Trip to Ireland - 10 days - Itinerary Help !!!!!

Date: 3:33 AM, 04/24/11

Trip to Ireland - 10 days - Itinerary Help !!!!!

tony2phones · Guru

2 nights Dublin (get over jet lag explore the city)

1 night between Dublin and Killarney (hire a car head across via Kilkenny, Cashel,Cahir)

2 nights Killarney (Ring of kerry, national park, Muckross etc)

2 nights Ennis/west Clare (drive round Dingle and either cross the ferry or the tunnel into Clare)

2 nights Galway (Connamara, Athenry, Galway bay)

1 night near Dublin Airport.

Dont think you can fit in a three nights stay without doing some trimming.

Date: 7:02 AM, 04/24/11

Thank you for your quick response !!

do you have any suggestions for places to saty - B&B

also whne do we fit in Cliffs of Moher & the Ring of Kerry ?

shouldwe be staying at Dingle for two nights ?

Thank you for all your help.

Rama

tony2phones · Guru

The Ring of Kerry is usually done from Killarney or Kenmare.

The Cliffs of Moher are beside Doolin in the west Clare coast and I recommend Ennis as a touring base for this area on a whole due to the amenities available. Having said that the Fledh Nua is on in town the end of May so accommodation could be scarce.

Should you stay 2 nights in/on Dingle. You are asking the wrong man on this one. Personally Slea Head, the Connor Pass and a couple of decent beaches are not enough justification for time there on a road trip. Many would disagree.

Michele has an accommodations page with recommended B&B

I have no doubt you will get more responses as the day progresses

Rough map for you to look at.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?doflg=ptk&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=215571892271980732006.0004a1aacd9cc0ae2c5db&ll=52.603048,-8.371582&spn=3.283123,7.064209&z=7

Date: 10:09 AM, 04/24/11

Thank You for your valuable advice - I will check out Michelle's lodging page.

murphy · Guru

Some quick B&B suggestions based on what we have experienced.

Kilkenny-Rosquil House....I would rate this 4-5* for a B&B

Killarney: Looked at rooms at 3 properties; would stay at all 3, but have not: (1) Murphys B&B-they claim 3* accomodations, (2) The Fairview Guesthouse 4*....very nice, and (3) The Royal Hotel also 4* probably the best of the three...family run, service oriented. All 3 within 1 block of each other and conveniently located just on the east part of the downtown shopping area, pubs and restaurants.

Ennis: We liked the Sleepy Hollow B&B...a brisk 10 minute walk to downtown, but located near a petrol station and near enough to a major motorway for an early morning excape to Shannon airport.

Galway: We also liked the location of Griffin Lodge, just about 2 blocks west of the Spanish Arch. Easy walk to all of the Galway activities and amenities. The hostess was extremely friendly and helpful, and rooms clean, but rooms also a little smaller than average. Location won out for us.

Dublin: Stayed at Rathview House in Swords. Great B&B and also a close get-away to drop the car for an early morning flight out of Dublin.

Kenmare: A better option instead of Killarney in my opinion. We liked Virginia's Guesthouse; great breakfast, near the south side of the "downtown triangle" Can easily walk to everything in Kenmare except the new grocery store, located about a 15 minute walk on the north end of town. We stayed at Foley's B&B above Foley's Pub 5 years ago, but they now seemed to have gotten a little pricier than comparable B&B's in Kenmare.

Hope this helps! Dan

Wellsley · Guru

rama,

We are doing a similar trip in May also. This is our Itinerary.
We will be arriving in Mid May 2011 for 10 days but loose a day in traveling.
Friday and saturday in Dublin rented a car 10am Sunday and drive to Blarney
Stay in Blarney one night either see the Blarney castle Sunday or Monday
Monday either see Blarney Castle and go to Killarney or go straight to Killarney
Two nights in Killarney tuesday see the ring of kerry
Wednesday morning early leave for Dingle spend one night in Dingle see slea head drive If we can fit it in see the blasket islands eco tour.
Thursday Leave Dingle mid day go to cliffs of Moher then to Galway city for two nights.
Friday we have no concrete plans as yet it may be a time to relax
Saturday leave and go to bunratty and see bunratty castle, folk park and medival banquet.
Sunday leave Shannon airport for New York.
As far as how many days to spend in one spot, well it's never going to be enough.

