Itinerary for late April trip - comments/suggestions?

rtm · Member

Itinerary for late April trip - comments/suggestions?

CowboyCraic · Guru

RTM,

You might consider taking one of the Connemara tours out of Galway on Monday, which would give all of you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery and give you a rest from the driving. Also in Galway, for a lunch type option, McDonagh's is fantastic. I recommend both their fried chicken and their fish & chips. The fish portions are usually large enough for two people to share. A suggestion, sit out on the picnic benches and people watch as you eat.

I would take the coastal road from Galway through the Burren, stopping in Doolin for lunch. The Cliffs of Moher cruise might be an option over seeing the cliffs from the top. I have experienced them both ways and much preferred the cruise. After your time at the Cliffs, continue down the Coastal road and wind your way around to catch the Killimer/Tarbert Ferry which will give you time to stretch.

You might consider Brook Lodge Hotel in Killarney. It should fit your requirements of "in town and close to everything" quite nicely.

In Kilkenny, you should check out Kyteler's Inn, for a fun and interesting pub foray. I am sure Correy will have some great suggestions. Make sure you download his Kilkenny walking tour.

I would suggest Hook Light house for you and your father before venturing to Waterford but it looks like you will have a full day before you get to Kilkenny so that might not be feasible.

I hope this information will be helpful. Have an excellent adventure with your family!

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit Devine

YaYa · Guru

rtm,

I'm sure Michele will have some good recommentations for accommodations in Killarney. I stayed at Killarney Park Hotel and it's very nice and very expensive. I did stay one night at Killarney Royal Hotel a couple of blocks from Killarney Park Hotel and it was right in the midst of the town and very comfortable. Both visits were in 1997.

My last visit to Kerry in 2005, I stayed in Kenmare and prefer it over Killarney, as I like smaller towns. We stayed at The Lodge 7 nights and it's very comfortable. They also own The Lansdowne Arms hotel right in tlhe midst of town. Other guesthouses that get good reviews are Shelbourne Lodge and Sallyport House.

My only other comment is, you haven't given yourself any time to see the area around Killarney. It's a beautiful part of Ireland and it looks as if you'll only have a morning to look around. Could you cut out Kinsale and Waterford and stay around Kerry a few days? Or if you must go to Kinsale( lovely also) cut out Killarney and spend more time in Kinsale. In Kinsale I stayed at The Blue Haven Hotel right in the center of the town. Very good food and comfortable.

YaYa · Guru

P.S., I forgot to wish you a wonderful trip!

YaYa · Guru

rtm,

I just read Michele's post that she might be out a few days. Do look at her accommodations list. I haven't gone wrong with any I've stayed in from her list.

rtm · Member

Thanks very much to the both of you. Cowboy that was exactly the type of info I was looking for. Thanks.

I did debate a bit between Kilkenny and Kenmare but I went with Kilkenny because it was a bit bigger and I am afraid of my mother getting a little bored in the smaller towns. But since we aren't staying long maybe I should consider Kenmare over Kilkenny. Hmmmm.

I wish we had one more day for either Killarney or Kinsale unfortunatley we just don't. But I go to Ireland once a year and I am hoping this little taste of all these great towns convinces my parents to make the trip a few more times. We'll probably spend of bit of the next morning in Killarney since we won't get there till late afternoon the day before and our trip to Kinsale isn't too far that day.

Again I realize the schesule I set is a bit busy but there are few days of little or no driving and we do like to stay on the move. I think I was realistic with the driving times as I took the tips I read on this site (divide miles by 35).

I appreciate all the input and am going to try and tweak my itinerary in order to incorporate some of it.

Oh and I am trying to talk my mother out of stopping at the Waterford factory as I have been there and wasn't too impressed, so hopefully she acquiesces, but if she wants to go we'll go....

-- Edited by rtm at 16:22, 2007-03-27

CowboyCraic · Guru

RTm,

Kilkenny makes for a good stop-over enroute to Dublin. Kilkenny is a favored city of mine so I rarely recommend for forgoing a visit there. Once you visit Kilkenny, you might agree with me.

They say that you "must see" Waterford and Blarney Castle. I have yet to see them and haven't noticed any malady overcoming me. You can get a good deal on Waterford crystal without going to the factory itself. I, myself, would rather devote that time to one of the Gardens of Co. Wexford, The Hook or in exploring Kilkenny.

I would probably do away with Kinsale and add a day to Killarney, t'were it me. There is a lot to see and do around Killarney.

Slan Go Foill,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

RTM,

You have received excellent advice from everyone so far. It is a busy schedule. You will have to find out from your mother whether anything can be dropped. But I like your attitude...if Mother wants to do it, you will do it!

And since you will be back again this will give you a quick taste of a lot.

The car rentals generally open at 6 am at Dublin Airport so no problem.

Park House Hotel is very nice. The staff is lovely. Do have dinner there one night as they have an excellent restaurant. There are tons of pubs and restaurants to choose from. You will be "spoiled for choice" as they say in Ireland. In Connemara there is a lot to see and do. Dog's Bay (Roundstone), Sky Drive (Clifden), Kylemore Abbey, Killary Harbor cruise, Cong village & Abbey. My book has a driving tour of Connemara in it.

Killarney lodgings walking distance to town: Killarney Lodge, Earl's Court, Ashville.

Kinsale: Man Friday & Hoby's have good food. In town is Pier House, short walk is Woodlands House & Landfall House, outside town is Kilcaw House.

