17-day car trip - help needed

Michele Erdvig · Host

17-day car trip - help needed

Andi · Senior Member

I forgot about that flood--what a shame. I thought Thoor Ballylee was wonderful.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Michele,

I think you have an excellent idea! I wonder who best to contact regarding including the clean-up in the 2013 activities?

Failte sometimes gets more in the way than it helps. I would think they would welcome assistance from the local council. It is to sweet a treasure to allow to fall to ruin disbelief

tony2phones · Guru

Have sent the following to Galway County Council (no office in Gort any more)... Just wondering what plans are in store for Thoor Ballylee. Is it just being left to ruin or will something actually happen on the restoration or at least tidying up front? Thanks Tony Case number 10176 & 77 have been assigned (went twice for some reason) Will let you know the response.. don't ho;d your breath.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks Tony. We never hold our breaths when dealing with the government!

marcelom · Veteran Member

I'm back with another try. I've followed the advice and suggetions you gave me (well, some of them). I reverse the original itinerary cause I think that driving to Sligo is not a good idea in my first driving day on the left side of the road. I'd rather do a short drive till Kilkenny instead. I've also cut a day in Dublin in order to 'fit' Westport and Sligo.

DAY PLACE   We plan to visit Stay at
WED 1 Fly to Dublin (from Buenos Aires)
THU 2 Arrive in Dublin (Dublin) SightSeeing
FRI 3 Dublin --> Kilkenny (Kilkenny) City Tour Kilkenny 2 nights at Alcantra B&B
SAT4 Kilkenny (Kilkenny)   Cashel/Cahir
SUN 5   Kilkenny --> Kinsale (Kinsale) Cork /Blarney 2 nights at Snugmore Cottage
MON 6 Kinsale (Kinsale) City Tour/Charles Fort
TUE 7 Kinsale --> Kenmare (Kenmare) Clonakilty/Glengarriff 2 nights at Abbey Court
WED 8 Kenmare (Kenmare) Beara Peninsula
THU 9 Kenmare --> Tralee (Tralee) via Kilarney/MuckRoss 2 nighs ???
FRI 10 Tralee (Tralee) Dingle Peninsula
SAT 11 Tralee --> Ennis (Ennis) Ennis 1 night at Sleepy Hollow
SUN 12   Ennis --> Westport (Wesport) Cliffs of Moher   2 nights at Adare House
MON 13 Westport (Westport) City Tour/Sky Road
TUE 14 Westport --> Sligo (Sligo) City Tour   2 nights at ???
WED 15 Sligo (Sligo) Drumcliff
THU 16 Sligo --> Dublin (Dublin) Drop off car
FRI 17 Dublin (Dublin)
SAT 18 Flight out

I couldn't choose a B&B at Tralee and Sligo. I've chosen Tralee over Dingle so as to make a shorter drive to Ennis. By the way should I take de Ferry or the tunnel to get to Ennis?

Thank you very much for your help. Marcelo.

-- Edited by marcelom on Sunday 6th of January 2013 04:32:14 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Looks fine.

Another half hour from Tralee on the north shore of the Dingle Peninsula overlooking the ocean is a fabulous B&B: The Shores Country House. I highly recommend it.

Iorras just outside Sligo on the Rosses Point road is tops with me.

Since Ennis is your destination and you will do the cliffs next day, take the tunnel.

Michele Erdvig · Host

BTW, Snugmore in Kinsale is not doing B&B right now.

tony2phones · Guru

I would drop a night from Kinsale (2 actually but its not my holiday) and slip it in between Ennis and Westport perhaps Spiddal if you don't fancy Galway, I wouldn't be spending a night in Dingle but unless you are looking at Ballyseede castle I would have a night on the Dingle peninsula and 2 nights Ennis, Tralee is a working town of some size and not a place even I would put on a Tourist stay. Listowel might be an alternative.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Michele and Tony Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I promise to look at them thoroughly .

marcelom · Veteran Member

Now that the itinerary is 'in shape' I'm focused in the car rental. I've got this quote from Dooley

Pick up : Dublin Airport (Terminal 1 & 2) - 03/MAY/2013 10:00 hs
Drop Off: Dublin Airport (Terminal 1 & 2) - 16/MAY/2013 15:00 hs

Rental duration 14 days

- Additional Driver: 1
- Excess Waiver: Selected
CDI, Limited Liability Insurance, Vehicle Theft Protection, Location Charges, Local Taxes, Unlimited Mileage & Breakdown Cover.

Car: Manual, Economy
Currency: US $ (dollar)
Cost: $ 775.84 (using discount code: dochara)

or

Car: Manual, Compact
Currency: US $ (dollar)
Cost: $ 794.01 (using discount code: dochara)

Do you think is enough? Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks, Marcelo.

-- Edited by marcelom on Saturday 12th of January 2013 10:19:14 AM

tony2phones · Guru

There are a lot of miles so 20 extra for size possibly 20 extra for fuel (total guess) means under 50 euro so my choice would be space (6'2" 200+lb) for the less than 10% price difference.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Tony, you are right the Compact would be the choice to take, but what about the insurance? Is it right? Thanks. Marcelo.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I'm about 5' 7" and weigh about 150-ish, but I'm of the same opinion as Tony. For such a small difference in cost, comfort holds the trump card.

