FAQs

There are two currencoes used in Ireland.

The Euro is the currency used in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland the currency is Pound Sterling. ( many places in Northern Ireland do accept Euros and we always recommend to check in advance) 

Children (anyone under the age of 18) are only allowed in pubs in Ireland when accompanied by their parent/guardian. They can stay on the premises until 9.00 pm (October – April) and 10.00 pm (May to September). Children 15 - 17 years old may stay later if they are attending a private function where a substantial meal is being served.

The legal drinking age in Ireland is 18. That means you need to be 18 to buy a drink in a pub or to buy any form of alcohol from a shop.

In Ireland the power plugs and sockets are of type G. ( 3 pin) The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz
Travellers to Ireland from the USA need a power plug adapter and voltage converter.

Travellers to Ireland from Europe need a power plug adapter only as the voltage is the same.

It is at your discretion if you want to tip the driver / guide at the end of your tour, and how much. The amount given can vary depending on the quality and duration of the service that you have booked.

Tipping in Ireland is not as common as in other parts of the world, and it's really up to you if you want to leave a tip or not. Generally, it is common to tip in restaurants and cafes, and the amount can vary between 10/15% off the total. However, it is at your discretion if and how much to tip.

Yes, we have a 24 x 7 emergency contact number. This is available for all the groups that book with us, and it is included in the travel documents that you will receive for your group.

Most shops in Ireland typically open from 9.00 am - 6.00 pm Monday to Saturday, extending their opening times on Thursday to 8.00 pm

Nearly all shops on Sundays open from midday until 6.00 pm

Some shopping centres and department stores open from 9.00 - 8.00 pm everyday

Some grocery shops are open 24 hours for example Spar.

We specialise in Youth & School, University & College, Study & Cultural, Sports & Club Tours, Music Tours, Festival & Events Groups, and Family & Friends.

For direct bookings we define a group as 15 persons and more. If your group is smaller, please contact us.
If you are a tour operator and we have a contract with you - we define a group as 8 persons and more.

Yes, we do – we completely specialise in group travel.

We offer a complete range of services for groups in several locations in Ireland, from accommodation to activities and visits, from day trips and airport transfers to meals (such as packed lunches, dinners, etc.). For further details on what we can book for your group, please click here.

The booking deposit payable to confirm your group booking is 25% of the booking total at the time of confirmation.  

Once we have finalised your booking, we will send you the booking summary and vouchers for the required services. Our 24 x 7 emergency contact number is included in these documents.

Generally, your balance of payment is due 6 weeks prior to the arrival date. Our team will be in contact with you to send you your balance invoice and due date. They will also ask you for the relevant details required to finalise your booking.

Our operations team will keep in contact with you throughout the booking process – touching base to see if you wish to book additional activities & tours, if you need any meals for your group, etc. For ideas and suggestions of what you can do, click here. If you need to make any amendments to your booking numbers, etc. – the team are here to help you.

On confirmation, we would send you an invoice for the booking deposit and normally allow 2/3 weeks for the payment. Note: if your group is arriving in less than 8 weeks, we would require the full payment.

A provisional booking holds the accommodation quoted for you (rooms, rates, etc.) temporarily for an agreed period of time. This allows you time to get flights, liaise with your group, etc. A provisional booking is normally held for two weeks. We would then contact you for an update on your group - is the group confirming? / do you need more time? / etc.

We can make a provisional booking for your group for 2 – 3 weeks, to allow you time to check flights, etc. If you then wish to confirm, we will send you a 25% booking deposit invoice to fully confirm your group.

You can complete our group booking enquiry form here or email us with your preferred dates/locations/number of leaders/students/special requirements, and what activities/programme your group are interested in. We will then send you a detailed quotation via email within 48 hours, including accommodation availability, activities, pricing, terms & conditions, etc.

In order to finalise your booking, we will need the following details from you: passengers' names list, estimated time of arrival and departure with flights details, group leader's name and mobile number. Depending on the services that we have booked for your group, we may require further information, such as menu choice, group's dietary requirements, etc.

The booking deposit payable to confirm your group booking is 25% of the booking total at the time of confirmation.  

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your accommodation or services - Issues must be brought to the attention of the supplier management and our office at the time of occurrence in order to give both the supplier and CGH the opportunity to resolve the issue / provide a remedy on the spot. Most problems can be dealt with quickly. We cannot entertain any complaints or requests for compensation if issues are not raised with the supplier / CGH at the time of occurrence. If the above procedure has not resolved the issue, any complaints must be sent in writing to CGH not more than 4 weeks after the departure of the group.

