First Ireland self guided trip ... are we packing too much into it??

floss4u09 · Member

First Ireland self guided trip ... are we packing too much into it??

CCJPO · Member

Floss4u09,

IMHO, you are tring to do way to much in 10 days. You are doing the green blur tour of Ireland. We made the same mistake on our first trip. My adivse is to divide Ireland into 4 sections. Then decide which quadrant you want to explore to its fullest. Spend 2 to 3 nights in each area and do day trips from your base. We have been 5 x's since 2002, plus I have been fortunate to be an exchange, visiting lecturer at the universties in Galway and Dublin, 4 months each stay. And we still have places to explore, people to meet, roads to get lost on, and roads that end at the sea. ALos keep in mind that while you are driving you are only going to average 25/30 miles per hour, especially if you are on the "roads less traveled"

Good luck and have fun. You will go back again.

tony2phones · Guru

Being Biased towards the parts of Ireland North and West of the Shannon I would suggest that you spend your 1st night in Clare for the Burren and the cliffs rather than heading back down to the (Irish Cotswold) town of Adare Then spend the night in Dingle to give yourselves enough time to drive the Slegh Head going to Dingle to see Dingle town is like going to the Burren to see the Cliffs (a waste of the best parts). 1 night in Dingle is enough for a road trip so drive round the ring and spend the night in Kenmare fit in your extra night crossing the county dont forget to see Wicklow gaol and please please don't say St Patty's day, Patty is a woman who works down the local shop and it is St Patrick's or Paddy's day. Clontarf castle is a couple of miles out from the centre of Dublin so you will probably need a taxi getting in and definitely out from the events by the Liffey

-- Edited by tony2phones on Monday 30th of August 2010 03:08:52 AM

floss4u09 · Member

Since we fly out of Dublin and already have our hotel booked on March 17. What would you recommend that we take out inorder to make this trip not a green blur. Having never viisited Ireland I feel like it was not packing to much into the trip trying to do just one town a day. So what should we take out of our trip? Where should we be spending 2 or 3 nights?

thanks for the advise!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Floss,

Picking and choosing what to include and elimanate is a process. Since there are four of you all should have some input. But you should all agree that not everything on each "must see" list will be possible.

Like Tony, I would cut out Adare and take his advice to spend your first night in Doolin or Ballyvaughan. Then it is a nice drive down the coast of Clare via the ferry to Dingle.

Killarney is a good place for a couple of days. Kilkenny is a good base for Waterford, Cashel, Cahir and more. I could spend a week in each place and have no problems filling each day.

Why not go back to the drawing board and give it another try? Few people get an itinerary right on the first try. So don't despair. Try, try again and it will all work out.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Floss,

Try not to be too discouraged. It is easy to look at Ireland and think that a town a day is reasonable and well paced. Her size is deceptive.

T'were I you, I would look to be in Dublin starting the night of the 16th, as you will not be able to traverse the streets easily on St. Patrick's day.

That being said, I would route a trip for you thusly:

Day 1 - Arrive in Shannon, pick up your rental and drive the coastal route to the Cliffs of Moher - Overnight Doolin

Day 2 - Head to Dingle, take the Tarbert Ferry to save some time and driving distance (Overnight two nights)

Day 3 - Explore the Dingle Peninsula

Day 4 - Drive to Killarney (Over night Two Nights)

Day 5 - Ring of Kerry

Day 6 - Drive to Kilkenny via Cahir & Cashel - stop to see Cahir Castle & The Rock of Cashel or

Drive to Kilkenny via Waterford

Day 7 (16th) head to Dublin - Explore Wicklow and Glendalough along the East Coastal route (Stay in Dublin 3 Nights)

Day 8 - Enjoy the St. Patrick's Day festivities!

Day 9 - Enjoy Clontarf or take a Mary Gibbons Tour up to NewGrange

Day 10 - head for home

Are you turning in your rental before going to Clontarf? You definitely will not want a car in Dublin during St Patrick's week.

Slan Beo,

Bit

floss4u09 · Member

Thanks for all of the advise!!! We def are considering going into Dublin on the night of the 16. That would prob be a really good idea.
Cowboycraic- I noticed you took put blarney and cork and put in the cahir castle and the rock of cashel. Is that because those are prettier sights than cork and blarney?

Thanks!!!!!!
Looking toward to the book!

Monty · Senior Member

Many on this forum tend to feel that Cork City is confusing as can be to get around in, and Blarney is normally named the premier tourist trap in the country.

