First International travel to Ireland in August 2013..... Renting bikes and driving starting in Dublin

Missmillie · Member

First International travel to Ireland in August 2013..... Renting bikes and driving starting in Dublin

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome to the forum. How many days do you have for your trip? Generally, you would rent bikes in a certain area and go biking for a few hours, returning to your starting point. Both Dingle and the ROK have a lot of uphill and downhill roads and - depending on route - could take many days to complete by bike.

Packing up and moving on every day is not very relaxing in Ireland. Depends on what type of trip you want and what sort of traveler you are. Some like doing "the green blur tour" of Ireland. Others prefer to take it a little more moderately.

Missmillie · Member

Thank you for your quick reply! I am enjoying the tons of information on this site. We have 10 days total. I would prefer not to do the "green blurr" tour, but my DH likes to get it all in so to say. Given our time frame I am posting my husbands outline so far as nothing is reserved yet... From this can you point out to "newbies" a good way to see the Southwest.....I am very interested in Cork as I have family from there and have been trying to reach a few who I believe are still there.....so far no luck...... Rough draft.... Arrive Dublin, day 2 Dublin city and hotel night 1, day 3 -73 miles to Kilkenny night 2, day 4, 30 miles to Waterford night 3, day 5,100 miles to Kinsale night 4, day 6, 74 miles to Killarney 2 night s 5 and 6 daytime cycle rental for ROK and or Dingle Penn. Day 7, 65 miles to Adare Village or Limerick night 7, day 8, 60 miles to Galway night 8, day 9, 136 miles back to Dublin night 9 day 10 depart.

Michele Erdvig · Host

What time do you arrive in Dublin? If it is in the morning, consider getting a jump-start on your trip and saving Dublin for the last 2 nights instead.

What do you want to do in Waterford?

Missmillie · Member

For the sake of repeating yourself Michelle, I found the posts by ARG1232 who is from Philadelphia going with a girlfriend shortly and her itinerary is similar to ours, we like your suggestions that you made for her and we are looking into those.i can see we have more research to do. We are working with a travel agent who isn't guiding us but rather pushing us to book hotels et... Since we aren't going until August how much time do we have before we actually have to book things?

Andi · Senior Member

Having bike toured in Ireland 3 times, I think it's a great way to see the country. I understand you intend to rent bikes for a day ride instead of touring. Just be aware that bikes you rent in Ireland won't be like road bikes in the U.S. They'll be fairly heavy hybrid bikes. It's ok as long as you don't expect otherwise--you just won't be able to go as many miles if you're used to a nice light road bike.

Geno · Guru

Great point Andi - we did a bike tour in Clare years ago, but the rentals were far from the type of bikes we were used to! biggrin The weight makes quite a difference regarding how much you are covering in a day, but if weather is good it is certainly a wonderful way to see parts of the country.

Geno

Michele Erdvig · Host

Every trip is different and I offer advice individually based on feedback from the person going to Ireland. You need to balance your "must sees" with the number of days and your travel style. You might find parts of my article of use: http://irelandyes.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/plan-your-trip-to-ireland-in-ten-easy-steps-2/

Because you are traveling in August (high season) you are right to book in advance. Plus if you spend 2 nights or more in a hotel they may have special deals with lower costs or a free dinner, etc. Ask your travel agent about that. I would try to book hotels as soon as you are comfortable with your itinerary. Certainly a few months in advance.

I realize that your TA is steering you to hotels. But the B&B experience in Ireland is unique. It would be a pity not to experience at least one. wink

Andi · Senior Member

I have to agree with Michele. Everyone has their unique likes and dislikes, but for many, staying at B&B's is part of the point of their Irish vacation. If you're deciding this based only on a travel agent's opinion, and not your own inclinations, maybe you should look at it again.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Keep in mind that a travel agent gets a commission for booking hotels. They may not get a commission for B&Bs.

Missmillie · Member

O.K, so we have been researching since my first post. We since are re-directing our trip a bit....we have found several cycling tours that we can take throughout alot of the citys that we want to see...unfortunately it is getting confusing! So to back me up a little we are thinking that we want to do the trip on "the roads traveled" so to say. In your oppinion as first timers could we make it from Dublin to Wexford as Wexford being our first night stay.... the Hook Lighthouse, and Kilmore Quay, we have 9 nights/10 days going Dublin to Dublin, from Wexford onto Waterford see Waterford castle keep going onto Cork, to West Cork for the Blarney Castle?( We are in search of the smaller towns in a mix of some of the more visited. ) staying in Kinsale....to Kilarney, staying in Kilarney 2 or 3 nights, wanting to get in a cycle ride of Dingle Penn. and such. We cant figure if it would be better to stay in Ennis or Gallway before going back to Dublin 2 nights?

Michele Erdvig · Host

You can make it to Wexford town on your first day. The highway is good and quick south from Dublin. Depending on your stamina you might want to do Hook Head Lighthouse and Kilmore Quay on the way to Waterford. You do know that Waterford Castle is a hotel?

Personally, I would be more inclined to do Co. Wicklow rather than Wexford. Powerscourt and Glendalough are high on my list of beautiful places to visit. But perhaps you are more interested in lighthouses than monastic sites and gardens? Both counties are worthwhile. It is just a matter of time available and choices. FYI, Glendalough can be very crowded on weekends. That might make your decision for you.

If you want to do a cycling tour of Dingle then stay in Dingle. That might mean deleting something else. It's like shuffling a deck of cards till you get the right hand. Keep at your itinerary and it will work out eventually.

Ennis or Galway? Depends on what you want to do and see in each area.

Missmillie · Member

We are not doing a "heavy" ride in Dingle maybe 24 to 36 miles at most....so half a day is our plan, can we stay in Kilarney and get in the Dingle and the ROK on another day?

Michele Erdvig · Host

It will take you about 1-1/2 hours to go from Killarney to Dingle town, without stops. About 3 hours round trip. If that fits with your time schedule then it is doable.