Ireland Virgin! Need Itinerary Help!

naptownmandy · Newbie

Ireland Virgin! Need Itinerary Help!

Michele Erdvig · Host

naptownmandy,

Welcome to my forum! I will try to be gentle with you but my head is spinning with all you have planned.

I don't know if you already have your airfares but you hardly have time to see Edinburgh. Had you considered spending all your time in Ireland? Aer Arann flys between Edinburgh and Galway. I have no places to recommend in Scotland.

It will take more time to get around by public transportation than if you were renting a car.
Much of your transportation will be on buses because of the areas you have chosen to visit. Check my "Transport" page to go to Ireland's bus site.

You may find Castlebar and the Cork area booked up already because of the concert and festival. Check on them ASAP! I have no personal recommendations for places to stay in Castlebar. The closest would be Westport. You can go to my "Lodgings" page for other good places to stay.

There are day trips from Galway to the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher. Choose only one. You will not have time for both.

It will probably take a good portion of your day to get from Castlebar to Dingle by bus. There will not be time for the Ring of Kerry. See Dingle instead.

The train goes from Cork to Dublin and takes about 3 hours. If you decide to visit Kinsale you will have to bus there and back. It can be extremely crowded in Kinsale on weekends.

Basically your visit to Ireland will be what I often call the green blur tour. You will be all over the island in a limited amount of time. Public transportation will further slow you down and add to the time you will spend on the road.

If you can delete Edinburgh from the trip it will give you time to enjoy Ireland. But if that is set in stone I can understand that you won't be able to change it.

Wishing you an excellent trip, whatever you decide to do.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

As I read you rtentative itinerary, a song came to mind:

"Spinning, my head is spinning, like a whirlwind out of control" biggrin

If I am reading this correctly, you have precisely 9 days on the ground in October. In this 9 days, you are trying to see all of Ireland's highlights and Scotland's largest city, Edinburgh. First off, daylight hours are shorter in October so you will have less road time. Secondly, if you are not renting a vehiicle, you will see most of Ireland through the window of a bus or train. That is the key word, SEE. You will not experience Ireland much at all. If you decide to drive, then you should realize that, on most roads you will travel, you will only travel at a road speed of 35 MPH. Irish roads are narrow and there are plenty of delay/distractions, sheep, pedestrians, farm equipment, etc., to be encountered

With only 9 days on the ground and relying on public transport, you would be better off to split your time in 3 day sections:

October 20 - 23 - Arrive Dublin - take train to Cork(3 nights)
October 23 - 26 - Catch Flight to Galway ( 3 nights)
Ocotber 26- 29 - Catch train to Dublin (3 nights)

This would give you your best bet of a truly enjoyable experience. Whilst in Cork, you can venture down to Kinsale (21). Whilst in Galway, you can visit Inis Mor, though I wouldn't recommend it in October as it is out of season and everything has begun shutting down. The Pony Traps will not be working and only a few vans will be out. You could use a day instead to either take a day tour to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren or take a day tour through the Connemara region. One of your days in Dublin, take advantage of Mary Gibbon's NewGrange Tour.

As you can see, Edinburgh, unless you add days on to your trip, will have to wait for another time. Edinburgh is a fantastic city, which truly needs a week to explore. It is not as dash-n-go type of visit at all. The Castle itself is a full day, the Royal Mile will take another. Each of the Museums deserve a good amount of a day to truly appreciate their bounty.

If your plans are not set in stone, then I would leave off Edinburgh. It would be a shame to go all the way to Ireland and not truly experience it at its fullest. To do that, one must make the time to slow down and be ready for the small, unplanned moments which will create the most lasting impression.

Slan Beo,

Bit Devine

-- Edited by CowboyCraic at 12:42, 2007-09-21

Melissa5 · Guru

naptownmandy: You're planning the Newbie Derby...that's what I tried to plan the first time I put together an itinerary for Italy, which was my first family trip to Europe. You're excited to see all the wonderful sites out there... We understand, they are all great!

I haven't seen Scotland but I LOVED Ireland (and Italy.) I'm pretty positive you'll love spending your 9 days in either Ireland or Scotland.

If you already have your flights booked, then you'll have to work with what is already set in stone. Enjoy Ireland, it's a wonderful, friendly, green, musical country. If you can't change your arrangements, one way to enjoy a busy itinerary is to plan a "hanging out" day.

For example, sleep in a bit, linger over breakfast, and "hang out" in a lovely spot without feeling like you need to rush around and fit in anything in particular. Read about the place but let the day sort of "hang loose". That can be wonderfully refreshing on a hurried trip.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

Delighted to see you back on the forum. I hope all is going well with you and your family. Is another trip to Ireland in the works soon?

