Irish ITINERARY needs massaging! Please help...FIRST trip! by Melissa2Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

Irish ITINERARY needs massaging! Please help...FIRST trip! by Melissa2Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

irisheyes
Unregistered User
(8/2/05 10:47 am)

first trip...

Thanks Melissa! I will save your info and start my travel planning book. You must have started planning for Ireland months/years ago! I'm so impressed. I guess I better get cracking, I only have 10 more months to go.

Ours will need to be a trip that is also enjoyable to a teen daughter and 10 yr. old son too. I'm not so sure about The Burren. From the looks of my travel guide, it looks like a big boulder?? It does say this is the place for different types of plants and birds.. so I guess this is perfect for your biologist husband.

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 11
(8/2/05 1:46 pm)

Re: first trip...

irisheyes, I LOVE travel planning, and love chatting to other travellers! Don't worry, for NORMAL people like you, 10 months is plenty of time to plan the trip! :lol

I confess I did start a while ago and I'm a more obsessive planner than is normal... However, since I enjoy it I think of it as my hobby, it's how I spend my free time when I have some time alone.

In June 2005 we went to beautiful Costa Rica. Before we went, I was planning 2 trips at once...Costa Rica 2005 and Ireland 2006!

Now I can focus entirely on Ireland.

Ireland is especially meaningful for me to work on because my beloved Irish grandmother came from Ireland!

Keep us posted on how your travel plans are coming. Sometimes your family will get tired of hearing about it...Not Ireland again! But here on Michele's web-site, WE NEVER get tired of talking about Ireland! Thanks, Michele!

Have your teens help you plan. When you develop your itinerary let them have some input. Tell them you are the planner but everybody in the family can vote on their favorite choices and you will try to incorporate some of those, but you're NOT promising all of those choices!

Best way to get teens involved is e-mail them links with photos. Also buy a book with photos and leave it on the breakfast table on the weekend when you're having breakfast together. (Or dinner?) Eyewitness and Insight guides both have photos plus info. I didn't buy those books for Ireland but I had them for Italy.

Best of luck! Nice chatting with you.

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3293
(8/2/05 11:52 pm)

Re: first trip...

Melissa,

Your itinerary is shaping up nicely. A few comments and answers to your questions:

1. Lisdoonvarna is a very small place. You mentioned that your husband likes activities, etc. You might find Lahinch more to your liking instead. It is a larger town than Lisdoon overlooking the ocean yet still in the general vicinity of all you want to see and do. Drive time from Shannon to Lisdoon/Lahinch is about 1 1/2 hours.

2. Galway vs. Cashel: I think I must vote for Cashel because it has you headed in the right direction. There is also plenty of sightseeing to do along the way. Depending on the night you will be in Cashel you should consider the Bru Boru show, which will give you a great performance of Irish music and dance. This year it is closed on Sunday & Monday. I think you are trying very hard to have two days for Dublin so if you spend only one in Cashel you can accomplish that.

3. Trim is also a very small town. Navan has twice the population. Drogheda has a population of around 23,000. All are in the general area you want to be in.

4. Ireland of the Welcomes Magazine: www.irelandofthewelcomes.com/ The column you want is "Byways Rather Than Highways".

5. Two other books that I recommend are Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to Ireland & Portrait of Ireland. They are coffee-table sized books so definitely are too large to take to Ireland with you. Your library may have them.

Michele

Robin
Unregistered User
(8/3/05 12:36 pm)

Planning

Melissa, I think we are twins separated at birth!! I, too, love the planning as much as the trip and adore traveling out of the U.S. I scoured everything I could get my hands on...but also started with a giant map of Ireland. As I found things I wanted to see I started charting the direction of travel. Once I narrowed down an area, I started booking a B & B in that area for 2-3 days stay. It worked great. I usually dont want to go back to the same place twice because there are so many other places to see before I "check out" but fell in love with Ireland. We are already talking about a third trip and bringing out kids and grandkids since we are seeing that our last trip and this one coming in September is just no enough to see everything we want to see. That will be in 10 years or so since our grandkids are toddlers....THAT would NOT be fun! I just now made our reservations at Headley Court, Bunratty (Micheles suggestion) for our last night since we stayed there in 2002 and were very comfortable. I highly recomment 'Kathleen Browne' as a hostess. She was very nice and her B & B is spotless. Just hearing the accent heightens my excitment.

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 12
(8/3/05 1:46 pm)

Re: first trip...

Hi Michele, you're an angel! Hope I'm not driving you crazy with questions.

