Off to Ireland,

To begin, we needed to navigate the entry requirements and health regulations of the country. Valid passport required. With the passport sitting in the drawer for 18+ months, I blew off the dust and checked that it had not expired. To enter Ireland, a new requirement is the passenger locator form. This is something which appears to have become a common requirement for many destinations, including travel within Canada. As an example, if you were planning to enter Newfoundland, you would need to complete the government entry form.

Next consideration was the health regulations for entering the country. My partner and I are fully vaccinated, however there was a small glitch. I having two doses of Pfizer and he having the mixed vaccines. Ireland does not currently recognize the mixed doses which meant he was not consider fully vaccinated. There are some countries in Europe that accept the mixed doses of vaccination. I expect the Canadian government (as we are already seeing in some of our provinces) may provide a third vaccine dose to those who received the mixed doses. We were not about to give up on our travel plans. To enter Ireland, not being considered fully vaccinated, my partner had to take a covid test prior to departing Canada and upon arrival into Ireland, he had to self-quarantined and take another covid test on day 5. (I having been fully vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer meant, I had no restrictions upon arrival). All fine on day 5 and together we began our journey. Just for the note; as of August 20^th, HSE confirms that 85% of Ireland’s population is fully vaccinated and they are now vaccinating children 12 years of age and up. 

As the world is learning to manage covid-19, travel restrictions are easing and there will be less barriers as the world reopens. If you plan to travel, we strongly recommend you only do so once you are fully vaccinated. I am also optimistic that we will see more acceptance of the mixed vaccines as restrictions ease. 

As we packed for the trip, we included ‘on the go – disinfecting wipes’, plenty of hand sanitizer and face masks. We have very comfortable material 3-layer face masks, but for the journey abroad, we purchased a stock of 4-layer disposable mask that fit well around the face and are very comfortable. 

Off to the airport.  We checked in online and printed our boarding passes in advance. I had heard the airports were quite busy so I gave ourselves extra time. It was unusually quiet in the airport and with having printed our boarding pass in advance, a simple scan of the boarding pass, and a scan of our passport, the kiosk was able to print out the baggage tags. After attaching the luggage tag, we placed our luggage on the baggage belt, the bags were scanned and we were ready to go through security. There was no need to engage with anyone and very few touch points. While there were plenty of airline staff available should you have any questions or need help. 

Security was a breeze. Social distancing was maintained and perspex screens were in place. Everyone was wearing a mask (children exempt) You were still required to have any liquids in a clear bag and place your computer or tablet separate from your other belongings. It all felt very familiar. 

We chose to visit the airport lounge in anticipation the airport might be busy. (you can purchase a pass) It’s a quieter area in the airport which offered great social distancing. We felt very comfortable. About an hour prior to our flight departure, we made our way to the gate. Where did all these people come from? With the airport boarding area being as large as it is, we still were able to find a position and maintain social distancing. When we began to board, the process was quick however the people felt a little closer than the 6 feet. Just as we experience in the grocery store, there will always be some in which they believe the rules do not apply. I am certain I was holding my breath. Once at our seats, I pulled out the ‘on-the-go disinfecting wipes and wiped down the seat handles and tray tables. The airlines have done an incredible job disinfecting the plane prior to boarding, but giving everything an extra wipe was no harm. 

While on the plane, it was mandatory to wear your mask. (If I forgot to mention, you must wear your mask throughout the airport) Not all masks are accepted and I have heard a number of airlines now insisting on specific types of masks. I overhead the flight attendant advising one person on the plane, that the mask they were wearing was not allowed and they were provided with an approved mask. During meal service, food was served in packaging which enabled less handling. People were able to take off their masks while they ate. I found myself not wanting to remove my masks and chose to not eat. The flight is 6.5 hours, so a second meal service (breakfast) was served. This time I chose to wait until most had eaten and their masks were back on. I removed my mask for as little time as possible. I changed my mask about 4 hours into the flight and it felt very refreshing. My tip to those flying would be to take extra masks with you on the plane and change them every 4 hours. You will thank me later. 

Our journey begins….

Hand sanitizing stations are everyone – hand sanitizing at the entry of all hotels, reception counter, and areas of touch points. Some of the hotels had hand sanitizing stations in the elevators, while most restaurants had hand sanitizer on the tables.  The best one was the hand sanitizing station fixed to the back of the ‘jaunting cars’ (horse and trap). 

Perspex was at the hotel reception counters, concierge desks, and in a number of the restaurants and bars. Large areas did not have perspex, but tables were placed with good social distancing. The hotels screened for covid symptoms. A couple of hotels have taken our temperature upon check in and all have asked us to either complete a health questionnaire in advance or asked us upon arrival. 

Dining in the restaurant/pub indoors required proof of vaccination. If you were not fully vaccinated or did not have your ‘proof of vaccination’ with you, you would not be allowed into the restaurant and your option for dining was on the outdoor patio. If you were staying at a hotel, you were not required to show proof for indoor dining. Children who could not be vaccinated were exempt. The breakfast buffet existed, however the staff served you and social distancing was maintained. 

Hotel rooms were disinfected before you checked in. You were given the option of having the staff clean your room daily. If you prefer not to have housekeeping enter your room, they would provide fresh towels and toiletries outside your door. 

It was very reassuring the measures taken and in place at the hotels and restaurants/pubs to ensure everyone’s safety.  We also appreciated being asked for our vaccine certificates, emphasizing they were following protocols. It was comfortable dining indoors knowing that those around us were fully vaccinated. 

Is travel back? The hotels, restaurants/pubs were very busy. The weather was beautiful and predominantly the guests/clients were locals enjoying a ‘staycation’. Multi-generational family groups, couples and solos. Similar to us seeing many Canadians travelling in our own country. In Ireland, there are many family-owned hotels and restaurants – the boom of the staycation has seen these establishments through the challenging times. Speaking with staff, the return of the international traveller from Europe, Canada and America has started to take off. While not everyone is ready to venture abroad, it’s great to see people having confidence to travel again.

The workforce of the hospitality sector has not fully returned. During the challenging times of covid, some of the workforce have chosen new career paths. Speaking with a number of hotels and restaurants/pubs, 80% of staff have returned and new hires are taking place. Most attractions are open, but not all – some with capacity and reduced visiting hours. Music in the pubs has not yet returned, however the government is expected to relax the regulations further to allow the return of the musicians. The government has announced that live events will return, being phased in during the months of September and October. This did not impede our enjoyment. We missed the music in the pubs, however the atmosphere still had a great vibe. A bit of patience was well worth the exemplary service provided. For the 2022 season, all hotels, restaurants/pubs and attractions expect to be operating at full capacity.

Ireland affords a great experience with so much to offer. The flight is relatively short (6.5 hours) and there’s a wonderful Fáilte (welcome) from the local people. There is plenty to do with a choice of activities for everyone. The food is fabulous, jaw-dropping scenery, with wide open spaces, intertwined with incredible culture. Ireland is a great choice for those considering travel beyond Canada. Further Afield Travel and Tours has earned the reputation of being Ireland specialists. In addition to arranging individual trips to Ireland, we bring a number of small group tours which are limited to 22 guests. Most of our clients reside in the Greater Toronto area (Oakville, Burlington). We take you to many of our favourite places in Ireland and stay in wonderful hotels and often include a castle stay on our itineraries. We have our 2022 tours posted on our website. Space is limited. Give us a call if you are interested.

If there is another destination in mind, speak with one of our travel professionals. We are a full-service travel agency with valued contacts and preferred partnerships to many regions of the world.

Stay tuned for our next update. Speaking with the local people. 

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Stay tuned for our next update. Speaking with the local people.