which travel map

sgaglia · Member

which travel map

Michele Erdvig · Host

Stephanie,

Welcome to my forum! Call Tourism Ireland 1-800-223-6470 and they will send you a free map of Ireland. It should be sufficient for planning your trip. When you arrive in Ireland you can always buy an atlas or another map at the airport.

Because of your mother's limitations you will need to plan your trip carefully. You will also need to choose accommodations that have ground floor rooms or a lift (elevator). You may have extend your budget for accommodations that will be right for your circumstances. Do the rooms have to be completely handicapped accessible, with a wheel-in shower, high toilet, grab bars, etc?

Take a look at Bewley's Ballsbridge. Their rates are hard to beat for Dublin.

For Killarney look at Killarney Lodge and Earl's Court. Both are close to Killarney town and you can walk in on sidewalks. Killarney Lodge has ground floor rooms and is slightly closer to town. Earl's Court has a lift.

That should get you started.

Michele

xaimimgr · Veteran Member

Stephanie

I too got the map from the tourism site. Great map. I'm going in Apr and have air and some B&B's but I'm having a prob with car.

Michele,
I've tried Kenwel several times for Apr and they say they have nothing availiable. I don't understand. Other places can give me quotes. I do have the 800 # , so when I go home today I'm going to call and see what I'm doing wrong..
Thanks for all the help you have been and am still reading the book.

Judy

sgaglia · Member

Thanks Michele for the speedy reply!! My mom will only need the wheelchair for walking long distances (which is anything past one street block) so for all sightseeing I will be pushing her. She can't go up and down stairs except just a few steps. She can get around a room or apartment without any wheelchair so she doesn't have to worry about a bathroom being wheelchair accessible. I looked at Bewley's Ballsbridge and was surprised at how reasonable they were per day. Can you recommend for me some B&B's betweeen Killarney and Dublin. I really would like to stay between the two so that travel to various sightseeing places won't seem as long. What do you think? I haven't received your book yet but my plan is as follows:

1st and 2nd day: B&B close to Dublin with parking and those 2 days would be to visit Dublin

3rd day morning head down to Kilkenny or Limerick and spend the 3rd and 4th day there.

Wake up on the 5th morning and drive down to Killarney and spend the rest of the time there and leave from the closest airport.

This is just a trial so far. Once I have your book I know I will have better insight. What do you think of so far.
Thanks, Stephanie

sgaglia · Member

Hi Judy, It's funny you said that about the car rental because yesterday I tried for July and August to get a rate and their website said nothing was available. Good Luck! Where are you planning on staying? I wanted to stay at a B&B on the outskirt of Dublin for the first 2 days since I know parking would probably be difficult. After that I plan on doing 2 days on a halfway point between Dublin and Killarney at a B&B. Then my end will be 3 days near or in Killarney. I ordered Michele's book so once I get that I hope to have a better understanding of everything. Is it your first time? It's my first time so I'm trying to do alot of research and will probably change my itinerary 20 times!! I'm just still confused because I am from New York and when I go to various websites they have specials which amount to about $2,500.00 usd for 2 people which includes airfare and hotel. I would rather do B&b's and get airfare separate but can't find a reasonable airline. Do you have any ideas or advice with anything? Thanks, Stephanie

CowboyCraic · Guru

Stephanie,

It is rarely more cost efficient to book a package than it is to arrange things for yourself. You can easily plan this trip yourself and we will gladly help you along the way. How many days are you looking at?

If you can manage it, Fly into Shannon and out of Dublin or vice versa, thereby giving you less back and forth travel. Do Not rent your car until you are done with the Dublin leg, it is a hectic place to drive if you are not familiar with the layout and parking is difficult to locate. Use the link Michele has on here for Kemwel. They are an excellent company to work with for auto rental.

I would suggest a June time frame over July & August, as those are peak months for traveling there, airfares, lodging and auto rentals will be higher during those time frames. June is a fabulous month to be over there. Everything is still in full riot of bloom. The Wexford strawberries will be at their best in June, as well. September is still a bit crowded and spendy, even though it is the shoulder season.

For lodging in Dublin, I love the Abberley House B&B, but I don't recall if they have ground floor accommodations. You can always contact them and ask. If they cannot accommodate, I am sure they will have a suggestion for you. Bewley's is also an excellent choice.

As for the map, they sell on Ordinance map in a spiral wire binding at the airport in Shannon, which I have found quite helpful, as it has more of the small roads showing.

Judy,

I think for the website they only take bookings 11 months out. That may be why you are having the problem. You will be able to lock in a rate using the 800# though..

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Judy,

I just went to my Kemwel page and input April 2008 and got an error message. When I input March I was able to get cars. I think if you wait another month you will be able to book a car then. They simply are not set up for booking over 6 months from now. Be patient and everything will fall into place.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Stephanie,

A car is not necessary in Dublin. You would be much better off taking a taxi from the airport to your hotel. Bewleys has rates that are lower than a lot of Dublin B&Bs. They are right on the main bus lines and you can easily get right into the city center for sightseeing.

Why don't you wait to get my book and then decide on where you want to stay? Then I will be happy to help you with B&Bs that will suit your needs. You have plenty of time for making an itinerary and other decisions.

I agree with Bit about the Ordnance Survey Atlas of Ireland. It is available in the tourist office and bookstore at the airports and is a blue spiral-bound book.

I suggest you check on the Aer Lingus website. Sign up there for email newsletters. They will send you any specials. It is probably too far in advance right now to be booking your flights unless they come up with some rock-bottom prices.

I know it is very exciting to be planning such an important trip. We are here to help.

Michele

xaimimgr · Veteran Member

Hi Stephanie,
Called Kemwel and they told me it was to early to book. Have been checking with Dan Dooley. I'm going in Apr and flying into Shannon. Using Continental. I'm flying from Indy to Newark and my friend is flying from Charlotte to Newark. That was the best one we could find to meet up and fly together to Shannon. This will be my 2nd time to the wonderful country, and my friend's first time. Last time I did a tour and this time we;re getting a car and doing the bed and breakfast route. Have everything almost done except the stupid car. I'm over 70 so my friend will be driving but we want to use me credit card. Dooley said they could do that. All others I've checked say no. So we'll see. We are just touring the southwest and at a leisurely pace. I don't know, maybe to slow, but I wanted to be able to stop whenever I wanted, unlike the bus tour..

Michelles' book will really help you alot.

It's fun to plan but gets scary at times. Like yesterday when I looked at my bookings and thought "oh, no, I've forgotten one day and would have to change the last res. Well, I was looking at Aug and we are going in Apr.

Good luck

Anchoress · Veteran Member

Abberley House do have ground floor accommodation... Enjoy the planning! And please worry not.... Blessings.