GoAway

How feasible is it to spend a week in Wales and a week in Ireland as a trip? Let me clarify by saying that I understand that I can probably not do justice to either place in this timefram, but if this is the only chance I get to go, will I be able to do justice to at least a taste of both?

(Actually, I'm not concerned that this is MY only chance to go. But this is trip with my parents who are in their late 70's, and they may not be able to go back a second time.)

tower

GoAway....are you planning to drive in either place? If so, Wales is a delightful, colorful place to spend a week...I can recommend some interesting lodgings for you and sights to see, etc. In Ireland, a week is cutting it tight...can you add a few days to make it more comfortable...if not, you'll be restricted to say two days in Dublin (right off the ferry from Holyhead in Wales) and 4 days driving through the south....
Stu T.

alanRow

Possible ferry routes between Wales & Ireland

Pembroke or Fishguard to Rosslare (south of Wales to South of Ireland)

Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire (north Wales to Dublin)

tower

I'd say aim for Holyhead...this way you can se3 the town with the longest name in the world en route to the ferry...
Stu T.

historytraveler

There are a host of possibilities. One optopn would be to fly into Dublin either or Manchester. You could spend the week in Dublin and plan on doing several day trips. There are a number of tour companies than offer such tours. From Dublin you can take the ferry to Holyhead and then tour North Wales. Head to Manchester for your flight home. Of course you can do this in reverse order too.

Questions... Do you plan to rent a car or use public transportation? Have you made flight plans ? What are your interests?

The answer to your question is yes. You can certainly do both in two weeks as long as you keep your itinerary within reason.

GoAway

Thanks to all for your answers.

This trip is still in the feasibility stage, not hard planning.

Yes, we would have a car. Our past trips to the UK have always included one week in a self-catering cottage, with the rest of the time in B&Bs or occassionally hotels. With two weeks in separate places, we would probably consider s/c for both weeks. It would probably be in the fall (October), although we did enjoy Scotland in May this year. About the only thing we really aren't into are sports, so interesting museums, castles and other historic sights, countryside are all of interest.

I figure an open-jaw flight (in to Manchester out of Dublin, or reverse) would probably be the way to go. A ferry across from one place to the other (as passengers only, perhaps?) would be the best way to get from one place to the other.

caroline_edinburgh

Are you mainly interested in north Wales or south Wales ? If leaving from south Wales you can fly from Cardiff to Dublin.

janisj

two self catering weeks would be great for your trip.

My choice would be:
Fly into Manchester, week in North Wales. Drive to Cardiff. Fly to Cork. Celf Catering Cottage somewhere in the triangle of Cork/Killarney/Limerick. This would be a good base for the whole of the SW of Ireland. Fly home from either Shannon or Dublin. Or you could fly from Cork to Manchester, LGW or LHR and fly home from there. That way you wouldn't have to drive across the country just to catch a flight.

If you only have two weeks you might have to "eat" one night at the cottage(s). But still worth it. But if you can squeeze out 2 more days then you could rent the two cottages and have a day for Cardiff and another day to play w/

janisj

. . .Self catering cottage . . . (and I don't even have the "late night" excuse)

wasleys

Re ferries.

Also consider Birkenhead (nearly in Wales) from where Norse Merchant have day and night sailings to both Dublin and Belfast.

Although a long crossing you get a cabin (and meals) inclusive on the overnight sailings. This means you save time by sleeping while you're travelling and arrive first thing the next morning when there is no traffic around.

crazychick

My suggestion would be to get the fast train from Dublin to Belfast, the bus is 2 hours so I would think the train is quicker.
Then get a cheap flight from belfast to Cardiff BMIbaby it is just over an hours flight. The trick in getting the cheapest flights is to book as early as you can. Now you have the option of doing 2 things. Just fly to cardiff hire a car drive a round Wales for a bit and then get a ferry back to Ireland. Or get return flights back to belfast from Cardiff.
A word of warning from someone who lives in wales and has been to Ireland several times on a ferry. There are several ferry crossings the longest is the Swansea Cork which is 10 hours and leaves Swansea at about 8:00pm. It can some times be a rough crossing, I have done this loads of times and only once had the ferry crossing back cancelled and we had to go to Rosslare for the Rosslare to pembroke crossing. I have heard of people who have often had problems with the swansea cork crossing so I think we have been lucky.
Some of the other crossing can be at difficult times, thou there are extra ones put on duriing the summer, you would need to check the times.
I have also got a flight to Belfast for a long weekend and did a day trip to Dublin on a bus. Then I found out about the train which I would have done if I knew about it. The thing is what you need to work out is what in wales you want to see then plan a route. This may decide on your travel method in and out of wales. Ater all if you have flown in to Cardiff in the South and then end up North Wales you would not want to travel all the way back down to Cardiff to fly back. Ryanair Wales did flights from cardiff to Dublin but they have just stoped them. Bmibaby have also stopped the flights from cardiff to Cork. I forgot tosay the Holyhead option may also be good for comming into Wales and maybe fly out from cardiif to belfat and the train to Dublin. Lots of options and it is possible to do a week in each.

historytraveler

For self-catering cottages (Wales) try the National Trust www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk