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Post Info TOPIC: Transit Because of Driving Worry


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Transit Because of Driving Worry


Hi guys.  We are planning a 12-day trip in June (me, my mother, and two teenagers).  We are somewhat constricted in that we are half-following my daughter's bus tour, so there are certain nights we need to be near certain places.  Also, we are traveling cheap.  The current plan is something iike:

2 nights Dublin

4 nights Cork area (might break it up)

2 nights Galway

2 nights Belfast

1 night Dublin

I am nervous to drive on the left.  We plan to see Dublin and get to Cork by train and local transit.  In Cork, I'll rent a car and try it, but I want to plan the trip as if I get scared and decide I can't drive.  So, I am trying to pick places to stay that are close to bus stops or metro stations.

My questions for you: given that, is it better to stay in Cork as a base and make day trips out to, say, Killarney?  Or to move around a lot to sleep near where we plan to spend the day?

Also, we would like to see the Cliffs of Moher "on the way" from Cork area to Galway.  Most of the tours seem to be round trip to their origin point, and I doubt the public bus would drop you off close enough.  Any suggestions for that?  Likewise, we are supposed to meet my daughter's group for a cruise of Lough Corrib, but it's not yet clear to me how we will get there from Galway.

In fact, any suggestions about using transit for day trips would be most welcome.  It looks like buses go everywhere, but many only run once or twice a day, and it's hard to tell if they put you near to an attraction or not.  We are good for walking about 5 miles (10km) in a day, but not with lugging suitcases too far. 

Thanks for any tips you can give us.



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Guru

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If you are thinking of breaking up your 4 nights in Cork, why not just spend two night in Cork and instead of a day trip to Killarney, just stay in Killarney for the other two nights. You dont need a car in either Cork or Killarney. There are local day trips from either Cork City or Killarney. I would do a day trip from Cork City to Blarney one day and Cobh the other. In Killarney there is The Malton Hotel which is close to the bus and train station and close to the day tour locations. From Killarney you could do a day trip around the Ring of Kerry or Dingle or The Gap of Dunloe or the local hop on hop off bus for Muckross House, the Abby, Torc Waterfall and Ross Castle. In fact I believe there are more options in Killarney that Cork City.

 

Also, Killarney will be closer to your next place Galway.

 



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If I can drive in Ireland anyone can! It takes a few hours to get acclimated but just have your navigator keep reminding you to stay left especially at turns, roundabouts and coming out of parking lots. Rent an automatic. The fact that you are sitting on the right hand side of the car will clue you in as to which side of the road you should be on too. A word about Cork City. Lots of traffic and confusing one-way streets. If you can get your car at the airport it will be much easier than trying to navigate the city on your first try driving on the left.

I agree with Judy about 2 nights in Co. Cork and 2 in Kerry. Because of the logistics of following a tour group around you should really stick with driving the car. Public transportation will will not work that well with the trip you have planned. So make life easy, bit the bullet and drive the car.

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Not sure what coach itinerary you are aiming to follow but it's never a good idea trying to match a pair of professional drivers who have the added benefit of knowing the roads.

For what you want you can do Public transport for the most part. There is the express bus's from Dublin to Cork then bus link to Killarney for tours. I would do the 2 nights Cork/2 nights Killarney split. But then you miss the CityLink express bus link from Cork to Galway and have to go Killarney to Limerick ~ Limerick to Galway.

Lough Corrib depends on departure point? Cliffs of Moher are a push even self drive from Killarney to Galway.

Then you have Galway to Belfast fair enough I do that run to catch a ferry now and then but its a god awful drive and by bus its Galway to Dublin, Dublin to Belfast and the best part of a Day.

Belfast to Dublin is an easy bus/train option.

your party of 4 causes another hitch in that you need accommodation in a large family room or 2 adjoining rooms?

Where are the points you need to be with your Daughters tour bus? How do they match your itinerary?

 

Edit. its not impossible its just that more information from you gleans better answers from us 



-- Edited by tony2phones on Friday 22nd of April 2016 05:40:03 PM

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