Thanks for your tips for naptownmandy. I am always trying to slow people down a bit. They just don't realize the realities of Ireland.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Michele, I hope that naptownmandy has a memorable trip to Ireland.

I am dreaming of my next trip to Ireland...it's not quite time to plan it though! You know I WILL get back there. If I don't get there with my husband in the next coupla years, I will just book myself into one of those writer's conferences I read about in Ireland...

Are you planning your next trip yet? I should ask...is there ever a time when you are NOT planning your next trip to Ireland? aww

Anchoress · Veteran Member

Bit; most things are already on "winter hours" now.

The week before Dude came, I drove round to see if I could find somewhere very scenic to take them for lunch... but everywhere outside the big towns was closed; September 17th was the date at Heron's Cove at Creevy, a pub with the most amazing view which I would have loved them to see.. just down the road from Rossnowlagh too.

And along the way, I saw B and B signstands empty.

And a lovely thatched tea house, that would have been great, closed already for the winter....

It seems to get earlier every year.

Were I coming here as a visitor, off-season, I would not plan an itinerary. Simply land and serendipity. Since I came, I have tended to combine essential shopping outings ( we are semi-cloistered) with taking side roads and seeing things few find.. simple joys...

But there are far wiser heads than mine here....
Blessings this day

Melissa5 · Guru

Anchoress, there are as many good plans as there are people. We each have our own style of travel.

In my family, we have my husband and I and 2 young adult daughters plus a grown son who sometimes travels with us. If we didn't pre-plan a basic itinerary, we would end up spending all of our "spontaneous" vacation arguing vigorously about how to spend the day, who gets the car, what time to set the alarm for, who's paying for dinner, etc.! Then we would all end up wishing we never had to go on vacation together again. So for us, I plan an itinerary which takes everyone's needs and wishes into account. That way we don't waste time arguing about it on our precious vacation time.

Spontaneity works better when you are travelling with easy-going people who basically have compatible goals. As for us, we've got 1 totally driven restless traveler who cannot sit still (ever); 1 dreamer and 1 dawdler; 1 adventurous one; 1 curious one and 1 cautious one... We only have 5 people but I'm counting some of us twice. My job as trip-planner is fun and challenging...never a dull moment in my family! But it's working as the "kids", who are all over the age of 20 now, still want to travel with us. (After all, it's still "free" for them!) aww

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

You are so right. I am always planning my next trip to Ireland. Had to cancel this autumn because my sister is ill and we are spending a lot of time going back and forth to Florida. But next year is just around the corner. It will be that much better for the wait.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Michele, you are a good sister. I sure hope she is feeling better soon and that she keeps her spirits up. When the time is right, Ireland is always waiting for you.

naptownmandy: Happy travels and we'll be curious to see what you decide to do, so that we can e-travel to Ireland along with you.

YaYa · Guru

Michele,

My thoughts are with you. I come from a family of four girls. One was ill for years, we lost her this April. Everyday I think I should have seen her more often and tell her how much I loved her. Her husband said she knew.
We'll all think positive thoughts for your sister to get well again.

Regards, Joan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa & Joan,

Thanks for your good wishes for my sister. Unfortunately she is in the final stages of breast cancer. Her spirit is still good but it is not a good way to go. We are four sisters too Joan. Very close. cry

Michele

Dude · Guru

Michele, several of our B&B hostesses expressed sympathy for what you and your sister are going through; the one that I particularly remember was Elizabeth at the Bervie.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dude,

Thanks for passing along the regards to me. I appreciate it. I like Liz's attitude. Last time we were there she summed it up very philosophically: "Something's gonna get you." If it is not one thing it will be another! I helps to have a sense of humor.

Michele

Dude · Guru

John offered to sell the Bervie to us! He claims to be ready to go back to 9-to-5. I think he was just having Liz on a bit, at least I hope so.

Melissa5 · Guru

Michele, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your 3 sisters. Sisters are truly a blessing to each of us, and what you are going through is hard. It reminds me to count each moment as precious with family.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

Thanks so much. Having friends sympathize really helps. When you are ready to pull your hair out over a family member's antics just be glad you have them near to drive you crazy!

Family is very important. In the long run, who else but family will be there for you and put up with you no matter what?! wink

Dude,

I can think of worse things than buying a guesthouse by the sea! When are you retiring?

Michele

Anchoress · Veteran Member

Michele; know we will hold you and your sister in Prayer here ... Blessings and prayers....

