elisabk

My husband and I, along with his sister and brother in law, are planning a trip to Dublin and Edinburgh. It is going to be a pretty quick trip due to work schedules, but I am looking for advice on an itinerary.

We will be flying out of Minneapolis and I don't have preference as to where we go first. I have traveled abroad many times, but husband has never so I want it to be as smooth and fun for him as possible so he will continue to travel with me! We probably have about 8 or 9 days total, including travel time and are thinking the first week in June.

If you have ideas of things you suggest in each country, that would be great! We love architecture, culture, and food (would love a pub crawl as well)! I would LOVE for my husband to have a chance to golf in Scotland as well.

Also, any suggestions as to where we should stay? We don't want to spend a ton on lodging, but want to be in a good location and stay in something that reflects the culture of each country.

Lastly, what do you suggest as far as traveling from one country to the other? A quick flight?

Looking forward to all of your expert advice! Thanks!!!

janisj

You have lets say 9 days best case.

You lose 1.5 days getting to the British Isles. Another day flying home. Nearly 1/2 a day moving between Dublin and Edinburgh . . . so you 9 days is all of a sudden down to 6 days free to see/do 'stuff'.

That is enough time to maybe spend 3 full days in Dubln and 4 full days in Edinburgh including one day trip outside the city. So my advice is -- IF you want to see something other than just the two cites -- choose one or the other. Dublin for a could of days and 3 or 4 days seeing some of the scenic bits on the west coast - OR - Edinburgh + a few days seeing one or two scenic areas in Scotland (you'd be spoiled for choice -- you can't 'do' Scotland but you can get a taste of a couple of areas.

But if you really want a city-centric/non-touring holiday -- Just Dublin and Edinburgh would work too.

The only connection between them that makes sense on such a short visit is to fly.

>>We don't want to spend a ton on lodging, <<

That doesn't tell us much . . . what is your actual nightly budget?

willowjane

I am far from expert, but on our trip to Scotland this summer we ended with a stay at Hotel du vin
https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/edinburgh/
We thought it was a fabulous hotel with very pleasant staff and close to most attractions. We really enjoyed the National Museum of Scotland which was just down the street from the hotel and we had a wonderful meal at the Tower restaurant. Our favorite spot in Edinburgh (which was a great city) was the Royal botanic gardens - just amazing! We all agreed that Edinburgh was just fabulous!

janisj

oops -- typo alert

>>spend 3 full days in Dubln and 4 full days in Edinburgh << should say: spend <B>2</B> full days in Dubln and 4 full days in Edinburgh . . .

Understanding that 2 full days = 3 nights, and 4 full days = 5 nights - So w/ the night spent over the north Atlantic that fills your 9 days.

flpab

flying into Dublin and home from Edinburgh. Druids Glen is beautiful, http://www.jdgolftours.com/golf_tour...6lMaArGh8P8HAQ Lahinch is also but on the other coast. Wicklow is just beautiful. You can do guest house cheaply in the area. Early morning flights from Dublin will have you in Edi by noon. Tram is very nice and there is a Travelodge Rose Street that is location and budget friendly. Fly back out of Edinburgh or Glasgow. Friends do Glasgow because USAIR flys direct to their airport in Philly form there. So much to do in Edinburgh.

flpab

http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/s...urgh-lothians/

Tony2phones

You can fly Edinburgh or Glasgow from every Irish Airport you can coach and sail rail and sail from Ireland via Belfast but time consuming.

Decide on Arrival and departure airports.. Flights and prices.
Then you know how long exactly on the ground.

Edinburgh and Dublin indicates you want City locations and there's little special about Dublin, Ireland yes Dublin no.
You could consider Shannon as an option and Trump it (Donald) at Doonbeg, the men can Golf whilst the ladies pop up to the Burren Perfumery, cliffs of Moher etc. either after or before Dublin.

However until airports and dates are decided giving best advice on how to split your time is a little difficult. I wouldn't want to be wandering a Links course in mid December?

elisabk

Thanks! We will be flying out of Minneapolis on either Wednesday, June 3rd or Thursday, June 4th. From my experiences traveling abroad, MOST flights leave in the early evening and have you to your destination early the next morning or by around 11 at the latest.

As I mentioned, it will be June so hitting the golf course should be ok, weather wise.

Also, as far as a budget goes. I would say around $100 a night would be our budget. Since we would be with another couple, do you suggest looking at a vacation rental or doing a hotel in the city center?

