Itinerary INPUT PLEASE- Around the Coast in 13 days..

aprilmay · Veteran Member

Itinerary INPUT PLEASE- Around the Coast in 13 days..

Michele Erdvig · Host

aprilmay,

Wow! That is a very fast-paced trip around Ireland. I note that your only 2-night stays are in Dingle and Dublin. All the others are one-nighters.

Have you run your trip through the AA distance calculator? http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/ Please do it and when you find the mileage divide by 35 to get more accurate driving times. Keep in mind that sightseeing takes time as does stopping for lunch. Once you have done that you can decide if all that driving is really what you want to do.

Take a look at my "Castle Hotels" page for a list of castles in Ireland. I don't know when you will find the time to enjoy a stay at one with such an itinerary. You may want to consider revisions unless you actually prefer a Green Blur Tour of Ireland.

Michele

Laoghaire · Senior Member

aprilmay,

In our six trips to Ireland, we have done the "Green Blur" a number of times, and have done it in two weeks. If you don't mind driving alot, it can work for you. Really depends on your itinerary. It does sound like you are running all around Ireland. Husband and I are going for a month in May, think we shall see you at The Shores!

Michele Erdvig · Host

aprilmay,

As Helen has said, many people (including me) have done Green Blur Tours of Ireland in the past. The reason we generally advise against it is because we have learned from our past mistakes. Ireland is a country where settling down and exploring fewer areas actually enhances the experience. In Ireland "less is more".

If you want to do the itinerary outlined, it is doable. But you will be in the car much of the time.

Michele

P.S. I hope you two get to meet at The Shores. And do let us know what you decide on and how your trip goes.

aprilmay · Veteran Member

I really need to see as much as I can since this was my choice to do Ireland as our first venture out of the USA so should I eliminate one of the extra nights somewhere...

Any more suggestions out there... I want to keep it active for my husband since he isn't into sitting too long...

I almost wish I did not know how many have viewed this question and not responded... Thanks aprilmay

Marie · Guru

Hi, aprilmay:

You should not be disheartened by the ratio of views to replies. Many folks, myself included, travel through the forum to research and learn, and do not necessarily have any advice for you, since they are novices, too. The experts will chime in soon enough, and you'll have so much information your head will spin.

Won't it be great when WE have been over there and can then offer help to others?

Have a wonderful trip!

Marie

Michele Erdvig · Host

aprilmay,

Marie is absolutely right. Many more people just "lurk" or look at things on the Internet than ever post a reply. They may take a look and decide they have nothing to share. They may be looking for advice about their own itinerary and hoping that yours will be one they can take some pages from. Just because there are a lot of lookers is not a negative. If you have more specific questions you will get answers here.

As I said, your itinerary can be done. If you want a fast pace then the itinerary will be what you planned. And since your husband likes to be on the go, it will be very active itinerary. We had a forum member in the past that just wanted to drive by everything on her trip and not even stop at sightseeing attractions. We advised against it but that is what she wanted. Afterwards she reported back that she had a great time and did the trip her way. We are only here to offer advice and tell you tips we have picked up on our trips. Take those tips that apply and leave the others behind. Make the trip one that you and your husband are pleased with.

As for your grand manor house, after looking through your route I would suggest Ballynahinch Castle Hotel. It is in the general Clifden area. Please note that it is not a "genuine" castle even though the word castle is in its name.

Let us know if we can offer any other help. And remember to take it all with a grain of salt and adapt it to your own travel style!

We are not criticizing but advising.

Michele

yesiree · Guru

I didn't respond right away, because my feedback would have been ditto of what was already was said. I figured I wait until you posted back to learn more about what you were going for and see if there was anything else I could add. Also...many of us have read the post more than once...so don't get post views confused with visitor views.

I would agree that cutting out a stop or two will help. Right now you've got a Breakfast > Drive > Lunch > Sitesee > Dinner > Bedtime > Repeat recipe to most of your itinerary. That works, but it doesn't leave much room for extra sites.

There are several ways to approach this. One option might be to include one or two long-haul days in there. It would mean a long drive, but it might afford you more time in one of your chosen areas.

Although I'm a big Kilkenny fan...that might be a stop to drop. And maybe you bite the bullet and drive right from Clifden to Derry...it's a long trip, but it might give you more time for enjoying those areas. I'm not sure this is the best idea, but I'm putting it out there as an option.

