kath
Unregistered User
(1/27/04 12:53 pm)

traveling alone

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Michelle,
I am considering renting a car and traveling alone for perhaps 10 days in Ireland. I have travelled on my own before, but only in big European cities where I did no driving. Im a healthy, active woman, who has no problem asking for directions, but I wonder if driving w/o a navigator is a good idea. I also feel a little unsure about personal safety issues. Can you give me any advice and clue me in on any other problems I might encounter. Thanks much! Kath

Andrea
Unregistered User
(1/27/04 2:18 pm)

Solo Travel

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Hi Kath,
I thought I'd add my comments for whatever they're worth. Driving alone will be a challenge, but that shouldn't stop you from going through with your plans. Buy a good map, take advantage of online direction websites such as www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/ and take printouts of the routes you know you will take and stay alert and you will be fine. I felt very safe in Ireland, I just wouldn't want to drive after dark because it's so very dark in the countryside and isolated. I have to say my navigator was much appreciated on the first day I drove in Ireland, because I kept seeming to drift off too far to the left and my navigator kept me in line.

Perhaps to give you some degree of comfort, you could rent a cell phone.

Good luck!

Andrea

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2084
(1/28/04 12:25 am)
 
Re: traveling alone

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Hi Kath,

Good tips from Andrea. I've had several single women clients who have traveled around Ireland on their own and loved it. It does take more planning, simply because when driving it is easier to have another person navigate. However, if you familiarize yourself with your route in advance (as well as the towns along and beyond your route) it will make traveling easier. For instance if you were traveling from Limerick to Killarney you would actually be on the Cork road for a short period of time. If you didn't realize that you might think it was the wrong road. So study up.

You will want to use the usual common sense traveling alone that you would anywhere. But Ireland is a friendly country and women generally don't have problems traveling alone. You might enjoy staying at family-run B&Bs where the hosts will be a great help and take a personal interest in your well-being.

What time of year are you going? In the summer daylight can last till 10 or 11 pm. But I agree with Andrea that driving at night should probably be avoided, unless it is just a short hop into town to eat or go to the pub. I always advise everyone to take a small but powerful flashlight with them. You never know when it will come in handy. The cell phone (called a mobile phone in Ireland) is a good idea too.

If you have any other questions, just post again.

Michele

Carrie
Unregistered User
(1/28/04 1:33 am)

Traveling solo

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I traveled solo to Ireland last May and just loved it. I felt entirely safe, actually safer than I feel here in the states. I drove all over from Dublin airport to Kilkenny via Glendalough,Cashel and Caher, Ring of Kerry and Dingle, up to the Cliffs of Moher, then over to Trim. I had no problems at all with the driving. I had a good road atlas with me which is a must. I used the Ordanance survey atlas. I was very glad I had a tiny car. Comes in handy on narrow Irish roads. Go and have a good time!

kath
Unregistered User
(1/28/04 10:10 am)

travelling alone

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Thanks so much for the encouragement, support and info!! Extremely helpful! I do plan to stay at B&B's for the pleasant social interaction as well as the helpful information aspect. I know it's getting late, but I hope to travel in May (one obstacle is preventing me from making the reservations just yet). If I can't go then, I'll probably wait til fall. For me, less crowded is much more pleasant.

Carrie's personal experience and the advice from Andrea and Michelle are just what I needed. This forum and it's participants are wonderful. My order for Michelle's book is going in the mail today.

Two more questions: If I can't make accomodation reservations til early March, will I be out of luck for early-mid May? Is summer really quite a bit more crowded in the mid-sized towns and sites such as Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Newgrange? What I'm hoping to avoid is heavier traffic, parking problems and an abundance of tour buses. (Don't worry, I won't drive in Dublin!)

Many thanks, Kath

Andrea
Unregistered User
(1/28/04 2:25 pm)

Crowds

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Kath,
My trip was in the first half of June last year, and there were no big crowds at any of the locales I visited and those included Dublin, Cashel, Cahir, Kildare, Mallow, Killarney, Dingle, Doolin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, etc. Of course there are tour buses at places such as the Cliffs, but it wasn't overrun with tourists. I found early June to be perfect and I'm planning to travel the same time again this year. Also to be said for this time of year, as Michele has mentioned, are the long daylight hours, so you wouldn't likely find yourself in the situation of driving dark, dark roads. I was always at my destination by 6 and really tended to be back at the b&b by dark (10-11ish), exhausted from a fun filled day of sightseeing.

Andrea

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2085
(1/29/04 1:23 am)

May in Ireland

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Hi Kath,

I think that you will be fine making reservations for May in March. May and September are considered the "shoulder season" and are not as crowded as June, July and August. The months most tourists travel to Ireland are July and August.

You will see tour buses at any time of the year in popular places. Just ignore them.

Michele

Kath
Unregistered User
(1/29/04 2:50 pm)

going solo

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I feel much more informed and confident about making my plans. Thank you all!
Kath

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2087
(1/30/04 1:46 am)

Re: going solo

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Hi Kath,

You're welcome! Once you decide what month you can travel to Ireland, let us know and we will be delighted to help with your trip.

Michele