annjgr
Registered User
Posts: 1
(7/23/05 9:47 am)

planning another trip

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Hi Michele, we traveled to Ireland 2 years ago and are just beginning to plan another trip for the middle of March 2006.
We bought your book and it was a great help to us for the first trip.
When we planned our first trip we used a travel agent and she made all the B&B reservations for us and bought our airline tickets. This time we are thinking of doing this part of the trip ourselves. Do you think it would be more expensive for us to make our own travel arrangements? Since we have traveled once in Ireland we feel that we might like travel on our own this time and not be tied down to reservations. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad one?
Thank you, Ann in Savannah.

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3280
(7/23/05 4:33 pm)

planning another trip

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Ann,

It is nice to hear that you are planning another trip to Ireland. Thanks for letting me know that my book was a help.

Generally, I think that doing a trip on your own is less expensive than using a travel agent. However, on occasion they do run very good fly/drive/voucher packages that are good value. So you must do your research in advance. But you have plenty of time for that.

For airfares I suggest you moniter the airline websites for fares on a regular basis. Also sign up for email newsletters from the airlines as they will alert you of special deals.

As for lodging reservations, I do recommend booking your first and last nights in Ireland as well as the Dublin portion of your trip. If you are traveling around a holiday (like St. Patrick's Day) reservations are in order. Otherwise, in March there is no problem "winging it" and just going where the day takes you.

If I can help in any other way, please let me know.

Michele

annjgr
Registered User
Posts: 2
(8/7/05 4:38 pm)

Re: planning another trip

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We are thinking of just using buses this time for our transportation. We would like to travel from Shannon airport to Galway and spend the St Patrick's Day there and probably 2 more nights. We are thinking of going to Northern Ireland this time too. I realize that it is a long bus ride but we feel that we could enjoy seeing the country along the way to Derry and to Belfast. We thought we might take the train to Drogheda for our last night and then fly out of Dublin. What do you think of this tentative plan?

annjgr
Registered User
Posts: 3
(8/7/05 4:40 pm)

Re: planning another trip

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If anyone else on the forum has used public transportation for getting around in Ireland I would love to know what you thought of the experience.

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3316
(8/8/05 1:01 am)

Re: planning another trip

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Ann,

Traveling around Ireland by public transportation can be done but it requires research on train and bus timetables. You can access both by going to my "Transport" page and clicking through to them.

In March there will be fewer tours available from various destinations in Ireland so you will most likely find yourself using public transportation exclusively. You will want to check various passes that allow you to use trains and buses in the Republic as well as Northern Ireland.

Anita who posts frequently on the forum has done this. I suggest you post another subject to include the words "Ireland by Public Transportation" in the title. Anita will catch up with you and be of great help as she always is.

Michele