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moll910


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Plans fell thru; starting from scratch - leaving Friday
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Hello and thank you for the website! I've been trying to plan a trip for my family of 6 (4 kids ages 21-29) for a while.  We were originally planning a trip to England as we are attending a function there at the tail end of the trip (leaving Chicago 8/13, returning 8/23). We found out last week our air tickets hadn't really been ticketed after all, which gave us an "opportunity" to re-vamp - now we've agreed we'd like to spend time in Ireland.  My husband & I went 25 yrs ago.  The hardest part has been getting consensus.  I just returned from another trip and found out that no one at home has carried out the rest of the planning while I was gone.
So! We land in Dublin 8/14 and wish to stay one night.  We leave from Kerry Airport 8/20 to head to England for the function. We plan to rent a car (I'm daunted by what I've read and had hoped my husband would have completed this task).
I want to explore the Kenmare area, the Beara Penninsula. Suggestions for a driving route from Dublin to Kenmare would be appreciated - should we make a bee line to Kenmare or should we stop along the way?  As far as accommodations, I think with older kids it makes sense to be in a place with pubs & music that is walkable (they will not be added as drivers) and not a self-catering arrangement.
I did buy your book, Michele, and have been trying to do the homework, but finding out tonight when I came back from my trip that nothing more had gotten arranged, I need help.
My plans have taken more twists than country Irish road & I'm exhausted before I've even started.


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Michele Erdvig


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moll,

Welcome to my forum. It is a long drive from Dublin to Kenmare. Your family would probably be happier to break up the trip somewhere. I suggest either Kilkenny or Cashel. Then continue on to Kenmare for the rest of the time.

Accommodations that are walking distance to the towns:

Cashel: Joy's Rockside

Kilkenny: Rosquil House

Kenmare: Arthur's Lodge Wood
O'Donnabhain's (right in town and it is also a pub!)
Willow Lodge
Sallyport House

I suggest you make your reservations for accommodations ASAP!

Hope that proves helpful to you.

Michele


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tony2phones


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I would put in an overnight in Kilkenny there's a bit more going on than Cashel or Cahir. Unless you are flying to Manchester with Aer Arran you will have the dubious pleasure of Ryanair. Perfectly good budget airline but be warned that they have "very" strict baggage allowances so check your weights and size of hand baggage. Aer Arran are a little more lenient.

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moll910


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I will explore all your very welcome suggestions as soon as I'm home from work, and thank you so much. I discovered the baggage restrictions the hard way already with Ryanair - that's the one part of the trip my kids DID carry out while I was away. Wish I had asked for your input sooner.... Thanks again Michele and tony2phones!

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Michele Erdvig


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moll,

As Tony suggested Kilkenny is a city as opposed to Cashel (town) and is therefore larger and with more going on. Which you choose will depend on the sightseeing you wish to do on that day.

Good luck with your plans! Hope all goes well and you let us know about it when you return.

Michele


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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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moll910


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A quick question- my oldest would like to separate from us after the 1st day or two and would be taking a flight from Dublin. If we head to Kilkenny or Cashel on day two, or even Kenmare on day 3, is it feasible for him to return to the airport in Dublin by public transportation? What would you recommend? Thank you!

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Michele Erdvig


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moll,

If you were in Kenmare he could take a train from Killarney back to Dublin. Ditto Kilkenny.

Michele

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moll910


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Thank you Michele - I'm home from work and frantically working on this

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moll910


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Do you recommend the Ireland Heritage Card?

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Michele Erdvig


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moll,

Whether you buy the Heritage Card depends on what you plan on seeing. They have attractions and admission rates on their website. You can look up what you want to see, add it up and see if it totals more than the cost of the card. If you purchase a card, each member of the family will need one.

Michele

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moll910


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ahh! will do - thanks again

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Michele Erdvig


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moll,

Hope you are making progress.

Michele

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moll910


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Yes, I am, thank you (but not getting much sleep). I've communicated with several of the folks in Kenmare that you recommended and am just now about to sort it out. The other obstacle to be finalized is the car. I tentatively reserved a Hertz van thru the American Airlines site, but want my husband to check out the nitty gritty. I really want to be through with this part so I can start looking forward to being there!

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moll910


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Have secured accommodations in Kilkenny (serviceable vs charming) for one night (8/15), and at Sallyport House 8/16-20. We arrive in Dublin the 14th and have a reservation for one night there. The problem is the car as there are 6 of us. I'm just looking at rail as an option, and possible car hire/tours or car rental once we get to Kenmare. Your opinion on 1) rail from Dublin/Kilkenney/Kilarney or Dublin/kilkenney/Cork. 2) touring once we reach Kenmare. We have a flight reserved from Kerry Airport on RyanAir to London Stansted 8/20 as we must be in northern England (Nottinghamshire) for a function/stay in Retford 8/20-23. I'm having real trouble finding a 6 seater van to lease in Dublin to return to Kerry Airport and also on the other end at the Stansted Airport.

I am making progress but seem to be forced 2 steps back for every one forward. Poor planning on our part to try to arrange this with little time; grossly underestimated the complexity, the cost. I still want to be able to think of getting there, and enjoying it.

If you all can see a way to simplify this, it would be much appreciated!

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Itallian Chauffeur


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Rail would hardly be straight-foreward ... hmm  hmm  hmm

Ireland uses a 'Hub-and-Spoke' rail system, in which Dublin is the hub.  To get from Dublin to Kilkenney IS possible, but the only way to get from Kilkenney to Killarney (or Cork), would be by first returning to Dublin.

As to Car Hire, PART of your difficuly may stem from the fact that Ireland has NO six passenger "Vans" --  that I am aware of ... 

What they DO offer is 5, 7 and 9 passenger "People Movers" ...  confuse 

Since you wish to transport 5 or 6, full-sized  (Adult) North Americans  -- with luggage, I believe that what you need would be a 9 passenger, such as a VW Caravelle or equivilent.  MOST 7 passengers (such as the Renault Grand Scenic, Opel Zafira or even the Ford Galaxy) provide that much seating at the EXPENSE of luggage space.  In the case of the Renault and the Opel, the two rear-most seats are actually 'Jump Seats' that fold up -- out of the floor of the cargo space!  furious  SOME companies offer the Kia Sedona as a 7 passenger, but there is NO guarrantee that you would actually GET one -- rather than an  'Or  Similar' --  Opel, Renault, or Ford disbelief  furious  disbelief

Nine Passenger vehicles SHOULD be available -- but they AREN'T cheap!!!!  cry cry cry

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Wednesday 11th of August 2010 10:09:31 PM

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chag


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We too are a family of six traveling to Ireland in a couple of weeks. We decided to rent two cars which was cheaper than a van and would also give us more space for luggage. We also thought it would be easier handling the roads in a smaller car than a van. Have a great time!

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moll910


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Very helpful advice! I appreciate the help and will consider two vehicles or a 9 passenger van.

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moll910


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What is your opinion about hiring a car and driver? Meaning they provide the car and do the driving?

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Michele Erdvig


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moll,

You are probably looking at 200 - 300 euro per day.

Michele

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