Tag Archives: tours

Unforgettable Stay at an Irish Castle

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Repeat guests Sam, Judy, Colleen and Don enjoyed a night at Dromoland Castle in County Clare at the tail end of their recent tour in Ireland, Sept 13 – 23, 2023. This was Don’s sixth tour with European Focus, Colleen’s seventh, Sam and Judy’s fourth.

Dromoland should be called “Dreamland,” because it’s so… yes. The estate was owned by the O’Brien family, and it was not burned during the Irish Revolution of the early 1900s because the family had good relations with the locals, whom they treated with respect. The estate has an 18-hole golf course, extensive woodlands, wonderful paths for walking, a large lake with free rowboats and a gorgeous, peaceful walled garden. Inside, at least three large fireplaces are kept going all day long, adding to the warm atmosphere punctuated by reds, browns and blues. Lush doesn’t begin to describe Dromoland.

I look forward to bringing many more guests to this special place in the future.

Images from our September 21, 2023 stay at Dromoland Castle

Maximum 11 months in advance booking

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Due to the ever changing landscape of tourism, especially with hotels seemingly finding the limit on just how much guests are willing to pay, I have to make a change to my usual practice and effective now, June of 2023, I will only write contracts and guarantee pricing 11 months maximum prior to your arrival […]

Switzerland opens to US Tourists

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As of June 28, 2021 tourists from the US will be allowed to enjoy Switzerland’s amazing scenery, food and history as long as they can show proof of vaccination. With France already open as of middle June, this adds more options to the US traveler. Let us hope that Germany announces the same easing soon!

Exploring Franconia – Burgbernheim

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In this time of lockdown and travel restrictions, it’s been fun and interesting to explore what is just around the corner, less than half an hour away from my home base of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. There are so many historic, pretty hamlets and towns. On January 1, we visited Burgbernheim, Middle Franconia, Bavaria. The […]

Rothenburg ob der Tauber under a blanket of fresh snow

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A gorgeous place in any weather, medieval Rothenburg and the nearby hamlet of Detwang are splendid after a fresh snowfall. This is the European headquarters since 1999 for European Focus Private Tours. Owner James Derheim lives here full-time. Starting with the winter season of 2021-22 James will be offering winter tours in Bavaria as well […]

Enjoy Short Videos from Germany During Lockdown

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I’ve been in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, my European home base, since March 15. Soon after arrival, I started making little movies lasting less than 4 minutes and posting them to my Facebook page (European Focus Private Tours) as well as YouTube. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/user/DowntownSRQ/videos?view_as=subscriberhttps://www.youtube.com/user/DowntownSRQ/videos?view_as=subscriber During this time of upheaval and no travel, I […]