Yet another itinerary review request

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Yet another itinerary review request

Jasper · Member

· Hello, i'm trying to plan a trip to Ireland (first time) for next year May/June 2014. I have been doing a lot of research to get familiar with areas to see and things to do. Below is my first stab at an itinerary but I'm struggling with how long we should spend in various places to ensure we aren't rushed and get to do things other than just "drive through". Could you have a look and give me some idea if this is reasonable. I'm completely open to suggestions and will be renting a car. We are also open to more days (9 or 10 total). It looks that with this plan we'd have to stay at a number of different B&B's so if there is a way to minimize that it would be nice.

Thanks so much

Day 1: Fly into Shannon Airport (arrives early morning 6am)

Drive directly to see the Burren and Cliffs of Moyer

Stay in Limerick or Adare for the night

· Day 2/3: Drive directly to Dingle and stay for two days.

· Day 4: Drive to Killarney and then backtrack around the Ring of Kerry counter clockwise to finish in Kenmare and stay the night.

· Day 5 : Drive to Mizen Head and along the south coast (Goleen)(Skibbereen) and continue to Kinsale for the night.

· Day 6: Head north to Bunratty Castle Feast for the night. (If a better venue for enjoying music, dance and food can be found were open).

· Day 7: Home flight - mid day

Things wed like to do/see in addition to landscape:

1) Horseback ride in picturesque scenery (dingle? Elsewhere?)

2) See some Irish dance/music

Jasper · Member

Thanks so much for the reply. I never expected to find such a valuable forum to help with this planning. I am surprised to hear your suggestion to omit the ROK. It seems like a "must do" from all I've read. I do have concerns about too full a first day but since we cant likely. Book into a hotel early, I figured on just doing the Burren and cliffs to get them out of the way before going south.

I will digest the rest of your suggestions and await other's input as well.

Thanks again,
J

CowboyCraic · Guru

céad míle fáilte - welcome to the forum

I will chime in, as well...

If you can add those two extra days in, you would be better off. I do agree with Bob in that Ennis would make for an excellent first night's stop.

If you add in the extra days, I would build something like:

Day 1 - Cliff drive, Cliffs of Moher - Overnight in Ennis

Day 2 & 3 - Dingle - perhaps an early morning start out of Ennis, grab the Kilmer/Tarbert Ferry and head down the Dingle

for horseback riding on the Dingle, I would suggest Long's outside of Ventry. They use Irish cobb horses.

Day 4 & 5 Killarney - You can stay just outside of Killarney if the hustle and bustle are too much.. I usually stay at Friar's Glen

on your full day take the Jaunting car tour through the Gap of Dunloe and finish it up with a night of fun at Kate Kearney's Cottage

Day 6 & 7 - I would choose Bantry over Kenmare, if seeing Mizen Head and the three finger peninsulas is your goal.. Bantry is less crowded than Kinsale

Day 8 & 9 - the Lough Derg area - Killaloe or Mount Shannon - Lough Derg is oft overlooked and is a true gem

Day 10 - Bunratty

In my opinion, the ROK is overrated and over promoted... The three fingers...Beara, Sheepshead and Mizen offer more rugged stunning beauty..even on a wet day... Less is more...if you can work your itinerary so that your only 1 nights are your inbound and outbound nights, you will get a better sense of Ireland, her people and environs...If you are counting day ten as a fly-home day...then I would take a day away toward the end of things...perhaps only one day in Killaloe...or do Day 8 & 9 in BUnratty...Lough Derg is a nice day trip destination from Bunratty

You will not miss anything on your check list that you don't get to see...because you will be far too enamoured by what you do exeprience...Part of the joy opf traveling in Ireland is in the Faery-led moments....chats with locals that lead you someplace well off your list...and magical....wrong turns that are anything but, as you find yourself standing in a stone circle ... In trying to check off boxes or in going by what St Steve's as blessed as the "best" of Ireland...you miss so much of her tapestry

-- Edited by CowboyCraic on Friday 1st of March 2013 10:59:13 AM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

In reference to the ROK --

Yes, it IS one of the perennial, 'Must Sees', but ...

How much rugged, gorgeous scenery do you really want to see -- through the windshield of your car?? While I can think of NO part of Ireland that isn't worth a visit -- if time is no object -- you most definitely have time constraints that have to be taken into consideration. The ROK IS a great, visit-worthy area (I've 'Done' it, a few times), but it is -- at the LEAST -- a long, full day of driving. On the day before, you will have driven Slea Head and Connor Pass, on Dingle. The following day, if you follow the N71, you will see LOTS of rugged beauty stretching out before you.

Michele often says, "You won't miss what you haven't seen." You can, however, suffer 'Burn Out' and become SO over-whelmed by hour-after-hour of heart-stopping beauty wisking past the windscreen in a mind-numbing, 'Green Blur'.

Better to return home, your mind filled with specific memories, rather than a vague, 'lumped together' impression.

Bob

Jasper · Member

Bob, you are absolutely correct. I want this to be somewhat relaxing. I am not that interested in seeing things from the car. I expected there would be many stops along the way to admire the beauty. I think we will see a lot anyhow as you say, and my Wife wants to enjoy the food and music as well. So perhaps your idea of omitting the ROK is a good idea and spend more than one day in another location taking it easy and enjoying the culture, horseback riding, walking trails etc. Car observation is not exactly what we have in mind for the trip.

So would it be better to spend more time (two nights in Kenmare or somewhere more south/east (Cork). It's so hard for me to know what's the best when not ever being there.

