Hi Michele. Thanks so much for suggestions. I think our must haves for this first trip are the , Cliffs, Blarney and Dublin. Then I really like the idea of Killarney because it seems there is a lot to see and do in that area that won't keep us confined to the typical tour. I tried to update the timings also to give me a better idea using your equation.

So looking to revise a bit:
DAY 1/2: Arrive Dublin/Tour Dublin (March 22-23). Staying at Shelbourne in Dublin.

DAY 3 Tour Glendalough & Waterford (March 24) - Maybe I should eliminate this and go right to Blarney from Dublin
- Stay in Waterford - WATERFORD Granville (current reservation here) but I am going to look for a B&B instead.

DAY 4 Blarney (March 25)
- To Blarney from Waterford 3.5 hours
- If I eliminated Glendalough/Waterford then this would be a ~5 hour drive and I would stay 2 nights in Blarney
- Stay in Blarney B&B Blarney Vale

Day 5/6/7 Killarney (March 26/27/28)
- From Blarney to Killarney (2.5 hours)
- Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View
- hike around Killarney National Park
- Drive Ring of Kerry
- Dingle Peninsula
- Stay in Killarney B&B Friars Glen. I see you noted that this is a nice place, but further from town. Do you have a suggestion on another BB?

DAY 8 Doolin/Cliffs (March 29) - Getting to Loop Head and/or Cliffs looks like it is going to take us a little while - 5 hours?. Early morning day.
How much time would you typically take at these sites?
I took your suggestion on staying 3 nights in Killarney and only 1 night in Doolin. Not married to Doolin - is there another BB that you would recommend in the Cliffs area?
Do we do Loop Head and Cliffs of Moher?
- To Loop Head (5 hours)
- Loop Head to Doolin (2.5 hours)
- Burren
- Cliffs of Moher
- STAY IN DOOLIN?

DAY 9 Back to Dublin (March 30) - this can all be eliminated if there is more to see from our trip to cliffs and then just make the drive back to Dublin is the plan for this evening because we fly back home on 31st.
- Drive from Doolin to Bunratty
- Limerick to Cashel
- Stay in Dublin (The Shelbourne)

-- Edited by Liz on Monday 28th of January 2013 10:22:58 PM

Liz,

Welcome to my forum. Glad you found your way here. Your itinerary is jam-packed with things to see and do. So don't be disappointed if you don't get around to everything. Do the most important things first. If you don't get to the things lower on your list you will still have had a well-rounded trip to Ireland.

I realize that those who have not been to Ireland before look at a map and think it is so very small and they can see everything in a few days. That is not the reality in Ireland. Traveling around takes time. Plus Ireland is densely packed with interesting things to see and do. Each sightseeing stop on your completed itinerary will take time too.

Since you are traveling with 3 kids I will suggest that getting everyone up and away, breakfast, packing suitcases, packing the car and moving on every day is going to get old fast. You will be better off if you have as many multiple-night stays in strategic areas as possible. I would pull a day each from Doolin and Blarney and add them to Killarney. That will give you a good base for the SW - and there is a tremendous amount to see and do in the area.


Michele

Liz,

It is good as a first draft but you will want to do some tweaking. Michele oft advises travelers to take the distance, in miles not kilometres, and divide by 35. That will give you the actual driving time IF you are driving without stops. Then you have to add in time for stops, petrol fillings, bathroom breaks, etc.

Having done a trip with a 10 year-old and a 13 year-old two summers ago, I can honestly tell you that this outline will do you all no favors and have you, most likely, at each other in short order. They will want their down time away from Parents and siblings. You will want some adult time. It is a vacation and you should maybe think along the "less is more" line. You won't notice what you've missed because you will be besotted by what you do see.

I will puzzle this on my drive home and get back with you on it this evening.

Slan Beo,

Bit 

Liz,

When I am planning an itinerary out for a family or groups of friends, I always ask them to sit down as a group, prior to our appointment, and individually write down their must see list. That gives me a starting point. Your children are old enough that they might enjoy having some input. When I traveled with my boys as children, I always let each of them pick something they wanted to do on the trip. In Scotland, the eldest chose to visit Roslyn CHapel...the younger chose to do a Falcon walk.

As to the Clare region, perhaps spend time on the Loophead...then drive to Doolin and the next morning, take an Inis Oirr/Cliffs Cruise

Some things to keep in mind:

Ring of Kerry is a full day's trip

Dingle Peninsula is a full day's trip

Killarney National Park is a Full day's adventure, if you want to hike and include Muckross House

Given the ages of the children, I would probably suggest that you extend your time in Dublin as there is so much there to hold their interest and your's, as well

With 9 nights, I would most likely route a trip thusly:

Day 1 arrive Dublin and Head to Blarney via Glendalough/Wicklow...Overnight Blarney

Day 2 - Blarney Castle and the grounds... Overnight Blarney

Day 3 - head to Killarney (2 Nights) - Explore Killarney National Park

Day 4 - Ring of Kerry or Dingle

Day 5 - Head to Doolin via Loophead (2 Nights)

Day 6 - Inis Oirr/Cliffs Cruise

Day 7 - Head to Dublin (3 nights) - turn in your rental and take a taxi to your lodgings....

Day 8 - Grab the Hop-on/Off Bus tour and get on and off at the stops you find interesting

Day 9 - either continue to explore Dublin or grab the Mary Gibbons Newgrange tour

Day 10 - Head for Home

 

It would probably help to know what your interests are as a family. Bit is right that everyone should have input. As long as each person gets to do something "they" want to do there will be less friction on the trip. If someone starts complaining that they are bored you can remind them it is "XXX's" turn for sightseeing. Be patient and your turn will come soon.

What time does your flight depart from Dublin? If it is real early you might want to consider staying near the airport at a hotel with a shuttle. Then you can drop the car the day before and not have to add extra time on departure day for that chore. You need to be at Dublin Airport a minimum of 3 hours in advance of your flight departure time.

Thanks Bit - this was helpful. I am excited to get Michele's book so that I can get them to commit to something! They are so excited to go and I am sure everything we do they will get so much out of it. This is the first time they have been out of the US (except for trips to Mexico) and they are really looking forward to it. Although I think my daughter (13) thinks every boy in Ireland will be like the one from One Direction which is where her thoughts are located at the moment ;)

I think our first night in Dublin is going to be a bust - we don't get in until 2 PM and I suspect we won't have much time to do anything other than get situated in and find a place to eat. Any suggestions for a Friday night. I had Temple Bar (because that's what us tourists do) on my list but after reading the post from Michele saying the locals call it "temple barf" I am re-thinking :) Hah!

Also, can you give me another suggestion on a good BB in Killarney? I like the idea of being walking distance to town.

Michele: We leave Dublin at 9:30 AM. We are at the Shelbourne which looks to be about 10 Miles from the airport. Does it take a long time to get across the city at that time on a Sunday?

Thanks!
Liz

Have you looked at my Lodgings page yet? Walking distance to Killarney:

Killarney Lodge

Earl's Court

Larkinley Lodge

Robbeen House

Copper Kettle

Fairview

Ashville 

Chelmsford