First draft at 14 day itinerary - comments?

Sarahsentry · Newbie

First draft at 14 day itinerary - comments?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sarah,

Welcome to my forum! May I ask your mum's approximate age? Is she in good health or do you need to take her needs into consideration when planning? Will you be arriving after an all night flight?

It looks to me like the north might be a better focus for your plans, especially since you are visiting friends in Sligo. If you desire a slower pace, perhaps the SW should be eliminated?

What are your most important "must sees"?

Your answers will help me to help you.

Michele

P.S. See my "Lodgings" page for places to stay.

Sarahsentry · Newbie

Michelle,
My mum is in her late 50's and I'm in my early 30's and we both have minor health issues that would benefit from a bit slower paced itinerary than I've developed smile

We're most interested in seeing Irelands natural beauty (Cliffs of Moher, Burren, Giant's causeway, some nice countryside), ancient/medieval structures (castles, Bru na Boinne), and lastly would like to see a few 'quaint' irish villages.

I was thinking that maybe we should either: a) cut out Waterford and Kinsale and Cobh and go directly from Dublin to Kilkinney to Killarney and/or b) cut out Sligo and Antrim Coast and go back to Dublin after Galway. Either or both of these cuts would give more down days to relax. I also wondered whether we should try to fly into Shannon and just stay on the west coast (missing out on Dublin).

I appreciate any tips or suggestions you have.

Thanks,
Sarah

CowboyCraic · Guru

Good Afternoon SArah,

It would be a shame to go to Ireland and miss visiting with your friends in Sligo. Perhaps, you might consider flying into Shannon and out of Dublin and create a horseshoe.

With 14 days, perhaps something such as:

May 31: arrive Shannon and head for Galway (2 Nights)
June 2: head for Westport (2 Nights)
June 4: head for Sligo (2 Nights)
June 6: head for Donegal (2 Nights)
June 8: Head for Portrush (2 Nights)
June 10:Head for Downpatick (1 Night)
June 11: Head to Dublin (3 Nights)

I chose Downpatrick over Belfast because of your indication that you didn't wish to visit Belfast. There is much to be seen in Downpatrick, there is the St. Patrick Centre, the Down Arts Centre, The County Down museum and the Down Cathedral. Hopefully, on a future visit, you will decide to visit Belfast, as it is a very interesting city.

As you can see, this type of itinerary allows you to see an everchanging countryside, your friends in Sligo, experience not only the Cliffs of Moher but the Slieve League Cliffs outside of Donegal, visit the antrim coast and all of its environs and still have time in Dublin. During your Dublin stay, take one of the days and join Mary Gibbons on her NewGrange Tour.

Make sure you turn in your rental vehicle before venturing into Dublin, as it is much less frustrating to use their excellent ground transportation systems than to try and navigate their streets and locate parking yourself.

This would be an easygoing itinerary and much less of a green blur. I am sure taht Michele will have some excellent suggestions for you, as well.

Slan Beo (Take Care),

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sarah,

Bit's suggestions are excellent. Do you have your flights yet and is it possible to fly into Shannon and out of Dublin? Do keep in mind that June 2 is a Bank Holiday. That means you should have reservations for May 31 & June 1, especially if you are heading to Galway.

Let us know what you think.

Michele

Maggie117 · Guru

Hi!

I decided to respond before reading the other responses, and possibly being influenced by their expert advice.

I've never been to Ireland, but am also planning a first time trip with my Mom and Dad for October 2008. I'm hoping we can go for 12 days. Our goal is to relax and live the Irish life. With that said, we are focusing our trip on two locations, and spending 1/2 in one and 1/2 in the other. We're going between CorkCounty and CountyMayo. I still don't know how long it will take to get from one to the other! I'm guessing just hours.

I don't want to be packing and unpacking too much. I want to feel at home.

This is just my two cents! OR 1/2 Euro :)

Good Luck. Its great getting ideas from folks like you. This site is a great tool

Maggie

PS I also want a simple trip b/c I took a cruise to Alaska with my husband last year and it drove me nuts that we always had to be doing something at a certain time. I don't want my trip to be structured.

Maggie117 · Guru

I hope we're not limiting ourselves, with only two locations. I need to do more research. I have no idea how long it will take to get from place to place. I have a medical condition, and am in my mid 30s. Mom and Dad are in their late 60s, and are fairly active. Can we do more, and still feel relaxed.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Maggie,

Welcome to my forum! Both Co. Cork and Co. Mayo are pretty big. How long the drive between the two will take depends on where you are staying in each. Do you have family connections in those counties?

I like your idea of settling in two different places for 5 or 6 days each. It will give you a very relaxed type trip. You are always limited in Ireland unless you have a couple of months to see the country. There is just so much to see and do. What we all have to do when we travel is make decisions on what to see and what to cut out. I really don't know anyone who can do otherwise.

Have you looked into self-catering rental cottages? I have a whole page about them on my website: http://www.irelandyes.com/selfcatering.html

Feel free to start your own subject if you like.

Michele

Sarahsentry · Newbie

Bit - Thanks for your suggestions but we're quite interested in the south west area of the island (one of our top priorities) and your altered itinerary cuts from there and adds more in the north where our interests are more limited. Other than a short visit to friends in sligo and maybe the giant's causeway we're not interested in spending too much time in the northern part of Ireland.

We've already booked our flights and they are into and out of Dublin so we can't change that.

Michelle - if we need to trim our original itinerary what are your thoughts on cutting Waterford, Kinsale and Cobh and going directly from Dublin to Kilkinney to Killarney? Are there other cuts or alterations you would recommend? I've heard mixed reviews on the Ring of Kerry and the Rock of Cashel; are these worth the time? Also, thanks for the note about the June 2nd holiday, we'll book our accomodations shortly.

Sarah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sarah,

I suggest you start from scratch. You said before you want a more moderately paced trip. To do that you need to cut things out.

Make your list. See what area the most important things are concentrated in. If you have 20 things that are important in one area and one or two in a far distant area, perhaps you should cut out the far distant one.

Consider what your drive times will be for each day. Plan on sightseeing taking time. Each stop will add time to your day. Hence if your daily drive takes 3 hours and you have many sightseeing stops it may actually take 8 hours to accomplish all your plans.

Re-think your itinerary. Don't worry, practice makes perfect. No one ever gets an itinerary right on the first try (except, perhaps, me - but I have had plenty of practice!). wink

Give it another go.

Michele

youngka · Guru

Maggie, We have gone to Ireland two times and always find the self catering really fits our needs. We use it as our "base" and see lots around each area, always leaving one direction and returning another direction so we see a lot. In March, this year, we have decided to stay a little over a month and will be using both self catering and B/B's. Have a great trip and have fun checking out locations to stay! Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

Youngka,

Thanks for your input. I enjoy self-catering myself. Having a base -- especially when in Ireland for a long time -- can make sense.

Michele