J

Jasper · Member

Awesome! Now I'm getting some good info. The planning is getting so exciting I want to go this year but next year is our 10yr anniversary which is why we're going.

Thanks for all the great input so far. You guys are invaluable to ensuring we get the most out of our visit.

J

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jasper...

I will be headed for Ireland in June of 2014 meself...I turn a half century in that month and I will settle for nowhere but Ireland to usher in another decade of life.

Michele created this wonderful forum so that we veteran travelers could have a place to share our experiences. We call ourselves "Irelandyes Irregulars". We are always willing to help someone discover the magic that is Ireland.

Two caveats:

Read the fine print of everything before you book anything
Don't buy into the B&B voucher scheme... you don't need them in off-season and you can get burned by them in the High season

You can book airfares usually 11 months out...so sign up for AerLingus's fare alerts...they usually have some great bargain flights

I have a tendency to avoid the "Disney" spots... I do understand that some people have to see them though... I just have always been drawn to more off teh beaten path things

Jasper · Member

Thanks CowboyCraic, I think we're more interested in "off the beaten path" type of things. I plan to book B&B's based on others input. Can you be more specific about the "fine print" statement? Is there something specific to watch out for?

I've travelled to Europe a few times for business so I know to be carefull about the car hire (I plan to get the insurance and inspect the car very thoroughly before heading out).

One thing I'm wondering about is how to deal with funds. Since the B&B's typically want cash, we will need a lot of Euros' to cover that, food, gas, and other things. I'm a bit concerned about carrying so much on-hand and have never done the traverler cheque thing. So I'm wondering what others have done.

The flights seem to be in the $800 - $1200 range this year from Canada (Toronto) to Ireland with a short stop in the U.S.

J

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

See http://www.irelandyes.com/money.html for details.

Most of us rely upon ATMs for our Euro needs. They are nearly everywhere, generally offer the best exchange rates and afford tremendous convenience. Networks usually limit you to about 300 Euro per day on cash withdrawals -- despite what your bank might set. Our Credit Union allows up to $1500 per day, but the Irish Network are the determining factor. My wife carries one Debit card from her personal account and I carry a different one, from a joint account, so that enables us to have up to 600 Euro available, per day.

Credit cards are usable at many B&B, Petrol Stations and shops, you just need to be aware -- and plan ahead.

Bob

CowboyCraic · Guru

Don't even bother with TRavelr's cheques. THey are more hassle than they are worth. Michele has some great budget and money tips here

ATMs are your friend in Ireland. I usually take out the daily allowed maximum when I head out for the day

By "Read the fine print"...I mean ask questions...some B&Bs have a strict check-in policy of "not after six" whilst others are quite flexible.. I had an experience with one B&B outside Bushmills which insisted that their guests be in by ten o'clock at night ...no exceptions...when I cancelled my reservation...three months in advance...they kept my deposit...

In letting a car, smaller is better...and spend the extra for the automatic....especially if you are driving the passes on the Beara, sheepshead, mizen head and Dingle

Jasper · Member

Hi Cowboycraic, I'm wondering about your suggestion to take the fairy across to Dingle. Is the drive around through Limerick, Adare etc, not worth it and time better spent at Dingle? I'm good with that, just wondering.

I'm updating my itinerary based on input now and then we'll see how it looks!

J

Geno · Guru

If the weather is good, the route via the Tarbert Ferry takes several miles off the trip and provides wonderful scenery that is more spectacular than Limerick and Adare. And the trip across the Shannon River gives you a chance to get out of the car and relax awhile and take in the views.

That route is something we always take.

Geno

Jasper · Member

Here's what I have now:

Arrive in Shannon @ 6am
- Arrival day1: Drive direct to see the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. Then back to Ennis for an early night. (recommendations where to stay).
- Day 2/3: From Ennis, take Kilmer/Tarbert Ferry to Dingle. (Horseback riding at Longs outside of Ventry) Anything else to do? Stay in Dingle or Castle Greggory?
- Day 4/5: Drive to Killarney (horseback riding) (Lakes, Torc Falls, Ladies View and Molls Gap. Spend day five in and around Killarney . Stay at Friars Glen just outside of Killarney. Jaunting car tour through the Gap of Dunloe and finish it up with a night of fun at Kate Kearney's Cottage.
- Day 6: Drive through Mizen head, through Skibbereen and over to Kinsale and stay the night before heading back towards Shannon/Bunratty.
- Day 7: Drive back up through limerick (long drive) and go to the Bunratty castle feast?
- Day 8 Leave next day for Home

I'm good with adding another day or two if any of these places have other gems to see (perhaps Kinsale or another 3rd day around Killarney?) My itinerary seems to have the physical places/route listed but not too much substance yet as far as
fun things to do. So perhaps some more help there is needed and added time.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Since you plan on taking the Shannon Ferry, you might consider continuing down the coast of Clare to Kilrush instead of Ennis. That is quite near the ferry and will position you better. If you were taking the main road toward Limerick, then Ennis would be good.

Castlegregory is small and rather isolated on the north shore of the Dingle Peninsula. But from what you have posted, perhaps that is what you are looking for. I know a fabulous B&B there if you are interested. Most people opt for Dingle town to be near the pubs and restaurants.

If you want a special overnight along the coast of West Cork look at Henry's in Castlefreke. It is on a cliff overlooking the ocean and lighthouse with steps down to the beach. Spectacular!