First timers trip at end of March -- itinerary conundrum!

Txaggiejd · Newbie

First timers trip at end of March -- itinerary conundrum!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome to the forum. What a great gift!

You will be better off renting a car in Dublin and driving to Northern Ireland. Otherwise you will pay a large fee for renting in NI and dropping in the Republic of Ireland. Two different countries.

With all you want to do and see in the north I suggest spending a minimum of 2 days there, maybe three. Each sightseeing stop takes time, which many don't take into account when just thinking of drive times. For instance Bru na Boinne (if you want to see everything there) will take a minimum of 3 hours. If you don't want to be rushed it might take 4 hours. So consider the logistics of travel in Ireland when planning.

When is your flight from Dublin? There is a 3-hour minimum check-in time before the flight. Will night 6 have to be near the airport? If so, that might impact your plans.

Seems like the Cliffs of Moher should be cut since it is so far away from everything else on your list. Get back to us with more details and we will be happy to help.

tony2phones · Guru

Coming to Clare and Galway for 1/2 mile of tourist cliff is at least 5 hours wasted chasing the white lines of a motorway. Sounds easy 2 days Dublin, 2 days North coast 2 days west coast but put a wasted day just driving and your 6 days are 5 days.

Personally get off the flight and bus to Belfast. Day 1 for Belfast City and Titanic ect. Day 2 for the Game of Thrones tour Day 3 Causeway coast and Glens

Bright early start day 4 back to Dublin. See Dublin. Day 5 and 6 possible tours, Newgrange and Boyne and Glendalough with Wicklow

Gone in no time at all. Of course you could self drive if you preferred over taking local tours.

Txaggiejd · Newbie

We actually this weekend came up with a similar plan to that of Guru's. Fly in and go straight to Belfast by bus and explore. We don't care much about the Titanic museum so what else would you suggest seeing? We were going to rent a car and the next am get up and drive the Antrim Coast to see the things we wanted to see at our own pace--The next amthe Dark Hedges, the rope bridge, Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the temple... and then drive back to Belfast. We thought one night or the other a pub tour? Then the next day driving to NewGrange and then on to Dublin to explore the rest of that day and the next in Dublin. Then on to Kilkinney the next am and the Rick of Cashel and then on to Wicklow to explore-- spending the night either in Kilkinney or Wicklow, whichever is more feasible (or wherever is siggeated). Then back to Dublin the day of the Wicklow exploration to fly out the next day. We fly out at 1:45 pm.

So, is this itinerary doable or is Guru's a better fit? Will we have to rent 2 rental cars-- 1 in Belfast and another in Dublin? If so, should we just take an actual tour bus of the coast?

Any suggestions on places to stay, especially in Belfast?

Thanks so much!!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Renting a car in Belfast and dropping it in Dublin will incur BIG drop off fees (in the $200 range) -- because a car from Northern Ireland has to be re-patriated to the North as it and the Republic (Dublin) are different countries. You could save that by renting the car in Dublin and driving yourself to Belfast -- rather than taking the bus. Making two separate rentals will take more time and likely cost more. A bus from Belfast to the Dublin airport and then driving back to Newgrange will not be as quick.

The rest of your plan will need a bit of work, as you won't want a car while in Dublin.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Unless you have money to burn, you must make a decision. Will you do Northern Ireland by public transportation or rent a car in Dublin and return it to Dublin? Once you decide that you can proceed with your itinerary.