With the amount of geography you're covering, you're going to need to make the best of the green blur or a few long hauls. I think you're right in giving Dingle some extra time and if you're staying in a castle or manor house...that would be another moment I'd slow things down and enjoy being pampered.

Just want to reassure you...your itinerary works. It's just what I would do in three weeks instead of two. I've found you get more with less in Ireland.

Hope this helps. You're going to have a great trip.

Laoghaire · Senior Member

aprilmay,

Your husband and mine must be related! I usually plan our itineraries, and he loves to keep moving, so I really have to keep that in mind when setting up our trips to Ireland. Of course, you are probably aware, WE do most of the work--packing and unpacking each night, if it is a one/two nighter. So pack light.

To give you an idea of our 2003 trip:

Day 1, arrive Dublin, via Seattle, Chicago, London
" 2 and 3: Belfast
" 4

Antrim ( Torr Road, Carrick-a-rede, Giant's Causeway, Mussendem Temple, Dunluce Castle, Kenbane Castle)
"   5, 6 Donegal   (Glencolmcille, Fanad Peninsula, Ardara)
"   7, 8   Sligo ( Lough Gill, Tobernault Holy Well)
"   9 Mayo (Westport)
" 10,11  Galway ( Connemara, Inis Mor' (fly))
"   12 Mayo (Cong)
" 12, 13 Clare (Burren, Cliffs of Moher)
" 14,15,16,17   Kerry ( Dingle, Waterville, Kenmare )
" 15   Cork (Inchigeelagh)
" 16   Tipperary (Cashel, Cahir)
" 17   Dublin
" 18 To London for 3 days, then HOME

As you can see, we move and Love it. Of course, we have to take a vacation when we return to Seattle! So, you can do this and enjoy Ireland. Bookmark your favorites for your next trip, for there surely will be one.

We do a lot of hunting for megalithic and ancient monastic sights.

Helen

YaYa · Guru

AprilMay,

I loved my stay at Ballynahinch Castle. It's not a Ritz-Carlton, it's old, lovely,clean, wonderful staff, very good beds, goods baths and shower, about 3 reception rooms, lovely dining room, and a very good pub. The pub served more during the day. It rained hard one of our days but we were very happy with the fires, books, and other guests to chat with. There are many trails to walk and you are given a little map. The views are over the river and a lake. My view was the front garden. Ballynahinch was a perfect place for me and I'll always treasure it.

Have a great trip, Joan

aprilmay · Veteran Member

Thanks Helen for replying!! I feel better knowing you understand my "situation"!
I love the planning process but it is important that I make it exciting and interesting as this was my pick to go to Ireland. I can't wait and I look forward to meeting you at the Shores!

Yesiree thank you for INPUT that helps give me some new ideas.. long days in a few places etc...

Thanks- little by little I am getting this planned out.. April

wojazz3 · Guru

OK, I'm going to try to dash this out - exhausted and already accidently closed the almost finished version of this.

Yes, it's busy ... that said .....

If you want to delete something, I would suggest Kinsale. Not that Kinsale is a bad place, but it seems the most out of the way and almost everything that you can get from Kinsale, you can get from Dingle - great fishing port, good restaurants, better trad and loads of interesting history. I would drop Kinsale before Kilkenny as Kilkenny has more of a medieval feel and I think is a more interesting town.

Beware of your situation in Doolin. The boats don't run in bad weather, especially wind which is quite common in May. You need to have a plan B which would be either stay in Co. Clare or high tail it around to Inverin to catch the plane. Keep in mind Doolin is not the only place to stay in Clare and perhaps not even the best place for trad. Doolin offers a fine spot for the Cliffs of Moher (review to come) but the village offers not much more than 3 pretty good trad bars. Again, I like Doolin, but I'm not trying to see the country in 13 days, so selectivity is key. If you are set on the Aran islands, you may be better off staying somewhere more convenient to the airport in Inverin, even Ennis would be better because the n18 is a motorway all the way to Gort (I believe). Ennis has some great trad options and the city center is quite interesting. I agree with Corey that it's like a mini Kilkenny.

I think it might help to decide what you are trying to get out of the areas with ???. That might help you decide or help us help you decide where to stay and what to do.

OK, have to run. Keep planning.

Bill