First trip to Ireland...11 days

joaniek4 · Member

First trip to Ireland...11 days

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joan,

Welcome to my forum. You are in the right spot now. I deleted the other post - so no problems.

You can certainly do as outlined. I recommend Kilkenny and Cashel. The SE coast is not that visible unless you get off the main road and take smaller roads to the various beaches and back again. Consider spending some time in the SW such as Kenmare or Killarney.

Do you have a map yet? Go to my Getting Started page for the phone # of Tourism Ireland. They will send you loads of free info, including a map.

Let us know if you have any specific questions. We are here to help.

Michele

joaniek4 · Member

Hi Michele-

Thank you so much! This has been very helpful. I will keep checking out the site...great site by the way! Thanks again!

We have a couple maps...but more will always help!

Joan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joan,

Just want to let you know that there is a long holiday weekend when you will be there. It is June 4 - 7. It is a Bank Holiday and if you will be in a popular spot then (like Dingle or Galway) you just may want to consider reservations.

Michele

joaniek4 · Member

Thank you!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joan,

Happy to help.

Michele

McGinger · Newbie

We have a 10 night trip planned beginning May 30. Like Joan, I am trying to narrow down our 'must sees' for our first trip to Ireland. I have been dreaming of this trip for years! There's so much to see, it's very hard to narrow it down to just 10 days. Our flights have been purchased, flying into and leaving from Dublin. I will take your advice and call the tourist # for more information to help plan.

Your site has been very helpful so far, thank you! We had reserved a car with Hertz, however I canceled it due to several comments concerning rentals in Ireland. I want to be as money conscience as possible but still spend where it's worth it. We'll likely go with Dan Dooley, as you suggested.

I have looked into offers by Authentic Ireland Travel and received what seems to be a great price quote, for a Go-As-You-Please package. The package ($2,000 total for two adults) includes a rental car for 10 days, 7 nights in B&B's, 2 nights in a castle, a night in Dublin, all breakfasts, and a banquet meal. They also have travel insurance that seems reasonable ($400 total). Do you know if this site is truly reputable? It almost seems like too good a price to be true. Would you recommend this package??

We aren't the type to plan itineraries for trips. Hopping into a car with an atlas, money, and clothes is more our speed. However, from what I've read, we pretty much need to have all our night stays reserved. Is that what you recommend? I realize that we will be there during Bank Holiday and you previously recommended reservations for those dates.

Right now, I'm reading a Foder's Ireland book to try to narrow down our must-sees and, based on our list, determine what route to take on our first Ireland Adventure.

All suggestions and help is greatly appreciated! I'll keep you posted on our plans an continue to read the forums.

Kimberly

CowboyCraic · Guru

Kimberly,

IMHO, the package deals aren't the best way to go. You will be using vouchers, which may or may not save you money in the long run. They will limit your choices as to where to stay in some cases. You also might find fewer B&Bs willing to take the vouchers due to the fees that they pay out when cashing them back. Even in teh good econnomic times, this was an issue. A cash paying custiomer nets more than one using a voucher.

As you are traveling over at the end of May, with the exception of weekend days, you should be well able to book as you go. Most of the Tourist Information offices will have a B&B booking service, for a small fee, which you can utilize when you find the town which you would like to explore further. In the shoulder season, which is when you are traveling over, you will find it quite easy, usually, to book out your trip. Just be aware of any festivals which might be occurring and plan accordingly by booking those in advance.

I would take a look at Dan Dooley auto rental and see what they offer, as far as rates. Then, figure out the areas that you would like to focus on for your stay. Eleven days may seem like a good amount of time, but it is best to pick a region: southwest, southeast, west coast, east coast and explore that area. Ireland is a small country but the road system doesn't allow for moving from place to place at any type of speed.

We did the self-drive package on our first trip over. The first half of our tour was little more than a green blur. The second half was a slower pace because we quit using our vouchers and booked as we went. This decision was made after a rather odd overnight experience at on eof the voucher B&Bs. All of my subsequent trips have been booked out seperately by myself.

All of us irregulars will do our best to help you have a fantabulous first Ireland experience. The first of many, to be sure.

