Stress-free departure - unlike airport check-in nightmares, your Ulsterbus Coach Holiday starts in Belfast, before you go!
All tours depart from and return to The Europa Buscentre, Glengall Street, Belfast.
Departure Times are shown clearly in the brochure and on your ticket. Please consult both to be sure! Check-in 30 minutes before departure.
Coach seat numbers are shown on your ticket (you retain the same seat throughout the tour).
Luggage - 1 medium sized suitcase is permitted per passenger (max size 18kg/40 lbs). Your driver will take care of it, and porterage is included at all hotels.
Small hand luggage is permitted on board, but please remember that space is limited on the coach.
Overnight bag is essential for onward ferry travel when overnight accommodation on board ship is involved.
Valid passports are needed on all Continental tours.
Free travel
Free travel is available from anywhere in Northern Ireland by scheduled Translink train or bus service when joining or leaving a tour - please enquire at time of booking.
En-route pick-ups available at set points - please ask for details at time of booking.
Coaching
We currently operate an ongoing renewal programme, keeping our fleet one of the youngest in the UK. All our vehicles are constructed to comply with European legislation - 48/49 seats, air-conditioning, toilets, video/DVD's, fridges, double-glazing, seat belts and ABS braking systems. We operate a no-smoking "clean air" policy, avoid night-time driving and adhere strictly to all legislation regarding driver's hours and frequency of stops. Same coach/same driver throughout - new European drivers' hours legislation may occasionally mean using two drivers or hiring a local coach/driver for a short period during longer tours.
Ferries
On all tours involving sea-crossings the coach goes on board the ship.
Irish Sea crossings
Stena HSS
Belfast - Stranraer - 120 mins (HSS) & 180 mins (Superferry)
Holyhead - Dublin - 205 mins
P&O
Larne - Cairnryan - 105 mins
Irish Ferries
Dublin - Holyhead - 120 mins
Rosslare - Roscoff - 18½ hrs (overnight)
North Sea crossings to Mainland Europe
P&O Cruiseferry
Hull - Zeebrugge - 13 hrs (overnight)
Hull - Europoort - 11 hrs (overnight)
Scottish Islands
CalMac Ferries Ltd - Various
Also assorted lake/river ferries e.g. Italy, Rhine, Lake District etc.
Hotels
Hotels are carefully selected for their quality and location. Many have become trusted long-term partners.
Dinner, bed and breakfast is the normal arrangement on tours with a few exceptions, when perhaps lunch may be included, or dinner omitted to suit particular tour requirements (this is always clearly indicated in the tour itinerary).
Most breakfasts are buffet style. In order to offer groups a choice rather than a set menu an increasing number of hotels also offer buffet style evening meals - this is especially welcome when offered on the Continent, where set menus are still very much the norm.
Brief hotel descriptions are included with itineraries - see Keys to hotel facilities for further details. Please check individual web sites as shown. No Single Room Supplements on first 4 single rooms on all UK and Irish hotels.
Overnight hotels i.e. hotels used en-route to final destinations, are generally 3 star properties, chosen largely for their location and proximity to major routes. We reserve the right to change hotels used for overnight stops when circumstances dictate. This is rare and we only accept transfers to similar or better quality hotels.
Visits - all admissions charges to attractions and the increasing number of local guides' fees are included in the price. Some such guided tours may involve walking, sometimes over uneven ground or up flights of steps. Please enquire about suitability of individual tours if you have any concerns regarding personal mobility.
Insurance - is included in all tours featured in the 2010 summer brochure and Continental tours in the 2010/11 brochure. Please click on the relevant link below.
Additional Needs - we try to provide holidays which all customers can enjoy. However, if you do have a disability or additional requirements it would be helpful if you could furnish us with details at the time of booking your holiday so that full consideration can be given to the suitability of the particular tour. Please ensure that you complete the additional requirements section in the booking form and advise our reservations staff appropriately.
Please take advantage of all comfort stops and 'stretch your legs' to help circulation - remaining seated, without walking or doing 'in-seat exercises' may lead to discomfort.