UK & IRELAND I N F O R M A T I O N TRAVEL TGeneral A B Information L E O . F . 2 Golf Information . 10 SCOTLAND Sightseeing . 12 Dear Friend, Restaurants . 20 CONTENTS Single Malt Whisky . 29 On behalf of all of us at Premier Golf, we wish to thank Malt Whisky Trail . 30 you for selecting us as your golf travel specialist. We NW ENGLAND appreciate the opportunity to serve you and hope you Sightseeing . 32 have a memorable golf vacation. Restaurants . 33 LONDON The enclosed booklet is designed to assist you with Sightseeing . 36 your plans while traveling to the U.K. and Ireland. Restaurants . 37 We hope you find it helpful and recommend you read SW ENGLAND it thoroughly as you prepare for your trip. Sightseeing . 38 Restaurants . 39 It is our sincere hope that the golf is great and WALES that you have a wonderful trip. Good golfing and Sightseeing . 40 thank you again for the opportunity to be Restaurants . 40 of service! IRELAND Sightseeing . 42 Restaurants . 51 Enjoy! Jim Ward President, Premier Golf T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ⁄ 1 U.K. MANAGER NAME: Euan Findlay E-MAIL: Euan .Findlay@Premiergolf .com OFFICE: Auchterlonie House, Dron Court GAIR E TRAVEL N E R A L St . Andrews, Fife, Arrive at the airport at least two hours early for International flights . KY169YA Scotland Prior to your return flight, reconfirm your flights from your hotel at least PHONE: +44 (0) 1334 871076 24 hours in advance . Customs and security precautions often take longer MOBILE: +44 (0) 7803 159843 than expected, and airlines may not assign boarding passes in advance . Because airlines have been known to “misdirect” luggage, we suggest you Your Scotland Manager is Euan M . Findlay . A native of Scotland, Euan carry your medication, a change of undergarments, and passport in your studied at the University of Kansas on a golf scholarship . After University, INFORMATIONcarry-on piece . If you choose to use locks on your luggage or golf bag, he was employed at the Steamboat Resort in Colorado, and spent five years use TSA-approved locks; these locks can be accessed by TSA personnel onboard Seabourn Cruise Line before joining us in 1999 . Euan lives in without damage . Each carrier has different guidelines regarding baggage St . Andrews with his wife and three sons . allowance and golf bag fees on flights—please check with your carrier IRELAND MANAGER either by phone or on their web site for specifics . It is important to NAME: Alison Deane remove any old destination bag tags and properly secure your bag tags E-MAIL: Alison .Deane@Premiergolf .com provided by Premier Golf . OFFICE: Quin, Ennis, ARRIVAL Co . Clare, Ireland Upon arrival at most U .K . or Irish airports, you will be met by your PHONE: +353 (0) 65 682 5122 Premier Golf Local Manager or representative who will assist with the FAX: +353 (0) 87 258 0932 pickup of your rental car or other mode of transportation and set you on your way to your first destination . Your Ireland Manager is Alison Deane . While living in the USA for ten IMPORTANT: If for some reason you miss any flight (including years, Alison and her husband Barry managed private country clubs a connecting flight), please telephone the Premier Golf Local in the Akron, Ohio area . Both have extensive concierge, hotel and golf Manager at your destination, to advise them of your new flight management experience, and have been with us since 1998 . She lives in arrival information. Quin with her husband and two girls . Airline security regulations restrict or forbid the release of passenger BANKS/BUREAU DE CHANGE arrival information, making it impossible for our foreign personnel to know Banks are generally open from 09:00am - 4:00pm Monday-Friday, and are your revised travel plans . If airline delays result in a ground transfer delay, mostly closed on the weekends and public holidays . Only a few banks are our local tour manager will ensure your transfer is rescheduled or that you open on Saturday morning . Banks at the airports are open on the weekends re-unite with others in your party . and public holidays to accommodate all flight arrivals . It is also possible to change money in airports, rail stations, American Express or Thomas Cook LOCAL MANAGERS travel agencies, and some larger hotels (although typically for a less Premier Golf provides the services of a Local Manager throughout your favorable exchange rate, plus a handling fee and a commission) . However, stay, who will serve as your local expert . Because they are natives, they are we highly recommend using ATM machines, which will honor