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Post Info TOPIC: 11 nights w/ my husband and 2 college freshman by cjmford


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11 nights w/ my husband and 2 college freshman by cjmford
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cjmford
Unregistered User
(7/27/03 5:55 pm)

11 nights w/ my husband and 2 college freshman


In/Out of Dublin mid August for 11 nights. Am busily highlighting and tabbing Michele's book, but would appreciate recommendations for places of specific interest to 18/19yr old West Coast college students. They seem primarily interested in castles by day and pub crawls by night - something about being able to drink (legally) appeals to them! We're planning on visiting family farms and possibly meeting distant relatives in Kilchreest (a tiny village located between Gort and Loughrea in Co. Galway), Eilish’ Pub (in Ennis), Ballisadare/Lugawarry (?), and Sligo. Dingle and Beara Peninsulas appeal to all of us, as does the Giant's Causeway.

We'll be ending up with 1-2 nights in Dublin, but planning to drop off the car before then. Besides Book of Kells, should we do a hop on/off bus tour or walking tour - any recommendations on "not to be missed"?

P.S. Son turning 19 while we are there. Would be great to do/stay somewhere special (wait - isn't trip from CA to Ireland with his girlfriend special enough?). Checked out castles--too expensive, except maybe Cregg's "Castle" (sound like a fun place.) We've all been to Medieval Times Banquet, will they think Bunratty Banquet is too similar?




Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1647
(7/28/03 12:25 am)

Re: 11 nights w/ my husband and 2 college freshman


Hi cjmford,

Glad to hear my book is getting a workout. With only eleven days you will have to plan your itinerary carefully if you want to fit everything in. If pubs and castles keep your kids happy you will be pleased to know that there are no shortages of either. You might consider doing an escorted pub crawl in Dublin (page 243). And definitely do the hop-on hop-off bus tour. It will give you a good overview of the city and then you can get on and off wherever you want. The Guinness Storehouse might appeal to the kids. I think they might also enjoy St. Michan's, Kilmainham Gaol and, of course, Trinity College and the Book of Kells.

Have you looked at the web site for Clontarf Castle in Dublin? They have some pretty good deals going at certain times. www.clontarfcastle.ie/

Having never been to Medieval Times I can only tell you that the banquet at Bunratty is great fun. There is no jousting (I think they have that at Medieval Times) but there is excellent entertainment and the performers are top-notch. Besides it is in a real castle. If you decide not to do it be sure to at least see Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.

If you want to post your itinerary I will be happy to comment on it. But for mid-August you'd better get working on it and making reservations ASAP.

Michele




cjmford
Unregistered User
(7/29/03 12:01 am)
 
11 nights w/ my husband and 2 college freshman


Thanks for the tip, Michele. I already booked our last night at Clontarf. We will be able to get there easily from the airport area and into Dublin as well? We plan to drop off the car before staying in the Dublin area.

As far as itinerary, I'm usually an obsessive vacation planner, but this time my family wants to be spontaneous (despite what I've read from the message board and your book). We hope to see most of your top ten (only the Giant's Causeway in No. Ireland), in a circle from Dublin and back again, perhaps dropping off the Ring of Kerry in favor of Beara or Dingle Peninsulas (or vice versa).

We will be going to Galway and Sligo, because of the family farmhouses that we hope to see. Should we forget about trying to get to the Giant's Causeway?

By the way, do you have any experience renting from Argus? Their quote (from the website link off the Clontarf website) seems to have the best rates for an automatic compact of the following that I've tried so far(Dan Dooley, Hertz, Thrifty, Budgets).

Thanks again - I'm on page 257!



DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 42
(7/29/03 11:05 am)

Re: 11 nights w/ my husband and 2 college freshman


Just a warning - Mid August is still a very busy part of the tourist season. I would , at the very least, book your lodging for Dublin , and any weekends which would land you in the larger cities. The rest of the time you can be spontaneous if you like, but I can't imagine trying to find a place in Dingle or Kilkenny on a friday night in August.

Especially since you will be using 2 rooms ( or needing a family room).

Also - remember the general rule - driving takes a lot longer than you think. You will probably average 35mph, so when you look at the map and it says it is about 100 miles - that will take you around 3 hrs. Not including stopping for pictures , etc.



Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1649
(7/29/03 5:20 pm)
 
Eleven Nights


Hi cjmford,

Glad to hear you got into Clontarf Castle Hotel. You will probably be best off taking a taxi from the airport to the hotel. Then you can take DART into the city and back (from Clontarf). When departing take a taxi back to the airport.

I must agree with Debbie that August is not the best time for "winging it" in Ireland. You will always find someplace to stay but if you are particular about your lodgings it would be best to have a firm itinerary and make reservations, since the really good places will book up first. And needing two or more rooms (when B&Bs only have (3-6) is just another problem that will be exacerbated by being their during the season.

Whether you can see the Giant's Causeway really depends on the rest of your itinerary. I suggest sitting down with your "must see list", a map and a calendar and plotting out a proposed route or two, to see exactly what you might fit in.

I have never rented from Argus but perhaps someone who has will chime in with their experiences. You should be about finished with my book by now.

Michele

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