cmdunn4

Hello - we are traveling to Ireland for 7 days for the first time with our large family from Boston (all adults). We will fly into Shannon, depart from Dublin this June. We plan to get a car (most likely 2 to fit us all and luggage). We are debating to rent a large house in one place and site see from there -- .or to do a few days southern area (Kinsale?) and then a few days West (Galway?) and then over to Dublin. if we are to rent a house (which would be the most economical) where would is the best place to position us for site seeing and also near things so we may not have to travel too far to enjoy Ireland. Would like a feel of the food, music and people - but not too much on hiking all over.

caitboy1

Honestly I would discourage renting a house as I think it limits what you can get to see in Ireland. But if you were really set on the idea then either around Galway city or in county Clare. If you were in Galway city you'd have access to loads of live music, pubs, food etc and day trips to the Buren, Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Kylemore Abbey. Staying in Clare-say Doolin or Lahinch would give you a smaller town vibe of the music, food etc then would Galway and you'd still have access to the above mentioned day trips!

mapesfamily

We are renting cottages/townhouses for our trip to Ireland this June. They worked best for our family of 5 (2 adults and 3 kids traveling from Virginia)but I think that you will find most places want to rent homes for a week at a time not by the night. That worked for us because we were staying for a little over 2 weeks and were able to pick two totally different regions (Clifden in Galway and Kilkenny)for our bases. With only 7 days total you would probably be better looking for B&B's with multiple rooms.

Tony2phones

OK...Rentals are normally Saturday to Saturday. How Large is the Family? if you need 2 cars you might need two houses?

Kinsale poor as it is, is a better touring base than Dingle (just about anywhere is for that matter!) but not as good as Killarney if you want South of the Shannon.

Ennis is a great Touring base for County Clare and the region generally referred to as the Shannon Region.

Galway is a decent enough touring base for North Clare and the Connemara.

Truth is that you can find enough to fill your camera just about anywhere but it depends what you want,

You want Food (probably believe Tourism Irelands bull about Kinsale being the "Gourmet" capital of Ireland, cant think of any other reason why people want to go there.

Music, a reason folk flock in Hoards to Dingle and Doolin (which has now also trapaned a Dolphin just to keep up) and then,,,

People. Why folk say the people are great after a holiday where they have spent 90% of the time rubbing shoulders with their fellow countrymen is beyond me?

Ireland Has good food everywhere, It might not be the same flavour as Mcdonnalds but most of it is Farm/sea to Table and well cooked. You can get all types of music everywhere in Ireland but most of the tourist spots bring in musicians to play what the tourists want to hear (one reason I avoid New dingle and Doolin along with places like the Danny Mann bar in Killarney) and Irish folk. yes a friendly lot and most would give you the time of day whether you wanted it or not some though are just as happy to put on a front in order to part you from your tourist $..

To Summarise..Decide if you want one location or want to move around a little, 7 days is not long enough to scratch the surface on a road trip but gives the feel of a place used as a touring base A B&B will set you back €70/80 for a double room Hotels slightly more per night a decent sized 5 bed house can be from €600 per week self catering

Decide the options and feel free to come back with any questions
http://www.shamrockcottages.co.uk/?g...FU4q2wodeiMAkQ
http://www.imagineireland.com/?refid...FYRF2wodtFQA8g

mapesfamily

I whole-heartedly agree with Tony that self-catering houses are the most economical way to vacation with a larger group. The first time my husband and I went to Ireland we travelled to a new location every other night or so. That never gave us enough time to truly enjoy and see the area we were visiting. Always packing and unpacking. Not fun in a small car. That is one reason that we are establishing bases this time. With an established base and two cars your group has the ability to split up for a few hours to do different things that might not interest everyone.

We are looking forward to experiencing the food as well. The self-catering cottages also offer cooking facilities so that will help save a little money on our food budget. We are still planning to eat at least one meal out a day but I am also looking forward to purchasing Irish products at the grocery stores/small markets to enjoy.

Parmenter

If you decide to rent a house I would vote for driving south to the Dingle Peninsula which offers much and is a good base for further afield ventures, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael and the attractions of Dingletown. They have a French restaurant that is superb.
A couple of times I have risked not booking ahead but just presented myself at an agency requesting a rental. This has saved money and you can see the property in the flesh rather than trying to figure out really the what and where you are really getting.

Itallian_Chauffer

Wife and I are bringing our daughter, SIL and two Grand-daughters with us in mid-June. They will be with us for 10 days, while our today stay is about 22.
We've booked one self-catering house for the entire 'Group' visit (less the Final night -- so they are near the Airport, for their early AM departure)about 1/2 way between Mallow and Cork City: http://fivestar.ie/self-catering/ivy-bridge-lodge/

We stayed in a different property (of the same owners), last October. It's a handy location for Cork/Kerry/Waterford and MIGHT be acceptable for Limerick and Clare, but I think Galway would be a stretch. Another good, Cork/Kerry location might be Macroom, but I have no personal recommendations for places there.

One consideration COULD be to book a centrally located house and then plan one OVERNIGHT foray -- say to Galway. Probably STILL less expensive than 7 nights' B&B, but less hectic then changing bases every couple of days!

Bob

cmdunn4

thanks so much everyone for advice. we changed our plans a bit. Hope this sounds like a plan. we arrive in Shannon, drive to Killarney. stay for 3 nights there and visit area with a car rental. then we drive to Galway for 2 days, drop car off and visit there by bus or on foot. then we take train across to Dublin for last 2 days. We got hotels in Dublin and Killarney and I am searching now for hotels in Galway for all of us.

Tony2phones

Why would you visit Killarney with a car and not keep the car to Explore Galway?? Consider breaking the Killarney to Galway leg in South Clare, Either Ennis or on the coast below Lahinch before passing the Cliffs and Burren to Galway, If you do keep the car then you can explore north west Galway south Mayo http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu

cmdunn4

thanks - we may follow your suggestion of exploring Ennis or Lahinch on the way to Galway. we were going to then drop the car off in Gaiway then because we were going to get some guided tours from there for all of us. we are ending up with 3 cars (we now have 11 of us ) so we think it is easier now to tour by bus.

Tony2phones

Might actually be better to sort a Tour bus of your own rather than hire and Fuel 3 cars. There are a few companies that might be worth talking to and getting quotes
http://www.glynnscoaches.com/
http://www.pkexectravel.com/

twodreamerz

Hi,

I think you should go to the Dingle's Peninsula !

If you want to have some tips, find out all informations about our road trip in Ireland on our blog :

http://www.twodreamerz.com/index.php...08-irelande-en

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