Ireland and Scotland in July

Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 06:45 AM
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Ireland and Scotland in July

Hi,
Me and my gf are going to Ireland and Scotland in July and we have a few questions. I am 23 she is 22 and we are going to be in the UK for 19 days. We are trying to keep cost low on this trip as we have other trips to South America planned. We have explored the option of renting a car (hire a car) but find it a little more expensive then we like and the fact we cannot take the car to Scotland with us. We are wondering if there is buses, trains etc to travel around Ireland to places like Cork, Cliffs of Moher, Belfast, Galaway etc. As well as what is the best way to go from Ireland to Scotland? And once we get to Scotland whats the best way to travel?
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 07:58 AM
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Due to your ages car hire will be impossible or prohibitively expensive. Buses and trains will get you around.

Flying is the best way to travel between both countries - there are links between numerous airports.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 09:36 AM
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What do you want to see in Scotland?

If you stay in the countryside, you'll need a car. Alternatively, you can stay in Glasgow or Edinburgh and use the small group tour companies, Rabbies or Timberbush, to see something of the scenery.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 10:33 AM
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How many of the 19 days are you not on the mainland UK but on the island of Ireland? most of which is NOT in the UK

Travel between Belfast or Dublin and Glasgow or Edinburgh can be done by Bus and ferry which could be cheaper than flying in many case's

That said there is the possibility of flying Scotland to Cork or Shannon giving you a start on the south/west coast if departing from Dublin.

Any help you need with an Irish section of your itinerary I will be happy to help with but it would be helpful to know a little more such as where this section will fit into the overall tour.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 10:42 AM
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No one can give you realistic/specific advice w/o knowing how many days in each country (you could very easily fill 19 days in either one alone)

Renting a car is the easiest way to explore both country's rural areas -- but you are unfortunately too young to get a reasonable rental rate (or rent at all from some companies)

You will be taking buses and trains -- Maybe a good compromise would be a Rabbies Tour in each country. These are not massive coach tours filled with old folks. They are small coaches with 16 or fewer passengers. Very highly recommended.

Rabbies.com
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 07:46 PM
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We will have roughly 8 days in each country, give or take take a day or two. In Ireland we woild like to do Dublin, Blarney Stone, Cliffs of Moher, Cork, Giants Causeway, Killarney, and Belfast and whatever there is to see along the way.

In Scotland so far all we have picked out is the Highlands and for me St. Andrews, (golf fan) gf doesn't care to much for golf haha.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 06:23 AM
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St. Andrews is a nice town, even if you aren't interested in golf. It has the university where Prince William met Kate. Maybe your gf would like that.

Why don't you buy your gf a guidebook to Scotland and let her do the research on that country.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 07:00 AM
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I think the first thing you need to do is get realistic about your timetable. Your Irish outline would fill quite a lot of your days with driving or arranging transportation, and while it's not my place to re-plan your trip, I'd just say that the last time I visited the Cliffs of Moher the line of visitors snaked for something like a mile from the parking lot (where dozens of tour buses had parked) to the cliffs. And that was in early September; I imagine the scene in July is way worse. If it was me (and it's not) I'd strongly consider making Ireland an "urban" destination - Dublin, Cork, maybe Belfast (or maybe not, unless you have family connections there) and make Scotland your "countryside" destination, with the exception of Edinburgh, which for 20-somethings is nothing short of heaven.

Yes, rental cars are more expensive for under-25 drivers, but not that much more. I just priced a week's rental for under-25s from Sixt, a big international firm, and depending on where you pick up the vehicle, the rates were something like £25 - £30 per day. That's for two people and while I haven't priced train or bus fares, my gut feeling is that you'd be hard pressed to find comparable value with buses or trains, and you absolutely wouldn't be able to get very far into the Highlands. And one-day Rabbies tour of Glen Coe and Loch Ness from Edinburgh in July is £55 per person by comparison.