Generally yes, we have special cancellation terms should your group need to cancel due to COVID-19 restrictions applying again. Please see our terms and conditions section for the latest terms.

**NOTE - not all services in Ireland have special covid cancellation terms and we will advise at the time of quote/booking on this**

You can pay your deposit and final payment by bank transfer. Payment must be made in Euros to the bank account details provided on your invoice.

To validate payment by bank transfer – notification must be received from Bank of Ireland to Celtic Group Hostels. It is important that you allow sufficient time for the transfer to reach the Celtic Group Hostels account. When the payment is processed - please forward a copy of the bank transfer receipt to the groups team. When making payment by bank transfer, it is important that you reference the payment being transferred to your group name and booking reference number that we provide you with, this will ensure your payment get processed in a speedy manner.

No, you will be required to pay a 25% refundable booking deposit in order to fully confirm your reservation. However, for late bookings with arrival in less than 8 weeks, then you will need to pay the booking in full at the time of confirmation.

Generally, the 25% booking deposit is fully refundable for cancellations received up to 6 weeks prior to arrival date. However, certain accommodation suppliers now require non refundable deposits regardless of when the booking is cancelled. We would always advise at the quotation and booking stage what the accommodations terms are and if the deposit is refundable / non refundable.

Generally, your balance of payment is due 6 weeks prior to the arrival date. Our team will be in contact with you to send you your balance invoice and due date. They will also ask you for the relevant details required to finalise your booking.

On confirmation, we would send you an invoice for the booking deposit and normally allow 2/3 weeks for the payment. Note: if your group is arriving in less than 8 weeks, we would require the full payment.

If your group cancels 6 weeks prior to arrival date – no cancellation fees will be charged and your booking deposit can be transferred to another booking (if you wish to make one) or refunded to you.
6 weeks or less prior to arrival date – 100% cancellation fee will be charged on the amount of participants booked at the time of cancellation.

We have special terms & conditions for COVID cancellations - see our detailed terms & conditions.

Depending on your bank / type of card (debit/credit card, etc.), it can take up to 10 working days for the security deposit pre-authorisation to be refunded back to the card used. The amount of time it takes to be refunded is to do with the banking system and it is beyond our control.

The latest check-out time at the Abbey Court Hostel is 10:30 hrs. However, if your group has an evening departure, don't worry! You can store your luggage securely in the hostel and come back later to pick them up. Please just inform us of this in advance of arrival.

The latest check-out time at Abigails Hostel is 10:30 hrs. However, if your group has an evening departure, don't worry! You can store your luggage securely in the hostel and come back later to pick them up. Please just inform us of this in advance of arrival.

The latest check-out time at Ashfield Hostel is 10:30 hrs. However, if your group has an evening departure, don't worry! You can store your luggage securely in the hostel and come back later to pick them up. Please just inform us of this in advance of arrival.

It is at the group's discretion. Generally, schools want to keep boys and girls in separate rooms. If this is the case, please give us the group's gender breakdown as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment. For later requests, we can't guarantee that the male/female breakdown will be accommodated. 

For multi bedded reservations, the males/female breakdown must be given at time of booking unless mixed accommodation is suitable. We cannot guarantee the availability of additional rooms to accommodate the male/female breakdown of students if the gender breakdown is provided or amended at a later stage.

If you do not know the breakdown of students at the time of booking – we recommend to book a % of additional beds to cover for an uneven breakdown that does not fit into the rooms booked.

Yes, there is. After check-out, you can leave your luggage in the accommodation's storage room and come back later to pick them up. Please just inform us of this in advance of arrival.

It depends on the type of accommodation that we book for your group.

Ref. hotels - all rooms are en-suite, so they all have bathrooms.

Ref. hostels - depending on the hostel, some rooms are en-suite and have bathrooms inside, others are not-ensuite, so the bathrooms are in the corridors and will be shared with the other guests in the hostel. We will inform you on this at the time of quote/booking.

No, the hostels we work with don't have a curfew time.

Yes, the hostels have a fully equipped self-catering kitchen, that your group can use. The kitchen can't be blocked for your group's use only, and it's shared with the other guests within the hostel. So, it is important that groups leave the kitchen clean and wash up after themselves.

Yes, bed linen is included (bed sheets, pillows, duvet cover).

Yes, there is. You can leave your luggage in the accommodation's storage room and come back later for check-in. Please just inform us of this in advance of arrival.

Yes, there is. WiFi is available in all the types of accommodation that we book for your groups.

