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Post Info TOPIC: Trip Plan: Part I by Marcia


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Trip Plan: Part I by Marcia
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Unregistered User
(8/11/03 11:25 pm)

Trip Plan: Part I


We will be leaving for a 10 day trip in Ireland in mid-October. I thought it might be easier to plan our trip in parts, rather than having to revise an entire itinerary. I would be interested in your thoughts on the following itinerary:

Day 1, Saturday: Our plane lands at Shannon Airport at 7:45 A.M. We will pick up our car, drive to the Cliffs of Moher, plan on lunch in Doolin, and head to the Galway area for a B&B.

Day 2, Sunday: Spend a little time exploring Galway City and then driving Connemara. Return to B&B for the second night.

Day 3, Monday: Drive to the Cong/Ashford Castle area. Get a little "Quiet Man" fix. Drive to Dublin, staying in a B&B in one of the outlying towns that have DART service to Dublin.

How does this sound so far? Is it do-able? Any suggestions as to where in the Galway or Galway area to stay? How about Dublin? When we leave, we will probably be heading to the south, southwest part of Ireland.

Looking forward to reading your responses.

Thanks
Marcia




Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1710
(8/11/03 11:50 pm)

Trip Planning in Bits & Pieces


Hi Marcia,

I suppose that in theory planning a trip in bits and pieces seems like a good idea. However, sometimes the bits are good but the whole picture can be a little messed up. It depends on different factors. Also the beginning of the trip can affect the middle or end.

Having said that, I think you should try to see Cong on the day you do Connemara. Otherwise you will be going out of your way and will end up backtracking to Galway to get the main road to Dublin. Connemara is a full day. You might save a couple of hours for seeing Galway on the day you drive to Dublin rather than your Connemara day. Drive time to Dublin from Galway is about 3-4 hours.

You might benefit from the B&Bs and guesthouses listed in my book: www.irelandyes.com/book.html or you can take a look at the accommodations on my "Lodgings" page or my "Links" page. But you should really get your itinerary firmed up before you consider making your reservations.

Are you departing from Shannon as well as arriving there? Are you using vouchers? What types of accommodations do you want to stay in?

Get back to me and I will try to help with fine-tuning.

Michele




Marcia
Unregistered User
(8/14/03 2:20 pm)

Trip Plan: Part I


Thanks for the advice about scheduling the Galway/Connemara/Cong area. That really makes more sense. I do have your book and it looks like maybe the Salthill area might best meet our needs for a place to stay the first two nights. We can't decide whether to stay north, west, or south of Dublin the next two nights. We'll probably just spend one day in Dublin (hop-on/hop-off bus)before we head back west. Eventually we are thinking of spending a couple of days in Killarney and take some day trips. The Gap of Dunloe and the Dingle peninsula are strong possibilities. We need to set aside at least half a day for golf and we will want to spend the last night near Shannon airport (possibly Bunratty) for our 11:00 AM departure the next day. We are two couples flying into and out of Shannon airport and will be staying in B&B's in en suite rooms with no vouchers. Thanks again for your advice. Your suggestions are appreciated.

Marcia



Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1724
(8/14/03 10:52 pm)
Re
Re: Trip Plan: Part I


Hi Marcia,

I agree that Salthill will be a good place for the Galway portion of your trip. If you plan on staying at Marless House I would strongly suggest reservations as Mary really fills up fast at any time of the year.

How many days do you have total? If you are manily concentrating on the west it seems like a lot of trouble going all the way to the east coast for Dublin. But maybe it's on your "must see" list?

As you know I have a few places to stay in the Swords area north of Dublin in my book. In Ballsbridge I recommend Glenogra: www.glenogra.com I have a place bookmarked to look at next time in Malahide. I haven't inspected it yet but it does look very promising: www.northcircle.com/beechwood/index.html

Why don't you post your complete itinerary and I will try to help?

Michele




Marcia
Unregistered User
(8/15/03 4:29 pm)

Trip Plan: Part I


Michele,
Thanks for your response. I agree the trip east does seem to be quite of bit of driving for just a short stay; however, the other couple have never been to Ireland and certainly would like to see at least a lttle bit of Dublin. When we were there two years ago we stayed at Evergreen B&B in Malahide and found it to be delightful. We also had dinner one evening at Sale e Pepe Italian Restaurant at the suggestion of your book. Probably one of the best meals of our trip. We will have a total of nine days of touring before we will have to leave. I think we have a good start on our itinerary but need to get together and map out days 5-9. We actually arrive Oct 18 and leave on the 27th. As I said before, we will want to fit in at least half a day sometime for the guys to play some golf. Your input is most welcome.

