Unlimited Travel/Tourist Explorer Tickets

nerak5 · Member

Planning a week in Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

merak5

Welcome to my forum. How lovely that you will be meeting your son in Ireland. The best way to see Ireland will always be to rent a car and drive yourself. However, what you want to do can also be accomplished by train and bus. If you decide on public transport, then you need bases served by bus tour day trips. Galway and Dublin are good as is Killarney. But with only 2 nights in Killarney you may not get to do Dingle and the ROK. When using public transport it generally takes longer to get around the country because you are tied to schedules. As long as you know the realities you will be able to choose the right sort of trip.

Do take a look at my Transport page for links to buses and trains.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Assuming you will be flying into Dublin and spending your 1st night there, Galway for 2 nights, Limerick for 1 and Killarney for 2 then back to Dublin might be fair.

Dingle has at most 2 bus's per day so better to take an organised tour from Killarney.

nerak5 · Member

Thank you so much for your quick response, I will look at your transportation information. I think the car on the wrong side of the road would really be not so enjoyable for me so hopefully it will work out. I realise we won't be able to see everything in a week, hopefully we will make it back another time with the whole family.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Always happy to help. If you want a more relaxing trip you should consider only two places. Dublin and either Galway or Killarney. Since the train hubs out of Dublin to both places it would be very easy to get back and forth to Dublin by train. There are good tours from each of those places.

Michele

nerak5 · Member

Michelle,

That may make more sense staying in two places. I am wondering if you know or at least could direct me where to look to see if it may be possible to take a one day bus tour from Galaway to ROK?

nerak5 · Member

Hello again Michelle,

From looking at your site I see that Monday May 7 is Bank Holiday? Does that mean that the banks will be closed or is it an actual holiday where things in general are closed, tours might not run, etc? Thanks again,

Karen

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

nerak5:

A Bank Holiday is a Three-Day Weekend, like here. Most Tours and Attractions will remain open, however Accommodations can fill up quickly, particularly the better, close-in places, in popular destinations like Dublin, Galway and Killarney. Might be best to book something ahead for the weekend.

It's always a good idea to pre-book your First and last nights, as well as any Dublin nights ...

Since you would rather NOT drive, here's the Irish Rail web-site:

http://www.irishrail.ie/faresandtickets

Train from Galway to Killarney takes 4 hours and 42 minutes. You'll change trains at limerick, Limerick Junction and at Mallow. Cost is 59 Euro. There are regular trains from Dublin and Galway and Dublin and Killarney.

According to: http://www.railusers.ie/passenger_info/ticketing.php#break_of_journey

THIS is probably your Best Deal:

"Unlimited Travel/Tourist Explorer Tickets

A wide range of tickets exist normally targeted at tourists, which allow unlimited travel around the country by rail and by rail and bus. These are normally for tourists but could be useful if you need to make a number of long journeys over a short period of time.

Options are as follows:

4 Day Trekker Ticket, valid for 4 consecutive days, all Irish Rail Services. Adult 100.00 (Note no child option exists)"

I don't know of any ROK tours out of Galway (though there are NUMEROUS offerings that are run out of Killarney).

Rail Tours from Dublin ARE available, though -- Both a one day AND an overnight. Other options are also available from links from those pages.

Bob

tony2phones · Guru

No tours from Galway to anywhere south of the Shannon would be too long a trip. Galway day trips include the Conemara-Kylemore Abbey or The Aran Isles or the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. plus a few other more obscure offerings.

nerak5 · Member

Thank you for all your responses. I am considering staying at two place Dublin and then choosing between Galaway or Kilkarny. Both sound like they have great places to visit,any thoughts from those that have been there which might be better.

I am also looking for recommendations for a hotel in Dublin. I would like to be within walking distance of the city but not with a bar and all kinds of noise so that you can't sleep at night. I would prefer to walk a couple blocks into town rather than taking a taxi each time. Hotels that had been recommended to me are booked. Looking at 3 and 4 star hotels, look like there are decent prices on a lot of places but when your read the reviews alot to be desired. thanks for any help. Karen

Michele Erdvig · Host

Try Brooks or Buswell's hotels in Dublin. Also the Callaghan group of hotels. Go to my Lodgings page for links.

Both Galway and Killarney make great bases. You have a tough decision to make. Look at a few websites about them and see if one appeals more than the other. Killarney is a much smaller town and Galway is a bustling city.

Michele