Slan Beo (Take Care),

Bit

-- Edited by CowboyCraic on Thursday 18th of February 2010 04:34:34 PM

Monty · Senior Member

Kimberly:

Seems like good advice from Bit, especially at that time of the year. Being somewhat bound by who takes voucher and who don't will really change the way you go around the country. Some of the best places we have stayed over the years do not accept them, and seems to me like more places each year are restricting their transactions to cash. And if you have a voucher pack, and do not find a place each day that will take them, you haven't saved anything at all.

Bottom line, and I think you will note this from almost everyone who has been to Ireland a few times -- you don't need them, and they can actually be an obstacle..

Take a little more time and book places yourself, and you will probably have a better trip.

Sure you are getting excited about going! biggrin

Best regards,

Monty

-- Edited by Monty on Thursday 18th of February 2010 12:51:36 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kimberly,

Welcome to my forum. You have received very good advice already. My thanks to Bit and Monty to setting you on the right path.

I suggest you add up the costs individually to see if your package is a good deal. Go to my Blog article - How Much Does a Trip to Ireland Cost - for some ballpark figures. It is easy enough to figure out accommodations and the car rental. See what it will cost you to do on your own. Then see if it compares to the package favorably or unfavorably.

Keep in mind that most of the car rentals in package deals are for manuals and insurance may be extra (especially SCDW). See if there are taxes, etc. that are extra too. $400 for insurance seems high to me. Try Insure My Trip for comparables.

Michele

McGinger · Newbie

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Yeah, we'll plan it ourselves. It's more fun that way anyway. I'll also look into the insurance you suggested as well.

I'm sure we'll have more questions along the way!

Thanks again!
Kimberly

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kimberly,

Good luck with the planning. Let us know if you need suggestions or feedback. Don't forget to get lots of free stuff from Tourism Ireland. Just go to my "Getting Started" page for more info.

Michele

McGinger · Newbie

We were thinking about driving straight to Killarney from Dublin, which Google says is under a 4 hour drive. Is a 4 hour drive realistic?

Our flight into Dublin is early in the morning (8 am), so I figured we would spend the first day driving to Killarney, making short stops along the route.

In order to relax and really enjoy our 'short' trip, I think we've decided to spend most of our time in the SW and gradually work our way back to Dublin for our flight 11 days later. I think we'll spend around 4 nights in Killarney, which will allow us some day trips in the area. I've been researching B&B's in and around Killarney. I really don't want to spend a lot of money and we don't need anything fancy, but no smoking is prefered. Really, no more than 60 euro pps is preferred. Any suggestions?? I'm a runner and biologist, so if it's not in town, that's fine with me!

After a few nights in Killarney, I was thinking of heading north toward Shannon/Ennis for a few nights stay, for day trips again like the Cliffs of Moher. Also, I really would love to stay in a castle one night, maybe 2 depending on cost. Any suggestions of what castle is the most "castle' like experience? Again, fancy isn't a priority, but a true and old castle is what I would like.

I definitely have a lot more research to do for our trip. It's super exciting! Thanks for all your input!

Kimberly

Zstep · Veteran Member

Others can shoot me down on this but I have found Trip Advisor.com to be a really good resource to at least see what kind of B&B's and hotels are in an area. They also have them ranked based on user reviews so you get an idea of how good they are. It's not a be all end all but its a decent start.

Also, find a few places and post them here to see what kind of response you get. I had all but decided on a place for my upcoming trip based on the advice of other resources and when I posted it here, Michele and another person gave a resounding "Nooooooooooooooo". I then checked the place on TripAdvisor and it was 5th out 6 B&Bs with similar comments as to what was given here. Scratched that one!

I posted a long list of B&B's in different locations with approximate costs in the "B&B rates take a nosedive in 2010" thread. I certainly can't vouch for their quality or suitability for you but they'll give you an idea of what they charge in those locations. I'm going in mid June but prices should be approximately the same for you.

Also, I believe Michele's new book is coming out in the next few weeks. Methinks she'll have some suggestions in there.

The Next Chapter · Veteran Member

Can't stress this enough: BUY MICHELE'S BOOK! :)

I use it almost exclusively until I come to a spot that she has no recommendations. Then I come to this Board for lots of good advice and help. You never know what you're going to get in a B&B unless you ask someone you can trust. You can trust Michele and her book. The 'regulars' on here are trustworthy and so helpful as well.