I will check out the larger towns that you suggested as bases, to keep hubby busy. But since we will have a car on this trip, it is acceptable also to stay in a small town with interesting places within short driving distance.

When we went to Italy we didn't have a car and I had to make sure there was plenty for hubby to do within WALKING distance! He is 50 and still full of energy, very driven.

I love your web-site, and feel very fortunate to have your sound advice!

CASHEL: I think you're right, I'm leaning towards Cashel rather than Galway for the stopover too. Cashel is a slightly shorter drive, and seems to lend itself to a 1-night stay. I am excited to see that Bru Boru show, so I have to make sure we're not in Cashel on Sunday and Monday! Thanks very much for the info about that.

KILLARNEY:
Michele, if I do 1 night in Killarney followed by 1 night in Cashel, that's two 1-nighters in a row.

It fits so well in the schedule though and does free up an extra night for Dublin, you are right, I AM trying very hard to get 2 nights for Dublin!

QUESTION #1: If this were your schedule, would you put up with two 1-nighters in a row?

QUESTION #2: Is it better to keep the 1-nighter at Killarney National Park to make hubby's nature exploration of the park most convenient? Or is it better to take that night and add it onto Dingle, and do the Killarney National Park as a day-trip from Dingle? (And worry about getting lost in the fog driving back to the Dingle hotel from the park :eek

Thanks so much for the link to Ireland of the Welcomes Magazine! I haven't heard of that anywhere else except for on your excellent web-site here.

Michele, I have my great-grandmother's passport! I'm so thrilled to hold it in my hands. It is on loan to me from another relative. She and all 9 of her sons and daughters emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia in the 1900's, one at a time.

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 13
(8/3/05 1:56 pm)

Twins

Robin, YES, I always wanted a twin! Here's a picture of me.

Hopefully we're not identical and you have inherited the good looks.

Just kidding! I'm not really green.

How fun to find a kindred spirit! Robin, my hubby is like you, he usually doesn't want to go back to the same place twice because he wants to explore the world. BUT I know I'm going to want return trips to Ireland after our first trip, because my Irish grandmother with her wonderful Irish brogue passed on a love of Ireland to me.

If I have to, I'll return to Ireland on my own without hubby. I'll take somebody else with me. But maybe I can get hubby to love it enough on this first trip so he'll be willing to return with me.

I would love to see your trip reports for your previous trip. Are they on-line here somewhere?

Robin, what are your favorite treasured memories of Ireland?

cavan97
Unregistered User
(8/3/05 4:53 pm)

Ireland itinerary

A tiny village in Clare, not far from Lisdoonvarna, Kilfanora has set dancing in the barn at Vaughan's pub. This is very authentic. Local folk who are very serious about their dancing...very complex sets. Some seating for those who want to drop in to watch. It's great as, by the way, is the food at Vaughan's pub.
Jean

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 16
(8/3/05 5:19 pm)

Re: set dancing in barn

cavan97, thanks for the great tip about set dancing in the barn at Vaughan's pub in Kilfenora!

That's exactly the kind of thing I am hoping to experience, finding places where the locals are enjoying themselves. That's the reason I prefer 3 nights in one hotel, because then you have time to explore different activities in the surrounding areas.

Do you know if the set dancing is only on the weekend, or only on certain nights? If I am really looking forward to something I try to plan the itinerary so I can be in town on the right nights.

Robin
Unregistered User
(8/3/05 11:19 pm)

Trip Report

Melissa, I thought the trip report was gone but I found it on page 2 of "We're Back"....it is in 4 parts. I loved the way we did it. I would write my thoughts and then my husband would write. I suggest journaling every day. So much happens, you can't possibly remember it all. This time, I am going to download the pictures from that day onto that day's journals too. It became hard, when we got home, to remember what picture went with what little village.

Hint: be sure and check on the VAT charges and how to get that returned to you. I still dont completely understand what we are spose to get when purchasing things in Ireland. You are spose to ask each merchant for some kind of form but everytime I did that they looked at me like I was green. When we went to the airport to fly out...we were too late to do anything and everyone said if you try to get it mailed to you, it is almost impossible...so..I dont know. I need to check with Michele about that again. I just ended up dismissing the VAT charges but dont want to do that this time...it is something like 17% so can be hefty if you do lots of shopping.

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3295
(8/4/05 12:42 am)

The TRIP!

Melissa,

You are not driving me crazy at all. If I didn't like doing this I would just have the website and not the forum. I actually love giving advice about my favorite place on earth. My forum is designed to be a great meeting place for those who love Ireland and are planning trips. I see that you have found a kindred sprit already! So glad you are enjoying it.

