Honeymoon in Ireland

nmumike · Member

Honeymoon in Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mike,

Welcome to my forum & congrats on your upcoming marriage. One thing to keep in mind for late April is that Easter is on April 24. On Good Friday a lot of places (including restaurants and pubs) are closed.

Without knowing your likes and dislikes it is hard to make recommendations on what to see, do and restaurants. Do you have my book? It would definitely be a help with all your various questions. You could read each section and choose what best suits you by way of sightseeing, food, pubs and day trips. It will also be of great help with preparing for your trip.

If you would care to share your interests with us I'm sure we will all be able to add our favorites to your line of travel.

I've not been to the Grand Canal Hotel but it gets mixed reviews. It is not city center but you can get public transport to the areas you are interested in. Consider taking the hop-on hop-off bus for a tour of Dublin. For your Wicklow day trip you should consider Mary Gibbons Tours since they go to both Powerscourt and Glendalough.

Get back to us with more info and we will be happy to elaborate.

Michele

nmumike · Member

I like trad Irish music, Guinness, the outdoors, wine, good food, but not really seafood! I do not have your book but I have been on your site just looking for quite some time. Overall I am just trying to make sure that the plans are doable, practical and make sense as it is our honeymoon. I also want to see if people have other ideas or advice for us. Thanks for the reply! I look forward to more info.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mike,

Your itinerary should work out pretty well. In Kilkenny be sure to take a walking tour of the city. Guided tours go from the tourist office every day or you can download Corey's from the Discount page of my website. The drive down to Inistioge is lovely. Kells Priory is one of my favorites in the area if you have time. There are a lot of excellent restaurants in Kilkenny. Your hosts may have some menus for you to look at and recommendations for you. A couple of good places are Cafe Sol and Italian Connection.

Near the Cliffs of Moher is Poulnabrone Dolmen and Aillwee Caves. You will be driving through the Burren and the scenic coast of clare. In Connemara I also like Roundstone, nearby Dog's Bay and Sky Drive near Clifden. On the edge of Connemara is Cong Village. If time and weather permit you could take a ferry or fly to the Aran Islands for a day.

On your way back to Dublin Clonmacnoise Monastic Site is an excellent stop.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Tullamore is no longer a working Distillery but is still worth a visit in the Heritage centre. You might want to take a look into the Jamesons Distillery in Dublin. Guinness Storehouse is likewise an elaborate exhibition rather than a brewery tour of old (long since gone under health and safety regulations). Smithwicks offer a brewery tour in Kilkenny which is worth a look, (Tues-Sat pm) Unfortunately you might be too late for the Clifden trad fest 15-17th April but you might catch some music in town, Lowry's have music 3nights a week and there is a concert the 3rd friday of every month in one of the pubs from 8.30pm.

-- Edited by tony2phones on Tuesday 18th of January 2011 03:16:06 PM

Date: 11:22 AM, 01/19/11

Thanks for the reply and advice. I will definitely take a look at some of the options that you have laid out. I have heard good things about Inistioge and Cong, and hope to check them out. I will definitely be taking the sky road as our b&b is on the road!

Thanks again!

Mike

tony2phones · Guru

Best way to drive the Sky road is taking the lower sky road under the coastguard station and onto the higher road just after the viewing point (the western end of the low road is steep and single track so be careful) and back to Clifden. Driving the whole upper route takes you round some pretty uninspiring coast after the viewing point onto the Westport road back to Town. Which B&B are you using out of curiosity?

-- Edited by tony2phones on Wednesday 19th of January 2011 12:58:33 PM

Date: 1:39 PM, 01/19/11

We are staying at the Dolphin Beach House just outside of Clifden

tony2phones · Guru

On the left towards the far end of the Lower Sky Rd, have passed several times but can't tell you anything about it. Looks good on the web though.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mike,

Dolphin Beach House is "quirky". The owner seemed nice.

Michele

nmumike · Member

I dont mind quirky! I just want to spend a couple of days in the west and it looks like a great place. I am really looking forward to Ireland. I have always wanted to travel there as I am part Irish and from what I have heard it will exceed any expectations. We couldnt think of a better place to spend our honeymoon!

nmumike · Member

Michele,

What do you recommend for car insurance, is insurance4carhire reputable? How does that process work? I was told I could buy CDW from the counter when I pick up my car but I have heard that insurance4carhire is a better deal? What is your advice?

Thanks

Mike

tony2phones · Guru

You will find that if you opt for 3rd party insurance then the "hold" will still be placed on your card by the hire company. Whilst Ins4Hire is a cheaper alternative to SCDW from the hire companies if you are unfortunate enough to have to claim it will be down to you to recover the funds taken from your "hold" by the hire firm from the 3rd party insurer. This is usually straightforward but can take some time.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mike,

I have used insurance4carhire myself but have not had to make a claim. However, I have heard feedback from those who did make a claim and the process was pretty simple. Most got their money within a week to 10 days. When you fill out the papers necessary they do a wire transfer directly to your bank account.

I think there is some confusion as to what insurance4carhire takes the place of. It is NOT CDW insurance. It is excess or Super CDW insurance. So you will need to purchase CDW from the car company. It merely fills the gap between the CDW and the deductible amount. It could easily pay for itself if you get one flat tire.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Seems like good gap insurance even when using a World Mastercard as I do. Last trip I took out insurance on windshield and tires for an additional fee.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

I use my MasterCard too. I got the insurance4carhire to cover undercarriage, mirrors, tires, keys, etc. which MC does not cover.

Michele

Date: 8:55 AM, 01/25/11

Thank you all for the replies, it is greatly appreciated!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I use MC to waive the CDW, too.

