breganoc

Here's the situation, I have been to Ireland 5 times and my normal mode of travel is to have a starting point and end point and a rough direction and see what happens. If we are enjoying a location and people we stay longer trying to hit some of the not so familiar sites. This time we will be traveling with 10 other people 5 couples in addition to my wife and I. The other 10 have never been to Ireland. We will be renting a minibus with a driver. ( I tried to convince them to rent a few cars so we could occasionally go in different directions but no-go) While my wife and I dislike a structured trip our companions will not go for it. I have come up with two rough itineraries, Please give me your thoughts.. Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings here, just want to make sure my friends see great sites and have a good time.

Possible Itinerary- 10 days Ireland- Option 1
Day 1 – August 14 Dublin....
Day 2- August 15 Drive to Kinsale stopping at Rock of Cashel and Cork City arrive Kinsale late afternoon. Stay Kinsale....
Day 3- August 16 Golf “Old Head” visit Charles Fort. Stay Kinsale....
Day 4 – August 17 Drive to Blarney Castle (stay 1 hr) then on to Killarney National Park. Overnight Kenmare...
Day 5- August 18 Drive to Dingle – Enjoy Dingle Town and attractions.....
Day 6- August 19 Drive Dingle Peninsula in morning enjoy Dingle Town afternoon and evening Stay Dingle....
Day 7- August 20 Drive to Doolin stop Bunratty Castle Overnight in Doolin ( or should we stay in Ennis or Lahinch) Have heard mixed reviews of Doolin.....
Day 8- August 21 Cliffs of Moher Morning on to Galway. Overnight Galway.....
Day 9- August 22 Enjoy Galway....
Day 10- August 23 Drive to Dublin Overnight Dublin- Fly out next day.....
Nights in Ireland
2 Nights Dublin 2 Nights Kinsale,2 Nights Dingle,2 Nights Galway,1 Night Kenmare,1 Night Doolin (or other)

10 Days in Ireland Option 2
Day 1 – August 14 Dublin....
Day 2- August 15 Drive to Portrush lunch in Belfast. Giants Causeway Afternoon Night Portrush.....
Day 3- Morning sites around Portrush. Drive to Donegal. Enjoy evening Donegal....
Day 4 Donegal and sites nearby....
Day 5 Drive through Connemara region arrive Galway. Overnight Galway....
Day 6 Galway enjoy city....
Day 7 Cliffs of Moher night Doolin ( or Lahinch or Ennis)....
Day 8 Drive to Dingle stop Bunratty. Overnight Dingle ...
Day 9 Drive Dingle peninsula enjoy Dingle Overnight Dingle....
Day 10 Drive back to Dublin – Fly out next day.....
Nights
2 Dublin,2 Donegal,2 Galway,2 Dingle,1 Portrush, 1 Doolin or nearby

dugi_otok

I like your Option 1 with a few tweaks.Put Dublin at the end. Add a night to Kenmare by subtracting a night from Dingle. Stay in Ennis instead of Doolin.Give the group some options. Do all 12 want to play golf(can this be arranged)? When in Galway take a optional day trip to Connemara, your bus with local guide? When in Ennis offer a medieval Banquet at either Bunratty or Knappoque.Dublin hop on hop off bus tour.Does the group want to eat dinner together every evening? Is your driver allowed to or expected to work nights-Drive you to dinner? I hope your group appreciates what you are doing for them.

Day 1 – August 14-Bus picks you up at the airport. Drive to Kinsale stopping at Rock of Cashel,arrive Kinsale late afternoon. Stay in Kinsale.

Day 2- August 15- Golf “Old Head”.Alternative for non golfers. Stay Kinsale....

Day 3- August 16- Drive to Blarney Castle, arriving when it opens to beat the crowd. then on to Killarney National Park (Muckross House) etc.. Stay in Kenmare(Killarney?)...

Day 4 – August 17- Ring of Kerry-your bus or Gap of Dunloe alternative. Stay in Kenmare(Killarney?)

Day 5- August 18- Drive to Dingle,drive Dingle Peninsula,enjoy Dingle Town. Stay in Dingle.

Day 6- August 19- Drive to Ennis.Stay in Ennis.Bunrraty village en route then Bunratty Medieval Banquet in the evening. Could sub Knappoque castle Medieval Banquet.

Day 7- August 20- Cliffs of Moher Morning, then Burren scenic drive....on to Galway.Overnight Galway.....

Day 8- August 21- Day trip, your bus, to Connemara. Local guide? Some may want to go to Aran Islands or just stay in Galway.Overnight Galway.....

Day 9- August 22- Drive to Dublin. No longer need your bus.
Day 10- August 23 -Hop on hop off bus.Overnight Dublin.Fly out next day.....

Nights in Ireland
2 Nights Kinsale,2 Nights Kenmare,1 Night Dingle, 1 Night Ennis, 2 Nights Galway,2 Nights Dublin.

Tony2phones

Itinerary 2 doesn't work. I personally don't like Itinerary 1 but its not my holiday.

If you were booking me and not a minibus, you would be working with me as the on the ground local to give you advice including what is possible drive wise.

You are 5 couples requiring 5 rooms probably wanting those rooms in the same Location.. In peak season August. That will impact on your overnight options especially multiple night stays at the same location and especially if those nights are weekend nights.

Doolin wouldn't get my vote although I have suggested there rather than Galway for a specific reason within the last hour.

1 night in Kilkenny, 2 nights Cork Area, 2 nights Ken/Kill Area I would drive round Dingle maybe throw in Ballyseede Castle or Dromoland Castle for a night? Then Burren/Cliffs/Clare to 2 nights in Galway. return to Dublin. Getting the rooms might dictate actual locations.