BTW, I received your book order today and it will be in the mail to you on Thursday. I hope it helps with your planning.

As far as two one-night stays in a row, I don't see a problem with this. Sometimes it makes perfect sense in the grand scheme of things. Rather than do Killarney and backtrack to Dingle, just spend the night in Killarney. I know of a great guesthouse surrounded by Killarney National Park. You might even see some deer.

Do get the subscription on the Ireland of the Welcomes website because the subscription rate is much cheaper if you order online. It is a lovely magazine with glossy photos, excellent articles and interesting columns. I have subscribed to it for decades. You will have to let us know how you like your first issue.

I can't believe that you actually have your gg-mother's passport. What a treasure! I have a photo of my gg-mother and I have her gold thimble with her initals on it. But a passport is a great family document. You will have to make copies of it. Are you into genealogy? I have yet to make time for that as I'm too busy with everything else.

Michele

P.S. Robin: Generally VAT is not given back unless you spend over 10 euro in one place. It is really not worthwhile claiming it on small amounts. However, if you make large purchases you will definitely want to collect your VAT forms and get your money back. Then it is worth the time filling out the forms. I always suggest making copies of them before handing them in so that you have records. That way if you don't get it back you can complain.

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 24
(8/5/05 2:43 am)

Reply to Robin Re: Trip Report...thanks!

Robin: Are you "the other Robin"? If so, I found your trip report and printed out the 4 "chapters" so I can read them and highlight them. Thanks!

Uh-oh, my stack of Ireland folders is starting to tip precariously on my desk...I need more in-baskets! (My current in-baskets are full of Italy and Costa Rica and Maui...previous trips).

If there's a way to get back 17% of purchases hubby will be intrigued.

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 25
(8/5/05 2:56 am)

Reply to Michele Re: Killarney guest-house

Hi Michele! I can understand how special it is to have a photo and gold thimble with initials from your great-grandmother (ancestors!) Doesn't it give you a sense of women passing on their strengths through the generations? It's where we came from...

I haven't copied my great-grandmother's passport because I'm almost afraid it will disintegrate if I handle it too much! But I'm going to do it tomorrow. Great-grandmother had 9 children and so there is a huge family of descendants who might like a copy of that passport. I'm wondering how many copies to make actually! The passort has her photo...passport issued in 1901, I think.

Yes, I want to do geneology research. I tried to do some, but you can spend hours and hours and just come up with tantalizing clues that tell you you can't get any more without paying for it!

So I'm going to pay for a 1-year subscription to ancestry.com which hubby's uncle used to research his side of the family. He recommends it. You have to have some facts to start with to plug into it, then they do the research for you.

But I'd sure enjoy verifying that research for myself in Ireland, that would be cool seeing the facts for myself!

QUESTION: Almost forgot, yes, I'd love to hear about the Killarney guesthouse surrounded by Killarney National Park!

I think you're right, in my itinerary it makes no sense to back-track to Dingle after Killarney National park. So onward!

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3306
(8/6/05 12:48 am)

Re: Reply to Michele Re: Killarney guest-house

Melissa,

The guesthouse is Friar's Glen in Killarney. You can click through to it from my "Lodgings" page.

Michele

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 30
(8/6/05 1:37 am)

To: Michele; Re: Friar's Glen and Yew woodlands

Michele, thanks for the tip on Friar's Glen guesthouse. It says on their web-site they are within walking distance to the main sites such as Muckross House and Garden. Just the kind of place I'm looking for, as a 1-night stay is so short, I will want to be conveniently located for exploring Killarney National park.

Have you stayed there? Is it an Irish couple who runs it? (Because of my Irish grandmother I'm hoping to stay in as many B&Bs run by the Irish as I am able to find in suitable locations.)

Michele, do you just happen to know where the ancient Yew woodlands are within Killarney national park? It is almost impossible to figure out just where exactly the oldest Yew woodlands in the park are located, though I have read about them, it never says exactly where they are! I'm trying to put us near them, for hubby. He wants his walk in the woods, and is likely to even get up early the next morning before we leave for a second walk while the rest of us are snoozing before breakfast.

A big Irish thanks for all your help.

garyvol
Unregistered User
(8/6/05 7:19 am)

killarney national park

Hi
Might I also suggest doing a photo op. standing in front of Lady's View just down the road.
-gary

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3313
(8/7/05 2:05 am)

Yew Woods

Melissa,

Yes, I have stayed at Friar's Glen. It is lovely and they do a wonderful breakfast. It is owned by Irish people. In fact the husband owns the local garden center. Maybe he can point you directly to the best woods.

