First visit, please review my itinerary

Ninja · Newbie

First visit, please review my itinerary

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ninja,

I am delighted to hear that my book has been a help. I think your itinerary looks very good. I will put my day by day comments below:

Day 1 - Arrive Shannon, work our way over to Kilkee, Loop Head peninsula, overnight Kilrush. * Fine. The Cliffs of Moher are worth a look but I find Loop Head to be much quieter and free of the tourist hordes that gather at the Cliffs of Moher. Be sure to stop at the Bridges of Ross. At Loop Head you can park and take a lovely walk around the headland and lighthouse.

Day 2 - take ferry over to Tarbert, quick visit to Ballybunnion, (teenage golfer will love that experience) head to Dingle via Tralee and Connor Pass. Overnight Dingle. * Fine. There is a great cliff walk at Ballybunion and beautiful beaches (besides the golf course). There is a statue of Bill Clinton in town.

Day 3 - Free day in Dingle (options include boat trip to Blasket Islands or Skellig - weather permitting, horseback riding, pitch 'n putt, exploring in town). Overnight Dingle. * I would do Slea Head Drive on this day (unless the weather is bad). You want to be able to take your time and enjoy the scenic drive, which is one of the very best in all of Ireland.

Day 4 - Head out early, complete Slea Head drive and work our way over to Kenmare. Overnight Kenmare. * If you do Slea Head drive on Day 3, you could see some of the Killarney sightseeing on the way to Kenmare.

Day 5 - Gap of Dunloe, Ross Castle, Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View. Visit Killarney area. Overnight Kenmare. * The complete Gap of Dunloe Tour will take the entire day.

Day 6 - Free day to golf, shop, horseback riding - if we didn't do this in Ventry), overnight Kenmare. * Fine.

Day 7 - Today we have 2 Options (or can we do both on same day??) Beara Peninsula drive via Healy pass, cable car to Dursey Island OR head to Glengariff, Garinish Island, boat to Ilnacullin gardens. Overnight Kenmare. * I suggest going directly to Ilnacullin Gardens near Glengarriff, see that first and then do your other sightseeing. I don't think I would want to go all the way to the tip of the Beara Peninsula and out to Dursey. But you could certainly do Healy Pass. Depending on your timing you might fit in Dereen Gardens near Lauragh and Gleninchiquin Park & Waterfall.

Day 8 - drive Kenmare to Glin Castle. Overnight Glin. This helps break up the long drive back to Shannon and allows us an overnight stay in a castle which we would both really enjoy. * Fine. Many of my clients this year have stayed at Glin Castle. They have really enjoyed the experience and highly recommend it.

Day 9 - drive Glin to Buratty. Visit castle, folk park, medieval dinner. Overnight Bunratty. * The drive along the Shannon Estuary is lovely and not that many people do it. I always enjoy the Foynes Flying Boat Museum (they make a great Irish coffee there). There is also a good tour in Askeaton (see yesiree's trip report).

I haven't been to the Bunratty Festival. Is this it: http://www.shannonheritage.com/20040623.htm ? You will probably want to contact Shannon Heritage in advance to be sure it will be on in 2007 and what the dates are. If it is on, make reservations well ahead of time for your lodgings.

Michele

Ninja · Newbie

Thanks, Michele, for all your helpful comments. I like the idea of moving the Slea Head drive up to day 3 and if the weather isn't very cooperative, then we'll at least still have a second day there and can move things around a bit. I also think I'll need a good part of day 6 to spend in the Killarney area since Day 5 (Gap of Dunloe tour) will take up a full day. For now I'm still planning on the overnight stay at Glin Castle. I just think that would be a great experience and certainly not something easily repeated here in the U.S. My concern is that we could probably use the extra day in Kenmare/Killarney area instead and then just head straight to Bunratty on day 9.

Yes, that was the medieval festival I was mentioning. It sounded like something my son would really enjoy, but probably not worth planning our entire trip around those dates. If it happens to work out, then we'll be sure to reserve well in advance.

A few more questions if you don't mind:

When would you suggest we try to make our airline reservations? Do rates typically drop in the winter? (We'll be coming from RDU - Raleigh, NC) and the best I can find right now is around $950 pp.

Here's my first pass at accommodations. Since we'll need dbls - 2 beds, and because we're going to be there during peak season, I plan on making reservations as soon as the flights are arranged. How far in advance should I be making these arrangements?

Kilrush - Hillcrest View B&B

Dingle - Emlagh Lodge or Heaton's Guest House (The Shores sounds absolutely lovely, but I'd prefer to be more centrally located since our time is so limited in that area)

Kenmare - Lodge Kenmare or Hawthorn House

Glin - Glin Castle

Bunratty - Bunratty Lodge, Dunaree or Headley Court

Thanks again for all the help. This board has been an excellent source of information.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ninja,

The feedback from my clients about Glin Castle is that it is a "once in a lifetime" event. They said the staff was perfect and the accommodations wonderful. They felt like kings and queens when staying there.

There are usually airfare sales in the winter. I suggest you sign up for emails from your airline of choice so they will alert you of the specials. Once a really good fare comes through don't hesitate. Get it before it is gone.

For your B&Bs Hillcrest View has a very nice room with two beds. Heaton's will have larger rooms than Emalgh Lodge but you will need to request the larger size. Bunratty Lodge has a very large room with three beds and two bathrooms. That might be very convenient when getting ready in the morning for you flight. You would have to reseve that particular room in advance. Headley Court also has spacious rooms with two and three beds. I don't know Dunaree. When booking do not ask for a double! Ask for a room with two beds. A double only has one double bed. Generally, most people wait till after the first of the year to start making reservations. Once your itinerary is firm and you have your airfares you can go ahead with B&B reservations.

Michele

oopsy · Senior Member

We stayed in the 3 bed, 2 br room at Bunratty Lodge and it was indeed incredibly convenient for 3 of us to get ready for an early flight. The owner Mary (I hope...details are fading) was incredibly welcoming and made us a light, early breakfast well before her usual breakfast start time.

Ninja · Newbie

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Things are starting to shape up nicely now.

I'm rethinking our plans to stay overnight at Glin Castle. Hard to justify the cost at this point and would rather spend the money on other activities along the way. The castle looks gorgeous and I know we'd enjoy it, but still feels like too much of a luxury at this point.

Still concerned about how long a day it will be to drive from Kenmare to Bunratty and take in the medieval park / castle / and evening barn dinner there before flying home the next day. Is this all doable in one day? What would be the best route - thru Limerick, or via Tarbert ferry?

I've started to look into availability for some of our accommodations. So far so good. I'll make flight arrangements in December or January, while hoping for lower fares. Our tentative dates are now July 3 thru July 11, departing on the 12th so we still have plenty of time.

Thanks again for all the help!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ninja,

I'm glad your trip is shaping up.

I know what you mean. Glin Castle is lovely but most castle hotels in Ireland are expensive. Many people decide to skip a castle stay once they know the realities and check their budgets.

You can drive from Kenmare to Bunratty via the main roads through Limerick (no ferry) in about 2 1/2 hours. More than enough time for Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Book Bunratty Traditional Irish Night far in advance.

Michele