Frank

Michele Erdvig · Host

Rama,

Welcome to my forum. Good advice from everyone so far. As for planning your itinerary, only you know what your interests are. Sit down with a map, blank calendar and your list of "must sees". Then try to "connect the dots" and try to stay in some places for two-night and do day trips.

Some people like to cover a lot of ground, others prefer to go slower and soak in the atmosphere. Everyone has a different travel style. Plan the trip to suit your own preferences.

Let us know if you have any other questions. Feel free to post your proposed itinerary and we will comment.

Michele

Date: 2:11 AM, 04/25/11

Thank you Michelle & everyone else for your valuable feed back - basedon which I have come up with a tentative Itinerary - still have some loose ends - Please take a look at it & giveme your suggestions.

I have 11 nights in all - just realised I have en extra night:

Day 1& Day 2 - Arrive in Dublin- spend the 1st & second nights in Dublion & explore the city & surroundings. Planning on staying at Andorra B&B

Day 3 - hire a rental Car & drive out of Dublin - not sure where to spend that night onway to Killarney - want to see RockofCashel & Cahir Castle ...or any other must see place on way to Killarney - thinking will spend thenight at Killkenny or Blarney - notsure - Please Help !!

Day 4 - Drive down to Killarney & spend 3 nights here - to cover all the major attractions aroundhere at a leisurely pace - Please suggest B&B here.

Day 7 - Drive out to Dingle - spend 2 nights either at Dingleor ENNis - based on which is a better place with access to all the major attractions - want to do Cliffs of Moher, other attractions - please suggestwhich is a better place to spend 2 nights - Dingle or Ennis.

Day 9 - Drive down to gallaway - spen 2 nights at Gallaway

Day 11 - drive down to Dublin - spend a night near the airport - as we have a flight at 8:00 am the next day.

Please let me knwo if we are missing anything for a first timer in Ireland - things that are a must see.

Regards,

Rama,

Date: 2:13 AM, 04/25/11

Also please Suggest B&B for Ennis, Dingle & Gallaway too.

Thank You!!

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Rama,

Have you checked Michele's Lodgings page for her accommodation suggestions?

http://www.irelandyes.com/lodgings.html

We have stayed at Prague House on Father Griffin Road in Galway (http://www.praguehousegalway.com/). It was a comfortable house with a great location and very helpful proprietors. It is about 5-10 minutes' walk to the Salthill area and its lovely promenade - and the bus stop to catch the shuttles out to Rossaveal (Ros an Mhil) ferry docks where the ferries depart for the Aran Islands. In the other direction, it's about a 10-15 minute walk to the Quay Street/High Street/Shop Street area of town, where there are many restaurants and pubs.

We have not stayed in Ennis itself (as the self-catering we rent is close enough to make day trips into the town), so I'm afraid I cannot help you there. But I know others have and can make recommendations.

On Dingle Peninsula, we have stayed at Cill Bhreac House B&B, which is located just outside Dingle Town. It comes highly recommended by Rick Steves. The location was fine - beautiful views of the harbor (from some of the rooms) - and the accommodation itself was okay. But it was nothing spectacular. I think that the proprietor, Angela, has raised prices since she started being recommended by Rick. She is a good host and has good knowledge of the area, and I might stay there again, but I'd like to try some other places...

Michele recommends Emlagh House (http://www.emlaghhouse.com/index.html), and it looks very nice. Again, we don't generally stay overnight on Dingle. We day trip from elsewhere. But when we finally get out to the Blaskets, we will stay on the peninsula, and we'll most likely try Michele's recommended B&B.

Your trip is getting very close now. Have a wonderful time!

tony2phones · Guru

A recpected friend of mine swears by Pax house in Dingle (she is down there this week)

http://www.pax-house.com/index.asp

As for Ennis accommodation might be a bit scarce the end of may with the Fledh going on in town so it might be a case of The Old Ground or Temple Gate Hotels in town or just out of town we will be having one or two nights in The Auburn Lodge or there is the Woodstock which generaly has some good offers.

http://www.fleadhnua.com/

http://www.woodstockhotelennis.com/

http://www.auburnlodge.com/

http://www.flynnhotels.com/Old_Ground_Hotel_Ennis/Welcome

http://www.templegatehotel.com/

Michele Erdvig · Host

Rama,

On day 3 I think you should consider overnighting in Cashel. Seeing the sightseeing attractions will take up a good portion of the day. Don't forget the Swiss Cottage in Cahir too. I love that quirky little place.

Michele