Ireland
Ireland Travel Guides
Written by the specialists who plan our trips to Ireland: where to go, when, and what is worth knowing before you book.
All Ireland Travel Guides
Staying in an Irish Castle: The Most Romantic LGBTQ+ Experiences
Everyone's favorite Irish pop diva, Enya, lives alone in Manderley Castle in Dublin’s Dalkey village with her vast fortune. The image of this glamorous star living a life removed from the perils of the modern world is highly romantic. There's also something distinctly Irish about it. Why can't I live a life of total independence in an Irish castle, gazing wistfully at the world from my chamber window? Well, oddly enough you can.
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A Cultural Tour of Ireland: Art, Literature & LGBTQ+ Heritage
Ireland has long been associated with romance. The Emerald Isle has produced a disproportionately high number of artists and writers. During times of national trauma, Ireland's artists have rallied, producing classic works. In recent years, Ireland has emerged from its turbulent history as a rich and socially liberal country. Ireland’s literary and artistic legacy is shaped by LGBTQ+ voices, music, and timeless storytelling.
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The Out Of Office Guide to LGBTQ+ Travel in the UK
Out Of Office has been based in the UK for over a decade, and the country sits at the heart of everything we do. We know it the way only a local specialist can: the hotels worth the journey, the experiences that don't appear on any list, and the connections that turn a good trip into an extraordinary one.
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The Best Places to Visit in July
When it comes to planning a luxury trip, every detail must come together to create a truly unforgettable experience. Whilst we’re experts in crafting bespoke trips around the world, unfortunately, we can’t control the weather or regional events. Read on to discover the best places to visit in July. Greece With glorious sunshine and little rain, it’s no surprise that Greece is one of July’s most popular destinations for luxury travel.
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Westlife’s Mark Feehily on traveling as a gay man
Mark Feehily is best known for his role in one of the world's biggest boybands, Westlife. We caught up with him to chat about his new Christmas album and his experiences traveling the world as an out gay man. What is it about travel that appeals to you and you enjoy most? Traveling is very close to my heart. When I was young I was the biggest homebird ever, and initially hated leaving home.
ReadTrips through Ireland
Luxury Ireland Tour: Killarney & the Beara Peninsula
Tailor-made VacationThe beauty of Killarney's lakes and the Beara Peninsula beyond them speaks for itself. Century-old grounds running to the water, ruins reachable only by kayak, and roads so remote you may not pass another car all day. This trip begins on the shore of Lough Leane, where the water is calm enough most mornings for a private kayak crossing to Innisfallen Island, home to the ruins of a seventh-century monastery reachable no other way.
5 days View trip
A Gay Pride Celebration in Ireland
Tailor-made VacationSome of the best Pride celebrations in the world are also some of the smallest, built around a single parade route, a handful of familiar bars, and a city that turns out in full for one day a year, and Ireland's are proof of it. Its Pride season plays out in its cities rather than along its coastline, and it favors travelers who know where to look.
8 days View trip
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Adventure: Surf, Coasteering & Cliffs
Tailor-made VacationIreland's wildest coastline runs for more than a thousand miles, from the sea stacks and cliffs of Donegal down through Sligo and Mayo to the limestone shelves of County Clare, a landscape shaped by Atlantic swell, sheer rock, and light that shifts by the hour. None of this has to come at the cost of comfort.
5 days View tripTell us where your mind keeps going back to. We will do the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Traveling with Out Of Office
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
Our Experts
I love Ireland. It's one of the most magical destinations in the world, and you can sense the layers of mysticism and heritage.
Dublin is such a blast and home to Ireland's best gay scene. The pubs and clubs here are a cut above the rest and always promise a good night.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.