First Timer ~ Advice Needed

jessyjess · Newbie

First Timer ~ Advice Needed

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jess,

First Off, Welcome to the forum!

First off, With only seven days on the ground, you will have to select what is most important. You can cover a lot of ground but all you will have is a lot of windhield time. Instead, pick an area that speaks to you, perhaps two and spend your time there.

Car rental is expensive, you could look at public transportation. You didn't indicate your age but you might take a look at PaddyWagon Tours' hop-on/off package. They will even help you out with hostels. Theirs are some of the best run hostels, in my opinion. The caveat to using public transportation is that it will take longer to get there.

Weather is always a puzzlement, as any day can bring all sorts of weather patterns. Normally in October, you can expect highs in the upper 50s to low 60s and the night temps in the mid to upper 40s.

With your limited time, I might suggest flying into Shannon, catching the Galway shuttle, basing in Galway for four days, taking day tours from Galway, catching the train to Dublin for your last three days and taking day tours from Dublin. Mary Gibbons leads a fabulous tour out of Dublin to NewGrange and its environs.

Use your debit card in Ireland to withdraw Euros for use. Make sure that you advise your bank that his will be happening or you might find that they have frozen your card. All in all, you can frugally get by on probably $100 a day. I would say $150 just for a comfort zone.

You may not have enough time to find yourself in seven days, but you will find a peacce and a presence that you might not have known before. You just have to stay focused on absorbing the experience and not rushing. Less is definitely more in Ireland.

Ask as many questions as you would like, we are here to help you make your vacation the best possible.

Slan Beo (Take Care), Bit

jessyjess · Newbie

CowboyCraic,

Thank you so much for your response. I am 31 going on 51...or at least that is how I feel.

I think I'd like to spend most of my time in the countryside rather than in the busy city where the hustle and bustle is. Would it be possible to see the West, Southwest, Southeastern and East side of Ireland during my time there? There's just so much that I want to see and not enough time to do it.

Can you recommend any spots that are a must see while I'm there?

Thank you for your help!

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jess,

If you were to rent a car, you might be able to do something like this:

Arrive October 22 - Dublin - pick-up rental car and head for Kilkenny - routing in Glendalough enroute (2 nights lodging)
October 24-26 - Kilarney or Kenmare(2 nights Lodging) (This is a bank holiday weekend so make your lodgings soon)
October 27 & 28 - Ennis or Bunratty(from here, you can visit the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren)

October 29 - Depart for home

This would cover a bit of the East, Southwest and West whilst giving you time to absorb the experience.

This would allow you to cover most of the areas that you wish to see. However, there is really not enough time to see all of the areas. You need to note that the roads are much narrower there and they are rural. Your top speed in most areas will not exceed 35mph. You have to be alert for farm equipment, pedestrians, livestock, bicyclists, etc whilst driving.

If you rent a car, check out the Kemwel link here on Michele's site. Rent the smallest car they have and rent an automatic, which will be more expensive but less nerve wracking.

yesiree · Guru

Desire to see the countryside + limited stay + wanting to see as much as possible = renting a car is likely the best way to achieve all this.

Bit is steering you in the right direction. Stick to those three areas (which is plenty) and you will get the best of everything. If you stick to public transport, you'll still see a lot, but you should focus on a tighter area or specific bus tours and dig in a little deeper into the sites there.

It'll be pretty easy to recommend destinations once you decide on how you'll travel and where you'll go.

I've got some expense info from this summer posted at http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/expense-report/. That might help you visualize some of the costs.

jessyjess · Newbie

Thank you both Bit and Corey, your input has been very helpful! I will see what I want to do and then move forward.

Since it is my first time visiting Ireland and I will be alone, do you recommend a bus tour instead? Bit did mention the Paddywaggon, but are there any others that I should check out as well?

I know for sure that I don't want to stay at any hostels. I would much rather stay at a B&B if possible.

Thank you again for the great information!

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jess,

I travel solo in Ireland quite frequently. It is one of the best countries to travel solo as a female in my opinion.

There are advantages to doing a tour:

Someone else does the driving
More Ground is Covered
Almost all meals are taken care of as is lodging

There are also disadvantages:

Being held to a schedule
Not being able to stay longer in a particular area if you find it interesting
single supplement fees, which add to the cost

That being said, I would recommend a few excellent tours:

Ireland Expert has a tour in October. Pat always does an amazing job

Authentic Ireland offers some terrific Tours

The caveat that I will extend to you is that Tours usually only touch on that which is easily available by tour bus. You will not get to any of the out of the way places which I believe you are seeking.

Plot it out both ways, tour or solo travel. Sit down and figure out car rental, lodgings, etc & then compare it to the tours. Also, look to see if the tours hit on some of the areas that you most want to see.

Then, as Corey said, we will be more able to help you once you have a concrete idea of what you are going to do.

Slan Beo, Bit

jessyjess · Newbie

Sounds good Bit! I am going to do my research and then will let you know what my plan is. You have been so helpful, thank you!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jess,

My thanks to Bit and Corey for filling in while I was away from the forum. As always, they offer brilliant info and they really know what they are talking about. Do take a look at our friend Pat's tours that Bit mentioned.With her along you will have a grand time. She will also find you a CIE tour if you want and get you a 5% disscount. So there are many options open to you.

Let us know what you decide on or if you have more questions.

Michele