast, now with dramatically different scenery...











... to Galway...











And finally to Ashford Castle.





The nearby town of Cong.





And turning back to Ashford Castle.







And a perfect landing on the castle's helipad.

fivevsone

I LOVE the Pan Am Clipper museum. How awesome!

And the helicopter ride. reminiscent, but completely different from the awesome small plane tour of Mt Mckinley(?) and the glaciers. So cool thanks for sharing!

I will pretend i am not jealous, but I am!!

T.

nequine

Beautiful photos of Ireland as you flew in the chopper!

stevie

You should charge the Irish tourist board for those helicopter pics. I know the coast (and golf courses) very well having cycled up and down that coast but aerially it is spectacular.

SFO777

Thanks very much fivevsone. The Clipper museum was great. And the views of the coast from the helicopter were spectacular.

Thank you nequine.

Ha. Thanks so much stevie. The coast is gorgeous.

KevinDTW

Really enjoying this TR. The helicopter tour looks amazing! I already read the next installment on your website, and I can't understand what went on at Ashford Castle. The first few pictures looked beautiful, but your experiences thereafter were unbelievable, starting with that awful-looking meal. Mrs. SFO channeling Annie Oakley -- who would have thought? And the first picture of the hawk with the accompanying advice not to challenge him in a staring contest was very funny!

PS -- Wagyu corned beef. That alone is justification for a return to Ireland for us.

offerendum

Great thing with the heli! How much did you pay? Guess no points-options available

popoemt

Great report, I'm curious what was going on with the giant downed tree on the front lawn, it looked like it had a permanent barrier around it?

gaobest

Agreed! I'm stunned as I've seen the 77W on sfo's past TR and just can't get over a 1-2-1 F cabin in 2016 (in 2006 I was in AA F with 1-2-1). Even ual is 1-1-1. Or so I think.

I'm trying to figure a SFO-vce and had considered paying for AF F if it was in the 3-4K range but now it just doesn't feel right. Better off using my ual miles and just trying to find LH F or even any European C, even if it means a different USA city...
I'm just stunned with this AF F experience. It feels wrong to fly UAX to SFO (i.e. Time waste) just to get the A380 when their 77W flies out of lax.

Btw did ual interline the luggage to AF?