Hi - new to the forum and from what I've read, looks like I might get some help here. My mother is now 75 and uses a walker quite well. She has always wanted to see Ireland and I have decided to take her next year. She is not sure what she wants to see but feels a bus tour might be too hectic and with her walker, she will feel like she is holding up the group all the time or that she won't be able to see everything. I am thinking we should rent a car and drive ourselves. My problem is she is not sure what she wants to see just that she wants to see Ireland. We are planning about 7-8 days - any recommendations on what to see, where to go and how difficult some places might be with a walker? I am just beginning the planning and am open to all your suggestions.
I'm a huge fan of Michele's and I know she will have some great info for you.
I'm a couple of years younger than your Mom and I always use a cane. I'm going to suggest you get Michele's book and purchase a travel book on Ireland. You and your Mother go thru the books and pick places you'd like to see. I will say, my later trips I've had to be careful to have a ground floor room or an elevator. Many hotels in small villages do not and I don't think many B&B's and guest house have them, but most B&B's have ground floor rooms. When you know where you want to go, I'll be happy to tell you of the places i've stayed without a problem. I think you and your Mom will have a wonderful time. You can see the beautiful scenery talk to the nicest people in the world. I find a place to sit while my young people run around. I've met some wonderful people this way. You are a great daughter.
First off WELCOME to the forum. We will do our best to help make your trip the best it can possibly be.
With only 7 - 8 days planned, try not to fall victim to the Green Blur fever. The best way to see Ireland is slowly. I usually recommend a minimum of two nights lodging in each area so that the traveler can relax and experience Ireland in each place. Look to traveling over in May or early June, as the gardens are spectacular then, the daylight hours are extending and the crowds are less. I also usually recommend flying in to on e airport, Dublin or Shannon, and out of the other. That will all be better decided once you determine what you want to see.
Does your Mam have roots in Ireland? I agree with Joan, purchase Michele's book and then decide what you really want to do and see. We will be here to guide you whenever you need the help.
Joan and Bit have started you off on the right foot. They are both veteran Ireland travelers and have lots of good info to share here on the forum.
I think your mom is right about doing a self-drive tour of Ireland. That way you can go at your own pace. Since you will not have a lot of time, concentrate on just a couple of places and thoroughly enjoy those few places. That way you will have no rushing around.
To start take a look at some of the pages of my website. I have a lot of info that will help. If you click on IrelandYes Index on the blue bar near the top of the page you can click through to the various pages of my site. Look at the following first:
Getting Started Sightseeing Tips & Tricks Hot News
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You have plenty of time for planning. Even if you decide not to buy any books right away, go to your library and check out some travel guides as well as photo books. They will give you an idea of what you are both interested in seeing. Make a list with the most important at the top.
Once you have some idea of what you might want to see let us know and we will advise about how difficult they might be to see with a walker. For travel you might want to look into a walker that folds up and has a seat in case your mother gets tired. Joan's advice about choosing accommodations carefully is important. We can help you with those once you have an itinerary.
There are lots of little steps to accomplish for planning a trip to Ireland. You have found the right place for help.
Wow I am so happy to get so much help - I have advised my mom to get some books from the library as suggested and then we can decide what she wants to see (and maybe a thing or two I'd like to see/do!) and plan from that. Help with accomodations that are accessible would be awesome. I'll keep watching and I'll subscribed to the newsletter - what a great start! Thanks so much!
Will follow this posting with interest, as I am planning a similar trip with my 80-year-old father in law next year. I'm sure there will be some great advice, and the trip can be made quite enjoyable for those who have a bit of a halt in their step or need a walker to get around.
Another consideration, for those traveling with elderly folk, is medical equipment rental. My partner uses a C-Pap machine at night. On our first tour, even though he changed the fuses and what have you to comply with the Irish currents, it blew out half way through our tour. It made for some hellish nights of little sleep. Last year, his machine died again. As we were in Roscommon and near the hospital, we stopped in and asked if there might be someone to fix it. Instead, we were sent to Athlone and there rented a C-Pap that would work. It was relatively inexpensive. We were told by the gentleman who owns the company that he could arrange to leave one for us at the Shannon airport the next time we came over. That will be one less worry next year.
We turned in the rental at the Shannon airport and he picked it up. He then followed up with an email and a phone call once we were back in the states to see how we had made out with the machine.
If anyone needs the information, I will get it from my partner and post it.
If you can find the info on the CPAP machine it would be of great benefit to everyone here. It would cut out having to lug a machine all the way to Ireland and then have it blow fuses. It is great that it could be delivered to the airport. Very convenient.
Casey is on the road this weekend. He is heading to the Christening of his newest grandson, Miles Patrick Allen. I will have the information for you, as soon as he is back.
It was a godsend, to be sure. The more amazing thing, as far as Casey was concerned, is that the man wouldn't take a deposit or a Roscommon address. He simply told Casey to leave 50 euro in the case with the C-Pap when he dropped it off at Shannon. He has other medical equipment, as well which can be rented, as well. Even better, the C-pap he gave Casey was top of the line, better than the one he brought from home. It was very compact and much easier to lug around.
I am a firm believer in renting what you can once you get to a destination. That was a lesson learned when I was traveling with two wee tots. It was easier to rent a car with car seats, rent a portable crib once I got to my destination, etc. I had no reason to consider medical equipment but now make it a point to give that bit of advice to those traveling with elder companions.