Profile photo for Noel Carroll
120 messages

Noel Carroll

Creating lasting memories of travelling to different & exciting places around the world is what it is all about! That trip you talk about for years to come is why we continuously love to travel and get that buzz to do it again. My Company Carroll's Tours was created based on a customer driven approach and the love of promoting Ireland as a world class destination to visit.
Carroll’s Tours are an Irish Inbound Tour Operator providing an extensive range of bespoke tour packages across Ireland.
With over 20 years experience in Irish Tourism, our team of travel experts provide the highest standard of expertise, customer care & knowledge that will make your trip to Ireland a 'once in a lifetime experience.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Carroll's Tours covers the island of Ireland North & South. We can offer an extensive range of activities from Day Tours, Self Drive & Guided Tours, Walking/Hiking Tours, Heritage, Cultural, Pilgrimage Tours, Culinary Packages, Whiskey & Brewery Tours and Adventure Packages. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"I am born & bred in Dublin, coming from a proud Irish family background that were traditional Irish musicians My family operated a tourism chain of Irish Gift stores across the country. With over 20 years experience working in Irish tourism and helping overseas visitors experience the best of Ireland has been with me since my early teens. I have built longstanding relationships with all the leading tourism suppliers which has helped in offering the best quality packages & prices in Ireland."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I would say the most exciting trip I have had was in Thailand a couple of years ago.
What stands out in my mind was the stops in Chiang Mai Mountains in northern Thailand, an area eminently suitable for driving an 'off road buggy' in a muddy forest. We took a coach along narrow, muddy mountain tracks and rugged paths, almost like an obstacle course, as you experience the excitement of cross-country travel while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery of northern Taipei.

I can't leave out experiencing the Full Moon Parties in Koh Phangan. The world's three biggest wild parties on the 15th day of each lunar month: a "Full Moon Party", where tens of thousands of people gather at the Moon Beach in Haad Rin Bay to drink, set off fireworks, listen to music, and party all night.

"

Noel is part of the following groups: Ireland Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Classic Ireland Adventure - 7 Days
This guided road trip is the perfect introduction to Ireland for newbies. Over a week, you'll visit both classic icons and some off-the-beaten-path sites—paired with beautiful...
Ultimate Ireland Road Trip: Dublin, Killarney, Doolin, Westport & More - 14 Days
This ultimate self-driving tour of Ireland is filled with adventures in historic towns and along scenic coastlines. Start in Dublin before exploring the villages of Laragh, the...
Ultimate Guide to Multi-Day Walks in Ireland
One of the best ways to experience Ireland's remote corners is with a multi-day walk through the heather-covered hills, stretches of unspoiled coast, and sheer cliffs that the...
Road trip itineraries
Ultimate Ireland Road Trip: Dublin, Killarney, Doolin, Westport & More - 14 Days
This ultimate self-driving tour of Ireland is filled with adventures in historic towns and along scenic coastlines. Start in Dublin before exploring the villages of Laragh, the...

Recent trip reviews for Noel

Lots of fun thanks! Maybe explain how wait ti...
Ireland | May 25 - Jun 2, 2023

D
Dylan J.
Okolona, KY | Reviewed on Jun 04, 2023

Lots of fun thanks! Maybe explain how wait times and parking availability impact sight-seeing spots.

Local specialist: Noel Carroll

2 years of planning with disappointing results
Ireland | May 30 - Jun 11, 2022

C
Crystal W.
Somerset, OH | Reviewed on Jun 21, 2022
We started planning this trip 2 years ago. We always intended to do a 14-day self-drive tour of very specific locations. We requested support to identify locations within those cities that we might want to see, lodging that met our needs, and an SUV that would accommodate my service dog. We were originally supposed to have 3 local tour guides, a few tours, and a ferry passage included. Somewhere these were all deleted and the cost of the trip just included the lodging and the car rental... Read more