As a thought experiment, think about 6 days or so in Ireland, visiting Dublin and Cork in the Republic, with maybe a day tour to the Ring of Kerry, then fly to Edinburgh for three days or so in Scotland's capital, then take the train to Inverness and pick up a car there for a three- or four-day tour of the Highlands. (If you're into golf history, consider visiting the ancient town of Dornoch, which has a history of the sport that rivals St. Andrews'.)

I wouldn't rule out a car in either country, but my feeling is that you might get greater benefit out of it in Scotland.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 06:56 PM
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I normally wouldn't give itinerary advice for places I've never been; however, as we are doing the identical trip as you conceptually (Scotland and Ireland split equally between 19 days in July 2017), I thought I'd share what we came up with to see if it gave you any ideas.

Our ~ 9-day Scotland trip with overnights in Edinburgh, Nairn, Portree, Glencoe, and Aberfoyle (flying into Edinburgh and out of Glascow) - 13 hours of driving:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Edin...United+Kingdom

Our ~ 9-day Ireland trip with overnights in Kilkenny, Killarney, Doolin, and Dublin (flying Glasgow to Dublin and Dublin to home) - 11 hours of driving:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dubl...ublin,+Ireland

Have fun planning!
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 06:58 PM
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Oh and yes, I know, those are Google Maps driving times.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 07:42 PM
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Hey thanks Paul! We will check it out!
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 05:16 AM
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Irish Rental Car With Insurance in July for an Under 25 year old WILL BE €100 Per Day anyone getting a quote less than that will be back straight after shouting scam because they had to pay extra for that compulsory extra known as SCDW or other or the rental company wanted a €2000+ Hold on the credit card..

If covering the UK mainland Then Ireland keeping prices down take the bus/ferry from Glasgow to Belfast.
take a Causeway Coast and Glens tour.. from Belfast.

Bus/train to Dublin Airport and transfer onto an express bus to Galway. Take a Cliffs and Burren tour from Galway. other options from Galway are Connemara or Aran Isles.

Express Bus from Galway to Cork. see Blarney maybe Cobh and Kinsale

Bus from Cork to Killarney. You could go Killarney first and would by car but by bus Cork makes sense (what do I know I only live over here) Sights from Killarney Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Gap of Dunloe all by coach tours National park and Muckross Ross Castle ect bike rental?

Train to Dublin and have 2 days for Dublin.

Minimum 10 days to tick your box's leaves 9 days for Scotland. Rabbies already mentioned are worth considering.
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 06:59 AM
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I have a car reservation (with all of the parameters saved) with Dan Dooley for our Ireland segment, so just to put some hard numbers on what Tony mentioned, I changed the age variable from 46 to 23. I think this should include all costs (none are hidden), but Tony can confirm that as I think I've seen his recommendation of Dooley for this reason. For all car sizes and transmissions, it's about 50% more. A ~ $650 rental at age 46 is ~ $1000 at age 23, an $800 rental is $1200, etc. So you are looking at several hundred US$ more. The tradeoff, as always, is your time/trouble vs money. Only you can decide that.
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 07:29 AM
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The biggest problems with Irish car rental are not with the rental companies themselves, although the customer service isn't always great.

Problems are with the Insurance, the lack of clarity for one thing and the confusion of just what which insurance level is being quoted by the companies and agencies what the US folk might call consolidators?

And the basic fact that said folk do not have to quote any more than the base day rate which includes only the basic legal requirement of insurance that allows a vehicle to be used on the road.

Other points are the loading factors. these are mainly age related these days although there are still companies who load for using the car in the 6 counties of Northern Ireland and some companies who load based on the country of issue in respect of driving licenses. Transcontinental drivers were typically loaded up to 25% extra. Dooley were one of the first companies to reduce this load a couple of years ago, others followed suit others retain the load as a hidden extra?

All Irish car rental companies have the same basic day rate, what economics calls perfect competition. The Insurance Underwriters are operating a monopoly with only about 3 who cover the short term policies in Ireland.. Hence if a car rental quote is cheaper than several others when compared like for like.. Something is generally missing or luck has dealt the cheapest underwriter.

All off topic and just meant as an advisory.
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