We would like to spend at least 3 days in each country. That being said, we have heard of fun day trips from both Dublin and Edinburgh. Any suggestions on those?

nytraveler

$100 per couple I assume. Not sure where you would put 4 people for $100 - which is a very low budget.

If you are going to do day trips then you can do either Dublin or Edinburgh - not both.

Suggest you lay out day by day - what you will be doing and where you will stay - and you will see how little time you really have once you deduct transatlantic travel and moving from Ireland to Scotland.

elisabk

Yes probably around $100 a couple. I am in my 20s and not looking to spend my entire bank account on a trip, but want to have fun and see as much as we can in a short time. Depending on the amenities and location, we could spend more but just giving a ball park.

I was thinking we could spend 2 days in Dublin, with a day trip on 1 of the 3 days and also the same with Edinburgh.

I understand that it is a short time...but isn't a short time better than no time!?

June 5,6,7 in Ireland.
Travel to Edinburgh on the 8th in the AM. Fly back to Minneapolis on June 12, leaving 8,9,10,11 of June in Scotland.

Tony2phones

$100 = €80 not sure where you would get in Dublin for €40 each nor Edinburgh for £30 each.. Most self catering runs Saturday to Saturday and Short term lets tend to be as expensive as catered accommodation.

Flights Dublin-Edinburgh (viceversa) are "local" so best prices will be 6 weeks ahead of time and beware of baggage allowance (size/weight) and cost. this will determine you baggage for the trip.

elisabk

I said $100 per couple. So $200.

I can handle lodging on my own. My sister in law has been to Dublin and I know will have suggestions on where to stay in our budget.

How about suggestions on a 3 day itinerary in each country? Possibly a day trip or 2?

janisj

$100 /£60 is quite low in Edinburgh. You won't get a nice B&B for that. Try either travelodge or Premier Inn -- both chains have several properties in Edinburgh. Especially travelodge will have specials where you can get a double for only about £35-£40/$60-$70-ish. But they are very date-specific and sell out fast.

No charm but central locations, clean, and all you need for a short stay.

>>From my experiences traveling abroad, MOST flights leave in the early evening and have you to your destination early the next morning or by around 11 at the latest. <<

But that still eats up about half of the first day w/ formalities at the airport (not bad at DUB usually), transport into the city to your hotel, checking in and unpacking - say you landed at 9AM - you'd like not be ready to get out and about til at least 1PM. Plus the first day is often jet lagged (for at least some of you)

So just take that into account - even w/ a morning arrival you won't be seeing/doing much on the first day.

Same w/ the day you travel from DUB to EDI - no jet lag thank goodness . But even though the flight is short, travel/logistics will eat up nearly half of your first day.

2.5 days in Dublin and 3.5 days in Edinburgh will give you a nice taste -- just don't be overly ambitious w/ your plans.

elisabk

Again, I understand the logistics. I have traveled abroad approximately 10 times. I am looking for itinerary help...

3 Days Dublin
3 Days Edinburgh

Tony2phones

Dublin. I would avoid the 16 hour day trips to the ring of Kerry or up to the Causeway some people must love sitting down? Sensible trips would be up to Newgrange and down to Glendalogh and Wicklow. Cashel is a straightforward hop by No.8 bus. I think the budget is a little tight above Hostel level but not above 3*.

Edinburgh. Stirling is always on my list, Probably a Whisky day tour but not a long one! Lough Ness and the Glens is probably 12 hours, Lough Lomond and the Trossachs slightly shorter sometimes includes Stirling? Maybe try one of the Ghost tours in the Vaults? I would also think Premier Inn/Travelodge fit the budget

carolyn

For day trips from Edinburgh, Google the Timberbush and Rabbie Burns sites. Greyline also does day trips and picks up from many hotels.

mebanana

To get between Edinburgh and Dublin the cheapest way is Ryanair - a horrendous airline, but cheap, as I said!

Can't tell you much about Dublin as it's been years since I went, the book of Kells was a highlight for me,though. I'm from Edinburgh so can help more with that.

Golfing - again, not exactly my forte, but arguably the most esteemed course here is the Old Course at St. Andrews. Gleneagles is also well-respected and the hotel has Scotland's only Michelin 2* restaurant. Closer to Edinburgh, Gullane is the place to go for golf. It's beautiful out that way, and there's a lovely beach nearby if you want something to do!