Marcia



Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1730
(8/15/03 4:46 pm)

Re: Trip Plan: Part I


Hi Marcia,

Now I understand completely about the trip over to Dublin. Of course it is a must see for your friends. And since you enjoyed staying at Evergreen perhaps that is the place to stay while you are there. Glad to hear Sale e Pepe was up to its usual standards when you ate there.

A suggestion about the golf: choose a place where the ladies can drop off the men and then do their own thing while the golfing is in progress. Perhaps shopping or sightseeing in a nice town or city.

Your itinerary seems to be shaping up.

Michele


Marcia
Unregistered User
(8/27/03 9:35 am)

Trip Plan: Part I


Our plans have progressed and this is what we have come up with so far:
Sat, Oct 18: Arrive at Shannon airport, drive to Galway, via Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. Stay in B



Marcia
Unregistered User
(8/27/03 11:47 pm)

Trip Plans: Part I


Nuts!! It looks like my previous post got cut off. What I had written (I think) was........
Sat, Oct 18: Arrive in Shannon and drive to B&B in Galway, via Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. Stay two nights.
Sun, Oct 19: Drive to Cong, Ashford Castle and Connemara.
Mon, Oct 20: Spend some time in Galway, then drive to B&B in Dun Laoghaire. We would like to arrive before dark and hopefully avoid heavy traffic. Any suggestions on when we should try to arrive and by what route? Any suggested stops? Athlone? We will stay in this B&B two nights also.
Tues, Oct 21: Dublin via DART
Sun, Oct 26: Drive to B&B in Bunratty so as to be close to Shannon for Monday morning departure.
This leaves Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday for "winging it". The only specific plans we have are to spend some time in Dingle. Although this is to be the "unplanned" part of our trip, I do have a few questions:
A previous poster had some suggestions I liked. What if we left Dun Laoghaire, drove to Kilkenny, spent some time there, visited Mount Juliet Golf Course and then headed for Kinsale. Would that be doable? Would it allow time for Cashel and/or Cahir?
How about if after staying a night in Kinsale, we spent some time there the follwing day and then drove to Killarney, via N22. Would that allow time for Muckross House? Any other suggestions? We're not planning a stop at Blarney Castle.
We'll be looking forward to your response and any suggestions you might have. Hope all of this message goes through this time.

Marcia



Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1792
(8/28/03 12:52 am)

Re: Trip Plan: Part I


Hi Marcia,

Sat, Oct 18: Arrive in Shannon and drive to B&B in Galway, via Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. Stay two nights. Michele's Answer:  Fine.

Sun, Oct 19: Drive to Cong, Ashford Castle and Connemara. Michele's Answer:  Fine.

Mon, Oct 20: Spend some time in Galway, then drive to B&B in Dun Laoghaire. We would like to arrive before dark and hopefully avoid heavy traffic. Any suggestions on when we should try to arrive and by what route? Any suggested stops? Athlone? We will stay in this B&B two nights also. Michele's Answer:  Sunset is around 6:30. If you plan on time in Galway and then a stop en route I don't see how you can possibly avoid rush hour traffic around Dublin. Possible stops might be Clonmacnoise near Shannonbridge (south of Athlone) or Belvedere House and Gardens (south of Mullingar). Your best route will be on as many main roads as you can. Take the M50 toll road south till it ends and then proceed through the countryside to Dun Laoghaire. You will definitely have to stop for directions when you get off the M50 as the signs are not good.

Tues, Oct 21: Dublin via DART Michele's Answer:  Fine.

Wed, Oct 22 Open.

Thurs, Oct 23 Open.

Fri, Oct 24 Open.

Sat, Oct 25 Open.

Sun, Oct 26: Drive to B&B in Bunratty so as to be close to Shannon for Monday morning departure.
This leaves Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday for "winging it". The only specific plans we have are to spend some time in Dingle. Although this is to be the "unplanned" part of our trip, I do have a few questions:

A previous poster had some suggestions I liked. What if we left Dun Laoghaire, drove to Kilkenny, spent some time there, visited Mount Juliet Golf Course and then headed for Kinsale. Would that be doable? Would it allow time for Cashel and/or Cahir?  Michele's Answer:  In mid-October I wouldn't recommend this. Spend the night in Kilkenny or Cashel and proceed on the next day. There is much to see and do in the area and you don't want to drive till dark every day. Had you considered that Kilkenny might be a good spot for golfing? Drive time from Dublin is around 2 hours. Then the women could take a walking tour of the city, see the castle, do some shopping, etc.?

How about if after staying a night in Kinsale, we spent some time there the follwing day and then drove to Killarney, via N22. Would that allow time for Muckross House? Any other suggestions? We're not planning a stop at Blarney Castle. Kinsale to Killarney is about a 3 hour drive. Michele's Answer: Depending on how long you stay in Kinsale, you should have time for Muckross House. You might also enjoy Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall, a jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park and a boat ride on the lakes.

Your itinerary is shaping up.

Michele


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