gillespie
Unregistered User
(1/29/04 12:52 pm)

COMMENTS ON MY ITINERARY

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Everyone is so helpful on this site that I thought I'd run my 12 day proposed Itinerary past you all for comments. We don't want to stay in cities, rather tour the country side more. Love castles! We are spending 2 nights in castles and other nights are B&B with vouchers.

Day 1 - Arrive in Dublin 11:00 am. Stop at Kildare, National Irish Stud Farm, then on to Kilkenny.

Day 2 - To Cashel, Rock of Cashel, then Tiperrary. On to Cork.

Day 3 - To Cobh, interested in Titanic. Then to Kenmare. Maybe take in a Jaunting Car Ride around Killarney National Park. Not doing the Ring of Kerry.

Day 4 - To Dingle, tour of Dingle Peninsula.

Day 5 - To Bunratty, Irish Festival

Day 6 - Cliffs of Moher, then on to Galway

Day 8 & 9 - Conemarra, 2 days, then drive to Tullamore

Day 10 - Stay at Charleville Castle most of the day, then drive to Dublin

Day 11 - One day stay in Dublin

Day 12 - Fly home

Anita
Unregistered User
(1/29/04 2:01 pm)

Lots of driving?

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Okay, I'm not the expert when it comes to driving in Ireland as I used the train and bus, but it seems to me that you are doing a lot of driving. When you stop in Kilkenny are you just spending the night or are you going to see any of the town? You could easily spend a day just here. A jaunting car ride could also take a good chunk of the day. While in Killarney I did the Gap of Dunloe tour and a Dingle penninsula tour and both took a whole day each. One day in Dublin doesn't really allow you much time to see the sights there, either, as sights like the Book of Kells, or Kilmainham jail take at least and hour each once you ar there. Others who have done driving tours will have more suggestions, but mine would be to spend at least two nights in a couple of places on your list.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2086
(1/30/04 1:30 am)

Re: COMMENTS ON MY ITINERARY

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Hi gillespie,

What time of year are you traveling to Ireland? That will make a big difference as to daylight. I must agree with Anita that you will spend much too much of your time just driving from place to place without a lot of time for sightseeing. But it all depends on what sort of trip you want. As you have it planned now it will be a whirlwind. Your only two day stay is in Connemara.

Day 1 - Arrive in Dublin 11:00 am. Stop at Kildare, National Irish Stud Farm, then on to Kilkenny. Michele's Answer: Okay -- but probably by the time you get your luggage and car it will be noon. It is about a 2 hour drive to Kilkenny with perhaps an hour at the stud and an hour for lunch. This means you arrive in Kilkenny at about 4pm. Fine for an overnight stop only, but you won't have time to see much in Kilkenny.

Day 2 - To Cashel, Rock of Cashel, then Tiperrary. On to Cork. Michele's Answer: Tipperary is out of the way and you will either have to back track or proceed south on smaller roads, which will take more time. If you take the main road to Cork you could stop in Cahir to see the castle. Long day.

Day 3 - To Cobh, interested in Titanic. Then to Kenmare. Maybe take in a Jaunting Car Ride around Killarney National Park. Not doing the Ring of Kerry. Michele's Answer: Kenmare is a bit off the main road to Killarney. Since you want to take a jaunting car ride I assume you will be spending the night in Killarney not Kenmare? Another long day.

Day 4 - To Dingle, tour of Dingle Peninsula. Michele's Answer: Okay but get an early start so that you have time for Slea Head Drive. Another long driving day.

Day 5 - To Bunratty, Irish Festival. Michele's Answer: Okay.

Day 6 - Cliffs of Moher, then on to Galway. Michele's Answer: Okay.

Day 8 & 9 - Conemarra, 2 days, then drive to Tullamore.  Michele's Answer: This is your only 2 night stay. You can relax from all that driving.

Day 10 - Stay at Charleville Castle most of the day, then drive to Dublin. Michele's Answer: Depending on where you are coming from in Connemara another long day driving across country.

Day 11 - One day stay in Dublin. Michele's Answer: Fine. You can see the highlights, perhaps take the hop-on hop-off bus.

Day 12 - Fly home

If you manage to stick to this itinerary I will be very interested to find out how you liked it when you return from your trip. Personally, I think you will need a vacation from your vacation. But that might be your traveling style. Whatever you end up doing, have a wonderful time.

Michele




gillespie
Unregistered User
(1/30/04 10:07 am)

COMMENTS

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THANKS MICHELLE! Can I just ask what you would suggest that we do diffently for my first few days then as far as where we should stay. Should my first night's stay maybe be in Kildare?
Travelling in May.