You might enjoy this article about the woods:
www.sierraclub.org/sierra...reland.asp

Go to this site:
www.wherekillarney.com/ click on "Map" & "Lake District" for the location of Tomies Woods. For the yew woods near Muckross House click on "Map" & "Muckross".

There is also a very old, large yew in the cloister of Muckross Abbey.

This link might also be of interest:
www.killarney250.com/history.php?HID=2

Happy yew wood hunting!

Michele

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 37
(8/7/05 4:59 pm)

Re: Yew Woods

Michele, I think the Friar's Glen guesthouse sounds perfect. Thanks for the tip. And the links on Killarney National park are great! They will help give hubby a realistic idea of what his biology walks will be like in Killarney area so he won't be disappointed. If he doesn't like the sound of them we can always go somewhere else.

But so far he still wants to go to Killarney National Park so that makes Friar's Glen perfect for a 1-night stop for us.

I received your book and am eagerly highlighting it! Pretty soon the entire text will be yellow-highlighted! I especially love how you have included a sense of the hosts, what they are like. You give enough details to give a "sense" of the "personality" of each B&B.

Appreciate you telling me the Friar's Glen is owned by Irish people...this is a bonus for me as talking to Irish people tends to evoke fond memories of my Irish grandmother and her Irish sisters with that fascinating Irish brogue...Also since the husband at Friar's Glen owns the local garden center, as you say, he and my hubby will have something in common.

irisheyes
Unregistered User
(8/7/05 9:45 pm)

trip planning

Melissa;
Just was curious why you chose NOT to stay in Shannon for the first three days of your journey. We will have a 10 hour flight so will most probably need a place very close to the airport.

Robin
Unregistered User
(8/7/05 9:56 pm)

Shannon

We stayed near Shannon after flying into Shannon, stayed a second night there and then also ended back at the same B & B before we flew out. We're leaving in one month and staying at the same B & B when we fly out. It is near Bunratty..."The Headley House" and Kathleen Brown is the hostess. The B & B was recommended by Michele and she was right. Very clean and nice people. We were so jet lagged when we got there that we fell asleep in her parking lot waiting for her to get there. ....easy to find too

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 39
(8/7/05 11:10 pm)

Re: trip planning

irisheyes, you asked why we are choosing NOT to stay in Shannon for our first 3 nights. We will have a long flight too...San Diego to Los Angeles, then Los Angeles to Shannon!

I haven't booked our flights yet. If we arrive early in the day, I think I would rather rent the car and drive to our first destination, which is Lisdoonvarna (near the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren.) It's about a 90-minute drive I believe. I don't want to "waste" any of our vacation time, and I think this isn't city driving, it's more out in the country.

But if it turns out that our flight arrives in the evening, we may spend 1 night near the airport, maybe in Ennis, and then drive to Lisdoonvarna the next morning and stay only 2 nights in Lisdoonvarna.

We don't like to change hotels frequently, as it involves some packing and unpacking which is annoying.

Also it's better to acclimate to the time right away when you arrive.

But I think it's a fine decision if you don't want to drive on the day of arrival. When we went to Italy, I didn't want us to have to deal with transportation in Rome. I had someone pick us up at the airport and take us to our Rome hotel. We didn't sleep for several hours, though.

If we were arriving in Dublin, I for sure wouldn't want to drive on the first day, because of the city traffic.

I wouldn't want to spend 3 nights near the airport as there isn't anything I want to see nearby. So the most I would spend is 1 night near the airport.

Melissa2Ireland
Registered User
Posts: 40
(8/7/05 11:18 pm)

To: Robin; Re: sleep at Headley near Shannon

Robin: Thank you for recommending the Headley House, in case we decide to have 1 night near the airport. Hubby and I will vote on this, it will partly depend on what time of day we arrive. Hubby can sleep anywhere and he will sleep at least 5 hours on the plane. Probably we will choose to drive 90-minutes to Lisdoonvarna. But you never know. Good to have an option.

irisheyes
Unregistered User
(8/7/05 11:32 pm)

trip plannning

Robin - Is the house near Shannon the one that is the working farm? I don't have my book....yet! <P>
Melissa, Good comments... just wondered if there was any reason I shouldn't be considering Shannon.

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3320
(8/8/05 1:35 am)

Re: trip plannning

Melissa,

Glad to hear the book arrived. You should get different color highlighters so the book will look like a rainbow! Pink, blue, yellow, violet. :lol

Irisheyes,

Headley Court is not a working farm. If you want a farmhouse near Shannon I suggest Cahergal Farmhouse. It is on my "Lodgings" page.

Michele