Edinburgh's not cheap, so as others have mentioned you might struggle to get something city centre that's interesting. The Travelodges are in good locations, though - the one on St. Mary's Street is just off the historic Royal Mile and a short walk from a lot of other attractions.

Places to eat in Edinburgh - I'd recommend Castle Terrace, Bistro Moderne and Timberyard. For tea/cake, try Lovecrumbs or Falko.

Make sure you don't just stay in the city centre - Stockbridge and Bruntsfield are well worth wandering around, and the Braids or Corstorphine Hill are worth climbing and offer nice views of the city.

What time of year are you coming? I'll happily help with any more specific questions!

BigRuss

Other than the hubby's desire to golf, you've said nothing of your interests. There are plenty of resources for what to do in Dublin and Edinburgh and their respective surrounds.

Do the research and come back to the forum for bouncing ideas off everyone (i.e., the Jameson's tour in Dublin is really more a marketing and museum display combination, not a working distillery, so skip it - the Guinness brewery is probably a better bet), and for more nuanced suggestions (i.e.: if hubby likes amber liquor, he should go to the Cadenhead shop and Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh, and skip the Scotch Whisky Experience which has a bang/hype ratio that is miscalibrated).

scotlib

Hi elisabk,

I took a trip in April to Scotland and Northern Ireland, flying home at the end from Dublin.

The trip over on Are Lingus for me was BOS > DUB, DUB > Scotland. Partway through the trip I used Flybe to do Scotland to NI (only b/c Aer Lingus didn't have the right itinerary). On the last day, I took a bus (just 2 hours) to DUB and then home.

The main point is how much less tiring the trip home was. Usually coming home from trips to the UK involves 2 flights and I feel punch drunk the first morning when home. I really liked how calm just one flight on the last day was - so that's a trip logistic suggestion: go to EDI first, flight to DUB in between, then final flight home from DUB.

I have had good luck with Aer Lingus for my last 3 or 4 trips, though I read a trip report earlier this year where someone else didn't. I love the 2-4-2 seating on their long haul planes.

Here's the Visit Scotland page just for golf, perhaps helpful (I don't play myself): http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/s...tivities/golf/

My favorite museum in Edinburgh is the People's Story, http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/V...People-s-Story If the video room at the tippy top is open, I recommend a watch to see the changes over the course of the 20th century on people's lives.

Do you use Facebook? I've started finding lots of trip planning help by searching out museums/businesses/restaurants, etc. When on the organization's web site I look for the little Facebook f (I want to be sure that I'm on the right FB page!) and hit the "like" button. All the pages where I hit "like" are then organized on interest lists. With almost 1000 "likes" there's no way everything hits my news feed, so I click the names of my interest lists to see what news is happening. With the two cities, you'd want two interest lists and start collecting "likes."

Something else I did for the April trip was search with keywords on Google maps. I knew where I would be visiting during an afternoon, so I then used some keywords and found things that I would never have found otherwise. Perhaps odd to be looking at a map of Glasgow and using rural words like cow/horse/farm, but it led to finding the Sparkle Horse pub and having a great meal.

3 days in each city is not too long, so perhaps with your research time you'll have collected ideas of things to do depending on the weather, though also allow for finding things in the tourist information spots once on the ground.

Cheers.

flpab

I would do Guinness, the gravity bar at the top is worth it. St Patrick's and Christ Church. Brazen Head pub, Temple bar, Grafton St. On Suffolk there is a tourist office that you can book day tours from. There is a tour to Newgrange but that is a long day because only so many people can go at one time. You get tickets and wait your turn. Nice cafe and museum while you wait but well worth it imo. Wicklow would be good but thinking maybe a golf tour for the husband. It is a beautiful old church with a cafe on the second floor. We always hop on the train and have lunch and a walk along the cliffs in Howth.
Go to St Andrews for the day in Scotland for your husband. I think there is plenty to do in Edinburgh and would concentrate more on the city for your other days. Love the castle there and the Royal Mile. We didn't do the Scotch whiskey experience, just drank it. There is a Travelodge on Rose Street that might fit your budget or the Hostels are really nice there. Save money where you can for other things. We did the day tour Lough Lomond and the Trossachs and Sterling castle. The tour did not include the entrance to Sterling so that is another price on top of the tour price. Long day on the tiny bus with boring driver. I think he was a fill in so shouldn't be so harsh on the timberbrush tour.