12 Days in Ireland in September - Thoughts on Itinerary?
Mar 28th, 2011, 08:24 PM
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12 Days in Ireland in September - Thoughts on Itinerary?
Howdy, howdy! After much, much, MUCH planning (and over-planning), I'm pretty sure this is my desired itinerary. There's a lot of Ireland that's NOT here, because I really don't want to cram too much into the trip. Dublin, Galway and Dingle are the places I wanted to see the most; as has been suggested, I'm trying to plan as if I will be coming back in the future.
Does this look do-able? Reasonable? Ridiculous? Laughable? Thoughts, comments and snide remarks welcome!
I'm planning on going for the second half of September, and I'll be a solo female traveler (not that it makes any difference for purposes of itinerary commentary).
Saturday - land in Dublin, see whatever sights I can take in until jet lag takes over, night in Dublin
Sunday - day trip to Newgrange through tour company, night in Dublin
Monday - see whatever else I want to see in Dublin or in seaside suburbs, night in Dublin
Tuesday - day trip to Glendalough through tour company, night in Dublin
Wednesday - take train to Galway, pick up car, hang out in Galway, night in Galway
Thursday - drive first half of the Connemara loop, night in Westport
Friday - drive second half of the loop, night in Galway
*note: I've been told that the Connemara loop would be reasonable to do in one day, rather than splitting it into two days and therefore breaking up my nights in Galway. Agree? Disagree?
Saturday - Aran Islands, night in Galway
Sunday - drive to Dingle, night in Dingle
Monday - hang out in Dingle, night in Dingle
Tuesday - drive around the Dingle loop/Slea Head drive, night in Dingle
Wednesday - drive to Ennis, hang out for a bit, drop car off near Shannon airport, night near airport
(I'm really only throwing in Ennis because flying out of Shannon seems to make the most sense, rather than trying to get back up to Galway to ditch the car, train back to Dublin and then another night in Dublin, or flying out of Cork ... and it seems that Shannon is closer to Dingle.)
Thursday - fly home
Thanks!
Does this look do-able? Reasonable? Ridiculous? Laughable? Thoughts, comments and snide remarks welcome!
I'm planning on going for the second half of September, and I'll be a solo female traveler (not that it makes any difference for purposes of itinerary commentary).
Saturday - land in Dublin, see whatever sights I can take in until jet lag takes over, night in Dublin
Sunday - day trip to Newgrange through tour company, night in Dublin
Monday - see whatever else I want to see in Dublin or in seaside suburbs, night in Dublin
Tuesday - day trip to Glendalough through tour company, night in Dublin
Wednesday - take train to Galway, pick up car, hang out in Galway, night in Galway
Thursday - drive first half of the Connemara loop, night in Westport
Friday - drive second half of the loop, night in Galway
*note: I've been told that the Connemara loop would be reasonable to do in one day, rather than splitting it into two days and therefore breaking up my nights in Galway. Agree? Disagree?
Saturday - Aran Islands, night in Galway
Sunday - drive to Dingle, night in Dingle
Monday - hang out in Dingle, night in Dingle
Tuesday - drive around the Dingle loop/Slea Head drive, night in Dingle
Wednesday - drive to Ennis, hang out for a bit, drop car off near Shannon airport, night near airport
(I'm really only throwing in Ennis because flying out of Shannon seems to make the most sense, rather than trying to get back up to Galway to ditch the car, train back to Dublin and then another night in Dublin, or flying out of Cork ... and it seems that Shannon is closer to Dingle.)
Thursday - fly home
Thanks!
Mar 29th, 2011, 06:45 AM
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I think you've done a good job of planning overall.
Suggestion for your last day / night. You could keep the car until the day of your flight and either stay in Ennis or Bunratty. Flying out of Shannon is an excellent plan.
Our first visit to Ireland was at the end of September. Lovely time to visit.
I hope you post a trip report when you return.
Suggestion for your last day / night. You could keep the car until the day of your flight and either stay in Ennis or Bunratty. Flying out of Shannon is an excellent plan.
Our first visit to Ireland was at the end of September. Lovely time to visit.
I hope you post a trip report when you return.
Mar 29th, 2011, 07:52 AM
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I agree - the night in Ennis makes perfect sense, Bunratty does as well. I am curious why you're breaking up your Galway stay with a night in Westport - any reason to pack up and move twice, rather than either choose Galway or Westport and stay there? They are not that far apart. I would recomment Westport, we're staying there ourselves for a couple nights in May. Galway is a big city, remember - if you are after the charming villages, Westport is closer 
Mar 29th, 2011, 08:02 AM
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Definitely agree with staying in Ennis on your last night. That way you'll be able to go hear some music or otherwise enjoy yourself, rather than being limited to an airport hotel. It only takes 20-30 minutes from Ennis to SNN, if I recall correctly. I'm super type A about getting to airports and that sort of thing, and I had no problems at all.
Mar 29th, 2011, 11:40 AM
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Sounds good to me. The only thing I'd change is not breaking up the Loop and staying in Connemmara overnight somewhere that takes your fancy. It's my favourite part of Ireland with excellent choice of interesting accommodation.
