Ireland in March - Itinerary

Veteran Member

RE: Ireland in March - Itinerary

Michele Erdvig · Host

Right. You won't even know when you cross the border.

Michele

Veteran Member

Maybe if I have to pick the rental up in the airport on Tuesday morning I can run inside and see if anyone is around that can help me since at least it won't be 2am!

Michele Erdvig · Host

5111,

Why not send an inquiry to Dublin Airport? information.queries@daa.ie

Michele

Veteran Member

Michele Erdvig wrote:
5111,
Why not send an inquiry to Dublin Airport? information.queries@daa.ie
Michele

That is a fantastic idea that I never would have thought of! Thank you.

Can you help me out with plug/power converters? I have heard people tell me that you only need plug converters for most electronics with a little box (like laptops and some cellphones). That they have power reducers built into those boxes. I know that Ireland uses a different voltage, but I can't think of anything that I would need to plug in other than a laptop and maybe the wife's hairdryer and straightener. Do we need converters, and if so, can someone here recommend one that will handle these items?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Here's a link to an earlier thread which should have the answers:

http://ireland.activeboard.com/t15748666/adapters/

It has a link to an even earlier thread, which covers the basics:

http://ireland.activeboard.com/t15748666/adapters/forum.spark?forumID=65127&p=3&topicID=11003602

Hope this helps,

Bob

Veteran Member

It does, thank you.

What are your thoughts about the Dublin Pass. We will be in Dublin Saturday afternoon, Sunday, and Monday. We were planning on doing the Hop On Hop Off busses instead of taxis. In your opinion, is the DP worth it for us?

Michele Erdvig · Host

5111,

I've not used the Dublin Pass personally. I suppose the best thing to do is make a list of the places you want to see in Dublin. Have a column for the price and add them all up. Then see if the pass will actually save you money or be of benefit.

Michele

P.S. If Dublin Airport answers, let us know what it says. I'm interested.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Hair dryers do not do well in Ireland even with transformers and converters. They tend to throw circuit breakers and black out the whole place or else set your hair on fire! Use the ones provided in the hotels and B&Bs. Most will have them. Look in the drawers because sometimes they are tucked away. If there is not one in the room ask to borrow one.

Veteran Member

Itallian Chauffeur wrote:
Here's a link to an earlier thread which should have the answers:
http://ireland.activeboard.com/t15748666/adapters/

It has a link to an even earlier thread, which covers the basics:
http://ireland.activeboard.com/t15748666/adapters/forum.spark?forumID=65127&p=3&topicID=11003602
Hope this helps,
Bob

I checked the laptop and cellphone chargers and they all said 110-240V. I forgot to check the frequency.

"INPUT 110-240V ~~ 50/60Hz 0.1A"

And no word back yet from the airport.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

If they are dual voltage, then they are, in fact, also Dual Frequency, so those items are good to go -- needing only a Plug adapter to match up with the Irish wall sockets.

It is the Frequency disparity issue which causes the short life span of Converter/Transformer powered (or even, MOST dual voltage) hair driers and curling irons, by the way.

The MUCH lower powered chargers are significantly more tolerant.

Bob

Veteran Member

I am thinking about staying in the Clarion Hotel Dublin Airport on that last night. Does anyone have any experience with them? I'm thinking that I could drop the car off at the Dooley car return and then maybe walk back to the hotel for the night. They also claim to have a 24 hour airport shuttle but we may even be able to walk...maybe. It says that it is only .3mi from the airport and we will each have a suitcase with rollers.

Any ideas/opinions?

Michele Erdvig · Host

5111,

I've not stayed at the Clarion. It is very close to the airport maybe a 10 minute walk. When I have an early flight I usually stay at Premier Inn. But I don't think their shuttle starts till 6 am. When I have a later flight I prefer staying in Malahide village.

Note that the Dooley lot closes at 6pm. Their lot is not at the airport itself. You must drop the car and take a free shuttle bus to the airport. Contact them for more info on dropping your car if it will be after that time.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

The Dooley drop-off lot is next to the Carlton Hotel. They are showing a 24 hour a day shuttle.

