Ireland Walk Hike Bike

Dean did a good job of arranging accommodations for us, allowing us to have a stress free trip. He also booked a couple excursions for us, that were enjoyable. Overall, our trip was a success!

That being said, it seemed clear that Dean's focus was on hiking and biking. His company is literally called Ireland Hike Bike Walk. He would do better with younger people who want to hike or bike. He gave us routes to drive, but we couldn't or didn't follow them. They didn't always match where we were, or where we were going. He gave us instructions to return our rental in Dublin, even though we rented and returned the car in Shannon. On 2 occasions, the route started or ended in the wrong town 20-40 km from our target. Dean's associate, Katie, checked up on us multiple times during the trip, which was reassuring, and she helped us to cancel one of the excursions, and helped us find a confirmation number on another occasion.

In retrospect, I could have made the arrangements on my own. We would have probably missed out on Inis Mor and Achill Island. Those were both fun and memorable excursions, so I'm glad that we got to do those, but I'll do the leg work on my own next time.

Hotel Reviews

Bunratty Manor

Bunratty

The staff in this hotel are exceptional. The food in the restaurant was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to Bunratty Castle, where we spent a day

Staff

Everybody did.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was hot in our room, but the weather was exceptionally warm when we were there.

Tower View

Dingle

A great B&B in Dingle Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Old Weir Lodge

Killarney

Clean and friendly lodgings in Killarney

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near the center of Killarney

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had requested a king size bed or 2 beds. We had a queen sized bed. Ok, but we didn't really sleep well

The Kingsley Hotel

Cork

The hotel was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We were well outside the core of Cork. Easy to get to and a nice setting, but I don't feel that we really saw Cork

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Granville Hotel

This was one of the best hotels of the trip. Very upscale. Great location. Great staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the waterfront a couple blocks from everything we wanted to see

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riverside Laragh BnB

Friendly people running this B&B, but the bed was too small

Authenticity & Character

Location

well located near the village and Glendalough

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had specifically requested a king sized bed, or 2 beds, but ended up with a double bed

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

Upscale hotel in the heart of Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to drive to, but also easy to walk about the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa

Sligo

This was a vey nice hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Outside of Sligo town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Louisburgh Cottages

Charming cottages in a small Irish village. Not a hotel or B&B.

Authenticity & Character

Small clean cottage in Louisburgh, run by the community.

Location

Staff

They weren't on site, but readily available and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Harbour Hotel

Galway

Located walking distance from the heart of Galway. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skellig Six 18 Distillery Tour

Ireland

Cathen was our guide. He was fun and informative. The start was a little disorganized. The biggest drawback is that we had to drive to get here and drive afterwards, so I didn't really get to taste much.

Book of Kells and Trinity Campus Tour

Dublin

This was a bucket list item for us. The tour was very enjoyable

We had a wonderful trip thanks to Dean listening carefully to us and planning a brilliant itinerary. He and Katie then kept close tabs on us and made sure all went well. Thank you; we'll be back!

Hotel Reviews

Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport

cloghran

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Churchfield Bed & Breakfast

Doolin, Co. Clare

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tower View

Dingle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

San Antoine B&B

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Place Apartments

Co. Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The White Lady Hotel

Cork

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ormonde Hotel Kilkenny

Kilkenny

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riverside Laragh BnB

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skellig Six 18 Distillery Tour

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Cruise

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blasket Island Boat Tour from Dingle

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Book of Kells and Trinity Campus Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dean was the best! We did a self guided tour and his guidance took us to the most beautiful places! When people ask, what my favorite part of the trip was…I say, I loved it all! The lush rolling green hills with sheep, the castles, the gorgeous beaches, the dramatic cliffs, the wild flowers, and the lovely sea side villages. Ireland will forever hold a place in my heart 💚 Thank you so much for this experience.

The trip was amazing, we saw all the things we wanted to and everything was so well planned out for us. We loved the Ring of Kerry drive most, do not miss Valentina Island and the Kerry Cliffs.. wow! The one thing we might have changed was staying in Killarney for 3 nights instead of 2, you can spend a whole day just in the national park, so much to see!

We had an ideal self-guided walking trip in southwest Ireland thanks to Kimkim connecting us with Ireland Walk, Hike, Bike. Dean Garrison from that company tailored 5 days of walking that perfectly suited our interests and abilities. We had superb communication with Dean as he tweaked the itinerary in response to our input. The transfers between hotels were flawless—all the drivers were really wonderful people. The hotels were wonderful, and the food at the Brook Lane in Kenmare was a special treat. When we had to modify the last day of hiking, Dean’s colleague Katie gave us instant support, suggesting not just one alternative option but three. We are already dreaming of coming back for another week of walking in Ireland. Truly, an amazing experience!

Our driver/guide was very professional, helpful and friendly. He helped make the trip great.

