choosing destinations - HELP!!

esmile87 · Member

choosing destinations - HELP!!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

You are experiencing the HARDEST part of visiting Ireland! It is an incredibly DENSE country.

I've heard GREAT things about: Mary Gibbons http://www.newgrangetours.com/

Michele adores Kenmare and is QUITE fond of Kilkenny. Personally, I prefer Killarney, but we have family and friends in the area. Galway is a fun, vibrant little city and affords access to Connemara and the Aran Islands. Dingle is a fun, little town, but probably not worth more than 1 or 2 nights.

Without renting a car, Kilkenny, Dublin, Killarney and Galway make suitable bases from which to utilize small, 'Day Tour' options, but driving affords much greater flexibility and freedom. I try NOT to drive after dark, in Ireland. There are almost NO street lights and I swear that the roads 'shrink' after the sun goes down -- biggrin biggrin

Besides, there is SO much fun to be had, Pub-Side, during the evenings -- even if you don't drink! biggrin biggrin During the Summer, it doesn't REALLY get dark until AFTER 10 PM (and the sun rises about 5 AM), so there's usually LOTS of time to explore.

Try reading some of the Trip Reports to see which sites really GRAB you.

Hope this helps.

Bob

tony2phones · Guru

Everyone reads about Dingle so everybody (except me apparently) loves the place. Not sure who reads about Tralee unless its for the Rose week or Ballysedee but it's not a small town and working focused. Listowel is a nice Heritage town which is close enough for both but not too tourist focused.
8 days is not long so careful consideration of what is actually possible needs some thought. Concentrate on one area unless you are like myself a one night a time road tripper. even then be selective.

esmile87 · Member

thanks so much for the replies.

what about Kinsale? what's your comment on this town? thanks!

Michele Erdvig · Host

When will you be in Ireland? Bob is right that Kenmare is my favorite small town in Ireland. But I like Killarney very much too. Kinsale is a small harbor town south of Cork city. It is very hilly and might be described as scenic or picturesque.

You need to choose carefully because you don't have a lot of time. If you are departing from Dublin (as well as arriving there) consider getting a jump-start and saving Dublin for the last two nights. If you do two nights first, that probably means another night near Dublin Airport. That will really eat into your time when you could have that extra night elsewhere.

tony2phones · Guru

Kinsale falls into my nice place to visit but wouldn't stay there category. It has been given rather than earned a reputation for "Foodies" and prices have been set to match..I made the comment 10 years ago that it was an expensive place to look at the Irish Fishing fleet. It is now an expensive place to look at the yacht crowd, the best cliff walk has been commandeered by the "thou shall not enter" Golf Club and the imaginatively named Fishy Fish chipper is a High budget Cod and Chip joint. or maybe I'm just not enthralled West Cork has a lot better to offer in the typical Irish fishing Town/Village stakes.

esmile87 · Member

will arrive July 11.

here's sort of what i have in mind:

- land in Dublin in the morning - fly or train to Scotland for 6-8 days

- back to Shannon (or Dublin) and go to Doolin the same day; over night at Doolin.

- Hike to the cliff, explore Doolin; overnight at Doolin

- Go Dingle and spend 1-2nights

- Go to Killarney or Killkenny

- Back to Dublin; explore Dublin

- tour to Newgrange

is this possible in 8 days? any suggestions for driving routes? and bus/train options?

Bob, Thanks for letting me know it doesn't get dark until 10! I would like to fly to Shannon from Scotland since I will be visiting the west coast, but the only flights i could find lands Shannon at 18:25, not sure if that's too late to drive to Doolin. and was thinking i may have better chance to fly to Dublin instead.

Doolin - part of the reason i'm visiting is because of the cliff, if there's too much on my rough itinerary, should I drop Doolin and cliff and keep Dingle and focus on the southwest? or the other way around? any comments on Doolin? I mean, I would be able to see some Irish cliff around Dingle?

Thank You Sooo much for your help!!
and sorry for the many typos in my first post! it was 3am in the morning when I posted that... :p

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony, I'm glad that not everyone is enthralled with Fishy Fishy. Everyone seems to salivate all over the place at just the thought of it. Personally, I was not impressed with the tiny portions and high prices. The food itself was okay but nothing to rave about. Fresh seafood is all over the place in Ireland. But Kinsale sure has a good publicity machine espousing it as the "gourmet capital of Ireland". wink

esmile, I think you need to narrow it down to either public transport or rent a car. No sense giving driving routes if you are taking buses and trains. You can access bus and train websites from my Transport page. Here is the AA Route Planner. Our advice about your itinerary will change depending on your choice of transportation.

tony2phones · Guru

I wouldn't be using Belfast on the 12th for Rail and Sail so consider putting Ireland first and flying to Scotland. You could fly Scotland to Cork and just concentrate on the area south of the Shannon or Fly Scotland to Ireland West Knock and concentrate on the area's north of the Shannon Mayo,Galway and Clare. If you want Hikes. music and locals then the latter have a lot to offer

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I STRONGLY concur with Tony's suggestions, pending further information.

Back in 2007, we flew into EDI, spent 3 days and then did the Rail and Sail to Dublin, via Belfast. My wife's cousins flew in, from Cork, to join us. On the day we boarded the train, they flew back to Cork. We departed Waverly Station about 10:30 AM and arrived in Belfast about 4 PM. We exited Connolly Station, in Dublin, about 6;30 or 7 PM -- So, it took us the whole day. The cousins, on the other hand were home, in time for lunch.

We had time to burn and really enjoyed our day and a half journey down to Cork, but you are on a much tighter schedule. You also need to be aware of the luggage restrictions applicable to any 'Connecting' flights.

You don't mention budget and that CAN impact your plans dramatically.

