Need Help With My Itinerary

drbillmc · Newbie

Need Help With My Itinerary

Maggie117 · Guru

Wow, returning after 30 years that is awesome!!! & Holy huge itinerary!!! Have you considered getting a full trip done for you by Michele? It will cost you a little and be so worth it...she planned my first trip which was 16 days and the trip was seamless... just a small suggestion, which is all I can suggest because while I love traveling to Ireland (3rd trip next year)...I am not the expert! Good luck!!! Trip looks amazing!!!

Judy · Guru

Bill,

Looks like you have a good start on your itinerary with multiple night stays. What stood out for me was Day 9, from Kenmare to Dingle. Unless you have a special reason for that route, I would go directly to Dingle via Killarney and on Day 11 take Connor Pass to Tralee since that would not be back tracking from Kenmare to Killarney, to Tralee and back over Connor Pass to Dingle.

Also, Day 13 we did that exact route you have planned and it was very doable and not too much for one day.

Have fun planning, Im sure others will have more suggestions.

Judy M.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bill,

Welcome to my forum. Boy, will you see a lot of changes after 30 years! Some are good, others not so much. When you get back I would love to hear what you think.

I agree that a Deluxe itinerary costs more. It is for people who need lots of help and have no time to do it themselves. Did you read that I also do Budget ones? For 20 days a budget custom itinerary is $125. When you consider the cost of the trip that's a drop in the bucket. Or if you would rather spend that on other things instead, my book at $30.49 (includes postage) might not be a budget buster. Whatever - you can always get free info here.

Look at either my Lodgings Page or my book for lots of great places to stay. They are right up to date and personally checked by me.

Car: Lately everyone on the forum have liked Dan Dooley. Get a 5% discount with code: dochara. (That just saved you the cost of the book!)

Your itinerary is pretty packed with things to do each day but is doable. Here are my day-by-day comments below:

3 nights in Dublin. We need a city center reasonable hotel or B & B. * Fine. See my book or lodgings page as noted above.

Day 4. Drive to Glendalough and stay at Sion House in Waterford. * You might consider stopping at Powerscourt too.

Day 5. Tour Waterford Crystal, drive on to tour Midleton & on to Kinsale. We need a B & B. * Don't miss Barryscourt Castle not far from Midleton.

Day 6. Tour Cobh and Blarney and stay in Kinsale again. * Fine. You can take either the tunnel or ferry to Cobh to avoid Cork City traffic.

Day 7. Drive to Skibbereen, Baltimore, Bantry, Glengariff and stay in Kenmare at The Lodge. * If you like historic houses and gardens Bantry House is worth a look.

Day 8. Tour Killarney and do Gap of Dunloe. Stay in Kenmare. * If you plan on doing the whole Gap of Dunloe tour (horses or hiking the gap, boats on the lake, etc.) it will take a good part of the day. Otherwise consider a day trip to the Beara Peninsula.

Day 9. Drive thru Killarney, Tralee, the Connor Pass and stay at Emlagh Lodge in Dingle. * See whatever you missed in Killarney today.

Day 10. Drive the Dingle Peninsula and stay in Dingle. * Fine.

Day 11. Drive thru Tralee, take ferry, visit Cliffs of Mohr. Stay in Lisdoonvarna at the Carrigan Hotel. What pub in Doolin for music? * Since you want music in Doolin, why not stay there and walk to the pubs? Try McGann's or O'Connor's.

Day 12. Drive thru the Burren and on to Galway. Stay at the Four Seasons B & B. * Fine.

Day 13. Drive thru Connemara (Spiddal, Maam Cross, Recess, Kylemore Abbey, Clifton, the Sky Road and back to Galway). Is this too much for one day? * Not too much, but a full day.

Day 14. Drive on to Cong (Quiet Man) and splurge for a stay at Ashford Castle. * Enjoy!

Day 15. Drive thru Knock, Sligo, Rosses Point and on to Grange. Stay at Atlantic Haven in Grange. * I would stay closer to Sligo. Grange is a wide spot in the road.

Day 16. Drive to Beleek, on to Belturbet and to Blacklion for dinner at McNean House and then stay again in Grange. * Do you have dinner reservations? I understand that you must make them up to a year in advance.

Day 17. Drive to Donegal, Killybegs, Slieve League, Glencolumkille and on to Portrush in the north. Need a B & B. Is this too much? * Yes, it is too much. Skip Glencolumkille. Backtrack to Donegal and take the main roads to Portrush.

Day 18. Visit Dunluce Castle, Bushmills Distillery, Giants Causeway and the Rope Bridge and then drive the A2 to Larne. Need a B & B in Larne or Belfast. Is this too much? * It is a very full day. Get an early start.

Day 19. Visit Titanic Exhibit and drive on to Dublin to return car. Should we stay in Dublin or near the airport? Need a B & B or reasonable hotel. * Near airport. See my Lodgings page.

Day 20. Fly home

It is a lot to take in but you can tweak your plan as you go, depending on mood and weather.

Michele