most ATM very adept with and knowledgeable about the local culture, attractions, cards or credit cards and are available in almost all cities and small towns . golf scene, restaurants and ways to get around . They will meet you at the ATM’s often give you a better rate of exchange airport, help you get into your vehicle, provide you with maps and directions, and direct you to the first hotel . Feel free to contact your Local IMPORTANT: remember to call your credit card company before Manager to reconfirm arrangements, ask for restaurant or sightseeing departure to notify them of your international travel dates, so recommendations, or add an extra round of golf . You have paid for their they won’t suspect fraud and deny your use, and to verify a PIN services, so please do not hesitate to use them . code in case you want to use them in an ATM machine. BREAKFAST A buffet and cooked breakfast is normally included in your hotel room rate (except for some London hotels) . 2 ⁄ G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N ⁄ 3 CAR RENTAL Remember to bring: You will be met at the airport on arrival and helped to your rental vehicle . A valid passport good for at least six months after return date (no Visas Our rental vehicles are large enough for your requirements . Most of our are necessary for U .S . citizens) . vehicles include a GPS System, or you can rent one at pickup if not Current proof of handicap showing your current USGA index (some specifically included . You will need a valid driver’s license and credit card golf courses DO check handicap cards. Remember to have yours at all at pickup and your package includes damage, third-party insurance, airport times and at all courses! We suggest you keep it in your golf bag). taxes and surcharges . Your vehicle will be filled with petrol at pickup and Credit cards, ATM card (machines are plentiful and offer best should be filled prior to drop-off, or a charge will occur . You must hold a exchange rates) . valid U .S . license to rent a car in the U .K . or Ireland . Please note that if you Small camera that will fit in your golf bag or pocket (or camera phone) . wish to have more than one driver, you must declare it at pickup and you may incur additional driver fees payable directly to the car rental company . One or two pairs of waterproof golf shoes with soft spikes, along with Please note that a deductible is applied in case you have an accident . We rain suit (we recommend Goretex), umbrella and rain hat . recommend you check with the car company in each country to determine Dinner jacket for the formal dining rooms, if you are staying at top the actual out-of-pocket amount . We suggest that you check with your own resorts such as Adare Manor, Dromoland, K-Club, Old Course Hotel, car rental insurance provider to see if you are covered overseas with a Gleneagles, etc . Whereas they are not always required, in some rental car, and consider additional insurance at time of car rental pickup to restaurants they are normal . Ties are not necessary, except at avoid any charges due to mishaps . Muirfield for lunch . While ties are not always required, you will find that many dining guests do wear them in the five-star hotel premium CLIMATE dining rooms . The British Isles and Ireland generally have a mixture of overcast and Just a few golf shorts and a couple of sweaters or wind-shirts sunny days, with cool nights . We find that the American perception of the (remember most people buy shirts and outerwear in Pro Shops as weather there is, in fact, far worse than reality . Weather does have a they go) . tendency to change frequently, and it can be sunny and 70 degrees one Bathing suit for the swimming pool, sauna and steam room hour, and raining and 55 degrees the next . The wind can play a factor in (many hotels) . your golf game . Hopefully, the weather will allow for perfect conditions, but Medication (keep in carry-on bag) . always be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions . Remember the golden rule of international packing: lay out everything FAHRENHEIT APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT you need and then put half of it back! As a reminder, golfers usually buy HIGHS 55 62 68 71 74 65 56 logo golf shirts and outerwear in Pro Shops, so count on having some of those to wear! LOWS 40 45 51 54 54 49 44 CURRENCY CLOTHING & PACKING The British Pound Sterling (£) is used in Scotland, England, Wales and It is advisable not to pack any valuable items or prescription medication in Northern Ireland and is divided into 100 pennies .