In hotels – generally, it is triple, double, twin, and single rooms.
In hostels – multi bedded rooms, i.e.: 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4 bedded dorms, then triple, twin, double and some single rooms.

Yes, the security deposit which you have to pay is €300.00 per group. At Gabriel House Budget Accommodation in Cork the security deposit is €30.00 pp or minimum €500.00 per group depending on group size. Please note that the hostels require payment of the security deposit by group leader's credit card only – this is to avoid too much cash being kept in the hostel premises. The credit card is pre-authorised only on check in and provided no damage is caused this is released on check out.

It depends on the type of accommodation that we have booked for your group.

Ref. hostels - towels are provided free of charge in the leaders’ rooms only. For all other rooms, they are not included and can be hired from reception for a small charge.

Ref. hotels - towels are included in all of the guests' rooms.

We offer a range of accommodations located in ideal locations for exploring Ireland – from Dublin, the capital on the East Coast, to Galway & Clare on the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork in Ireland’s Ancient East, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

We book hostels, budget accommodations, and hotels.

The Abbey Court Hostel offers a self-catering breakfast, available from 07:30 to 09:30 hrs daily, and it includes the following: tea, coffee, brown and white toast, choice of 4 cereals, fresh fruit, selection of meats and cheese, fresh hot sausage rolls.

Please note that due to the makeup of the room types per floor in each accommodation we work with – it is not possible to allocate all of a group on the same floor regardless of availability. Subject to availability, groups could be split between 2 floors+ (depending on the room types that they book).   

The earliest check-in time at the Abbey Court Hostel is at 14:30 hrs. If you arrive before that time, you can leave your luggage in their storage room facility.

The earliest check-in time at Ashfield Hostel is at 14:00 hrs. If you arrive before that time, you can leave your luggage in their storage room facility.

The earliest check-in time at Abigails Hostel is at 14:00 hrs. If you arrive before that time, you can leave your luggage in their storage room facility.

Yes, you do have to pay for all the beds in the rooms booked for your group. We have a sole occupancy policy, meaning that the entire room is booked for your group only, so they will not share with other guests within the hostel. Therefore, it is mandatory that groups pay for all the spare beds in their rooms.

No, Ashfield Hostel does not provide breakfast. However, the hostel offers complimentary tea/coffee and has a fully equipped self-catering kitchen that your group can use to make breakfast.

No, Abigails Hostel does not provide breakfast. However, the hostel offers complimentary tea/coffee and has a fully equipped self-catering kitchen that your group can use to make breakfast.

Depending on your bank / type of card (debit/credit card, etc.), it can take up to 10 working days for the security deposit pre-authorisation to be refunded back to the card used. The amount of time it takes to be refunded is to do with the banking system and it is beyond our control.

The Ashfield Hostel address is 20 D’Olier Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

The Abigails Hostel address is 7-9 Aston Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, DUBLIN 2, Ireland.

The Abbey Court Hostel address is 29 Bachelors Walk, North City, Dublin, D01 AX90, Ireland. 

In Ireland, generally a double room has one big double bed in it for sharing (with one quilt cover and 2 pillows). The maximum the room can accommodate is 2 persons, but they would be sharing the double bed together. If one person is accommodated in a double room, they must pay the full room price (the per person price x 2 times = full room price).

We will need the following information from you: name of the group, number of people specifying how many students and leaders, preferred date and time of the day (i.e.: morning, afternoon). Depending on the visits, we may also require the age profile of your group.

We usually recommend to include no more than 3 visits per day. Depending on the activities choosen, they can take from 1 to 3 hours, and you need to factor also the time to go from one place to the other, as well as allowing some time for lunch.

Yes, we do offer the following guiding options for groups:

-Guided walking tours of the major cities in Ireland, also with special interest focus.

-Possibility to upgrade the driver to an Engligh-speaking driver/guide when booking a coach for a day trip or continous tour.

Yes. Generally, the mimimum number of people to book an activity / visit is 20 pax. However, the minimum numbers for some attractions may vary. Our operations team will inform you of this at the time of booking.

No, we can't. We don't book Kilmainham Gaol for groups. However, you can book it for your group directly going on their website.

No, there is not a maximum number of people. However, for larger groups, some attractions and suppliers may need to split your group into smaller ones for logistics reasons and to provide a better experience for them. If this is the case for your group, our operations team will inform you of this. 

No, we don't book tickets for games, like rugby, football, etc. However, if your group would like to have some fun and is interested in learning how to play gaelic games, we can book this for you.

No, we don't book tickets for the theater or for concerts.

