First ever trip to Ireland for 25th Anniversary

Michele Erdvig · Host

RE: First ever trip to Ireland for 25th Anniversary

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Good morning everyone. My husband and I are really enjoying looking at everything about Ireland. It is such a beautiful place and I am so excited about our trip even though I have to wait til September.

We are very certain on our route and our places to stay, Dublin (2nites), Kilkenny (2nites), Killarney (3nites), and Ennis (3nites), but we are wondering if you have any thoughts on a B&B that we could stay at in these areas. We have some ideas but would really appreciate other places. We have been reading Michele's book and love some of the places in there. We noticed that some of the hotels are a little pricey, but very nice.

Looking for more ideas on stops between our overnite stays. I know I may be repeating myself, but I just want as much info as I can get so we can make our choices, knowing that once we are there, they will change.

tony2phones · Guru

Kilkenny Rosquil House?

Killarney Sunnybank Guest house

Ennis Grey Gables

Dublin ??

Michele Erdvig · Host

It is good to have many recommendations for places to stay. But I don't think you will go wrong if you choose one from my book. I have stayed at them personally and am known for being "very fussy". wink

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

We've NEVER been disappointed by any of Michele's picks and some have become 'All Time' favorites! biggrin

While in Dublin, there is the Hop On-Hop Off Bus http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/citytour.aspx OR http://www.irishcitytours.com/

There is also the Luas http://www.luas.ie/ a light rail Tram and City Buses or taxis. Dublin is a pretty 'walkable' city, though.

Just be SURE to wear COMFORTABLE shoes! biggrin biggrin biggrin

I envy you -- spending your 25th in Ireland. We managed trips there for our 30th, 35th and 40th, after finally 'taking the plunge' for our first visit, in 1999. Since our 45th more-or-less coincides with the Centennial of the Easter Rebellion -- in 2016, I'm HOPING to spend THAT one in Ireland, as well! biggrin

gsmith · Veteran Member

Thank you for all of the advice and tips, they certainly give us something to talk about each night.

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Well, we are getting closer. We have picked some B&B's that we would love to stay at. Thank you to Michele and Tony, Rosquil House in Kilkenny and Grey Gables in Ennis are getting ready to be booked. Still trying to decide on Dublin and Killarney. We have one in Killarney, but haven't contacted them yet. Having trouble deciding on a B&B or Hotel in Dublin. We would rather stay in a B&B (hotels a little pricey) in Dublin, so we could walk to things. Don't want to drive at night when we are leaving the Pubs. In Michele's book, she mentions Swords and Malahide, for B&Bs, but if possible we would like to stay in Dublin. I did mention earlier in the blog that my friend stayed in Gleann Na Smol B&B in Howth, so if we can't stay in Dublin, we may go there. Just trying to keep the driving for during the day if possible.

All your help is very much appreciated.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Look at the very end of my chapter on Dublin for my "Quick Picks", which list city center hotels that might fit the bill. Keep in mind that Dublin is Ireland's capital city. Land prices in the prime city center area are high. That means anything built there costs a lot (like hotels). Small B&Bs would find it tough to afford the land prices and stay competitive. That is why in the prime location you will find hotels. In order to find a Dublin B&B you need to look slightly outside the prime Dublin 2 area.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Hotels IN Dublin can be pricey. B&B close in are virtually non-existent. cry cry

When I want to be IN Dublin, I usually check the Jurys Inns (Best locations are Christchurch and Custom House) and have found deals at the Ashling Hotel (opposite Heuston Train Station) -- a personal favorite. I did splurge, one trip, to stay at Staunton's On The Green.

http://www.jurysinns.com/hotels/dublin

http://www.ashlinghotel.ie/?gclid=CJrUmqLNjb0CFStk7AodAkUAHA

I've heard mixed reviews of O'Neil's Victorian Pub & B&B -- but I've only visited the Pub. aww aww

http://www.oneillsdublin.com/

Best 'Bang for the Buck' is Premier Inn Dublin Airport, in Swords. If you pre-book a NON-Cancelable room, they are available for a little as 41 Euro, per night, room only. They have an Airport Shuttle (1 Euro per person) that will connect you to the Express buses into Dublin.