Order it now. :)

Maggie117 · Guru

Hi Joaniek4, I spent time 16 days in Ireland two years ago and our trip was similar to what you're planning. We began in Dublin and headed south through Wicklow and finally ended up in Shannon. Mom had to see Bally Kissangel. If my memory serves me correct there's a waterfall on the route to Wicklow, which I didn't stop at because I was to focused on getting to our first destination. Michelle, am I remembering my itinerary correct? is there a waterfall on the way??? If I am remembering correctly I remember it was a must see that we didn't see...whoops!!! :)

TY!!!

Maggie

-- Edited by Maggie117 on Wednesday 10th of March 2010 06:58:46 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kimberly,

Depending on your route the drive from Dublin to Killarney will probably take about 5 to 6 hours with no stops. All the online route planners are computer software programs who have not driven the roads. biggrin If you plan on sightseeing along the way that will add time to the plan. Personally, I think that is too long a day if you are fresh off an overnight flight. If it were me I would head in the direction of Killarney but overnight in Cashel. That is about perfect for your first day.

Have you looked at my Lodgings page for suggestions in Killarney? Loch Lein is offering my readers a special offer of 65 euro pps with a free bottle of wine for a multiple-night stay. It is a wonderful place overlooking one of Killarney's lakes. Might be worth the extra 5 euro per night? Some others I like are Earl's Court, Killarney Lodge and Friar's Glen. All the B&Bs and guest houses are non smoking. Some hotels have smoking rooms.

Be sure to look at my Castle page and also my Blog about Ireland's Real Castle Hotels.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Zstep,

Yes, my 2010 book will be out soon.

I use Trip Advisor too. But it is a site that must be taken with a shaker of salt. I can't tell you of how many accommodations "work the system" by posting reviews of their own establishments or have family and friends do the same to bump up their ratings. As with anything "let the buyer beware". Read the reviews carefully. If you find the same wording, spellings and same things mentioned repeatedly with different reviews of the same place - proceed with caution. Many B&B owners that I know well in Ireland report that their neighbors in the biz do such things all the time. I stayed at one B&B last year that I have strong suspicions about. It was a gut feeling reinforced by comments the owner made in an interesting conversation. Then there was the guesthouse with fab reviews on TA that l stayed at and looked perfect on the surface. Only by spending the night did I find out it was cold as a morgue with absolutely no heat for the guest wing but plenty of heat in the owner's own wing! I guess the people who wrote the glowing reviews stayed there in the summer time.

I agree that you should use all sources available but it is also my job to inform everyone of the "inside scoop" on what is really happening in Ireland.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Maggie,

That was Powerscourt Waterfall that you missed. Plenty of others in Ireland, but that is Ireland's highest one. Not Niagara Falls by any means though.

Jeanne,

Thanks for your comments about my book. I am hard to please when it comes to accommodations. I seek out the gems and leave the others by the wayside. That's why other books may have more accommodations listed but I have the excellent ones. I also listen to feedback from my readers and clients about their experiences at my suggested places to stay. And I re-visit places constantly to check up on them. I'm sure they love to see me coming! Actually, I have a very good relationship with most of the listings in my book. I appreciate what they do and they appreciate being listed.

Michele

McGinger · Newbie

I figured the travel time would be quite a bit more than the 4 hours Google listed to Killarney. I think you're right about shortening the drive on day 1. I also think I'm going to purchase Micheles' lodging book. I want to make the most of our first trip to Ireland! Thank you for the links you listed, this is the best forum ever!

Thanks again everyone!
Kimberly

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kimberly,

My book has much more than just lodgings in it. Ireland Dream Trip really is a must for first-timers to Ireland. It is very user-friendly.

Michele

meredith · Veteran Member

Kimberley,

I agree wholeheartedly with Jeanne. Michele's book was invaluable. We were in Ireland for a month. All but 2 or 3 of the B&B's we stayed at were her recommendations, and Michele didn't steer us wrong once. They were all great. One I booked before I found this site, and another was at Bit's suggestion. You will always get great advice from the regulars on here. I booked all our accommodation online and confirmed before we left home.

Kind regards,
Meredith

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kimberly,

I have your book order and you decided to wait for the 2010 edition. Thanks!

Michele