First Trip To Ireland

Denison2 · Newbie

First Trip To Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

Matt,

Welcome to my forum. I hope you will find it a friendly and informative place for planning your trip to Ireland.

I discuss the pros and cons of tours vs. do-it-yourself on my FAQs Page. Take a look. If you have any other questions just post them here.

Most of us here on the forum prefer independent travel. However, some have done both. There are trade-offs with each type of travel.

Also read my Getting Started page.

Let us know if we can help with anything else.

Michele

chaika · Veteran Member

My wife and I visited Ireland for the first time on a self-drive tour in September. You have so much more flexibility, but you need to be able to handle yourself too. I don't know that I would like to go by bus. We were standing at Ladies View near Killarney looking down the valley at the fantastic sight of blue sky, white clouds, green earth, three lakes. A bus roared up, people piled out, wandered around the point for about ten minutes, chatting, took some snaps, loaded up, and roared off in a cloud of dust. We hung around there nearly half an hour. You don't get that option on a tour.

OTOH, driving yourself. Just think of Ireland as your final exam in driving. If you don't hit the blackberries on the side of the road, you pass. (Just kidding, it is impossible not to hit them.) Most two-way roads are about as wide as your driveway. You drive on the left, on the left! You may get the hang of that after a couple of weeks.

A few days in, my wife broke her ankle walking in the grass around the remains of a stone fort on the Dingle peninsula and we were flexible enough to make massive changes in itinerary, which you also couldn't do on a tour. So a reminder - unless you're going to stay on sidewalks, wear your good hiking boots, not ordinary street shoes or running shoes.

We're working on plans to get back in May maybe to see the Ring of Kerry, which was totally fogged when we were there, but we did get to watch the National Finals of hurling at a pub in Portmagee.

Whatever you do, you will have a blast!

-- Edited by chaika on Friday 5th of November 2010 09:02:02 PM

Rich207 · Veteran Member

We just got back from a tour that we planned ourselves. We booked everythiing including air, car hire and lodging. The vacation was PERFECT!!! With the resources available on the web, especially this and one other website, we were able to go with incredible knowlege about the country and its sights. In addition to the web, there are many books about traveling to Ireland. The only caution I may offer is around hiring a car and driving. As has been noted on Michele's websight, car hire is a nightmare in Ireland. We booked through Dooley. What was quoted was what we paid. We were not pressured into buying excess CDW at the window. Driving on the left was a challenge the first two days. It helped that my wife chanted the mantra "keep left, keep left". Good luck and enjoy.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Matt,

I will just add that I think renting a car and driving yourselves around is the best way to see Ireland. You can go where you want, when you want, go at your own pace, go off the beaten path and stay where you want. A tour is more regimented. Thousands of people have successfully planned their trips here on my forum. If you have any other questions, feel free to post as your trip shapes up.

Michele