Airlink: http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/Airport-Services/

Aircoach: http://www.aircoach.ie/

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Thank you Michele and Bob. Glenn and I wil check out the book more and also some of the websites. It looks like we now have both Rosquil House and Grey Gables booked. I am very excited about all this and I can't wait till our trip in September.

thank you again for all the help.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I agree with Bob about Premier Inn near Dublin Airport. I stay there frequently and you really can't beat the prices. You could even get a taxi back to the hotel at night and still save money by staying there. It just depends on if you want to pay more for city center or commute and get lower prices.

gsmith · Veteran Member

The lodgings are booked. We went with: Dublin - Roxford Lodge Hotel Kilkenny - Rosquil House B & B Killarney - Larkinley Lodge B & B Ennis - Grey Gables B & B Roxford Lodge is a splurge but we will be there on our anniversary day and I figure my bride of twenty five years deserves it. That and the cost of all the lodging comes in just under budget :) Thanks for all the advice. Now onto what to see from each "base"

suse · Member

Colleen,

My husband and I enjoyed a fantastic trip to Ireland last August for our 25th Anniversary. I know how excited you must be! I must tell you that I used Michele's book heavily for B&B's and places of interest. She describes each B&B beautifully and it was my major source. We flew into Cork and out of Belfast as we stayed with a friend in Northern Ireland for a few days. Our route took us up the western coast of Ireland. We did rent a car and used our "World" Mastercard for insurance which worked beautifully. Killarney, Dingle, Westport, Cong, Ashford Castle and School of Falconry to fly the hawks...........and on and on. Once you get past the first day of driving on the "wrong" side of the road from the "wrong" side of the vehicle you will be fine. You are about to see the most beautiful country inhabited by the most beautiful people!!!!!! Have fun!!

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Suse, thank you so much for your words. I am very excited about our trip in September. Having our lodgings booked has made it even more exciting. Next is our flights and our places to see. We also will be renting a car for our trip. I am a little nervous about being on what we call the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car, but I think we will do just fine.

I am constantly reading Michele's book and have gotten a lot of ideas of places to see from it. Our list is growing and we will have plenty to chose from. We hope to narrow our list down to a couple of must sees in each base area, with a couple of on the way sights. But we realize that we may have a list, but we may not stick to it.

Thanks to everyone on all your wonderful ideas. I look forward to more of them. We keep adding to the list with what you suggest.

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Hello everyone. We have all our lodgings booked and now our flights are in the process of being booked. Each time we check costs, it seems to go down. Hoping it goes down more. Next will be the car. Each day we get closer, I get more excited. Thank you for all your help. My list of must sees is 1-2 per stop. I have some places that I would like to see on the way to each stop and hoping that we can do them.

Thanks for all your help.

murphy · Guru

2 major tourist attractions per day is easily doable in most cases (unless you have a long way to drive to relocate to a new area. We have found that 3 is about the max but usually have 4-5 on my short list in case weather throws you a curve or in the event that the venue is not open for some reason. Sounds like you are all set, and all the planning will be well worth it. I know you will have a great time! Dan

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Well, it is official! I received the best Easter card ever! Our plane tickets are now purchased and our trip is now official! I was surprised by my husband this Easter morning with our plane itinerary. I can't believe that we are really going? Next will be the rental car.

Our route is pretty set. Fly into Dublin (2nites), travel through Kildare (stop at National Stud Farm and Japanese Gardens) to Kilkenny (2nites), travel down to Killarney (3nites), try to see Dingle and Killarney National Forest and other places, travel up to Ennis (3nites). Again, we have 1-2 major attractions that we would like to see, but we know that that can change at any time.

