Testimonials

John Kehoe, NJ, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Scotland/Ireland, September 2022

Overall trip was extremely good and everyone in the party enjoyed sightseeing, eating/drinking and the accommodations. The staff of Sheenco were excellent for the few issues we encountered, thank you.

Some of the couples mentioned, maybe the next trip we spend more time in the hotels in order to enjoy the facilities and tour the local town and do not feel so rushed – others did not feel the same.

Edinburgh 

First of all – the Bonham hotel was terrific – nice location, good clean spotless rooms, staff was very outgoing and handled each request efficiently.   Hotel had a lot of charm and breakfast and dinners were outstanding – I think maybe, one of the best hotels I have stayed in – all others agree. passing of the Queen caused almost all the tourist sites to be closed – we did enjoy walking the Royal Mile and seeing the outside grounds. The first driver on the tour was Raf – very professional and friendly – he took us to a couple of sites along the way to Stirling that were not listed, but again, most were closed due to the passing of the Queen.

The hotel in Stirling, Colessio, was a little disappointing – rooms were hot, windows only opened a little – two couples had cracked sinks – hotel seemed to be understaffed, the bartender was a novice, breakfast was fair – hotel did not give me the message from the bus company concerning morning pick up until late after dinner, which caused confusion on our pick-up time, for both us and the driver. 

Barry was our driver for the next few days – very outgoing and took really good care of us. Besides what on the schedule, he took us to a lot of extra stops, which we really appreciated. As you are aware, the Kingsmill hotel messed up our reservations, so we had to stay at another hotel, The Drumossie. This hotel was off the beaten path, but it was super – staff was great, and dinner and breakfast were excellent. We only went back to the Kingsmill because they had offered to pay for our dinner there. They had cancellations of a tour so we got rooms. If not for the promise of free dinner, we would have preferred staying at the Drumossie. Also at the Kingsmill, each couple had to return to the front desk because the room key cards did not work properly. Also, service in the bar area was a challenge. Although the Kingsmill is a large and beautiful hotel, it just didn’t live up to its reputation.

Dublin

Brooks hotel was neat, staff friendly and helpful, plus the breakfast and dinner were good. We enjoyed our time visiting the jail, Guinness, and Dublin Castle. That was a full day of sightseeing and walking. Sean was our driver in Ireland. He was a super guide, very helpful, knowledgeable, flexible and also took us to additional places of interest. The only criticism was that he smoked too much. There was a tobacco smell in the bus, although he never smoked in the bus when we were in it. He did mention it was not his normal vehicle, so the odor of smoke may not have been from him. Again, Shawn was really good. Powecord Gardens were exceptional. The only issue was not enough time. We could have stayed all day. Pembrook hotel was another good choice by Sheenco. Nice town and spent time walking around. On the way to Cabh, Sean took us on side excursions of a castle and another historical site.  

 It was a bit disappointing to hear from Sean that Killarney was a “tourist town”. It would have been better to stay somewhere more authentic. All in all, the trip was really good. The hotel selection by Sheenco was perfect, even with the hiccups at the Colessio. Each driver, Raf, Barry and Shawn were unique in his own way. Barry, although was very enthusiastic and one could not help but like him and his style. 

Colin, thank you for being with us from the beginning stages of planning – there is no doubt Sheenco will be recommended to our friends, and yes, we are planning a return trip in the near future and looking forward to work together.

John Kehoe, NJ

Lois Thomas, KY, Custom Chauffeur Driven, Ireland, August 2022

All personnel that I worked with at Sheenco were extremely polite, informative and helpful. Rebecca in reservations was so patient and very helpful in making arrangements and handling changes in our agenda. I appreciated her help so very much. Our trip was wonderful and all arrangements made by Sheenco were perfect. Our driver/ guide Jerry Horgan was awesome. He was extremely informative as well as a delight to be with. Thank you Sheenco for such an outstanding trip.

Our family of ten, ranging in ages 15-81 traveled to Ireland in July 2022. This trip had been my dream for
at least ten years. Once we felt released from Covid restrictions, we decided to splurge and make this
dream come true. It is difficult to describe our experience. It was beyond wonderful, beyond fantastic.
Everything exceeded our expectations. Colin Grant of Sheenco Travel worked patiently with me to put
this tour together and he made all our arrangements. Several members of the team at Sheenco contributed
to the smoothness of our trip.

Transportation to and from the airport was right on time and easy to arrange. The guided travel
throughout our tour was excellent! I wasn’t sure what to expect but my jaw dropped when I saw the
nineteen passenger Mercedes Luxury Coach waiting for our party of ten.

The Driver/Guide, Jerry Horgan, was key to the success of our trip. He had a flexible plan in mind for
each day and always asked for our input and approval. Jerry is a native of Ireland and his love for his
country is genuine and contagious. He is knowledgeable about Irish history, culture, sports, current
events, and all things Irish. I came home with a much greater appreciation of your beautiful country. He
made it a point to meet the needs and wishes of everyone in our group from a stop at a laundry, to a deck
of cards for the teenagers, to finding the church where my great grandmother was baptized. A testimony
for Jerry: one of the teenagers in our group said that Jerry was the best part of our trip.

As for the accommodations:

Ashford Castle – there are no words to describe the majesty of this place. From the moment we crossed
the bridge to the Castle grounds until we left, with joy in our hearts and tears in our eyes, we were treated
like royalty. The grounds, the common areas, the rooms were exquisite. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime
experience.

Of the other places we stayed our favorite was the Brooks Hotel. The staff was friendly, rooms were
immaculate, spacious, and well appointed, and the location was perfect. Something we noted about the
Brooks Hotel was that they worked together as a team. The manager and the concierge came into the
dining room at breakfast and helped clear a table or bring coffee as needed. The comfort of their guests
was a priority for the staff. I would definitely choose to stay there again when I return to Ireland.

As for the individual tours:

My favorite and something I will never forget was EPIC. It was a moving, educational, and inspirational
experience. It brought to life the history of the Irish and the struggles that led to their emigration. It also
demonstrates what the Irish people have brought to the rest of the world.

The Irish House Party was a good introduction to what the Irish call craic – a tradition we should start
here at home. Trinity College and the Book of Kells should be on everyone’s list. Beautiful. The
Guinness Storehouse was fun but very crowded and perhaps a little over-rated. A glass of Guinness in a
local pub would be a suitable alternative.

Along the route with Jerry, we saw Cobh, where our ancestors departed in the 1840’s and site of the
fateful launch of the Titanic. Further on we saw the Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula, Kinsale, Galway –
all must-see stops for anyone planning to see this beautiful Isle.

None of us here on earth can take the credit but we had amazing weather. Sunny almost every day.
Overall, it was an incredible trip. I had told Colin I wanted the family to experience the warmth of the
Irish people, get a feel for our Irish ancestry, and see the beauty of the country. All my goals were
exceeded. Thank you, Genevieve, Colin, and all your team for making our trip an outstanding experience.