A couple of years ago, I hit the MOTHER of all potholes -- sliced the front tire, bent the alloy rim and put a bulge in the sidewall of the rear tire that I didn't notice until we turned the car in at Shannon.

It cost me 100 Euro for a new tire and 50 Euro to straighten the bent rim at an independant tire shop . When the car hire people spotted the rear tire, they charged me 200 Euro for THAT tire.

Last year, I bought 1 year coverage from Insurance4carhire for under $100. It covered me in England/Whales and Ireland, will cover me again this March/April AND still be in force for my anticipated return to Ireland, next June.

Haven't had to file a claim, so can't speak to that, but it does provide Peace of Mind!

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 09:21:16 AM

murphy · Guru

Gee Bob, you sure know how to make a person jealous! 3 trips to Ireland in 1 calendar year! More power to you. Most of us wish we were so lucky.

For our trip in March, I too have decided to go with insurance4carhire INSTEAD of Super CDW. We have already paid for the regular CDW.

Maybe I can get lucky and get to Ireland back to back years. We are due for a "Murphy" family reunion, and what better place, than in Ireland? I will start a new post on this subject.

Dan

EddyB49 · Newbie

Yes he is very lucky. I am also planning a trip there.
Best of luck for your tip.
Eddy Bobe

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Actually, it's ONLY three trips within a 12 month period ... biggrin

We are heading over on 29 March, but only for a week (taking advantage of a Package Deal that appealed to my Sister-in-law) and then, for two weeks, in June.

Next April (2012), we will be going back to attend a wedding and then I plan to spend a VERY significant date there, in October, as well.

After THAT, I will feel lucky, asTHEN, I'll be able to go for a month or three at a time!!! biggrin

All I need to do is figure out how to PAY for it ... confuse

Bob

Roy · Guru

That money issue keeps getting in the way. My wife is going twice this summer, but her wonderful sister is paying her way the second trip.

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Roy,

Is your sister-in-law adopting? LOL

I'd like to find someone to pay my way... well, actually, that's why I'm pursuing my degree in Travel Marketing. I want to become a certified travel agent and do my own specialty tours of Ireland. (I can't wait to be done with my classes!)

That way, I can take people on the tours (and spend some time in Ireland myself) and my husband can join me on either the front end or the back end of the tour, and we can have our own vacation!

Well, that's how I envision it at any rate. I know there's no one in my state that has the Shamrock certification, so I would be one-of-a-kind here... ;)

Kate

murphy · Guru

Bob,

Does that many smiling faces in a row have anything to do with retirement? As for paying for it....there is always the lottery....LOL Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kate,

Money is ALWAYS the problem. I would like to stay all season and I could because my husband is retired. But who has the money for that? Instead I get a couple of months there during the year and it has to suffice.

Hey, I have a Shamrock certificate. That was before you had to be a certified travel agent to get one. Lowly authors and trip planners get short shrift from Tourism Ireland now. hmm I did find a few mistakes in the course I took but never heard back when I told them about it. wink

Michele

Roy · Guru

EngagingKate wrote:
Kate- notice I didn't say she's paying my way! It looks like they are leaving the end end July, but it's all family time visiting their mum, brother, and sister as well as the nephews and neices. I hope those marketing plans work out for you!
Roy,

Is your sister-in-law adopting? LOL

I'd like to find someone to pay my way... well, actually, that's why I'm pursuing my degree in Travel Marketing. I want to become a certified travel agent and do my own specialty tours of Ireland. (I can't wait to be done with my classes!)

That way, I can take people on the tours (and spend some time in Ireland myself) and my husband can join me on either the front end or the back end of the tour, and we can have our own vacation!

Well, that's how I envision it at any rate. I know there's no one in my state that has the Shamrock certification, so I would be one-of-a-kind here... ;)

Kate

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Michele,

I'm a little frustrated by the certification requirement for the Shamrock. I'm not even certain that I'll find a local agency that I can work for 18 months if I have to do that. I'm so new to the whole process that I don't even know exactly what I *have* to do yet. :) I'm not getting any younger, and I don't want to be starting my business when I'm in my mid-50s...

I'm not actually surprised you didn't get an answer from the tourism people. They are surprisingly quiet all of a sudden sometimes!

Roy,

Thanks for the good wishes! I think I'll be able to make a go of it, since no one else anywhere near here does what I want to do...

Well, at least your wife gets to benefit from the SIL's generosity! I'm sorry you don't get any benefit... :(

Kate

Roy · Guru

Kate- well, at least my sister-in-law's generosity takes the pressure off of our trip to do a lot of family times and frees us up to do couple time! We usually spend one week doing our thing and the second week with family, not that I don't enjoy spending time with her family...!

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Roy,

Well, that is a benefit for you, then. Yay!

I know what you mean about the family obligations, though. You go all the way across the ocean, you only have limited time, and you'd like to be able to have a true holiday while you're all the way over there! :)

Date: 6:36 PM, 02/03/11

Clifton is a favorite place for us. Buttermilk Inn is a nice place, just in case you want to look it up...
We love eating dinner at the hotel & shopping in their gro. store. Lots to see and pick from other than just food.
While you are looking up sites, be sure and check out St Joseph's B & B. They have a little grocery store just down the steps of the B & B. WONDERFUL staff. We stayed for 2 weeks and checked out other places within a day trip distance.
Yes, be sure and go to Aran Islands. You will not regret it. You can have a van give you a tour, or a horse drawn carriage. If you do decide to spend a night on the Island, be sure and check out Man of Aran cottages. Mayra is a chef and fixes wonderful dinner if enough of the people staying want dinner. Very near the ocean, beautiful walks, rent a bike in town, see the fort and real neat rock walls, never can stop looking at them---Impressive.
Have a wonderful honeymoon---you will love everything!!