Charlotte M
Unregistered User
(1/24/03 1:37 pm)

Finalizing Plans

---

My husband and I purchased the Sceptre Ireland Emerald Package with round trip air, 6 nights bed and breakfast and rental car. It's a great deal!! We leave next Tues, Jan 28 and are finalizing our plans/itinerary. I just learned of your website from a posting on the Frommer message board. I've just been reviewing many of your message boards and wish I had heard of you sooner.

I have made reservations at bed and breakfasts where we anticipate staying found in the book sent by Sceptre. I've read that it's recommended to stay in a home base area for a couple of nights at a time, but we've been planning to stay one night here and there and make a big loop of the country. We plan to stay the first night in Shannon (have reservations) visit the Cliffs of Mohrer, and Bunratty Castle.

Day 2 leave Shannon about 8-8:30 AM and drive down and do the Ring of Kerry, then drive over to Cork and spend the night. Do some exploring late afternoon, evening. At this time, haven't received a reply email to our reservation request.

Third day/night drive over to Wexford, see the Hook Lighthouse on the way and explore Wexford. Reservations are made.

Fourth day/night drive up to Dublin and have reservations at a B&B in Raheny. Plan to visit Howth and see a few things in Dublin. I've read many people's comments that they weren't that impressed with Dublin. We may want to bypass Dublin this trip. (We're already thinking about going again.)

Fifth day/night drive from Dublin to Sligo, arriving mid to late afternoon (reservations made) and explore that area with the time available.

Sixth day/night drive to Galway staying at a B&B at Spinnal Furbo (reservation made) arriving about noon and exploring the Galway and Connemara area. Leaving the Galway area to go back to Shannon and go home the next day.

I realize this is probably cramming a lot into 6 days. What we wanted to do was see as much as possible in the different parts of Ireland to go back the next time+ and focus on a particular area.

We could also bypass Cork to allow more time in the smaller towns. I will be ordering your book to assist with future trips however we don't have enough time before this one. Please share your suggestions on what we should see in the areas mentioned and where we should "trim" to spend time elsewhere. Sorry for the length.

P.S. You are providing a great service with your web page.

debbie
Unregistered User
(1/24/03 1:47 pm)

I'm tired just reading your path...

---

Charlotte,
You are being OVERLY ambitious in your drive plan.
It takes a lot longer to get from place to place in Ireland than you expect. On a good day, you will average 35mph.
Some of the routes you have planned will take up your entire day - assuming you get GREAT weather. This being January, weather can be iffy ( watch out for black ice in the mornings) and daylight is limited.
Also - Doing the Ring of Kerry ( or Dingle, etc) - driving yourself or using a bus tour, takes up pretty much the whole day (especially this time of year). You will never be able to complete Day 2.

I suggest you rethink your plans -QUICKLY! Use this trip to concentrate on one section - either the North or South, but not the entire country.

ok. I need a nap now.

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 131
(1/24/03 2:15 pm)

Re: Finalizing Plans

---

Hi Charlotte:

I though I would throw in my comments now because you leave in a few days, and you probably want to change some things.

I would be surprised if anyone disagreed with the notion that you are doing way to much. Six days is enough to do a section of the country, especially in January. You are doing all of it. Let me just make a few suggestions:

Day 1 you will be pretty tired, but if you stay active, you will be able to survive most of it. This is very important to note. Sunrise on Jan 29 is 8:22 AM and sunset is 5:14. You will have limited daylight to deal with. Another thing to note is that a lot of B&Bs don't start serving breakfast until about 8:00 and it is an event. It is hard to get on the road before 9:00 and the sun won't have risen by 8:00 anyway.

Day 2 is impossible. It will take at least 3 hours to reach the Ring of Kerry and then you have about a 100 mile trip around it. (I think that's right). The Ring is a full day in itself and to continue on to Cork for the afternoon and evening would be impossible. You may also still be suffering some lingering effects of jet lag.

With six days, I don't think I would even consider the east coast. Dublin is not a city you can visit for a couple of hours. A full day, morning to night is a minimum and even then you will have merely scratched the surface and will have probably left with a negative attitude about it. It takes more time to appreciate it.

I think the trip to Sligo is not an option. In six days you are hitting all of the corners of the country. I looks like a short drive, but it really isn't.

I know you want to use this as a trip to explore sections and decide where you want to go back to visit in depth. Though it sounds like a good plan, you will be working with limited daylight and nothing but time in the car. I made a similar mistake to yours when I made my first trip.