Veteran Member

Michele Erdvig wrote:
Note that the Dooley lot closes at 6pm. Their lot is not at the airport itself. You must drop the car and take a free shuttle bus to the airport. Contact them for more info on dropping your car if it will be after that time.

That is discouraging news. Their airport website shows that they are open until 22:00, but now I am wondering if that is just the desk inside the airport. I contacted Dooley and they confirmed that it closes at 6pm. I prefer to return the car at a late hour so that I don't have to worry about rushing back from Cork and can then just go to bed. At the same time, I prefer to return the car to an actual person so that I don't get billed for other things without being able to contest them.

As for the hotel, I was thinking that if I stayed at the Clarion I will need to take an airport shuttle into the airport to the hotel, but can then just walk to our flight in the morning. If I stay at the Carlton I can just walk over from Dooley, but will have to take their 24hr shuttle to the airport.

Does anyone know of a rental place that will be open late?

-- Edited by 5111 on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 11:17:44 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

I think the last time I got a car in Dublin really late was with Budget. But that was several years ago when the lots were actually at the airport. Now most are off-airport. Each one is different. You will have to inquire of them to find out what you need to know. But at least now you know that Dooley is not open late.

Michele

Veteran Member

Here is what I have learned:

Dan Dooley's return car location is not in the airport, it is next to the Clarion Hotel and closes at 6pm. If you drop it after that, you are just leaving it and they will check you out when they come in the next day.

Budget's return is closer than Dooley's return, but also outside the airport. It is called the Eastland's return and is open until 10:00pm. If you return the car after 10:00pm, you actually return it to Terminal 2 and supposedly someone will be there to check you out until midnight.......A major downside to Budget so far is that online they allow you to book the pickup and dropoff times and locations, but you cannot add the extra drivers/insurance online. She said that they do not actually bill your card until you pick up the car, which means foreign transaction fees, etc. I like to know exactly how much it is going to cost me before going, and really prefer to pay in advance, which is a plus of Dooley.

Enterprise has a location very close to the Croke Park Hotel, but I need to return the car to a different location and their site does not support that. It also appears that they are not open late.

Hertz said that they will have a Hertz employee on duty until 10pm and that I will actually leave the car by T2 in the airport.

The airport has not written me back either.

-- Edited by 5111 on Friday 3rd of February 2012 09:18:01 AM

Bertrand · Veteran Member

"Drive from Cork to Dublin via Cliffs of Moher" is hardly something you should try, especially the night before you flight back.

I would give that some real thought before you decide on that approach. smile

That would be more than 300 miles, and using the 35 MPH average, you are looking at a 10-12 hour day with stops. That also means night driving, and a lot of it in March, since it gets dark around 5 or so. That is not a good idea if you are not used to the roads.

Bert

-- Edited by Bertrand on Thursday 2nd of February 2012 02:17:05 PM

Bertrand · Veteran Member

To each his own. Just trying to share some of my own experiences. I've been to Ireland off and on for about 15 years, and I wouldn't probably want to do that route in one day -- especially so much at night.

Up to you, but that is long day with most of it spent behind a wheel. This is only my opinion, which is what I thought you were seeking.

Have a great trip no matter what you and your wife end up doing!

Bert

-- Edited by Bertrand on Thursday 2nd of February 2012 02:22:40 PM

tony2phones · Guru

Are you stopping off at places between Cork and Dublin? if not then consider dropping off at Cork Airport, get someone there to stamp your passport and get the bus or train back to Dublin. I believe Enterprise have an agency in Kilkenny if that's your last stop. sorry but I am a bit lost on this thread.

Veteran Member

tony2phones wrote:
Are you stopping off at places between Cork and Dublin? if not then consider dropping off at Cork Airport, get someone there to stamp your passport and get the bus or train back to Dublin. I believe Enterprise have an agency in Kilkenny if that's your last stop. sorry but I am a bit lost on this thread.

We plan to drive back from Cork via a scenic route (still considering the Cliffs of Moher) and take the entire day to do the drive. We will return the car, spend the night, and then fly out first thing in the morning.

