car rental verses taking the bus or rail

dede · Newbie

car rental verses taking the bus or rail

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dede,

Have you checked the Kemwel site, using the link here from Michele's car rental page? Try to get the smallest car in which you can comfortably fit. You will always pay more for an automatic. It is also the start of the high season in July, which equates to higher prices across the board, unfortunately.

As for traveling by bus and rail, you can utilize the rail system along the east coast and throughout the midlands and across the southern region. You would have to rely on the bus system for west coast travel.

That being said, if you are flying into Shannon, you could grab public transport to Galway and use it as a base for the West region, booking into small group tours to see the highlights of the west coast, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara Region, even a day trip to Inis Mor. Beginning this summer, there will be a ferry leaving out of Galway. From Galway, you could catch the train to Dublin. From Dublin, you can ride the rail as far South & West as Killarney. Then catch the day tours from Killarney. You can also ride the rails up into Northern Ireland and adventure out from Belfast. From any of the larger hub cities, you can take day tours.

Here is the Irish Rail Link. Here is the Bus Eireann link. Here is the Link for one of the transport options between Shannon/Galway. Here is the link for Northern Ireland's Bus & Railway system. Use these to suss out the transport costs and then compare them against the cost of the rental and petrol. Here is Michele's Kemwel link, as well.

One more thought, have you booked your lodgings already. Again, July is the start of the summer season os book ahead of time to avoid unnecessary headaches.

Slan Beo (Take Care), Bit

Anita · Member

It's really going to depend on what you want to see. I did a three week trip utilizing the bus/rail pass and had no problems. You have to plan well, though, because these passes generally allow you a certain number of days use within a certain time frame. The pass that I got allowed me eight days use in 15 so I spent my first four days in Dublin. Then I took the train to Killarney where I spent four days, train back to Cork and the bus to Kinsale where I spent 2 days, bus to Kilkenny (stopping off at the Rock of Cashel on the way) and spent 2 nights, train to Athlone and spent 2 nights (to catch my breath), train to Galway and spent 4 nights, then train to Belfast (via Dublin), and spent my last four nights in Dublin. In most of these towns there are companies that offer whole or half day trips to see the various sights in the area, so you can get by without a car, but you don't really get off the beaten track, either. You will also have to plan your accomodation fairly close to a train or bus station, or plan on spending cash on cab rides.

Michele Erdvig · Host

dede,

How many people are traveling together? If you take public transportation you will need to multiply it by the number of people. As Anita advised it is possible but you will have to plan very carefully to take advantage of schedules for buses and trains and what you want to see and do.

Actually, despite the cost seeing Ireland by car is still the very best way. It gives you the freedom to roam where you will, when you want.

Let us know if you need more help with your trip.

Michele