Mar 30th, 2011, 05:56 PM
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Thanks, everyone! Yeah, the one piece I was still waffling on was having that night in Westport instead of Galway for a straight shot.
I was thinking I wanted/needed to do the Connemara loop in two days, and I wasn't sure I wanted to take the train to Galway, deal with the car rental and immediately have to drive and possibly rush to get to Wesport. I'd much rather get the car and only have a short drive to my hotel or B&B and then relax before having to do some serious driving.
Can you tell I've never been overseas and had to deal with driving on the left? And am a little nervous about it? ;-)
Someone on another forum thought two days for the Loop drive was excessive, and that I should just make it one day and not do any nights in Westport.
What say you all to that suggestion? I would like to do the Sky Drive (is that the right name?), stop at Kylemore Abbey, and stop here and there at places along the loop. I don't want to rush it, but I'd probably rather rush it a little rather than break up the nights in Galway.
Great idea about staying in Ennis; I'll have to make sure the car rental place will have a shuttle or whatnot to the airport (unless it's right at the airport - not sure yet).
I was thinking I wanted/needed to do the Connemara loop in two days, and I wasn't sure I wanted to take the train to Galway, deal with the car rental and immediately have to drive and possibly rush to get to Wesport. I'd much rather get the car and only have a short drive to my hotel or B&B and then relax before having to do some serious driving.
Can you tell I've never been overseas and had to deal with driving on the left? And am a little nervous about it? ;-)
Someone on another forum thought two days for the Loop drive was excessive, and that I should just make it one day and not do any nights in Westport.
What say you all to that suggestion? I would like to do the Sky Drive (is that the right name?), stop at Kylemore Abbey, and stop here and there at places along the loop. I don't want to rush it, but I'd probably rather rush it a little rather than break up the nights in Galway.
Great idea about staying in Ennis; I'll have to make sure the car rental place will have a shuttle or whatnot to the airport (unless it's right at the airport - not sure yet).
Mar 30th, 2011, 06:02 PM
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Oh, and jent - I missed your comment about being super typeA about getting to airports. I'm that way, too. And if it worked for you, it'd probably work for me!
As for big cities vs small towns, I really don't know my preference yet for this kind of travel. I do enjoy going to big cities and just exploring, and I figure I'll get my "small town" fix from a few nights in Dingle.
I do like Galway as a base for that region; the only reason I was thinking Westport is that I was thinking the Loop needed two days. If one day is do-able, then Westport is out.
For this trip, anyway!
As for big cities vs small towns, I really don't know my preference yet for this kind of travel. I do enjoy going to big cities and just exploring, and I figure I'll get my "small town" fix from a few nights in Dingle.
I do like Galway as a base for that region; the only reason I was thinking Westport is that I was thinking the Loop needed two days. If one day is do-able, then Westport is out.
For this trip, anyway!
Mar 30th, 2011, 06:02 PM
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Oh, and jent - I missed your comment about being super typeA about getting to airports. I'm that way, too. And if it worked for you, it'd probably work for me!
As for big cities vs small towns, I really don't know my preference yet for this kind of travel. I do enjoy going to big cities and just exploring, and I figure I'll get my "small town" fix from a few nights in Dingle.
I do like Galway as a base for that region; the only reason I was thinking Westport is that I was thinking the Loop needed two days. If one day is do-able, then Westport is out.
For this trip, anyway!
As for big cities vs small towns, I really don't know my preference yet for this kind of travel. I do enjoy going to big cities and just exploring, and I figure I'll get my "small town" fix from a few nights in Dingle.
I do like Galway as a base for that region; the only reason I was thinking Westport is that I was thinking the Loop needed two days. If one day is do-able, then Westport is out.
For this trip, anyway!
Mar 30th, 2011, 08:38 PM
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I'd be really surprised if any airport car rental place did <i>not</i> have a shuttle to the airport. We rented from Irish Car Rentals and they took us right to the terminal after we turned in the car. I wouldn't worry about it!
Mar 31st, 2011, 08:42 AM
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Cool, thanks! After reading some more last night, it also sounds like Westport isn't really part of the typical Connemara loop.
I think I've just seen too many variations of the loop route online. It seems like the "Loop" is whatever I decide it should be, and that one day for it should be plenty.
Then I need to figure out what to do with that extra day! Oh, too many decisions ....
I think I've just seen too many variations of the loop route online. It seems like the "Loop" is whatever I decide it should be, and that one day for it should be plenty.
Then I need to figure out what to do with that extra day! Oh, too many decisions ....
Mar 31st, 2011, 09:17 AM
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Remember to give yourself time to relax and enjoy! Leave the extra day open to play with - you may decide you found a great place to go back to on an earlier day.
I had originally planned on staying in Galway as well on my trip, but decided I preferred the smaller town feel of Westport. Galway is a college city, and, having lived in college cities for the last 10 years, decided to go elsewhere I'll still VISIT Galway, but I'll stay in Westport. Again, not that far away.
