Ireland in 8 nights
Oct 15th, 2015, 06:54 AM
#1
Ireland in 8 nights
Looking to plan a trip for myself and daughter graduating college this spring. Her dream is to go to Ireland. I am thinking we will have about 8 nights for the trip plus one for the flight over. It would be best probably to fly into Shannon and fly home from Dublin. We would plan to drive the route and so I am looking at southern Ireland highlight tour, but not too many places.
Stay first night near Cliffs of Mohr
Stay a couple of nights in Kilearny
Stay a couple of nights in Cork
Stay three nights in Dublin?
If I am missing a great area, please tell me! This is in the early stages of planning. I am looking to use frequent flyer points to fly so I might be booking that really soon. Trying to keep the costs down on flights.
Two nights might be fine in Dublin. I am thinking scenic driving, staying in a castle one or two nights...
Daughter is not really a drinker. She might have a beer, but that is not her scene. She might enjoy being in a pub if there is singing and such. (she is a singer!) She is a runner. So I think the areas with more scenery will be great for her running. She is also a writer/author (which is probably from her roots of being Irish
) She will shop but that is not what we want to focus the trip on. This is her mother daughter trip. I took her sister to Canada last year for her graduation.
Also, we can't drive a stickshift. She might be able to somewhat drive one. I see some car rentals offer the automatics, but don't want to get there and not be able to drive the car! Is this going to be a problem? Who is the most reliable car rental agency to deal with in your opinion?
Thanks for any advice!
Stay first night near Cliffs of Mohr
Stay a couple of nights in Kilearny
Stay a couple of nights in Cork
Stay three nights in Dublin?
If I am missing a great area, please tell me! This is in the early stages of planning. I am looking to use frequent flyer points to fly so I might be booking that really soon. Trying to keep the costs down on flights.
Two nights might be fine in Dublin. I am thinking scenic driving, staying in a castle one or two nights...
Daughter is not really a drinker. She might have a beer, but that is not her scene. She might enjoy being in a pub if there is singing and such. (she is a singer!) She is a runner. So I think the areas with more scenery will be great for her running. She is also a writer/author (which is probably from her roots of being Irish
) She will shop but that is not what we want to focus the trip on. This is her mother daughter trip. I took her sister to Canada last year for her graduation. Also, we can't drive a stickshift. She might be able to somewhat drive one. I see some car rentals offer the automatics, but don't want to get there and not be able to drive the car! Is this going to be a problem? Who is the most reliable car rental agency to deal with in your opinion?
Thanks for any advice!
Oct 15th, 2015, 10:14 AM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can rent Automatic, will cost slightly more but if you are more comfortable driving that then it is worth it.
Land Shannon, Ennis is 1/2 hour north and a great touring base for County Clare which has more to offer than just 1/2 mile of tourist cliff and a moonscape. the county is steeped in history and boasts 100 castles in various states of ruin or renovation.
From Ennis you can drive round Dingle to Killarney for 2 or 3 nights. Killarney is a great touring base and gives access to the 3 main peninsulas of the south west.
Killarney to Cork is an easy drive and whilst Kinsale is the tourist, golf a yacht suburb of the city it prices itself accordingly and is not a touring base. Nice to visit but I wouldn't overnight there.
Castle Hotels also know what to charge and what those with less history will pay to stay in a big house hotel that used to be attached to a miniature castle true Castle hotels are few and far between. If you want to splash then have a night at Waterford Castle on the way back to Dublin or have your second night in Dromoland, Adare Manor, or Ballyseede (geographic order heading south) for a castle stay without breaking the bank see if there's room in http://www.thecarrigeencastle.com/ in Cahir between Cork and Dublin.
Yes there is a whole lot of Ireland you are going to miss but you have 8 days, 8 years might still leave places to see, 58 years and I haven't seen the whole island.
Land Shannon, Ennis is 1/2 hour north and a great touring base for County Clare which has more to offer than just 1/2 mile of tourist cliff and a moonscape. the county is steeped in history and boasts 100 castles in various states of ruin or renovation.
From Ennis you can drive round Dingle to Killarney for 2 or 3 nights. Killarney is a great touring base and gives access to the 3 main peninsulas of the south west.
Killarney to Cork is an easy drive and whilst Kinsale is the tourist, golf a yacht suburb of the city it prices itself accordingly and is not a touring base. Nice to visit but I wouldn't overnight there.
Castle Hotels also know what to charge and what those with less history will pay to stay in a big house hotel that used to be attached to a miniature castle true Castle hotels are few and far between. If you want to splash then have a night at Waterford Castle on the way back to Dublin or have your second night in Dromoland, Adare Manor, or Ballyseede (geographic order heading south) for a castle stay without breaking the bank see if there's room in http://www.thecarrigeencastle.com/ in Cahir between Cork and Dublin.
Yes there is a whole lot of Ireland you are going to miss but you have 8 days, 8 years might still leave places to see, 58 years and I haven't seen the whole island.
Oct 15th, 2015, 03:28 PM
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wonderful gift for you and your daughter! You may check out my 7- and 8-day trips with various grandchildren at
http://travelpod.com/members/jjarnold .
Agree with Tony; Waterford Castle is wonderful if you can spare the brass.
http://travelpod.com/members/jjarnold .
Agree with Tony; Waterford Castle is wonderful if you can spare the brass.
