Solo and staying in Hostels?

manyfires · Newbie

Solo and staying in Hostels?

CowboyCraic · Guru

Danielle,

Welcome to the Forum.

As a photographer and a solo traveler, I would suggest that you consider B&Bs as an alternative to Hostels. I have done both and, with a few exceptions, have felt more at ease in B&Bs when it came to leaving behind my luggage. My camera equipment always goes wherever I go unless I am grabbing a quick dinner and sometimes even then. I don't fret too much about leaving my suitcase in the car, as most subcompacts I have rented have a privacy screen that can be pulled across the top to stop prying eyes.

Where will you have already explored in Ireland with the wedding party?

If you are looking for lodgings in the larger cities: Galway, Cork, Dublin or Belfast, you will definitely want to book ahead.

Slan Beo (Take Care),

Bit

manyfires · Newbie

Thank you so much for the info. I will be staying with the wedding party at Belle Isle Castle to begin with. We will be hiking Slieve Donard (Newcastle) one day, then a few days of wedding festivities, then we will be traveling to Corofin and will hike around the Burren (I'm hoping they plan to visit The Cliffs of Moher, but I may need to re-visit them on my own regardless). Then we travel to Killarney and hike Carrauntoohil. After that, we head to Dublin, where I will be getting a rental car.

If you have any advice, based on that, on where I might explore on my own, it would be appreciated. The Cliffs of Moher are top on my list for some personal reasons, but after that I am open to suggestions. I am concentrating on outdoor/landscapes, as it's my favorite photographic subject, with less attention paid to towns, cities, culture sites, etc. I typically try to be out photographing for sunset/sunrise when I can, so in terms of lodging I'm not looking for anything fancy, just somewhere to crash for a few hours. I love camping, but I can't really take camping equipment with me when I fly to Ireland.

I am obviously VERY worried about having to drive on my own, on the opposite side of the road. And I have (almost) never driven an manual. So I am planning to rent an automatic (I know it's not the best for the roads there, but in going by myself I will have enough anxiety about not running into someone, much less trying to concentrate on shifting). I'm wondering if leaving Dublin at some ungodly morning (like 3 or 4am) will help me get out of Dublin without meeting too much traffic? I think I will also be renting from the airport, which looks to be north of the city... will that make it easier to get into and out of town? (And I do know it will be a bit more expensive to rent from the airport).

Thanks again!
Danielle

Michele Erdvig · Host

Danielle,

Take Bit's advice and stay at B&Bs. It only costs a little more and you can lock up your equipment in your room. Also, you will have an en suite room, which means your own bathroom attached to your room. I have never had any qualms about leaving things in the B&Bs that I stay at. It is worth the peace of mind.

The airport is on the north side of Dublin. As long as you don't want to depart during rush hour I think you will be fine. Depending on where you are going, a lot of the roads and highways around the airport are divided highways and will make for easier driving than 2-lane country roads. Just be sure to study your map in advance so you know where you are going and the route you want to take.

There are certainly a variety of landscapes in Ireland from ocean to mountains and everything in between.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Danielle,

Hopefully they will visit the Cliffs whilst you are in Corofin. It would make more sense than to drive back from Dublin.

An automatic, whilst costing more, is the best way to go when you are unfamiliar with left-side driving. It gives you one less thing to have to remember.

Let your B&B host know that you will be making sunrise forays and work out your breakfast time accordingly. I always send back an exceptional photo I have taken in their area as a thank you. Not a requirement, it is just what I do.

Kilkenny would be a good base for some great landscapes and ruins. Fore is off the beaten path but is worth it for the landscapes and the unspoiled Fore Abbey. Also in the Fore area are Tullynally Castle, Lough Lene and Loughcrew Cairns which are well worth the time in their own right. Hill of Tara and NewGrange offer up beautiful places for Sunrise or Sunset photos. The Wicklow area and Glendalough are also great photographic subjects.

If Fore looks interesting to you, I can recommend Hounslow House for accommodations. Eithne Healy is a great lady. The home is over 200 years old. It overlooks the Fore Valley

The two photos below are two of my best sellers from the Fore Valley:

-- Edited by CowboyCraic on Wednesday 17th of August 2011 12:55:29 PM

-- Edited by CowboyCraic on Wednesday 17th of August 2011 01:00:12 PM