Dude · Guru

I'm not sure running a guesthouse by the sea counts as retiring! Not being a morning person, the hospitality life is not for me!

Michele, you and your sister are also in my daily prayers.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Judy,

It would be a dream come true for me. My brother and I talk about it often, finding and purchasing a B&B along Ireland's west coast. If you can't dream, you shant have hope! biggrin

Michele,

As always, your sister and you are in my thoughts & prayers. We just received word that my aunt in Canada has inoperable cancer of an undetermined kind. She is not a very easy care patient but we call and lend an ear so that Uncle can catch his breath.

As it has once been said "Not one of us get sout of this world alive."

Slan Agus Barrogs,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks everyone for your good wishes! Much appreciated.

naptownmandy,

Sorry your post got hijacked. If you have any other questions about your trip, be sure to ask us.

Michele

naptownmandy · Newbie

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I am now a little concerned with the Aer Lingus situation, but I believe my friend and I have our trip planned out.

Oct. 20th
Arrive in Dublin 7am
Catch a nap if needed, see Dublin (Guinness tour, Trinity)

Oct 21st
Take train to Galway, rent a car
Settle in, maybe head to Connemara or just stay in Galway City

Oct. 22nd
Head to Cliffs of Moher and Burren/maybe do a Touristy tour for this

Oct. 23rd
Explore during the day, drive north to Castlebar for concert
PM: The Fray concert at Royal Theater

Oct 24th
Drive to Dingle
Settle in, have dinner

Oct 25th
Ring of Kerry/Kenmare

Oct 26th-28th
Drive to Cork City/remain in Cork
Things to do:
Blarney Castle/stone
Day trip to Kinsale
Guinness Jazz Festival

Oct 28th evening
Train to Dublin

Oct 29th depart

I know it is still a lot to see, but we are hoping that having a car for half of the trip will help. Does anyone know of a reliable, economical car rental company? Can you negotiate with the companies in person? What is a "good" rate for a car? Thanks again for all of your help! Can't wait to step onto the Emerald Isle...

Michele Erdvig · Host

naptownmandy,

The drive from Castlebar to Dingle will take up most of your day. Keep in mind that in October the days are getting shorter and you will not want to drive after dark. It is hard enough to find your way around in the daylight!

I think you should skip the Ring of Kerry and just enjoy Dingle instead. The scenery is fantastic and don't miss Slea Head Drive. That would give you a two-night stay in Dingle and give you time to enjoy it.

Did you ever check availabilities for the Cork area? With the Jazz Festival going on things may be booked up. Same with Dublin on Oct 28. It is a long Bank Holiday weekend plus the Dublin Marathon is on Oct 29. The town will be full to overflowing. Get your reservations now.

You may find yourselves not able to do everything you have outlined for each day. Do the most important first.

Take a look at my "Car Rental" page. Please read it all as it will give you all the details you need to book a car while being an informed consumer. Everyone gets different quotes for car rentals. That is because while I may rent the smallest manual and put the insurance on my credit card, others want a mid-size automatic with all the insurance. There is no one-size-fits-all answer for a "good rate". You will have to shop around, compare the same car and extras and take your best rate. I have been using Kemwel for the past several years with great success. They will match any other price you get. You can click through to them from my Car page. You generally get your best rates by booking in advance online.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

naptownmandy, you won't have time to fit all of that in, but Michele is right when she says prioritize and do the most important things first, whatever is most important to you. You're just going way too fast. But you have chosen some terrific sites to see and you'll love Ireland!

We loved the Ring of Dingle, and since you're staying in Dingle why not do that instead of the Ring of Kerry. We had 3 nights in Dingle, and spent all of our time on the Dingle Peninsula and in Dingle town, and still felt like we didn't get to do everything! Loved the area!

With such a tight schedule, the weather could affect your plans. For example you have one day for the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren...both of those are outdoor activities and you need good weather. (We spent 3 nights nearby for this reason, as I heard from a lot of disappointed people who missed the Cliffs of Moher due to bad weather) I allowed 3 nights in the area to see County Clare sights...plus we had a lot of things we wanted to do in the area...for example we loved the Dunguaire Castle Medieval Banquet in Kinvara, south of Galway... We stayed 3 nights in Ballyvaughan (south of Galway) so we could use that as a base for The Burren, The Cliffs of Moher, and the Dunguaire castle medieval banquet, as well as fun visits to musical pubs at night, plus a fun time watching the step-dancing at the barn in Kilfenora.

Well I've got to get to bed and quit dreaming of the wonderful sights you're going to see! Enjoy!