Help needed regarding Ireland trip

yas · Newbie

Help needed regarding Ireland trip

Michele Erdvig · Host

yas,

Welcome to the forum! You are trying to do an awful lot in just 7 days. On the 8th day you depart so you can't really count that as part of sightseeing. I often give the advice to slow down a bit and not see so much. In your case, I'm afraid that is true too. When will you find the time to sightsee if you are just driving all the time?

Ireland has few motorways.

Most roads are small and winding.

You will average 35 mph.

You will get nowhere fast.

If your desire is just to do a lot of drive-by sightseeing and see Ireland from your car window, then I'm sure you can do it. It depends on what sort of a trip you want. But the beauty of Ireland is found in a slower type trip where you can take some time to enjoy what you are seeing.

I would concentrate on either the southern half of the country or the northern half. Not both.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Michele

yas · Newbie

Dear Michele,

Thank you so much for your quick response and honest opinion. I didn't realize that their road condition is so different than here in America..... 35 miles per hour!! I was thinking like 60 miles/hour. It sure take twice as much time than driving in America.

Well, here is another question for you and other members since I need to re-schedule everything in very short time. Do you think adding extra three days there will make any diference? Let me know if this new schedule is still too much of driving or kind of the happy medium. I see a few days of long drive, but significant less drive time than my last one.

7/2(Sun) Arrive Kerry(KIR) airport at 8:15 am. Get a rental car at airport and drive to Dingle. Stay @ Dingle.

7/3(M) Drive Dingle Peninsula. Stay @ Dingle

7/4(T) Drive to (via Tarbert-Killimer NOT via Limerick) and stay @Galway (Moher/Burren) ---- Long Drive!!

7/5(W) Stay @ Galway

7/6(R) See Aran Islands. Stay @ Galway.

7/7(F) Drive to and stay @Westport

7/8(Sat) Drive to and stay @Derry or Portrush ---- Long Drive!!

7/9(Sun) See Antrim coast(Giant's couseway/Bushmills). Drive to and Stay @ Belfast.

7/10(M) Drive to Dublin (Hill of Tara/Newgrange). Stay @ Dublin

7/11(T) Stay @ Dublin

7/12(M) Leave late afternoon from Dublin to London.

Thanks again for your help and also members' help.

yas

Michele Erdvig · Host

yas,

The roads in Ireland are very different that in the USA. First there are very few motorways (expressways). Most of the roads you will be on will have traffic going in both directions, be narrow and winding. In some areas you will find sheep or maybe cattle on the roads. It is slow going.

The extra days always make a difference. If it were me I might pull a day from either Dingle or Galway and insert it between Westport and Northern Ireland. Otherwise, your new plan is doable.

Michele

yas · Newbie

Michele,

Thank you so much for you response and advice. You have no idea how much I feel better now since using this forum. I wish I found this sooner. I sure will use this next time and also tell this to all of my frineds who will be interested in Ireland (since I will tell them how great the place was!!)

My question at this time is:

1) Do you recommend particular place to rent a car? I will rent it at Kerry airport and drop it off in Dublin or Dublin airport.

2) I have read about their car insurance, but what is your opinion about it and what type to get it?

3) If I take a day out form Dingle or Galway and use it between Westport and Derry areat, would you use Sligo area as the next stop ore have any suggestion?

Thanks again for your help,

yas

Michele Erdvig · Host

yas,

1. Go to my car rental page for lots of info you need to know. If you click on the link to Kemwel you can price cars: http://www.irelandyes.com/cars.html

2. You will see my opinion on the page above. However, what I always do is decline the CDW and charge it on my platinum MasterCard. You will need to check with MasterCard, the car rental company, etc. to see if this is right for you.

3. I would stop in Sligo or Donegal. I actually think there is more to see and do in the Sligo area. It is also very scenic and a place that not that many tourists get to.

Michele