Are your flights already booked? If so, it might be QUITE costly to change them, now. How much of your pla is written in stone? How much is adjustable?

You seem to be vacillating between Public Transport and Self-Drive. Do you have a preference?

You also need to consider logistics -- for example -- If you fly into SNN, how did you plan to get TO Doolin? It's a non-issue, IF you rent a car. BUT, it's a BIG issue, if you are relying upon public transport. Like-wise, there are MANY sites accessable by train or bus, but there are many that are only reachable by car.

Michele operates this Forum -- and most of us 'Irregulars' linger here -- because we love Ireland and want to share Her wonders.

Help us help you -- by giving us the info needed to make your trip Magical.

Bob

esmile87 · Member

Thanks everyone for your help!!

I'm really quite undecided between public transportation and self-drive. I think my preference would be public transportation if possible because i've never driven on the left before... thinking public transportation would be more relaxing in that regard. However, i do enjoy the flexibility and the unexpected adventure of road trips.... just driving on the left scares me..... and i've heard and read about the narrow roads and tight corners.... cry

i have budget of $3000-$3500CAD.

Haven't had the tickets booked, so things are very adjustable. I'm checking at the same time for open-jaw tickets to see if i can fly home from either country. if open jaw is too expensive, i will be landing and leaving from Dublin.

esmile87 · Member

i checked Ryanair and AerLingus for flights to Scotland. any other suggestions? thanks

Michele Erdvig · Host

If you are leaning toward public transportation Dublin, Galway and Killarney would be good bases.

tony2phones · Guru

http://www.flybe.com/ for Knock Ireland West about an hour north of Galway by car, handy for the west coast from Sligo down or fly into Dublin.

esmile87 · Member

Thanks everyone for suggestions!!! you people are wonderful!!
I have decided to drive instead of taking the train. I'd love the flexibility to make long stay to appreciate the views if I want to~ driving on the left would be interesting but hopefully I will get use to it soon enough!

here's the more final but not quite itinerary, would appreciate some feedback :)
Day 1 (July 12) - arrive Dublin in the morning; tour around Dublin
Day 2 -Dublin, tour to Newgrange
Day 3 - Dublin
Day 4 - Dublin --> Killarney (est time on road: 5hrs; plan to get there around evening/supper time)
Day 5 - Killarney
Day 6 - Killarney --> Dingle (est time on road: 2hrs)
Day 7 - Dingle
Day 8 - Dingle --> Doolin (est time on road: 5hrs)
Day 9 - Cliff of Moher & Burren
Day 10 - leave Doolin to Shannon after lunch (flight to Edinburgh at 18:50)
Day 11 - Edin
Day 12 - Edin
Day 13 - Edin --> Stirling --> Glenco (get there by evening)
Day 14 - Glencoe --> Oban (2hrs)
Day 15 - Oban --> Loch Lamond (3hrs)
Day 16 - Loch Lamond --> Edinburgh (3hrs)
Day 17 - Edin
Day 18 - Home

I'm not sure if i allowed enough time for the trip to Killarney. Can i do Cliff of Moher and Burren on the same day? I was thinking doing the hike in the morning and go to Burren later in the afternoon. i just roughly estimated the driving time by adding another hour or so from google map...

can someone suggest some driving route as well? any places to get good road maps other than AAA/CAA? can we get them from tourist office? i do want to have a copy and study it a bit before we get there though...
Thanks!!!

esmile87 · Member

wondering if i could get some feedback on the itinerary. does it look ok? do-able? or still too much?
thank you!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

The Ireland portion looks fine. Way to go. It proves that with some feedback and a little tweaking you can get just the right itinerary to suit your needs. Have fun!

tony2phones · Guru

I personally would split the journey Dublin to Killarney take a night from Dingle to do that and would use Ennis as a touring base for county Clare rather than Doolin, we have lots of walks over here in east Clare by Lough Derg don't feel confined to the Burren. Edinburgh to Glenco is an easy drive these days but do allow time for Stirling Castle and the Wallace Memorial. Just north from Oban is Fort William the gateway to Glen/Ben Nevis and being picky I would chose there over Oban. Not sure where/how you get to Lough Lomond from there but I would take the coastal route down and back up the firth to Inveraray and the George in the centre of town, call into Ardkinglass if you have an hour (or so) to spare. If you have a Ghost curiosity then take one of the tours of the Vaults whilst in Edinburgh.

Briefne · Member

If you do stay in Doolin, consider a day trip to Inis Oírr, the smallest Aran island, easily reached by passenger ferry from Doolin (around 30 minutes)
You will see fine seascapes from the ferry, including the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs do offer great views, but you are obliged to pay for parking, and the visitors center and crowds ruin the ambience of the place in my opinion
Inis Oírr is very small, easily explored in a few hours, by foot or by pony and cart (you will be met and offered a trip at the Quayside, remember to haggle). You get great views of Clare, Galway and the neighbouring islands
There are a couple of pubs, a hotel and a very nice cafe/tea shop at the back of the town.
In Doolin itself, we stayed at the Atlantic View b&b, with fine views of the Cliffs from bedrooms at the rear. We found O'Connors to be the best pub in the village, a nice pint and good music
Enjoy your trip wherever you decide to go.

esmile87 · Member

Thank You everyone SOOO much for your help and advice!
i have a friend coming with me and we decided to drive, we actually added one more day to our whole itinerary July10-28 for Ireland and Scotland! i'm really excited!! now that the itinerary is set (sort of), we can move on to booking B&Bs/hotels/ car.... and look into specific activities and things to see & do!

again, Thank You!! really appreciate the help!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Happy to help. Do let us know how your trip goes when you return. We would love to hear back if you have the time.