carol
Unregistered User
(1/29/03 12:52 pm)
 
Planned itinerary

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Michelle, I got your wonderful book! Now, I have a new itinerary and more questions. This itinerary is from a hire company that provides a driver and includes B&B's. The price is good for us and wanted to check with you to see if it sounds practical. If you remember, we want to play golf as well as sightsee.We plan to play a par 3 course and a 9 hole one, so as not to take all day. Here's the route and overnights.
Day 1: arrive Dublin; Short tour of Dublin after resting up in B & B, Dublin
Day 2: Play executive (Par3) course. Visit to Kilmainham Jail. overnight at same B&B, Dublin
Day 3: Head north, via Newgrange to Portrush and Giant's Causeway. Overnight guesthouse at Portrush.
Day 4: Leave Portrush and end up in Sligo, with perhaps 9 holes of golf. Overnight: Sligo B&B
Day 5: To Galway via Connemara. Overnight Galway B&B
Dat 6: Leave Galway. Via the Burren and Cliffs of Moher to Killarney. Overnight Killarney B&B
Day 7: Golf in Killarney Overnight Killarney
Day 8: Either Ring of Kerry or day tour to Dingle (I'm thinking Dingle). Overnight Killarney
Day 9, To Kilkenny (visit to the Rock of Cashel on route) Overnight Kilkenny
Day 10: Perhaps 9 holes of golf in Kilkenny in A,M and then off to Dublin airport and home.

This trip will cost $1250 (USD) per person, excluding airfare. So I figure the entire trip,including golf fees (we're not playing any expensive courses) meals, airfare etc. should fall well within my budgeting which was no more than $2500 per. Plus I'm we can all relax more having a driver, who will arrange golf tee times for us as well. I'd love to have your input. My itinerary has changed quite a bit since I first started planning! By the way, we will be going on a tentative date of April 12 til April 2. Thanks.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1065
(1/29/03 5:31 pm)

Re: Planned itinerary

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Hi Carol,

Glad to hear my book finally arrived and that you are getting a good rate from a car hire company.

Day 1: arrive Dublin; Short tour of Dublin after resting up in B & B, Dublin.  Michele's Answer: Fine.

Day 2: Play executive (Par3) course. Visit to Kilmainham Jail. overnight at same B&B, Dublin.  Michele's Answer: Fine.

Day 3: Head north, via Newgrange to Portrush and Giant's Causeway. Overnight guesthouse at Portrush.  Michele's Answer: This is a long day. Get an early start and try to be at Newgrange very early to avoid a long wait to get in. A visit can easily take a few hours.

Day 4: Leave Portrush and end up in Sligo, with perhaps 9 holes of golf. Overnight: Sligo B&B.  Michele's Answer: You are probably looking at 3 1/2 to 4 hours from Portrush to Sligo. A very full day.

Day 5: To Galway via Connemara. Overnight Galway B&B.  Michele's Answer: Another long day.

Dat 6: Leave Galway. Via the Burren and Cliffs of Moher to Killarney. Overnight Killarney B&B.  Michele's Answer: Take the ferry from Killimer to Tarbert for a shortcut.

Day 7: Golf in Killarney Overnight Killarney.  Michele's Answer: Fine.

Day 8: Either Ring of Kerry or day tour to Dingle (I'm thinking Dingle). Overnight Killarney.  Michele's Answer: Fine. I like Dingle too.

Day 9, To Kilkenny (visit to the Rock of Cashel on route) Overnight Kilkenny.  Michele's Answer: Fine. You can also stop at Cahir Castle if you have time. But perhaps you want to skip that and see some of Kilkenny instead.

Day 10: Perhaps 9 holes of golf in Kilkenny in A,M and then off to Dublin airport and home. Michele's Answer: What is your departure time? I doubt that you can golf, drive to the airport and depart in one day unless you flight is at night.

Generally, your itinerary is a bit of a whirlwind Day 3 to 6 and again at the end. For a 10 day trip you really cover a lot of territory. The saving grace is that you have a driver and won't have to drive it yourselves. Hopefully, you will get to return again and have a more leisurely tour of Ireland.

Michele

P.S. I assume your dates are April 2 to April 12?

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 142
(1/29/03 5:51 pm)
Re
Re: Planned itinerary

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Hi Carole:

Congrats on your trip. I must say though, I don't have high confidence in the hire company. Although all of those days are "doable", there are some that just fly by enormous sections of the country. For instance:

I think Day 3 is too much. The company may have some deal that gets you right into the tour at Newgrange, but it takes a while to do the tour and if you do Knowth also, it takes quite a while. The drive from there up to Portrush would probably then avoid some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland, just to get there to see Giants Causeway. I spent one day getting from Cushendun to the Derry area and it was a very full day. I'm sure it will be easier with a driver, but gosh, if you're taking the time to drive up there and you're not stopping to see Carrick-a-Rede (which I think is more spectacular than Giants Causeway) and Dunluce, it seems a shame. The ride up the Antrim Coast is beautiful and it would be terrible not to venture into the Glens of Antrim.

