Fall may not be in full swing, but it’s only a matter of time before the holiday season is upon us. Before your clients start asking for last minute trips this fall and winter, beat them to the punch by suggesting one of these holiday packages, which cover everything from Halloween to Christmas.
Spook-tacular Halloween 
Nothing says spooky quite like a centuries-old castle surrounded by green meadows, thick forests, and an abandoned graveyard, and that’s exactly what your clients will find when they stay at Kilkea Castle. Built in the late 12th century, Kilkea is one of Ireland’s oldest habitable castles. Its location on an 185-acre estate just one hour’s drive from Dublin makes it easy to reach for a quick getaway in honor of Halloween. The castle’s scenic setting is well-suited for falconry, horseback riding, archery, golf, and even some ghost-hunting for the Wizard of Earl and his white horse, who are said to roam the castle grounds. Available Oct. 31 through Nov. 4, 2018, the Halloween package includes a 2-night stay in one of the Carriage House accommodations; daily breakfast; a falconry experience; a spooky-themed cocktail in the Castle Bar one evening; dinner at one of the onsite restaurants; and a “Wizard Earl Halloween” Afternoon Tea in the castle’s Drawing Room.
Pricing for this package starts at approximately $308 pp dbl. For more information, visit kilkeacastle.ie.
An Irish Thanksgiving
For clients who’d like to treat themselves to a stay in an Irish castle but shy away from the scare factor of Kilkea’s Halloween package, Dromoland Castle in Ireland’s County Clare is inviting guests to visit for a special Thanksgiving stay. Set on the shores of Lough Dromoland, the castle is surrounded by over 450 acres of scenery, including a championship parkland golf course, full-service spa, falconry, fishing, tennis and more. The 16th century castle is also within easy reach of popular sites like the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Burren. For those celebrating Thanksgiving at the castle, the package is available on Nov. 23, 2018 and includes overnight accommodations in a deluxe guestroom; a welcome Irish coffee on arrival; a Thanksgiving-themed dinner with a bottle of house wine; and a full Irish breakfast.
Pricing for this package starts at $474 per room based on double occupancy. For more information, visit dromoland.ie.
Christmas Cruising
American Queen Steamboat Company is giving travelers two enticing options to spend celebrate Christmas while cruising on the Mississippi River. departing on Dec. 16, 2018 for an 8-day journey, guests can choose between the roundtrip New Orleans and New Orleans to Memphis itineraries. The roundtrip New Orleans voyage has a Plantation Holidays theme with highlights including shopping at local Christmas markets, ornament making, cookie decorating, and attending a traditional holiday show. The theme of the New Orleans to Memphis itinerary is Holiday Jewels of the Lower Mississippi with highlights including visits to classic Christmas markets, a special holiday performance, a guest gala, a bonfire on the levee, and fireworks.
Pricing for the roundtrip New Orleans itinerary starts at $1,199 pp, while per person pricing for the New Orleans to Memphis voyage starts at $1,999. For more information, visit americanqueensteamboatcompany.com.