While logic dictates that too large a car is a disadvantage, Dooley's Compact vehicles are usually either a Ford Focus, or a VW Golf. Having a four door is also handy, when touring in a climate where layering of clothing is essential, as it makes donning and doffing an overcoat much quicker and easier.

(The first time you need to do so, on a 'SOFT', blustery day -- you'll see my point! biggrin biggrin

Additionally, on a 14 + day trip, I'm sure that the additional luggage space will prove QUITE handy, as well. smile

Bob

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

As to the Insurance, it LOOKS like you are purchasing CDW (or CDI) and 'EXCESS' -- what some companies refer to as 'Super-CDW'.

CDW / CDI is basic Collision Damage coverage. It covers damage to the vehicle, to full value, but carries a LARGE deductible -- probably somewhere in the vicinity of $1500-2000.

EXCESS reduces the deductible to 100 Euros -- about $135 at current exchange rates.

CDI and Excess USUALLY do not cover tires, wheels, side-view mirrors or windscreen damage. They also exclude under-carraige damaged caused by driving off paved roads, lost keys and damaged caused by putting the wrong fuel into the tank (Diesel into a Petrol, or vice versa)

I believe Dooley also offers some OPTIONAL Passenger Medical coverage and they MIGHT offer a Tyres and Miscellany Coverage, but personally, having never purchased either, I can't advise as to their suitability or value.

Michele has a 'Sticky' with in-depth, 'Car Hire' info at the top of the Forum home page. I STRONGLY recomment that you read through it.

Hope this helps.

Bob

marcelom · Veteran Member

Bob, thanks for your comments. I'll take the compact (I'm about 6' tall and weigh about 179 pounds, I can see the point in taking a bigger car). But I'm worry about the insurance. It will be my first time driving on the left side of the road (also for my wife). Marcelo.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Hi everyone again. I doing all the booking ahead and the only one left is the one I need at Kilkenny. I'm decided to book a room at Alcantra. But all the comments I found in the forum are a bit outdated (2 or 3 years ago at least).
Is it a good place to stay or you can recommend another one for about 36 euro per person per night including breakfast. Do they also offer private parking and wi-fi for free? Thanks. Marcelo.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Have you contacted Alcantra? The people who own it were contemplating retirement from the B&B biz a few years ago. Perhaps the reason for the outdated comments are that they have closed as a B&B? Last time I stayed there it was nice.

Otherwise try Laragh House. It is a few euros higher than your budget but very nice with private parking.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Michele, they have answered today to my e-mail because they were away. But I don't know why I doubt to book the room. I checked Laragh House and it's a bit over the budget.
What about Duromin (http://www.dunrominkilkenny.com)? I've found good reviews on TripAdvisor. Thanks again. Marcelo.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I've not stayed at Dunromin.

Geno · Guru

Hi Marcelo:

I have stayed at Dunromin and liked it -- nice place, good location, and Val and Tom are wonderful. Without a doubt stay there if you can.

Geno

-- Edited by Geno on Friday 22nd of February 2013 09:45:35 AM

marcelom · Veteran Member

Thanks for your feedback, Geno. I've sent them an email and I'm waiting for their answer. Marcelo.

Roy · Guru

I have stayed at Abbeylodge B&B in Kilkenny and can highly recommend it. Modern, clean, great location. Wi-fi. Very nice.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Thanks Roy. I was away for a while so I didn't see this post until now. I has just booked a room at CARRIGLEA B&B. I will let you know how the experience was when I come back from Ireland.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Hello. I'm counting out time. Only 15 days and I'm flying to Dublin. I have some questions about petrol. Is there any difference in petrol quality amongst the companies/shops? Which brand should I go for?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Quality variance is minimal. Like in the US, lean toward newer, busier facilities, since deterioration and contamination tends to occur in less used equipment. Determine TYPE of fuel required -- Petrol or Diesel and be SURE not to mix!

In US -- or, at least MY part of the US, typically, Diesel uses GREN pumps and Petrol uses BLACK. In Ireland, it is the OPPOSITE.

Bob

marcelom · Veteran Member

Thanks Bob. I will pay close attention to the type of fuel (and colour of pumps) and do not care about quality variance.

tony2phones · Guru

It's a hire car just find the cheapest fuel...A diesel head will not fit into a Petrol Filler so that's a bonus but a narrow neck unleaded pump head will fit either that's the time to be careful. At the moment Unleaded is running in at 1.58+ and Diesel at 1.50 ish per Ltr.

marcelom · Veteran Member

Thanks Tony. I appreciate your comments. You are right about the car but I was thinking about performance.

tony2phones · Guru

As a serious petrol head of many years standing I can safely state that where you buy your fuel makes little if any difference these days. What can make a difference is the low power engines fitted into hire cars, I can remember a Ford Focus I hired not that many years ago, great on the flat but darn near terminal when I tried to overtake a tractor going up a hill outside Spiddal.. I believe that at one time (pre 2008 registration) when cars were taxed on engine size that they even imported VW Passatt's fitted with the 1400cc Polo engine!! bet they were a lot of fun..