First time to Ireland

roo1103 · Member

First time to Ireland

Melissa5 · Guru

roo1103: I am planning my second trip to Ireland. I have a whole shelf of my bookcase devoted to guidebooks and picture books on Ireland. I think Michele's book is the best guidebook for Ireland! Are you the type of planner who reads more than 1 guidebook?

Good idea to plan a relaxing trip, and not so much driving. Have you looked at the aa web-site for Ireland, which gives drive times between destinations? I keep it bookmarked in my toolbar, and use it constantly.

Plan your itinerary BEFORE you buy your airline tickets, and check drive times. Remember you can fly into Shannon and out of Dublin if its more convenient for you. In fact, you can also fly into and out of Shannon if it suits your itinerary. (Aer Lingus is one of the airlines which flies into Shannon.)

For a 10-day trip to Ireland, at an enjoyable relaxing pace, without too much driving, I would suggest that you focus on 2 counties which are next to each other... For example, you could have a fantastic 10-day trip focused on County Clare and County Kerry, and you could fly into and out of Shannon.

Have a wonderful trip to Ireland! aww

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roo,

Welcome to my forum. Melissa has started you off with good basic info. May I ask what time of year you plan on visiting Ireland? That will make a difference to the advice we give you.

You asked about my book. I've written it to be user-friendly. The first few chapters walk you through all the steps you need to plan a trip. Then it shows you what is available for you to see and do in Ireland, where to stay, where to eat, pubs, shopping, day trips and basically everything you need to know. It is a very personal type guidebook. Not cut and dried like many others tend to be. One of my readers told me that my love of Ireland shines through. Maybe that is what makes it different. Other people write guidebooks because that's their job. I write my book to help people and because I love what I do.

Let us know how we can help you make your trip and your mother's special.

Michele

paulsimons87 · Newbie

Hello Everyone..

I am Paul Simons from United States and have a planned a trip to Ireland in the next month.....But i was wondering about the temperature there....because summer is going on.....Also can somebody list here the popular attractions which are full of natural beautiness as well as the places of historical interest too....?? Please reply as soon as possible....Every reply will be appreciated...

Paul Simons.

tony2phones · Guru

Welcome Paul,

I am sat here in the cottage in jeans and tee shirt with the door lodged open watching the squirels in the sunshine. complaints from the farmers down the bank because it hasn't rained for over a week. Next week it might be freezing cold and pooring down but thats Ireland for you. Sure I think next month will be decent enough weather wise and summer hasn't arrived over here yet.

So you are comming over next month for how long? Flying into? Flying out from?

Just avoid the urge to want to see everything as road trips seldom get the same satisfaction as getting the most out of just 3 or 4 places.

There are lots of itinneraries planned in these forums so have a rummage and see if anything appeals.

As to sights and atractions then everyone will have their own so a couple of links to start you with.

http://goireland.about.com/od/preparingyourtrip/tp/top10sights.htm

http://www.goireland.com/blog/article/top-10-heritage-towns-of-ireland.html

http://www.myguideireland.com/attractions

roo1103 · Member

Thank you for the information. I plan on going to Ireland in August of 2012. From what I have read the summer seems to be the best time to go...?? I would so much love to go this year but I am going to Paris in June so I really don't have time to plan this trip in the detail in which I would like. It sounds like Michele's book would be most helpful. The more I read about Ireland, it sounds like I will be making more than one trip. I am looking at Western and Southwestern Ireland. I am so excited and really don't want to wait til next August. Any suggestions for other times of the year in which I don't have to wait so long?

Cheers!

Roo

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roo,

September is nice.

Michele