Again, thank you for all your help. I can't wait til September!

gsmith · Veteran Member

sounds like your husband is a great guy

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

gsmith wrote:
sounds like your husband is a great guy

WELL played, sir. Well played. biggrin biggrin

gsmith · Veteran Member

Why thank you Sir :)

It actually worked out great as the ticket prices dropped almost $250 per ticket from two months ago. I'm not sure if they'll go lower but I wasn't taking any chances and bought them.

Michele Erdvig · Host

What a great gift and $250 less per ticket. Sounds great. Now the trip is "written in stone".

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

Well, we are down to just over 3 weeks till our departure for Ireland! I am soo excited! I have been jarting down so many different ideas from everything that I have read here on the forum and I appreciate all the great ideas. We or should I say I have 1-2 things that I would like to see in each base and am open to anything else along the way. Thank you so much for all your help in the planning of our trip. We have received our OSI and as my husband said in another blog, I have already gotten lost just trying to read it. I am afraid I am going to be trying to read it and get us to where we need to be, instead of looking at the wonderful countryside. that is my only fear. But, I know that it will be a great trip for the two of us. I look forward to meeting the wonderful people in each county we stop and seeing all the wonders of Ireland.

Our route is planned from Dublin(2-nights) to Ennis, with stops in Kildare(sightseeing), Kilkenny (2-overnight), Killarney (3-overnight) and onto Ennis (3-overnight).We will be leaving out of Shannon.I am looking for the best routes from each place with the best views of the country. If you know the best route, I would love to know it. Any ideas are helpful.

I love reading the different blogs on this site. All the people are very helpful. thanks again1

Michele Erdvig · Host

Colleen, Your routes will really depend on your sightseeing stops along the way. Since you have your Atlas you can pinpoint each stop and then connect the dots. Here is another resource: http://www.theaa.ie/routes/

Here is a little tip about using a map in Ireland. Look at the distant point on the road you are traveling on even though you may only be going 30 miles on that road. For instance if you are departing Dublin and heading north to Drogheda you will be on the Belfast road. So you will see signs for Belfast. Granted you are not going that far but you will be on the road to Belfast for a while. So before starting out for the day study your map for the towns along the way (you could even jot some names down in the margins or highlight them) and don't panic if you are headed for Cork but are only going to Adare.

Have fun counting down the days and enjoy Ireland.

gsmith · Veteran Member

The rental car is booked. I didn't get the GPS as I will update ours with maps of Ireland.
I am also thinking of picking up a myfi while there then sell it once we get back stateside.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sounds like a good plan.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Here's an option: http://www.amazon.com/Huawei-Mobile-Hotspot-Europe-T-Mobile/dp/B00871NPP6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407357332&sr=8-1&keywords=unlocked+mobile+hotspot

It's marginally cheaper than the ones available in Ireland -- they retail for 50 Euro -- but has the advantage of NOT being 'Locked' to a specific Country / Service Provider. This would increase its resale ease/value.

I bought an Irish-only unit in 2013, which is only good on the '3' Network. That's fine, for me, as we visit every year. If I were to have a 'Do Over', this is the unit that I would buy.

gsmith · Veteran Member

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered it and am hoping it will get here in time.

Smitty2 · Veteran Member

I can't believe we are under 20 days till our trip to Ireland! We have been planning this for so long and it is finally getting closer. thank you all for your wonderful ideas on places to see and things to do. I have a folder full of the ideas and will be cutting them down, because I know we can't do or see them all.

thank you to Michele, Bob, Dan and everyone else for all your help in planning our trip. Glenn and I can't thank you enough.

Count down is on!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

It's no biggie! biggrin

We're here because we genuinely love Ireland and want those who make the trip better prepared -- So that THEY will come to appreciate what a truly spectacular place the Island of Scholars and Saints (and DELIGHTS) really is! aww aww

Please be sure to 'Drop Back In' and let us know how it all turns out for you.

You're one of US, now -- Or, WILL BE, in less than 20 days! biggrin biggrin biggrin

asellus · Newbie

Wow, so cool 25 years... One day I'll travel to Ireland too. I'd like to see this beauty...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffs_of_Moher