Veteran Member

Bertrand wrote:
"Drive from Cork to Dublin via Cliffs of Moher" is hardly doable, especially the night before you flight back.
I would give that some real thought before you decide on that approach.

Michele said that we were looking at 3 hours to the Cliffs and 4 hours back to Dublin. Although a lot of driving, it sounds doable. Why do you say that it is "hardly doable"?

I'm not sure if we will do it or not, but I know that my wife really wants to see the cliffs, even if it means missing some other things. We will have a better idea after driving from Dublin to Cork via Kilkenny 2 days earlier.

Michele Erdvig · Host

If you add stops into the drive the day gets really long. There is sightseeing and food stops. So the day can indeed turn into a marathon. Plus my drive times are estimates. Anything can add time, like traffic, roadworks, your driving style, etc.

Veteran Member

Bertrand wrote:
To each his own. Just trying to share some of my own experiences. I've been to Ireland off and on for about 15 years, and I wouldn't probably want to do that route in one day -- especially so much at night.
Up to you, but that is long day with most of it spent behind a wheel. This is only my opinion, which is what I thought you were seeking.
Have a great trip no matter what you and your wife end up doing!
Bert

I do appreciate your opinion, I was just wondering if I missed something based on what Michele told me earlier.

Bertrand · Veteran Member

It sounds slow, but actually over the years I have found the 35 MPH average to be darn close to reality. You never know when you are going to encounter road issues, traffic (some of it four legged!) and the scenery you must pull over to appreciate.

We've all done the Green Blur approach to a day of sight seeing, but after going through it few of us advise that for others. biggrin

You will do fine -- just give yourself time to take it all in. Many nice things to see in Ireland, and you will simply have to plan another trip back there, as you can't see it all in one trip.

Best regards,

Bert

tony2phones · Guru

I can do here to Cork in 3 hours so the same time Doolin-Cork, Dublin Airport is 3 1/2 hours from Doolin on a good day. So your minimum time driving (like I do, not exactly slow) would be 6 1/2 hours without stopping for eats and sightseeing. I am still unsure as to the latest Itinerary you are considering.

Veteran Member

The only things that are set are:

Night 1 in Europa Hotel (Belfast)

Night 2-4 in Croke Park Hotel (Dublin)

Night 5-6 in Blarney Woolen Mills (Blarney)

Night 7 somewhere convenient for a 5:45am flight the next morning out of Dublin Airport

Those things are set because they are paid for. I also have to see a friend in Kilkenny on the trip to Cork.

On trips, we usually hit the bricks around 8am and hit the sack around 11pm. Of course with it getting dark so soon, we will probably not stay out as late unless we are inside.

How is the M6 between Galaway and Dublin? Would it be too bad after dark? If not, I could just make it a priority to get to the M6 by 5pm on that last day. I'd rather not drive any back roads after dark though.

We would like to see the cliffs, but it is not crucial if it will ruin the day.

tony2phones · Guru

I drive the Slab (M6) quite often in the dark, its a good road as it should be being new and to be honest I would rather drive late as there is less traffic and nothing to see if you did it in daylight anyway. Be aware there is next to no street lighting so courteous use of main beam headlights is advisable. If you did hire from Budget then they have a Galway city office just by the Bus/Train station which could be a possible option?

Veteran Member

tony2phones wrote:
I drive the Slab (M6) quite often in the dark, its a good road as it should be being new and to be honest I would rather drive late as there is less traffic and nothing to see if you did it in daylight anyway. Be aware there is next to no street lighting so courteous use of main beam headlights is advisable. If you did hire from Budget then they have a Galway city office just by the Bus/Train station which could be a possible option?

I like that idea as I would have pretty much all day to get to Galway from Cork and then wouldn't have to drive in the dark.

I'll check the prices, thanks for the idea.

Michele Erdvig · Host

One good thing about staying at hotels is they "usually" have breakfast starting at around 7 am. In B&Bs it is a different story. 8 or 8:30 to maybe 9 or 9:30 at B&Bs. All B&Bs differ slightly.