It depends on the distillery / brewery you are visiting. Since they produce and sell alcohol in their premises, there are some age restrictions in place. When under 18 years old people are allowed inside, they must be accompanied by an adult, and in the case a complimentary drink is included in the ticket, under 18's are entitled to a soft drink.

Transfer time by coach from Dublin airport to Cork city centre takes approxiimately 3.5 - 4 hrs, depending on the time of day you are travelling and traffic.  The coach driver will liaise with your group ref a comfort stop along the way.  

Travelling time by coach from Dublin airport to Belfast city centre takes approximately 2.5 - 3 hrs depending on the time of day you are travelling and where you want to be dropped in Belfast city. Your coach driver will liaise with you ref a comfort stop for your group.  

Transfer time by coach from Dublin Airport to Connemara is approximately 4 hrs however this can vary depending on the time of day, traffic and also where in Connemara your accommodation is based. Your coach driver with co-ordinate with you ref comfort stops along the route.  

Transfer time by coach from Dublin Airport to Galway City is approximately 3 hrs however this can vary depending on the traffic and on where your accommodation is located. The coach can stop on the way if you need to - your driver will co-ordinate if anybody needs to go to the toilet or buy something to eat.

Generally, for European flights, the coach will pick groups up from their accommodation in Dublin 3.5 hrs before the scheduled departure time of the group.

Yes, the coach driver meets groups in the airport. The meeting point depends on the terminal the group arrives at:

- meeting point at Terminal 1: When you come through the security doors into the arrivals hall, turn to the right and wait in front of Insomnia Coffee shop (formerly AMT Coffee shop) - your coach driver will meet you there.

- meeting point at Terminal 2: When you come through the security doors into the arrivals hall, your driver will meet you beside the large yellow statue in the middle of the arrivals hall.

Generally, the driver has a sign for groups. However, if they can't find each other at the designated meeting point, the driver will normally contact the group leader by phone.

It takes approximately 30/40 minutes going to Dublin airport from the city centre depending on traffic. If we book airport transfers for your group, we allow 1 hour extra time to get there.

Yes, we do book private airport transfers for groups from different locations in Ireland. In order to book airport transfers, we require the following information from you: flights details (flight number and scheduled time), number of passengers, and the name of the accommodation your group is staying in for the pick-up/drop-off point. For further details, please click here.

Yes, the hostels have a fully equipped self-catering kitchen, that your group can use. The kitchen can't be blocked for your group's use only, and it's shared with the other guests within the hostel. So, it is important that groups leave the kitchen clean and wash up after themselves.

Yes, dietary requirements are catered with advance notice (one month prior to arrival), and the name of the guests must be provided for each dietary requirement. Late dietary requirements may not be catered for. In case of allergies, especially nut allergies, please advise how severe they are and if these people carry an EPI pen.

No – in the standard breakfasts provided by the hostels, no dietary requirements are catered for – i.e.: gluten free, nut allergies, etc. We recommend guests with these requirements to take their own supplies with them or in the major cities there are supermarkets located conveniently to the hostels, which have gluten free sections where supplies can be purchased by the group members.

Depending on the size of your group and the number of courses you require – 08:00 pm is usually the latest time for dinner. This is to allow 1.5/2 hrs for dinner, and then the restaurant needs time to clean up. Kitchens in Ireland normally close at 09.30 pm.

Generally, jugs of tap water are provided on the table during dinner. Baskets of bread can be provided for a supplement - contact us for more details.

When you request a 2-course dinner, our operations team will send you a sample menu to choose from for your group. All of the group must pre-choose the same courses - i.e. starter and main or main & dessert, and also the same dish.

No, but we work with restaurants located within walking distance of your accommodation and we can book your group for dinner there. As regards packed lunches, we can also book them for your group and get them delivered to the accommodation where you are staying, so you can take them out with you on your day trips.

The Abbey Court Hostel offers a self-catering breakfast, available from 07:30 to 09:30 hrs daily, and it includes the following: tea, coffee, brown and white toast, choice of 4 cereals, fresh fruit, selection of meats and cheese, fresh hot sausage rolls.

No, Ashfield Hostel does not provide breakfast. However, the hostel offers complimentary tea/coffee and has a fully equipped self-catering kitchen that your group can use to make breakfast.

No, Abigails Hostel does not provide breakfast. However, the hostel offers complimentary tea/coffee and has a fully equipped self-catering kitchen that your group can use to make breakfast.

Yes, we do - we work with a selection of local restaurants/food providers in the locations we offer and can cater to your group’s requirements. For more information on feeding your group and sample menus – please click here.