SCPigskinPrep
Registered User
Posts: 4
(5/28/05 12:37 pm)

Final Schedule for 8 day trip

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Alright………I know this is probably crazy but it is “what it be” as we down here in the South.

We decided to move hotels only once in Ireland rather than every day or so. Plus I had enough Radisson points to take care of the first 4 nights at the Radisson SAS outside Dublin (ie FREE !!!). We decided to stay in Galway and through a friend of a friend were able to book the Great Southern Hotel in Galway for E59 a night. Our entire 8 night stay in Ireland is going to run us all of E250 for the entire stay. I know I will regret not doing the B&B but with 4 nights free in a 5 Star and 4 nights at 75% off in a 4 star, kind of hard to say no to that.

This is the final itinerary that we have decided on

Sunday June 19, 2005
Arrive in Dublin, check into Radisson. Guaranteed for early arrival, tour Dublin after a short rest period.

Monday, June 20, 2005       
Dublin City
               
Tuesday, June 21, 2005       
South to Kinkenny        Down the N78
St. Canice’s, Kinkenny Castle, Powerscourt, Glendalough,Wexford, Back to Dublin via coast
               
Wednesday, June 22, 2005       
North to Drograds and Dunkalk
Bru na Boinne, Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Monaserboice, Mellifront Abbey
We are thinking about doing the extra 40 miles and driving to Marble Arch Caves also. My wife is HS Biology teacher.

Thursday, June 23, 2005       
Drive to Galway drop off bags at Great Southern Hotel
Aran Island from Doolin Ferry on 1 PM ferry return at 5PM
Cliffs of Mohr at Sunset       
Return via The Burrens       
Back to Doolin for Dinner       

Friday, June 24, 2005       
Bunratty Castle       
Ring of Dingle Tour       
Adare       
(I see no way to do the Ring of Kerry from Galway, am I wrong?)

Saturday, June 25, 2005       
Connemara day trip/Kylemore Abbey/Cong.        Clifden
Sky Drive, Roundstone & Dog's Bay
Kylemore Abbey & Gardens
Westport
Cong
Cong Abbey
Ashford Castle

I know that is a lot to do and see and a great deal of driving. I am not overly worried about the driving or wearing tired. We are without kids and the 4 of us are all 30 to 35 in pretty good shape. I also average over 1000 miles driving a week in my job.

I am also figuring that we will be out and going by 8 most mornings and can go to 8 in the evening with the late sunset. Wish we had the BB but I was not going to pay for lodging when I had free and discounted hotels. Again these are fabulous places to stay.

Probably trying to do too much but I don’t know when we will make it back to Ireland. Next summer is Hawaii and 2007 looks like Australia and we have promised the kids Disney when our youngest daughter is 6 in 2008. Throw in a west coast trip and it could be 5 years before we return to Ireland.

Any comments from Michelle or the other regulars are greatly appreciated.



Dave



PS...drove through Marietta last week on biz....I think the city is now just one big traffic light. This was the first time I was there in 5 years or so and I could not believe it. Strip Mall after Strip Mall and food chains everywhere. Amazing growth.

Anita
Unregistered User
(5/28/05 6:52 pm)

Just a couple things....

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I didn't rent a car while in Ireland as I was travelling alone, but I managed to do pretty much everything that is on your list by way of guided bus tours. Maybe you don't need the car? I think you are smart to stay in just the two places with such limited time. Two things jump out at me in your itinerary, though, one is on the day you want to go down through Kilkenny and also do Powerscourt etc. I think just doing Powerscourt/Glendalough would be one good day trip. You'll probably find that by the time you get into Kilkenny and stop at the castle and St. Canice's that half of your day will be gone. On your second day, the trip to Newgrange, Monasterboice, and Hill of Tara, will also be a full day trip. Keep in mind that at Newgrange they only allow a certain number of people up to the monument at a time. Once you arrive they will give you a ticket with a time on it, and you can't get on the bus until then, so get there early. Once you get to Galway I think a trip to Dingle would be way too far to go, but Michele will give you a diffinitive answer on that. Why not try the Aran Islands instead?

