early trip planning

matt109 · Veteran Member

early trip planning

murphy · Guru

Matt,

You will love NW Ireland. We visited in Aug of 09, and you can find a complete review on this websight....Under "trip reports" and click on NW Ireland.

We spent 9-10 days in those 3 counties, and if I had to choose 2, in light of the balance of you trip being in Northern Ireland, I would probably eliminate Mayo, as Sligo and Donegal will allow you more, with less driving. Will you return someday and do Mayo in conjuction with West or Southwest Ireland? Our original plans were to spend about 3 days in each of the 3 counties, and we did except Donegal....which we would have covered more extensively but couldn't because we had Dr. appointments in Castlebar due to my wife's accident and broken shoulder. (it happened in county Mayo!) The first 3 days of our trip included Shannon to Galway, and Aran Islands, with the balance in the 3 counties mentioned. If you have any questions after reading my trip report, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

PS....we have yet to visit Northern Ireland, but plan to do so soon. I will be watching for a trip report after you visit NI! Good luck! Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Matt,

Will you be traveling alone or have a travel companion? Will you be flying in and out of Dublin?

I think you have enough time to see all the places you want. Five days will be very good for Northern Ireland. It would also be possible to see Derry and/or Belfast while traveling to and from other places in the north. Although you might want mor time for Belfast, depending on the sights you are interested in. If you are in NI the end of April you shouldn't miss the Glenarm Tulip Festival.

There is more to see and do in Belfast than in Derry. Most people just make a stop in Derry to walk the walls and see the murals. But you could do Belfast in a day using a Black Taxi tour or bus tour.

Have you thought of self-catering in a central location for NI? If so, I know of just the place. It would save you money because you could eat breakfast and simple meals in your cottage.

I do have another edition of my book coming out in March 2011. If you have an older edition you might wait for that one. If you don't have my book perhaps you should get the 2010 edition. You can get any updates to it here.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

I like Donegal and stay either just out of town at Drumcorry House or in Letterkenny. One day is usually enough for Derry, I like to stay in Portrush (Avarest guest house) on the Antrim Coast and a couple of days would be enough to cover the area with a final couple in Belfast including a Blackcab or open Bus trip.

http://www.drumcorroyhouse.com/index.htm

http://www.avarest.co.uk/portal/

matt109 · Veteran Member

Thanks for getting back so fast on some wonderful advice. What I have planed on doing now is flying into Dublin and then catch a train to Belfast and spend two nights there. I will then take a train to County Antrim and spend three nights. Then on the way to Dongeal just stop in Derry to see the walls and murals. Michele, I will be flying into Dublin and I am thinking about flying out of Shannon, but that depends on the airfare. With this plan it will leave me nine days to explore Dongeal and Sligo. What is the best past of Belfast to stay in? I was looking to stay in the cental part of Belfast cause most of the attractions are there. Any help on lodgings would be a great help for Belfast. Michele the name of the self catering lodge would be a big help and it may be what I am looking for. I do not want to move around alot so what part so Donegal and Sligo whould you recommened as a base for exploring. Once again names for places to stay would be a great help. In Doegal and Sligo is it better to rent a car or just hire a driver for the day? Thanks agin for the help and advice and as I get more questions i will post them.

tony2phones · Guru

Donegal and Sligo are not best served by Public Transport and I would adavise Hireing a car. However as you are starting in the UK with plans to fly from Shannon in the Republic where to hire a car could be a problem cost wise.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Matt,

The self-catering cottage I have in mind is Limepark in Armoy. If you are traveling alone they have a cottage called The Little Pig's House that would be perfect for you. It is sometimes hard to find small self-catering places but this one ticks all the boxes. It is also well within your price range. Melanie is willing to do rentals of less than a week too.

My best advice would be to rent a car on arrival in Dublin. The Antrim coast is best seen by car so you can thoroughly explore all the enchanting little coves, beaches, off-the-beaten-path roads, etc. You could easily rent the cottage at Limepark for 5 days and do day trips from there to Belfast and the Antrim coast. You might find that a full day in Belfast as a day trip will work for you. If it does not then you have the option of returning to it again on another day. It is a little over an hour's drive from Armoy to Belfast. Anyway, that's what I would do but you may prefer a different plan.

Letterkenny is pretty central for a lot of Co. Donegal. I would recommend Glenrowan and Ballyraine in that area.

In Sligo my favorite B&B is Iorras.

If you want one base for both Donegal and Sligo then Donegal town would be best.

Michele