Review my 2 Week Itinerary please!

irishjack · Member

Review my 2 Week Itinerary please!

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jack & Jan,

It looks like it is all coming together! I am glad to see that you decided on flying into Dublin & out of Shannon. That will make your last day less hectic.

Between now & your trip, take advantage of the Irish language classes that are offered at the Cultural center in Phoenix. I think they run two hours on saturday mornings. Here are a few phrases to get you started:

Thank you in Irish. which is the dialect of Gaelic spoken in Ireland, is Go Raibh Maith Agat (gurrah mah hahgut)

Hello is Dia Duit (dee-ah gwit) if you are the person saying hello

If you are the person responding toa Hello with your own Hello, then it is
Dia's Muire Duit (dee-ahs mir-rah-gwit)

Good Morning is Dia duit ar maidin (dee-ah gwit er mah-jin)

As for transport between the airport and the hotel, you can either use a Taxi or one of the Air-link buses. I prefer using a taxi. as that means less walking with my luggage. In regards to picking up your car rental, it will depend on which rental company you use, really. Before settling on Hertz, take a look at teh Kemwel link which is provided here on Michele's site. They are a greta company from which to lease and they will match and/or beat their competitors prices.

Onward & upward:

Fly into Dublin, take transportation to hotel. Stay 2 nights and days. See must see sights in Dublin including Musical Pub Crawl.

Rent car, stay at Kilkenny. See Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains & Powerscourt, Wexford ( Irish Nat. Park), Kilkenny Castle.

Wexford is well below Kilkenny and the rest of the highlights you have listed. Either save Wexford for your drive down to Kinsale or skip it all together. There is much to see and do already between Glendalough, Powerscourt & Kilkenny.

Visit on way to Kinsale, stay 2 nights. Visit Bantry, Cork, Charles Fort

Whilst in Kinsale would be the best time for touring the Beara Peninsula and its environs.

Drive to Kenmare, stay 2 nights. See Muckross House & Gardens, Beara Peninsula and Garnish Island.

Instead of traveling the Beara from Kenmare, perhaps utilize that full day to do the Gap of Dunloe tour. Though a full day, it will be an experience you will never forget.

Drive to Dingle (Conor Pass)stay 2-3 nights (rest & laundry). Blasket Island Centre,Slea Head, Peninsula Drive, Dingle Town itself.

This is a great place to spend three nights. I would suggest booking into the Blooming Wildflower Cottage, as it sets in the heart of Dingle Town.

Drive to Ennis for FLEAD NUA 2 nights. Adare? Bunratty Festival in Barn, Aran Islands

You will find that there is much to do in regards to the Flead Nua, which will keep you well enough occupied. I would suggest that you immerse yourself in the Festival atmosphere. You will not be disappointed. Take a look at NewPark House, which is on the outskirts of Ennis, for your lodging whilst there.

Drive to Galway through Tralee or Tarbert Ferry, around Ring of Mohrer to Doolin. G
Stay at Doolin 2 night go to Dungaire Banquet at Kinvarra?

Being in Ennis, you will not need to take the Ferry. Simply take the coast road up into Galway. You can stop at the Cliffs of Moher, have lunch and a walk in Doolin, wend your way through the Burren and make your lodgings in Galway with ease. Galway would give you an excellent base from which to visit Inis Mor on your full day in Galway.

Drive to Westport, stay 1-2 nights? Tour Connemara ,Kylemore Abbey ?, Achill Islands ? Stay at Conh or Clifden?

I would choose Westport, as it is well suited to what you have listed. You can wend your way through the Connemara and visit Kylemore Abbey on your way between Galway & Westport. Achill can take the better part of a day but it is well worth it. You can visit Cong on your way south toward Shannon.

Last night. Drive back to Shannon area, see Adare or other suggested.
Stay at Adare County House ??? Can't afford the Manor.

I would suggest staying at the Bunratty Lodge in Bunratty. That way you could enjoy the traditional dinner & entertainment at the Corn Barn there in Bunratty Folk Park. That would be a perfect cap to your trip. The benefit to Bunratty is that it is, at maximum, only a half hour's drive away from the airport.

Fly back to Phoenix, tired and SO happy !

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irishjack,

Good plan to arrive in Dublin and depart from Shannon if you can.

You have been working hard. The best city center area to stay in is Dublin 2. Of the hotels listed in my book the one I get the best and most favorable feedback about is Brooks Hotel. It is quiet enough for most people and in a good location.

You can get on the buses with luggage but if you have a lot, taking a taxi will work best for you. Determine your hotel first and then see if one of the airport buses takes you to that hotel or not. That is not something you need to determine right now. Choosing the hotel is first.

Once you know which car company you want to rent from, you can choose which one of their offices you want to pick up at. Be sure to look at my Car Rental page for very important info you need to know before you rent.

Good plan to arrive in Dublin and depart from Shannon if you can.

See my comments in blue below:

Fly into Dublin, take transportation to hotel. Stay 2 nights and days. See must see sights in Dublin including Musical Pub Crawl. * Fine.

Rent car, stay at Kilkenny. See Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains & Powerscourt, Wexford ( Irish Nat. Park), Kilkenny Castle. * I agree with Bit that you should skip the Irish National Heritage Park. You may not even have time for Kilkenny Castle till next day.

Visit on way to Kinsale, stay 2 nights. Visit Bantry, Cork, Charles Fort. * Bantry is on the way to Kenmare if you take the coast route. You might consider doing that instead.

Drive to Kenmare, stay 2 nights. See Muckross House & Gardens, Beara Peninsula and Garnish Island. * I would suggest 3 nights in Kenmare and two in Dingle instead. You can see Killarney as a day trip from Kenmare or you can see it on the day you drive to Dingle.

Drive to Dingle (Conor Pass)stay 2-3 nights (rest & laundry). Blasket Island Centre,Slea Head, Peninsula Drive, Dingle Town itself. * Fine.

Drive to Ennis for FLEAD NUA 2 nights. Adare? Bunratty Festival in Barn, Aran Islands * If you are attending the Fleada Nua you are much better off staing in Ennis. Save Bunratty Irish Night for your last night.

Drive to Galway through Tralee or Tarbert Ferry, around Ring of Mohrer to Doolin. G
Stay at Doolin 2 night go to Dungaire Banquet at Kinvarra? * If you look at your map you will already be well north of the ferry and Tralee. You will be in Doolin in no time.

Drive to Westport, stay 1-2 nights? Tour Connemara ,Kylemore Abbey ?, Achill Islands ? Stay at Conh or Clifden? * You definitely need two or more nights to see the area. I agree with Bit that Westport will be the place to stay.

Last night. Drive back to Shannon area, see Adare or other suggested.
Stay at Adare County House ??? Can't afford the Manor. * Once again Bit is right on the money when she suggests spending your last night in Bunratty. If you stay in Adare you will have to fight the Limerick traffic to get to the airport. If you stay in Bunratty you can do the Corn Barn and get to the airport in 15 minutes without traffic.

Sounds like a fun trip.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 01:07, 2008-09-03