Should Day 2 consist of driving to Kilkenny, spending some time there, then drive on to Cahir and see Cahir Castle and spend the night in Cahir.
Day 3 - drive over to Cashel to see the Rock, forget Tipperary, then drive to Cork and Cobh, I realize that I am backtracking but I really do want to see the Rock of Cashel. Would I have time to drive to Cork this day?
Day 4 - to Cobh, then over to Killarney. I had heard that Kenmare was a better place to stay, not so busy?
But then how do I fit Dingle peninsula in?

What would you suggest that I leave out?? Where could I spend another 2 day stay?

Thanks so much

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2094
(1/31/04 2:05 am)

Re: COMMENTS ON MY ITINERARY

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Hi gillespie,

You mentioned you are spending two nights at castles. Which ones and are your reservations already made? That might make a big difference in your itinerary. You can look at my "Lodgings" page for some of my favorite places to stay. But my book has them all: www.irelandyes.com/book Take a look and see if it might suit you.

Michele

gillespie
Unregistered User
(1/31/04 4:07 pm)

COMMENTS

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Day 8 at Cregg Castle, Day 9 at Charleville Forest Castle, both already booked.

Lori

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2096
(2/1/04 2:28 am)

Re: COMMENTS ON MY ITINERARY

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Hi Lori,

I would skip Kilkenny and go to Cashel on your first day. You won't have time to see it anyway. Also, if you skip Bunratty you could have a two-night stay in either Killarney or Dingle.

I thought you had two days in Connemara but your new reply shows one at Cregg Castle and one at Charleville Castle near Tullamore. Since Cregg Castle is not too far from Galway, had you thought of staying there for two nights instead of one in Galway and one at Cregg Castle? That would give you a two-night stay.

You said the castles were booked. I recommend reserving your night in Dublin right away if you haven't done so already.

Michele

gillespie
Unregistered User
(2/1/04 9:22 am)

COMMENTS

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Hi Michelle. We are spending 2 nights at Connemara. Only one night is at Cregg Castle, the other night will be at a B&B using a voucher.

I hate to skip Kilkenny, I'm a real Medieval enthusiast and I had heard that Kilkenny is a real Medieval town?? Any comments?

What about Cobh...is it worth going there?

Thank you for recommending the booking of our last night in Dublin. I will do that.

Lori

gillespie
Unregistered User
(2/1/04 8:15 pm)
 
NEW IMPROVED ITINERARY...I HOPE...

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Okay...I figured out my days wrong...I actually have 12 FULL days, the 13th day we fly out...so this is my new improved itinerary...please let me know what you think????

DAY 1 - Arrive in Dublin 11:15 am, leave Dublin by rental vehicle to Kildare, visit National Irish Stud Farm, on to Kilkenny, B&B in Kilkenny

DAY 2 - Kilkenny tour, Kilkenny Castle, Drive to Cashel, B&B

DAY 3 - Rock of Cashel, Holy Cross Abbbey, on to Cahir, Cahir Castle, Drive to Cork or maybe Cobh, B&B

DAY 4 - Cobh, Titanic Museum, on to Killarney, B&B

DAY 5 - Jaunting car ride thru Killarney National Park, Muckross House, Gardens, on to Tralee, B&B

DAY 6 - Dingle Peninsula tour, Tralee, B&B

DAY 7 - Bunratty Folk Festival, B&B

DAY 8 - to Cliff's of Moher, then to Galway, B&B

DAY 9 - Connemara - Clifden, B&B

DAY 10 - Connemara - Clifden, Cregg Castle

DAY 11 - to Tullamore, Charleville Forest Castle

DAY 12 - to Dublin, B&B

DAY 13 - FLY HOME!

How's that sounds?

Lori

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2098
(2/2/04 9:32 pm)

Re: NEW IMPROVED ITINERARY...I HOPE...

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Hi Lori,

An extra day. Great! It sounds okay, but Killarney is a more attractive town to stay than Tralee. You could easily base there instead. It is easier to stay put at one accommodation rather than changing around but I can understand your wanting to stay in a castle. But do note that Cregg Castle is not in Clifden.

Enjoy your trip and let us know how it goes.

Michele


gillespie
Unregistered User
(2/3/04 10:09 am)

COMMENTS

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Hi Michelle. Thank you for your feedback on this! So how far to drive from Killarney to Tralee? I just thought Tralee would be better so that we will already be there to start our tour early in the morning and won't have the drive from Killarney. Yes, I do realize that Cregg Castle isn't in Clifden...it is in Oughterard..(did I spell this correctly)

Michelle you have been so very helpful!

Lori

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2101
(2/3/04 5:00 pm)

Killarney to Tralee

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Hi Lori,

The drive from Killarney to Tralee will take perhaps 30 minutes, depending on traffic. But I think everyone will agree that Killarney is a much nicer town to base in than Tralee.

Michele