Day 4 has the same problems. You will be blowing through Donegal and missing spectacular coastline and at best, get a cursory look at Glenveigh Nat'l Park. I spent three days in Donegal and barely scratched the surface.

The rest of the days are possible but an entire loop of the country in 10 days seems like too much. The last day may be a problem depending on when you are flying out. I would suggest 2-3 hours in advance figuring you will have to go through the two separate VAT back schemes that are set up. They can take a while.

Yes, it is possible to drive the distances, but will you really get to experience much of Ireland this way? My feeling is no, but others may disagree. Sure, the driver will help because you won't be getting lost (my favorite part of a trip) and he may have restaurants in every town pre-picked for you, but still, that's an awful lot of driving no matter who is doing it.

Did the tour company set this up based on what you wanted to see, or was this a regular itinerary for them? If it were my company, I would have encouraged you to slow down, but that's me.

Bill

carol
Unregistered User
(1/30/03 2:40 pm)

Planned itinerary

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Thanks Michelle & Bill. I was thinking myself the days might be too tiring. We will skip golf the last day. Don't mind one long day but 2 or 3 in a row doesn't appeal. Am thinking of adding 2 days to the itinerary planned for days 3 & 4, making 12 days in total instead of 10. Do you have any suggestions for a more leisurely way to go from Dublin to Portrush and on to Sligo, with adding 2 more days to do it and seeing more of the countryside and attractions? The dates were tentatively April 12-21. Adding 2 days would make it either April 14 till April 25 or April 10 to April 21. One day, with help from you all, I'll get this right! And believe it, I will let you know how it all worked out when I get back. Bill, it's not the tour company-it's me. I have a great urge to see The Giant's Causeway and Dingle--I know--they couldn't be further away from each other! Heard that Carrick-a-Rede Bridge isn't put up until May. Have been to Ireland once before but didn't get to the North or Dingle, and didn't play golf. I'm sure I'll get more help from you wonderfully helpful Irish experts. Thanks in advance.

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 145
(1/31/03 7:28 pm)

Re: Planned itinerary

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Hi Carole

I think adding a couple of days is excellent. If your goals are to be sure to hit Dingle and the North, why not leave Killarney out of this trip. Stay on Dingle for a couple of days and spend a little more time up in the north.

My suggestion would be, as I said before, to take the Antrim Coast Road and visit some of the glens of Antrim. I'm not sure that I would try to make it all the way to Portrush on that day. You could stay in Cushendall, Cushendun or maybe even Balleycastel.

The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge opens March 17 (or maybe the 15th, it's a little unclear from the website) weather permitting. This is according to the National Trust. I think that this is a must see, but get there early in the day. Since you have a driver, take the Torr Rd that runs north from Cushendun. You can enjoy the views while he deals with the very narrow road. Much better that way.

OK, I'm going to mess up your plans with my suggestions, but this is what I would do. First thing, finding a golf course won't be too difficult.

Day 1: Dublin
Day 2: Up the coast (newgrange et al). If you can make Ballycastle that would be great, but it's a long drive. There is some great golf up here.
Day 3: Ballycastle again. Visit the sites around the area, play some golf
Another option would be to spend the two nights nights in different locations in NI. Though not my favorite idea, it might serve your purposes better for a trip like this. I think if I did that I would choose Cushendun/Cushendall and the Portrush area.

Days 4-5: Somewhere in Donegal. Letterkenny area would be my first choice from Ballycastle. You could make it to Donegal town area (perhaps Killybegs) and get Glenveigh Natl Park in on the way. Since you will have spent an extra day in NI, you could breeze by some places.
Day 6: Sligo
Day 7: Westport
Day 8: Galway
Day 9: Dingle
Day 10: Dingle - If you need to play golf in Killarney, you could make a trip down.
Day 11: Kilkenny

This is one option. Not sure I'm sold on it completely, but I kind of like the general framework. You could fudge it a bit. I don't think I'd spend that whole first day around Dublin just to see the gaol and play nine holes when you could be playing somewhere up north.

Of course, looking at this itinerary, I think I'd drive it myself. But that's me....

Bill

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1072
(2/1/03 12:56 am)

 Food for Thought

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Hi Carol,

Bill has certainly given you lots of options and suggestions that may work out for you. I'm glad that you are able to add a few extra days on. You will enjoy your trip much more. Since you are traveling north I suggest staying in Newtownards and seeing Mount Stewart House & Gardens. They are really beautiful: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/...ertyId=167

If you go you can take a shortcut ferry ride across Strangford Lough to Portaferry.

Also, consider playing golf in Dingle.

Michele