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3162
(5/29/05 1:16 am)

Re: Final Schedule for 8 day trip

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Dave,

Parts of your trip sound fine -- especially getting free stays! A word about Galway. Eyre Square is torn up and work is commencing on many parts of the city. Since you are staying at the Great Southern (nice hotel) which is right across the street from Eyre Square, I suggest asking for a quiet room that does not overlook the front of the hotel. Parking in both Dublin and Galway will be a challenge. The Great Southern only has a few parking spots. But there is a nearby car park. Be prepared to pay. If you will have a car in Dublin, inquire of your hotel about parking as they may have an agreement with a parking garage.

Anita has some valid points about certain days of your itinerary. Those same days attracted my immediate attention also. My day by day comments are below:

Sunday June 19, 2005
Arrive in Dublin, check into Radisson. Guaranteed for early arrival, tour Dublin after a short rest period. Michele's Answer:  * Fine.

Monday, June 20, 2005
Dublin City Michele's Answer:  * Good. Try the hop-on hop-off bus.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005
South to Kinkenny Down the N78
St. Canice’s, Kinkenny Castle, Powerscourt, Glendalough,Wexford, Back to Dublin via coast. Michele's Answer:  * I suggest doing Co. Wicklow, namely Powerscourt and Glendalough. Then see what time it is and whether you want to do lots more driving.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005
North to Drograds and Dunkalk
Bru na Boinne, Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Monaserboice, Mellifront Abbey
We are thinking about doing the extra 40 miles and driving to Marble Arch Caves also. My wife is HS Biology teacher. Michele's Answer:  * Skip Marble Arch Caves. It is too far. Go directly to Newgrange and get on the wait list. Then do the rest of the Co. Meath things. Trim Castle might be worth a look too.

Thursday, June 23, 2005
Drive to Galway drop off bags at Great Southern Hotel
Aran Island from Doolin Ferry on 1 PM ferry return at 5PM
Cliffs of Mohr at Sunset
Return via The Burrens
Back to Doolin for Dinner Michele's Answer:  * This is a packed day! The drive time alone between Dublin and Galway is around 4 hours. Had you thought of driving to Bunratty and then Galway? You could save the Aran Islands for Friday.

Friday, June 24, 2005
Bunratty Castle
Ring of Dingle Tour
Adare
(I see no way to do the Ring of Kerry from Galway, am I wrong?) Michele's Answer:  * Wow! It is around 5 hours drive time just to Dingle town from Galway. That means 5 hours back!! You will really not have time to see Dingle. Save it for another trip. The ROK is impossible. Suggestion: Loop Head instead.

Saturday, June 25, 2005
Connemara day trip/Kylemore Abbey/Cong. Clifden
Sky Drive, Roundstone & Dog's Bay
Kylemore Abbey & Gardens
Westport
Cong
Cong Abbey
Ashford Castle Michele's Answer: * A very long day but it can be done.

You need to realize that driving in Ireland is very different from the kind of driving that you are used to. The driver must be alert and keep his eyes on the road at all times. With all the curves and winding roads you just don't know what is ahead. There could be anything in the roads (and is). Sheep, mothers pushing baby carriages, cattle, bicycles, huge trucks, slow-moving farm tractors, road construction. This intense concentration takes its toll on the driver. A hundred miles in Ireland is like driving 500 in the USA.

I'm sure that as you make your way around Ireland you will come to realize the differences and start pacing yourself. You can always cut things from your list and do less.

We would enjoy hearing how it goes when you return. I'm sure eveyone will be interested to know how much you accomplished and what your take on the driving and roads is. Have fun!

Michele

P.S. My husband agrees with you about Marietta and all of Atlanta being one big red traffic light. You would think he would have more patience now that he's retired. ;)