So much to see in Ireland without using time in those two places. smile

CowboyCraic · Guru

Floss,

There are many lovely sites to be seen in Cork City. However I find it a nightmare to navigate through with its one way streets and congested crossings. As to Blarney Castle, as Monty said, it is a tourist trap of the highest order. I refer to it as Ireland does Disney. Steep, Narrow steps that one has to climb in order to lay on their back and kiss a piece of the castle wall which copious other folk have kissed is not high on my list ofthings to do whilst in Ireland. The gardens at Blarney are lovely but in March they will still be dormant.

I think that there is much more to be offered at both Cahir Castle & Rock of Cashel, historically and aesthetically. I like the idea that when I am driving the back roads between Cahir, Cashel and Kilkenny I am treading the same ground as did Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland. Also that when I am walking the ground at either Cahir or Cashel, I am walking in his footsteps.

There are so many wonderful places to see in Ireland that you could forgo Cork and Blarney and still be happy travelers. biggrin

Slan Beo,

Bit

tony2phones · Guru

I am sorry but Blarney Castle is worth the visit if only for the grounds, but it is a tourist trap because of the popularity. If every tourist trap in Ireland was to be avoided then there would be no point in all for traveling over? Cork is a nightmare of a place to navigate but the same can be said of many major cities in Ireland or anywhere else in the world. The point is to plan your route in a way that suits and take your time to see what is on offer.

floss4u09 · Member

ok ... I have spent alot of time on this and i am getting frustrated trying not to pack too much into the days.

Michele's book has been very helpful to figure out what is in each county but has made it even harder to eliminate different areas

thank you CowboyCraic for the outline

Please I want to know what everyone thinks!!

Day 1 (one night in Doolin)
arrive in Shannon > drive to Cliff of Moher > end in Doolin
Day 2 (two nights in Dingle)
Drive the Clare coast > do loop head > take Tarbert ferry > end at Dingle
>>> will this drive take all day?
Day 3
Explore Dingle
Day 4 (stay in Kenmare)
Do the Ring of Kerry > end in Kenmare
Day 5 (2 nights in Kilkenny)
Drive to Kilkenny > see Cork/Blarney
Day 6
Spend time in Kilkenny > poss see Waterford
Day 7(Dublin 3 nights)
Drive to Dublin > see wicklow and glendalough
Day 8
Enjoy St. Patricks day
Day 9
Either see the rest of Dublin OR go see Clontarf/Newgrange

I originally thought about spending two nights in Killarney and only one night in Kilkenny but my boyfriend is really wanting to see the medieval aspect. Does Kilkenny have the medieval banquet here?
AHHH thanks for the help getting frustrated
thanks everyone!

kim

obanator · Newbie

Whats the best place to visit in Ireland that will make anyones vacation more memorable?
A list that wouldnt take number of days of vacation.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kim,

That looks good. The drive from Doolin to Dingle taking in Loop Head will take up a good portion of the day especially if you linger at Loop Head. If the weather is good it is a lovely trip.

When going from Dingle to Kenmare you could consider skipping the ROK in favor of seeing things in Killarney instead. But I will leave that up to you to decide on.

Michele

dryan86836 · Member

I appreciate your comments to this email. We hope to travel to Ireland next year late Sept. or early Oct. Someone mentioned to me about a 3 centre self drive tour of Ireland 10 nights, 3 nights in Kilkenny, 4 in Kerry and 3 in Galway. What are your thoughts, thank you, Gail Ryan

tony2phones · Guru

dryan this might be better as a new post, but for me using that basis I would drop 1 from Kilkenny and put the time into Galway. I would also avoid the trap of spending most of your time in Kerry on the Dingle peninsular which although quite pleasant is only a part of the county.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Gail,

I assume you would be flying into Dublin and out of Shannon? What you outlined would make for a nice trip. Killarney or Kenmare makes a good base in Kerry. If you have any other questions feel free to make your own post.

Michele

sceala · Member

You are gonna' be...as the Irish say..."on holiday"; right? Relax & be spontaneous. Each and every day does NOT have to be planned/arranged ahead of time. I would definitely avoid Killarney & Blarney to spend more time/miles/$$ poking around whatever catches your fancy....which will leave much to be explored "next time". This winter begin reading about some of the spots you 'hope' to visit...the Dingle penninsula, Cashel, etc. At your B&Bs ask about any local music, & don't miss that. Making a pub lunch your main meal of the day will certainly save you some Big bucks while giving you a 'feel' of that particular town. Until you hit Dublin you'll be 'off season' so should have NO trouble just 'winging' the rest of your days in the Ould Sod. Quit 'planning'; relax & go for it!