JacolynLieck

Planning a trip to Ireland in June for about 5 days. Never been. What should we do?

flpab

I think you are from the US, correct? Five days is not much time so would base yourself in Dublin for a couple of nights, go see the normal sights since it is your first time. St Patrick's, Christ Church, Grafton St, St Stephen's Green, Trinity College. Dayt trips from there are very easy. You can do a tour like this. http://newgrangetours.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...ty_Dublin.html

http://www.visitdublin.com/hooked-on-howth-dublin/

Take the bus to Galway, stay in the city and take this tour

http://www.fahertytours.com/

I really would not try to head south to Dingle or Cork on this trip. If going to Dublin start booking hotels now as they book early. If you are flying out of Dublin give yourself three hours at airport.

janisj

>>Planning a trip to Ireland in June for about 5 days. Never been. What should we do?<<

This may sound snarky . . . <i>but</i> <blue>"Planning a 5 day trip to the west coast of the USA, never been. What should I do?"</blue> How would you answer that?


You have given us nothing to work with so it is totally unanswerable (or at least to give useful answers and not just throw out ideas) other than - get a couple of guide books and work out a plan of your own. We can then help you refine/improve it.

Tell us - Do you want to drive or take public transport? Are you flying into Dublin or Shannon? What places sound interesting? What 'we' means -- a couple, a family w/ young kids, a multi generation group?

flpab

Jacolyn, I just listed faherty tours but they go to Inismor which is better than the cliffs of Moher IMO. Galway tours are not bad if you wanted a day tour to the cliffs. You can do this without renting a car easy with two bases. With a tour you can knock out more because they do keep you moving. Go bus goes from Dublin to Galway.

Tony2phones

Anyone can tell you what we would do. But to tell you what you should do needs to address your interests, your reason for choosing Ireland in the first place? and has to match your travel style and budget. You need to give an indication of whether you want to drive, take public transport and local tours or just jump on a big bus tour.

For what its worth the only key point to an experience is to actually take some time to talk to and interact with the locals (over and above those who are providing a service).

flpab

Tony, it seems every trip to Ireland I have had to go to the cliffs with someone that has never been there. Last trip I sat with a bus driver watching the coasties try and find a jumper and learned so much in an hour about why and who is jumping. It was sad but eye opening to say the least. Our best ever time was the night we got a little hammered in a bar with locals and they picked us up the next day and took us to Michael Collins home, where he was assassinated and some other very cool places. We had the best day. That was back when you drove and stopped where you wanted and we just stayed an extra night in Cork. Then I actually met Kitty Kiernan's grandson and great grandson in the Duke. He just mentioned his Grandmother owned it and I knew the history so he was an open book. My gf had drinks with him again next visit. The people of Ireland are probably my favorite thing about your country. You can climb Crough Patrick with us in Sept!

jacolynlieck, come back, we are here to help.

JacolynLieck

Okay sorry for being scanty on the details. It just got thrown at me that we were doing this and I was supposed to plan I used to travel a lot but after having kids, not so much. My mother, sister and a friend will be going with me. We want to hit the hight lights or as much as we can in that short of a time period. We would fly into Dublin and would rent a car. What would you recommend we see/do in that tight time frame?

JacolynLieck

or maybe not rent a car. Truly we are flying blind. Just seemed like Ireland was interesting and we have never been.

JacolynLieck

one more thing... Would you recommend flying in/out of Shannon? Again, we are clueless. Sorry.

flpab

I do it with public transportation and do great. You have a short amount of time. I like flying in and out of Dublin. I can find enough to do staying in Dublin as a base and doing day trips or catch the go bus right to Galway from the airport and spend a couple nights there and head back to Dublin doing some of the tours from there and enjoying Dublin. Did you book tickets?

flpab

I meant have you looked at ticket options. Sorry. I always get great deals on flights into Dublin.

Tony2phones

Shannon Airport broke from the Dublin Airport Authority strangle hold a couple of years ago so any routes that serve both airports Dublin will usually take a loss on so flights might be cheaper. Personally I value the ease of getting through a small friendly efficient airport over a fumbling route march. I would fly into one and out of the other given a 5 day trip.

Tony2phones

Sorry work called.
So fly into Shannon and head to Galway by bus or Car.
Tours from Galway are: The Cliffs and Burren, The Aran Isles (Inis Mor mainly) Or the Connemara with Kylemore Abbey or Cong. I would opt for the former having less "Quiet Man" interest.
So 2 1/2 days Galway for the west. Then, Express bus into the centre of Dublin and have 2 1/2 days there for the City, taking the Hopper Bus one day and either a Glendalough/Wicklow tour or Newgrange and Boyne Valley tour.

That can be reversed although you would need to stay by Shannon Airport your last Night, The Park Hotel at the Airport, Oakwood Arms in Shannon or if you are interested/can get Tickets for the medieval Banquet or Corn Barn night in Bunratty stay the night there.

By car you can take a road trip approach and dash about seeing more places but my guess would be you/your mum would prefer the 2 base approach?