MarthaA
Registered User
Posts: 3
(7/13/03 11:42 am)

Help Me Plan Next Year's Trip!

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I need help! My husband and I have been to Ireland three times. We're hoping my friend and her husband will join us next year. They have never been. We are all in our mid-fifties. She does not tolerate long car rides very well so I don't want to plan long touring days. We would be going in early June. My initial plan is for a nine night stay, arriving on a Friday with an overnight stay enroute to a self catering cottage, self catering Saturday to Saturday, staying Saturday night probably in the Bunratty area and flying home on Sunday. (We've always flown in and out of Shannon and will probably do so for this trip.) My quandary is deciding where to spend the self catering week. Two areas I'm considering are somewhere on the West Clare coast (Ballyvaughan, Milltown Malbay, Kilrush??) or the Kenmare area. I love both areas but there are so many others! I really want this to be a special trip for my friends. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Martha

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1615
(7/14/03 8:37 pm)
 
Re: Help Me Plan Next Year's Trip!

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Hi Martha,

It's great to hear you are planning another trip to Ireland...and with your friends this time. I must agree that Kenmare would be a wonderful place to spend a week. You could see much of Counties Kerry and Cork from there. Killarney is also centrally located for the southwest (perhaps a little more so than Kenmare). But many people don't like Killarney because it is "touristy".

I think that if I was staying in the west I might choose to be closer to Galway than Ballyvaughan; perhaps Oranmore or Spiddal? Even though you will have a self-catering unit you will still probably want dinner out most nights and being close to a town or city with restaurants is a good idea.

You have plenty of time for making your plans. Why not ask your friends what their interests are, tell them what there is to see and do in each area, show them your photos of past trips, and let that guide you as to the best base for your trip?

If I can help as your trip gets closer, just post.

Michele

MarthaA
Unregistered User
(10/18/03 9:34 pm)

Still Planning--Which Car?

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Michele,
Thank you so much for your thoughts. I've been away from the board for some time and am just now seeing your response. At this point the trip is a definite maybe! My friends are both teachers and their union is in the midst of negotiations with a strike possible so their financial situation is a bit unsure. I've decided on Kenmare. I fell in love with it totally when we were there in 2002.

I'm beginning to look at car rental prices (ouch!) to give my friends an idea of what to plan in expenses. Because we've always rented a tiny car, I've never paid any attention to the larger models available. I want something large enough for the four of us to be comfortable but not so large that driving it on some of the narrow roads will be too scary. If you (or anyone else reading) have any experience with rental cars for more than two people, I'd appreciate your advice. Thanks!
Martha

Allison
Unregistered User
(10/19/03 10:01 am)

Which car to rent

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Hi Martha,

On our trip in 2000 (I think!) we had our teenage son with us. Our car turned out to be a small Opel minivan which would have had plenty of room for another passenger and luggage. It wasn't too big for navigating the narrow roads. The only problem we had was that it didn't have a cover for the rear trunk space, so all our stuff was exposed and we had to try to keep things well packed; we couldn't just close the boot and hide everything. I can't remember the model of the Opel, I may be able to tell from a photo, though. I couldn't imagine trying to drive around in an American-sized mini-van!

Allison

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1911
(10/19/03 3:04 pm)
 
Cars

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Hi MarthaA,

I think that four people would be very comfortable in a Opal Vectra or a Renault Megane. Both were comfortable and had just enough room for four without being too big for Irish roads. They also had a/c. But if you have a ton of luggage you will want to inquire of your car rental company for trunk (boot) size.

Michele

Dude
Unregistered User
(10/19/03 3:48 pm)

Car size

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Martha, on our trip we were four plus-size ladies and one slim teenager, with enough luggage for five women for 10 days. We had a Ford Tourneo (eventually, started out with Land Rover, long sad story) which is probably more vehicle than you will need (seats 8, plenty of luggage space) but the point of this very long sentence is this:
People gave us more room on the narrow roads because we were wider! And I liked driving it because I was right up front and up high, just like driving a bus. So don't be afraid of the narrow roads, and get something that is big enough to fit comfortably. They have station wagons for rent over there, also.
I definitely recommend one window per passenger, for sightseeing purposes. No problem for four people.
The Land Rover would have been perfect for four people.

DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 128
(10/19/03 11:26 pm)

Re: Car size

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just my 2 cents

Definitely take into consideration the luggage issue. 4 adults for 9 days is going to be a good size amount of luggage ( unless you are very very minimal packers !)

And remember - you will need room for any purchases as well.
We had a station wagon for 4 adults , and by the end of the trip , were in danger of having to strap a suitcase to the roof ( of course , My Mom & Brother are world class shoppers.....) Depending on your need or want to shop , a wagon should be enough room for you.