drms

My husband and I will be traveling to Ireland for the first time mid-May and will be accompanied by our children, who then will be 21 months old and nearly 5 years old. We have 7 full days and two half travel days (arriving Dublin at 2pm and departing Dublin at 5pm). Yes, we know Shannon would have made more sense but we were unable to arrange our flights that way.

Since our kids are so young, we don’t want to move around too much. Given what I have been reading, we are thinking of basing ourselves in Killarney (Killarney National Park, Muckross House and Gardens, Dingle Peninsula) and Ennis (Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher, possibly Connemara...)…does this seem reasonable?? Any suggestions on how many days at each location or if another location might be preferable? Also, any lodging suggestions are welcomed! Thanks so much in advance!

Tony2phones

I would suggest that on arrival you get the express bus to Galway from Dublin Airport. Have night 1 & 2 in Galway. Morning 2 rent a hire car in Galway and do a short Connemara tour. Day 3 you can do a tour through west Clare and the Cliffs fit in a couple of hours in Bunratty and possibly spend the night in Adare.

Day 4 drive the Dingle figure of eight and end the night in Killarney night 4 and 5, maybe 6 depending on other places you might want to fit in.

You don't have to be in Dublin the night before your flight but you want to be within a sensible distance.

drms

Thanks for the feedback. Tony2phones, any reason you suggest the express bus rather than hiring the car in Dublin?
thanks!

Tony2phones

The only real reason is that Dublin Airport to Galway City is going to be getting on for 3 hours driving and I don't know where you are coming in from, how your youngsters handle travel and the Jet lag factor.

thursday

The only thing I would differ/clarify on Tony2phones is "tour." A self-drive tour, definitely, but with two young kids myself, the traditional bus or hired tour will likely bore them to tears. We have our trip planned for sites in the morning, and then 1-2 hr drives after lunch so they can nap in the car (typical naptime for us), then site in the afternoon.

We are budget travelers for sure, so ignore if you're looking for luxury, but we have great luck with hostels for family rooms - They're generally perfectly acceptable though outdated rooms, en-suite, very cheap, and the kitchen is lovely when you have kids so you can make them 'acceptable' dinners. I haven't stayed there myself only because they have a 2-night minimum and we like to move around, but Doolin Hostel is family friendly and might be a good base for the Cliffs, the Burren, and even Connemara. Alternatively, the Inn at Dromoland is a budget, kid-friendly hotel with a playroom and babysitting near Bunratty, Ennis, etc. (Again, have not stayed there yet, but we have a night booked this August).

Tony2phones

The Inn at Dromoland is hardly "Budget" unless getting a good offer? If you like Hostels have a look at the Roan Tree in Ennis. Doolin is not a good base to tour the Connemara. Its fine for getting the boat over to Inis Oirr with a Cliffs cruise combi. I always give Lahinch is folk want to stay on the coast with youngsters.

Tour in my mind is Drive, make any stops you want and there are plenty of options around the Connemara and down through west Clare.