My suggestion is this. Cancel most of your reservations. The Wexford in one corner and Sligo in the other will be a killer. You could feasibly do one or the other, but both are not an option (IMHO). Pick an area to cover and trust this notion: If you like one part of Ireland, you'll probably like most of the rest.

In six days, I would think that Clare (Bunratty, Cliffs), Dingle and the Ring would be plenty. If you want to go to Sligo, then do Clare, Galway (Connemara) and Sligo. If you are intent on Wexford (my last choice because you are starting on the other side of the country), then do Cashel/Cahir, Kilkenn/Waterford/Wexford) That may not seem like much but traveling, but trust me, it is. Travel is very slow in Ireland, and you won't ever average much more than 40MPH and usually much less.

I hope you have time to re-think this. We all want you to have a great time and I fear the plans you have will leave you exhausted at the end of your trip.

Bill

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 133
(1/24/03 5:22 pm)

Re: I'm tired just reading your path...

---

See Debbie, we agree on something. Sorry, I just woke up from my nap too.

Bill

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1047
(1/25/03 12:25 am)
 
Re: Finalizing Plans

---

Hello Charlotte,

Debbie and Bill have given you excellent advice. I couldn't have said it better myself. Your present itinerary is impossible. It would be a "green blur" tour of Ireland and you would spend all your time in the car driving from sunrise to sunset (or after), not enjoying sightseeing or meeting the Irish people. Also, Hook Lighthouse is not open at this time of year. Save yourself from a big mistake and re-think the whole thing.

Ireland is like fine old whiskey and should be savored in small sips not gulped down in one mouthful!

Michele

Charlotte M
Unregistered User
(1/25/03 3:09 pm)

Finalizing Plans

---

Thank you for your comments and recommendations. We have already begun revising our itinerary. We will follow Bill's suggestion and focus on Clare, Bunratty Castle, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Ennis and the Cliffs for this trip. We definitely will come back to explore another section of the country. Thanks again.

PaddyKraska
Registered User
Posts: 4
(1/26/03 1:54 pm)

Ireland on Tuesday!!!

---

How exciting!! We'll probably pass at the airport- we are coming in to Dublin on the 3rd! What b&b in Raheny are you staying at? We have reservations at Seaview with Mrs Rita Kenny for 3 days- she was a total doll on the fon. If you want you can email me privately at paddykraska@hotmail.com. We can compare notes!!
Have fun & good weather!
Paddy

MarthaA
Unregistered User
(1/27/03 2:42 pm)

Cold Weather

---

For you folks traveling later this week: I just read on the online Irish news that a severe cold spell is expected over the next three days with lows at night as low as 12 (Fahrenheit!) with highs around 37-41 with the possibility of snow. Brrr!

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1053
(1/27/03 11:51 pm)

Have Fun!

---

Charlotte & Paddy,

Have great trips to Ireland despite the weather. Thanks to Martha for the updates on it. Please let us know how it goes.

Michele

Charlotte M
Unregistered User
(2/10/03 10:00 am)

Finalizing Plans

---

We had a great trip!! The weather was as Martha described. We had a variety. Sunny and chilly, drizzle and chilly, sleet with sun breaks every 15 minutes, snow/rain mix, etc. The weather sure changes quickly. A lady in a gift shop said they often have all four seasons in an hour! Heard some great music in Killarney at The Grand. We had blue skies when we toured the Ring of Kerry and got some great pictures. Loved the waterfall, mountains and seaside. The roads sure are narrow and winding. Dingle was interesting, but had some difficulty locating the historic sites, as signs were not marked well. Beautiful coastline. The Cliffs of Moher is breathtaking! Blue skies and very windy! Great food and music in Doolin at McGann's. It was neat coming around a curve and encountering a ruins or awesome scenery. I absolutely loved the Connemara area!!! All the lakes and mountains!! I never knew there were snow capped mountains in Ireland! Kylemore Abbey was gorgeous. All the people were very friendly and helpful. All the B&Bs were nice and we loved the Irish breakfasts. The small villages felt very cozy. We will defintely take another trip and see another region.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1119
(2/11/03 12:10 am)

Welcome Back

---

Hi Charlotte,

Welcome back from Ireland. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and let us all know about your trip. It's wonderful that you are planning another and now you know where to get info about it!

It sounds like a fabulous trip despite the January weather. Next time try May - my favorite month. What did your final itinerary look like? Are you glad that you cut out the marathon trip that you first thought of doing? If you stayed in any great B&Bs we would love to hear about it.

I'm looking forward to helping out with your next trip.

Michele