I had originally planned on staying in Galway as well on my trip, but decided I preferred the smaller town feel of Westport. Galway is a college city, and, having lived in college cities for the last 10 years, decided to go elsewhere
I'll still VISIT Galway, but I'll stay in Westport. Again, not that far away.
Apr 1st, 2011, 06:51 AM
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We are doing a tour from Galway that takes us to Cong and then to a ferry that takes us to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. I have been to the smallest via the Doolin ferry but their ferry is small and won't run if the waves are big. It is 45 euro for the tour which includes the bus and ferry. I put together a tour for three of us and I kept stressing that we can always go back. I hate cramming so much in. We have three or two nights in all our stops. I love not having to pack and repack. We can also do some laundry that way so our packing will be lighter. You have done that and it makes it so much better.
Apr 2nd, 2011, 08:36 AM
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Yeah, I'm with you on trying to do 2-3 nights on all stops, rather than dealing with packing and moving every day. I did find out that the Connemara drive can be done in one day, rather than breaking it up with a night in Westport, which is great to know. Now I have an extra day to play with!
Apr 4th, 2011, 04:46 AM
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When shifting accomodations, it really does eat into a lot of your day. In the evening, finding the place, checking in, hauling in luggage, settling in, finding a place to eat, perhaps chatting with the host/hostess. In the morning, packing up, settling the bill, chatting some more, etc. - if you stay in one place, that time is not wasted for the day That leaves another couple hours to do vacationy stuff!
That leaves another couple hours to do vacationy stuff!
Apr 4th, 2011, 09:57 AM
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I'll jump in late but with a few additional comments....
My first thought is maybe to take a day off of Dublin. I think with three evenings there and your 1st day which admittedly you will be tired on but you REALLY want to saty awak, I think you can see plenty in that time. It might open up a little more time with perhaps (I highly suggest) an overnight stay on Aran.
I think I would rent the car at the Dublin Airport. The fact that you are a solo traveler (not that you are female) is pretty important in that you don't have a navigator with you. Getting out of Dublin from the airport isn't very hard and with the motorway, you can get across Ireland pretty quickly. Plus, I think driving on the motorway is a good, not bad opportunity to get used to driving on the left. It's pretty hard to accidentally end up on the wrong side of the road.
Personally, I love Westport but as others said, I certainly wouldn't do it in the order you suggest. I would probably go to Westport directly but then again, I am very used to driving over there so your situation is different.
Lastly, I agree you should be able to keep the car for your last night and drop it off at the airport. I've had some pretty early flights and never had a probalem dropping off and getting to my flight. Shannon is a tiny airport and getting to the terminals is pretty easy.
Bill
My first thought is maybe to take a day off of Dublin. I think with three evenings there and your 1st day which admittedly you will be tired on but you REALLY want to saty awak, I think you can see plenty in that time. It might open up a little more time with perhaps (I highly suggest) an overnight stay on Aran.
I think I would rent the car at the Dublin Airport. The fact that you are a solo traveler (not that you are female) is pretty important in that you don't have a navigator with you. Getting out of Dublin from the airport isn't very hard and with the motorway, you can get across Ireland pretty quickly. Plus, I think driving on the motorway is a good, not bad opportunity to get used to driving on the left. It's pretty hard to accidentally end up on the wrong side of the road.
Personally, I love Westport but as others said, I certainly wouldn't do it in the order you suggest. I would probably go to Westport directly but then again, I am very used to driving over there so your situation is different.
Lastly, I agree you should be able to keep the car for your last night and drop it off at the airport. I've had some pretty early flights and never had a probalem dropping off and getting to my flight. Shannon is a tiny airport and getting to the terminals is pretty easy.
Bill
Apr 4th, 2011, 05:29 PM
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Thanks for the additional thoughts! I'll look into renting the car in Dublin and driving west.
I'm still playing with the itinerary a bit, so I'll see what I can do with chopping a day off Dublin and maybe staying in Westport or something.
Ugh. Planning is fun, but it's hard! Ha.
I'm still playing with the itinerary a bit, so I'll see what I can do with chopping a day off Dublin and maybe staying in Westport or something.
Ugh. Planning is fun, but it's hard! Ha.
Apr 4th, 2011, 06:15 PM
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Whoa, it turns out it might be about $200 cheaper to rent the car in Dublin, rather than Galway! That's incentive enough to drive instead of taking the train. Thanks again for mentioning it!
Apr 5th, 2011, 12:29 PM
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I'm now leaning towards lopping off one of the Dublin days and using that extra day to drive to Westport (with a stop at Clonmacnoise on the way), spend the night there, and then take a leisurely trip down to Galway, as there are things I'd like to see around Westport, like Croaig Patrick.
I'm not thrilled about doing only one night in a city, but as this means I'll get to see a few more things originally not on my itinerary, it'll be worth it, I think. And it's only the one city where I'll have a one-night stay, so I can handle that.
I'm not thrilled about doing only one night in a city, but as this means I'll get to see a few more things originally not on my itinerary, it'll be worth it, I think. And it's only the one city where I'll have a one-night stay, so I can handle that.