We started planning this trip 2 years ago. We always intended to do a 14-day self-drive tour of very specific locations. We requested support to identify locations within those cities that we might want to see, lodging that met our needs, and an SUV that would accommodate my service dog. We were originally supposed to have 3 local tour guides, a few tours, and a ferry passage included. Somewhere these were all deleted and the cost of the trip just included the lodging and the car rental without specifically stating that the plan was changed.
I was informed 5 weeks out that our rental wasn't secured and that we would need to pay for it ourselves. (A refund was finally provided after several phone calls between a Kimkim supervisor, and the local agent.) At 3 weeks out we were informed that our lodgings were not secured. My husband sat down messaging the agent with suggestions for accommodations at 2 weeks out. We were promised that everything would be confirmed at 1 week out as this is their policy. We never received the updated travel plan, and only received confirmation that lodging was secured 4 days prior to our trip. We worked with Austin for most of the trip planning. He was great in the beginning and we were just waiting for the lockdown to end. However, Noel helped finish the details. The locations that Noel booked were not notified of my gluten sensitivity or dairy allergy and thus were not prepared for my dietary needs. I actually had to purchase my own bread for breakfast 1 morning. Another B&B sent their daughter to the grocer to get bread for me, another had to thaw it the morning of. 1 of the B&B's was truly upset that she had no notification that my service dog was going to be present. She was prepping for a huge horse race and had to make spur of the moment adjustments and wasn't able to allow us to use the space as intended because of it.
This trip should have been finalized well before it was and too many details were placed back on our shoulders to plan. Too many of the people who owned the B&B's that we stayed at were saddened that the details were not relayed properly to them, making the statement, "This is why you use a travel agent." and that we had to clarify things with them when we arrived. We won't be using KimKim for future travel.

Hotel Reviews
Marguerite's B&B

The lady of the house and her daughter took the time to locate a particular bush that I wanted to know more about and chatted it up with me about other areas of interest. Breakfast was so filling. The room was comfy. The town was easy to walk around and the park was so nice to stroll through and nearby.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Atlantic View BnB

The owners were such a delightful couple. The windows were open when we entered our room and the breeze from the ocean was lovely. The view was amazing and so peaceful. Breakfast was great. I wish that we would have had more time at this location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fullerton Arms Hotel
Ballycastle

If you are into pubs and that atmosphere, this would be your place to stay. If you want your pup to stay with you they allow that also. My service dog was with us and per my request, I did not want to be in the "pet" friendly rooms or area of the hotel as I have had negative experiences in the past in other locations. Fullerton tried to upcharge us and made us wait in the bar to clarify it with the travel agent when we obviously just wanted to rest in our room for a bit. There was a problem with the heating system. It was immediately fixed once we discussed it twice, but the first hour was roasting and thus we hung out in the pub for a bit more and walked around the town where everything was closed because it was after 6 pm. The room was comfortable and included what we needed. Breakfast was nice and available a bit earlier than other locations which was greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grangeview BnB

This was a quaint B&B with super respectful hosts. We arrived later and needed super. They offered suggestions and ended up talking for a bit longer. She ended up offering to make us sandwiches because all of the local establishments were closed by that time. It was a great choice for a second night in Ireland after a full day of exploring and still being jet-lagged.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lough Rynn Castle Hotel

This was a beautiful place to stay with gracious staff. We however learned that we are not 5 star hotel type people. The "bar" dining was far from what anyone would define as a bar. They went out of their way to ensure my dietary needs were met and that I made it through supper. (My disabilities had flared and I wasn't the healthiest - low sugar). They were very accommodating about my service dog also.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Standing Stones Lodge
Belfast

The accommodations were standard, appropriate, with nothing lacking but the best part was the large grassy courtyard and the willingness of other guests to socialize a bit. Breakfast was strictly continental and gluten-free bread was available upon request. It was a great relaxing spot for our third day out.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful views
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Egan's Guesthouse
Dublin

The staff was amazingly helpful and supportive meeting all of our needs (dietary, and looking up details and calling cabs last minute for us when our original plans didn't work)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Noel Carroll