We had an overall wonderful trip to Ireland in Nov 2025. It was a short trip, built around attending a concert in Dublin on 11/12. First, I want to say that I have used KimKim for several prior trips to S and Central America and have nothing but amazing things to say about those experiences. Which was why it was a no brainer for us to use KimKim for this trip. We didn't have as great an experience this time. We initially met via zoom with Joe to discuss the trip, our interests, want to do's for the trip etc. The initial itinerary Joe gave us was pretty confusing and just had very general info, like from a pre-written template which did not take into account specifics that we had talked about. I wrote a long chat to Joe expressing my confusion and pointing out some of the discrepancies and/or flat out errors. We planned another call which did take place with Joe and he said that the issues with the itinerary would be corrected after we finalized our payments. But then we were informed Joe was no longer working there so we were handed off to Dean. It was a little frustrating trying to get the corrected itinerary that had revisions away from the "template" they use for this excursion or that activity. We also didn't have near the customer service and one:one attention that I was used to from my previous trips with KimKim. When we got the app and our itinerary, it was not user friendly (this was the first time with Kim kim that we used this app). Again, the itinerary was using very rote (not individualized) descriptions. I was told not to look at that part of the app but to look at the documents and "driver notes." those were more helpful for sure.
In terms of hotels, we stayed at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin and the Galmont in Galway. Both were nice places, however, when we first talked to Joe, he knew we were going to a concert in Dublin (at the 3 arena) and I had said I wanted a gym in the hotel. The Ashling was nice as I said, but there was no gym and it was about as far away from the concert venue as you could get. I had also told Joe none of us were drinkers so going to Guiness or Jameson were not on our list of things we wanted to do. The Ashling is super near to Guiness and Phoenix Park and the bus station and that's about it. So I did not like the location personally and it made me feel like the trip folks had some deal with the hotel so they just funnel as many people there as possible rather than listening to the specifics of what i wanted. the Galmont was good location and it had a gym, no so complaints with that. Both had great breakfasts so that was nice. Our one group excursion to Belfast was a highlight. we opted for a black cab tour (which Dean did help us get corrected as somehow, that was not the tour we were booked on even though that had been communicated to Joe from the start as well). The tour was by Wild Rover and the woman on the bus with us was fantastic as was our black cab driver. high praise for both of them and for the experience overall. We did have a walking tour of dublin as well which was also wonderful. our guide for that was great. we also did the Viking splash tour (duck boat tour) which was fun and touristy.
Everything else was on our own, planned on our own. We enjoyed Ireland very much and we agreed we would all love to go back for longer and to explore more of the country. However, this time around, I didn't feel I received the support, suggestions, individualization and individual attention I have received from previous Kim KIm trips. Thanks very much for letting me review.

Hotel Reviews

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

good location, great breakfast, good gym

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

great breakfast and restaurant, location was not good for us, no gym which was important to me

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Book of Kells and Trinity Campus Tour

Dublin

we didn't have a guide for this, we just did it on our own. fascinating, beautiful and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Dublin Guided walking tour tour

Dublin

Our guide, whose name i am forgetting, was GREAT. we learned a lot and he shared so much info, answered questions, made suggestions ...very helpful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

na

Belfast & Giants Causeway Day tour from Dublin

Dublin

loved the history of the black cab tour, made us all want to know more about The Troubles Giants Causeway was good too although the weather made it rough (windy and rainy), still was interesting to walk around

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viking Splash tour

Dublin

It's fun and touristy. it may or may not be your thing. I like duck boats tour in general.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our point of contact with Kimkim changed several times both before end during the trip. Most of the time, we didn't even know who our point of contact was. We were told that David would be our driver the entire time we were in Killarney, yet we never saw him for five days. He didn't respond to the one text we sent him. The one day we had a time constraint was our boat ride from Ross Castle in Killarney. We were told that Dave would arrive in his taxi at 9:45 AM. At 9:40 AM, I sent a text to Ireland Hike Bike and Dr. asking them where Dave was. Just after that, a taxi driver drove up and when we ask if he worked for Dave. He did not confirm or deny but said he was here to take two people to Ross's castle. We got in the cab and made it to Ross's castle in plenty of time. He gave us a card with his phone number on it so that we could contact his agency to get the return trip to our hotel. Since our itinerary said that we were to call Dave to get a ride back to the hotel, and since Dave had not shown up at our hotel to take us there, we called the number given us by the taxi cab driver when we got Ready to come back. A taxi arrived within five minutes and took us back to our hotel. At that point, I happen to check my texts, then I saw that Dave had been late and supposedly arrived at our hotel at perhaps 9:55 AM. Another text said that Dave had been waiting for us to take us back to the hotel. Since we thought we had to call Dave, we found that to be quite surprising. Also, we find it hard to believe that he would drive 30 minutes to pick us up when he hadn't dropped us off. On the plus side, we did get a refund from Kimkim for the €60 we spent for the two cabs, as the cab fair was supposed to be included in our itinerary.
Prior to that, we are expecting someone named Philip to pick us up in Galway at our hotel to drive us to the cliffs of Moher and then drop our luggage off at our hotel in Doolin. I looked on the map and saw that Doolin was on our way to the cliffs, so I decided to propose to Philip that he stop at our hotel so that we could drop off our luggage there, and then drop us off at the cliffs. Instead of Philip, a lady named Anne showed up to pick us up. I told Anne about my proposal to drop a luggage off first, and she seemed reluctant to do it for some reason. I mentioned to her several times that our hotel was in DOOLIN, but she corrected me so that I thought perhaps our hotel was in a small town near DOOLIN. Thank God, I asked her to drop the luggage off first, because she drove past the cliffs to a small town on the other side of the cliffs and pulled into the parking lot. We checked our itinerary, and that was not our hotel. So if we had not changed her plan, we would've ended up taking the bus to DOOLIN, and our luggage would've been in some hotel we wouldn't even know the name of in some town we never heard of a good 20 minutes away at least.

I cannot be more satisfied. They designed exactly the tour I wanted, made all arrangements for lodging, transportation, and excursions. The quality of lodging was excellent. The app they provided was easy to use, very helpful, and allowed easy access of information.