Kilkenny: Alcantra & Laragh House.

All the accommodations mentioned are on my "Lodgings" page and I have full descriptions of my favorites in my book.

Have a fun trip and do let us know how it goes and what your mother decides on.

Michele

rtm · Member

Thanks very much for the input. I know it is a bit of a whirlwind tour but as I said I hope it convinces them to go back more often and I go over once a year so if I really like one place over the others I will head back again in the future. I purposely tried to avoid scheduling a lot of sightseeing and stops along the way because it will be a bit eat/drink, sleep and go. I am hoping it works out. My dad loves the shore and is set on Kinsale so I can't drop that out. All of us are okay with this type of trip I just hope I succeeded in keeping everything realistic.

The ferry from Clare to Killarney is a great idea thanks.

And a bus tour of Connemara will definitely be considered to give us a break.

Again any places to stop and eat or look at between Killarney and Kinsale and Kinsale and Kilkenny would be great. The advice so far has been very helpful and fun to read.

-RTM

stewh · Guru

Just a quick note about your decision to stay in Killarney instead of Kenmare. While Kenmare is a smaller town it is a very cosmopolitan town with good restaurants, pubs, and shopping. My wife and I spent a week in Kenmare a few years ago and it has now become her favorite Irish town. Have a great trip!!

rtm · Member

Thanks stewh for the advice. I have a feeling I am going to have to take a vote Killarney vs. Kenmare.

Update: just booked the CHart House for our night in Kinsale. Prices worked for us because they have asmall single room I can stay in for a low rate, most other B&Bs just had doubles.

I plan to book the car rental with Kemwel today as they seem to have the best rate an are reccomnded here and I hope to book a room for our night in Kilkenny.

All that leaves me with is deciding on Killarney or Kenmare and getting a place for a night in which ever we choose. Almost there.....

wojazz3 · Guru

Kenmare is a small town but hardly could be classified as a place with little to do. There are some fine pubs and some will have music in the evenings. I will say that's it's weakness is that they have not developed a very serious Irish trad environment there, but it's still a lovely town. Killarney may have more "entertainment" but I fear much of it is not "session" like, but more made for tourism. I'm sure sessions can be found though.

Bill

rtm · Member

thanks again Bill

rtm · Member

well I was able to firm up a lot of the details and book all the hotels/B&Bs. I knwo it is a bit fast paced but these are the places everyone wanted to see. I tried to keep the driving times and all that as realistic as possible. If I have grossly miscalculated anywhere please let me know. so here it is.....

Friday April 20^th

Depart from JFK Saturday April 21^st 5:10 AM: Scheduled arrival at Dublin Airport 6:00 AM: Pick up car renal at Dooley Cars 6:30 AM: Drive to Maynooth, Kildare (20 miles, 30minutes) 7:00 AM: Arrive in Maynooth Check in at the Glenroyal Hotel (www.glenroyal.ie) Spend Saturday and Saturday night in Maynooth Sunday April 22^nd 9:00 AM: Drive to Galway (120 miles, 2.5 hours)12:00 PM: Arrive in Galway (http://www.irelandwest.ie/content.asp?id=77) Spend Sunday and Monday nights in Galway at the Park House Hotel (www.parkhousehotel.ie) Sunday: Explore Galway City
Monday:TBD
Restaurant suggestions: McDonaghs, Nimmos
Tuesday April 24^th 9:00 AM: Leave Galway and drive to the Cliffs of Moher (50 miles, 2 hours)11:00 AM: Arrive at Cliffs of Moher (www.cliffsofmoher.ie)12:00 PM: Leave Cliffs of Moher, drive down to Killimer Ferry (www.shannonferries.com) 2:00 PM: Take the 2PM ferry from Killimer to Tarbert (ferry takes abut 20 minutes, leaves on the hour) 2:30 PM: Arrive at Tarbert, drive to Kilkenny (51 miles, 1.5 hours) 4:00 PM: Arrive in Killarney (www.killarneyonline.ie) Stay in Earls Court for one night. (www.killarney-earlscourt.ie) Wednesday April 25^th12:00 PM: Leave Killarney and drive to Kinsale (67 miles, 1.75 hours) 2:00 PM: Arrive in Kinsale (www.kinsale.ie) Stay at the Chart House for one night (www.charthouse-kinsale.com) Thursday April 26^th10:00 AM: Leave Kinsale and head north to the Rock of Cashel (76 miles, 2 hours)12:00 PM: Arrive at Rock of Cashel (http://www.cashel.ie/rockofcashel.htm) 1:00 PM: Leave Cashel and drive to Kilkenny (50 miles, 1 hour) 2:00 PM: Arrive in Kilkenny (www.kilkennycityonline.com)Stay one night at Carriglea B&B (http://www.iol.ie/~archers/About.htm)

Friday April 27^th 10:00 AM: Leave Kilkenny and drive up to Donabate, Dublin (90 miles, 2 hours) 12:00 PM-2:00PM: Arrive at Donabate
Saturday April 28thGolf or sightseeing/shopping in Dublin
Sunday April 29^th 5:00 PM: Scheduled departure from Dublin

Michele Erdvig · Host

RTM,

I'm glad you have most of your trip wrapped up. A lot of the driving times are optimistic. But that is usually the case when using online trip planning engines. I usually recommend finding the mileage and dividing by 35 for actual driving times. That formula is pretty close but doesn't take into consideration traffic, roadworks, animals on the roads, etc.

Have fun in Ireland and let us know how it goes.

Michele