where to begin

veek61 · Member

where to begin

Michele Erdvig · Host

Veek,

Since the two "givens" are Dublin and Northern Ireland you will be better off flying into and out of Dublin. There is plenty to do in Dublin or nearby for three days. Then go north for three days. Don't be tempted to get scattered and try to see it all. Impossible for such a short trip. Stay focused and you will enjoy Ireland much more.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Three days from Shannon to Dublin would give the choice of up to and around Galway and across to Dublin or down through Kerry to Cork and up. The more relaxed option would be the 1st, covering less ground. Three days from Dublin to Belfast and the Antrim coast then back cross country is just about enough time but leaves little for Dublin.

veek61 · Member

thanks so much - the great thing about having access to so much information is that we can really plan ahead. the challenging thing is that it is so much information

wish we had more time, but are thankful for what we have. i am thinking if we try to focus on just two or three specific towns or sites (plus everything in between), we'll have the trip we seek.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Veek,

Delighted to help.

Don't forget that in Ireland traveling around is generally slow. Then there are all those photo stops which add to the time it takes to travel around. Your idea of sticking to a couple of areas is best with your limited time. You are starting out on the right foot with your plans.

Michele

veek61 · Member

michele, funny you should mention about slow traveling - i have been telling my traveling buddies that even though it is only approx 120 miles from shannon to dublin as the crow flies, that's not a quick ride like we'd expect here.

my ancestors were from cork and kerry so i had wanted to see those areas, but daughter in dublin and belfast makes me think we'll stick to east coast. i am sure i am showing my naivete here but there's plenty of beautiful country to see along the east coast, right? everyone always seems to talk about the west side and i am aching for lovely coast, rolling green hills, and sheep crossing the road. you know, the stereotype!

curious if you've heard of anyone using dooley vacations to coordinate their trip. i got there after following the recommendations for using dan dooley for car rentals. probably costs a little more than if we plan it all ourselves but nice to have a package that still allows flexibility in itinerary!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Veek,

Just to the south of Dublin is Co. Wicklow. It has mountains, lakes, waterfalls, gardens, green rolling hills, and huge dunes at Brittas Bay. It is often used in movies as the quintessential Ireland.

I've no feedback on Dooley Vacations. Be careful with vouchers for accommodations. Not the best way to go.

Michele

veek61 · Member

michele, i just ordered your book and am looking forward to receiving it. you really provide such a wonderful service here - thank you so much - it is obvious that your heart is in it, and it is much appreciated. you are so patient and kind, answering the same questions over and over again for so many people! lots of good karma for you! you have helped us shape our (rather short) trip and as it gets closer we are getting very excited. i've bounced around on a few threads but came back to this one since i started it

here is what we have decided so far: we fly into shannon 11/8, rent a car, and drive to killarney where we will spend 4 nights. our daughter will take the train from dublin to killarney and meet us there. from killarney we will go with the flow depending on weather and availability but hopefully get day trips to kenmare and dingle/slea head. our daughter is interning with a senator from kenmare so she is excited to see it as well! after day 4 we will say goodbye to killarney and head to dublin where we will spend the next 3 nights. we hope to spend a day exploring dublin, another day heading up to belfast, and the third day going to dun laoghaire (where daughter lives with her host family) and wicklow.

then we fly home on 11/15

a few things about which we still need to get educated/influenced:

1) we have narrowed down lodging in killarney to either a cottage near the national park (with 15 min walk to town) or an apartment right in town. we are divided because the cottage is so lovely and very "ireland" and remote, which is appealing, but if it is pouring all 4 days it would be trickier getting into and out of town (yes we will have a car but if, for example, we head to a pub we won't be driving). the apartment in town looks nice but is more generic - nothing particularly irish about it, but it would be quite convenient. any thoughts?

2) the rental car - we will rent from shannon airport and thought we would leave it in killarney (as you suggested) and then use a train for the rest of our trip but daughter tells us that public transport from dublin to wicklow national park is not precise (i.e. the closest bus or train stop is still quite a way from the park) and everything i read says travel by car is best - so on the one hand we love the idea of using public transport but are wondering if it is practical.

3) is it crazy to go to belfast "for the day"? and if not, then is it crazy to try and see giant's causeway along with belfast in a single day and is there a way to do all of that using public transport?

4) castles - kind of a requirement when one goes to ireland - knowing our itinerary, which would you recommend? other than ross - and since we may be on public transport after killarney (so we won't have the freedom in the north and east that we have in the southwest) - any recommendations?

we've not figured out lodging for dublin yet but if we surrender the car in killarney we will probably just do a hotel in the south part of the city so we can have easy access to public transport.

thanks again for all of the useful info!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Veek,

Thanks for ordering my book. You should have is shortly. I appreciate your kind comments about the forum. You're right - I love Ireland and sharing what I know with others. I firmly believe that "what goes around, comes around."

1. I would opt for the apartment in town. Why? You can walk everywhere. Plus you are traveling with others. If someone wants to go into town for shopping or pubs and the others want to do something else, no problem. You won't be fighting over who gets the car and who goes where.

2. You can go to Dún Laoghaire on DART from Dublin. There are day tours going to Wicklow:

http://www.wildwicklow.ie/

http://www.daytoursunplugged.ie/

http://www.irishcitytours.com/index3-daytours-tour1.html

3. You have a lot packed into your trip. Even though you have three days in Dublin part of one day will be traveling from Killarney to Dublin. That really only leaves time to see Dublin and Wicklow. I would skip Belfast and Giant's Causeway.

4. You could stop by Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on arrival day (ten minutes from the airport) and then drive to Killarney. Probably depends on your arrival time. There is Dublin Castle in Dublin although it does not look all that castle-like. There are castle ruins dotting the countryside. Did you want ones you can actually go into and tour?

Michele

stewh · Guru

Veek

I like Michele's advice about staying at the apartment right in town. It has been my experience that a described '15 minute walk' can in reality be a lot longer. An even trickier phrase is 'within easy walking distance' - generally applies only to Olympic athletes.

Michele, we just returned from our 3 week visit, will post a trip report soon. As always the forum has been very helpful.

Stewart

Michele Erdvig · Host

Stewart,

Welcome back. I can't wait to hear about your trip and your self-catering. I know the weather has not been the best this year.

You are right about being "walking distance" to anything. It is tricky. Especially when many places in Ireland you have to walk on the main road with no sidewalks and no lights. And that 15 minute walk can really be an hour's jog.

Michele