Dingle or galway as base

wink · Newbie

Dingle or galway as base

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wink,

Welcome to my forum. Can you give a bit more info please? How long will you be staying in your "base". Are you self-catering? How long do you have in Ireland? Will you be spending your whole time at this one base or do you have other bases planned? What are your arrival and departure airports in Ireland? Will you be renting a car? What sorts of things do your boys want to see and do?

Michele

wink · Newbie

Michele Erdvig wrote:

Wink,

Welcome to my forum. Can you give a bit more info please? How long will you be staying in your "base". Are you self-catering? How long do you have in Ireland? Will you be spending your whole time at this one base or do you have other bases planned? What are your arrival and departure airports in Ireland? Will you be renting a car? What sorts of things do your boys want to see and do?

Michele

We are flying into Dublin. Spending a couple days there and then off to a self catering cottage/house or a B&B for 5-7 days. With the two boys, 14 and 18, we have been leaning toward a self catering arrangement. We will rent a car ( thanks for the rental car warnings and info) after the Dublin stay. My wife has been to the southwest of Ireland before and has in mind some of the things we should do and others she never got to before. We are looking at, in part, Dingle, Skelling Michael, Rock of Cashel, Ring of Kerry, Bunratty and likely some others I can't think of now. I suppose we will not get to all those places, it depends on where we base out of for the day trips, traffic, etc, hence our quandary. There is a possibility we will want to depart from Shannon. We haven't looked at whether we can drop a car in another city or the cost associated with that. Will I have a heart attack when I find the details? Thanks so much for all the info we have gleaned from your web site already.

The Next Chapter · Veteran Member

Hi Wink,

A couple of years ago we self-catered in Killarney and did basically all of the places you mentioned in your post, Ring of Kerry (we didn't actually go out to Skellig Michael, but were right there), Rock of Cashel, Dingle, and then Bunratty on our way out (through Shannon). You may want to consider going through Cashel on your way to the Killarney area. It just seems to me that Killarney is a better 'base.' Galway is a good base, too, but not for the the places you mentioned.

Best wishes!

Jeanne

Monty · Senior Member

I prefer Dingle or Galway myself, but that does come down to personal choices. Many find Killarney real touristy, and I must admit that I agree -- but there is a great deal of wonderful things to see near the town. It's the town itself that is a bit congested compared to some other options you have.

Galway, which is full of college age youngsters, might be of interest to your boys.

Monty

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wink,

July in Killarney will be congested and Galway will be buzzing too. Maybe not as many college students around in July as during other times. However, from the things you mentioned I think that basing in the SW would probably be best.

Dingle is a small town that is very picturesque. When basing there you must keep in mind that to make a day trip you must drive off the peninsula, do your trip and then drive back down the length of the peninsula. The logistics can't be denied.

Have you looked at Kenmare? It is about 40 minutes from Killarney.

Be sure to take a look at my self-catering page for info about renting a house.

What are your boys into? Fishing, horseback riding, hiking, etc.????

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Don't forget that the Galway Arts Festival will be on in July. At this point you may not even be able to find a vacancy IN Galway .. confuse confuse

Since most of the sites you mention are in the SW rather than the NW, Michele's advice makes the most sense -- as always! biggrin biggrin

Bob

CowboyCraic · Guru

Wink,

You might consider Courtyard Irish Holiday homes, just outside of Tralee. It would give you a fairly central base for what you have indicated are your primary points of interest.

I have stayed there and others who have stayed there, on my recommendation, have thoroughly enjoyed their stay.

If you fly out of Shannon, you could always overnight in Bunratty and do Bunratty Folk Park.

Whatever your choices, as you are traveling over during the high season, you will want to make your lodging reservations fairly soon.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wink,

That is another good option. Thanks Bit!

Michele

wink · Newbie

Great insight and suggestions. Thanks for the heads up on the Arts Festival. We will look closer at Kenmare, Killarney and Tralee.

The wife has already ruled out ROK because of drive time and the possibility that the boys would be bored with it. Just not he right miles to smiles value for them. Anything active would be good for them. Hiking, rivers, horseback riding, castles, ancient battle fields, etc. If anyone has experience with kids this age let us know.

Thanks again.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Wink,

Within a short driving distance from the self-catering for which I provided a link, there is a pony trekking center. The Aquadome in Tralee might be a nice break for them, as well. The Geraldine Medieval Experience, also in Tralee, might be something the boys would enjoy, if it is still open.

Also, for hiking, you have Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunloe, all in Co. Kerry. If they enjoy hiking, they will enjoy Skellig Michael. The climb up is well worth the experience at the top.

Speaking from experience, having traveled with my two sons when they were 16 & 17, you might be surprised at what holds their interest. I gave my boys the websites for each place I was planning to visit with them. I charged them with the responsibility for planning one day of the trip according to their interests. I visited a lot of Castle ruins, had a falconry lesson and was amazed by one son's in depth breakdown of the architectural features of a church he had selected to visit.

I made sure we had down time built in at our self-catering and the youngest brought his laptop to keep in touch with his friends back home.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wink,

Some fun things for the boys:

Rent row boats on the Lakes of Killarney & go fishing or row out to explore little islands with ruins
Ross Castle
Muckross Traditional Farms
Gap of Dunloe: horses, boats & hiking through Ireland's highest mountains
Jaunting Car Ride through Killarney National Park
Seafari boat trip (Kenmare)
Star Outdoor Center
Molly Gallivan's
Gleninchaquin Park
Derreen Gardens (more of a aboretum and hiking)
Skellig Michael
Staigue Fort
Kerry Quads
Dingle Dolphin Watching Cruise
Blasket Island Center
Boats to Blasket Islands
Dingle Aquarium
Inch Strand: 4 mile long beach that you can walk or drive on
Horseback riding on the beach

Are you sure you don't need a month in Ireland?

Whatever town you decide on, go into the local tourist office for lots of free info, brochures, maps and suggestions on what to do in the area. There will be no shortage of things for you and the boys. Remember to mix it up a bit. Don't concentrate only on one person. Let everyone do things on their list so no one feels slighted.

Michele