O.k. Here is the final itinerary that we have come up with.
Arrive Friday May 25th in Shannon- Drive to Killarney & stay the night
Saturday May 26th- Killarney area- stay in Killarney
Sunday May 27th- Kenmare area - stay in Kenmare
Monday May 28th- Dingle area stay in Dingle
Tuesday May 29th- Dingle area stay in Dingle
Wednesday May 30th- Dingle area stay in Dingle - maybe stay at the Shores
Thursday May 31st- drive from Dingle to Doolin & stay the night in Doolin
Friday June 1st - Burren area stay the night in Ennis or Shannon
Saturday June 2nd - leave for home in the am
How are we doing? Questions... is 3 nights in the ROK area or Dingle area too much? Would we better off removing a night from one of these areas in favor of a night in Galway or a night in Cork? Anything else in this section of SW Ireland we should consider? If we have to be at the airport by 7am on the 2nd for check in for our flight, should we spend Friday night in Shannon or could we stay in Ennis, or Limmerick? Thanks, I think we almost have it.
Since you must be at the airport so early I suggest staying pretty close by. Bunratty would be my choice since it is only 10-15 minutes drive to the airport. In Ennis you can get hung up in traffic since the town is a bottleneck.
As for your itinerary, it really depends on what you want to do and see in each area. There is certainly enough to keep you very busy in the Killarney/Kenmare areas for many days (or even weeks!). You might want to pull a day from Dingle and add it to Kenmare. I am assuming that you are doing the ROK from Killarney to Kenmare, which is why you are ending up there? Do not overlook the Beara Peninsula. It is wild and wonderful.
If you stay at The Shores have dinner there on at least one night. It is fantastic. And tell Annette hello from me.
Thanks! We were actually considering Kenmare because we have heard a lot of people think it's a better place to stay than Killarney. We figured 3 days in the area would be good & we would stay in Kenmare one night to give us a different feel for the area. I ordered your book this afternoon so hopefully we'll pick up some good ideas from it. We should have it by the end of the week. Thanks!
Thanks for your book order. Since Monday is a holiday it will be mailed on Tuesday. Kenmare is my favorite small town in Ireland. For such a little place it has some excellent restaurants and superior places to stay. I think you will enjoy it.
jbjayhawk - We traveled to that area last summer and really preferred Kenmare rather than Killarney. We stayed for 3 nights in Kenmare and found a lot to do w/ two school age kids. You can read my trip report on that chapter of our trip on the other thread. I think I titled it: County Kerry.. our trip continues. Good Luck!
I would do either Killarney or Kenmare, but not stay in both. I'm not sure it's worth pulling up stakes to move 45 minutes away. My choice would be Kenmare at that time of year. It's a busy town and there will be plenty going on so you won't be at a loss. Better jumping of point for Beara also.
If you say hi to Annette from Michele, you better say hi from Bill and Felicity too . Again, I wouldn't move. The road over the pass is much improved so it's not a bad drive at all. I'll check and see if the improvements have continues when I'm there in Feb. Yes, have dinner with Annette.
I too would vote for staying in Kemare the full time. Its a beautiful town and less bustle than Killarney. You all have convinced me and next time I am in the area,I will stay at the Shores, as well.
Also, since you are departing so early from Shannon, I would suggest that you stay at the Great Southern Shannon, as it is just across a parking lot from the departure terminal making for an less rushed last morning.