9 days, first trip to Ireland: Starting an intinerary - review/ideas please
 

Hi folks,

Well the airline tickets are purchased and so now I'm working on planning our itinerary. I'm just getting started so it's a rather spare looking itinerary at this point, I could really use some input and suggestions.

Travel party: two thirtysomethings and our 16-month old son. Love outdoors/walking/ easy hiking (baby will be in backpack type carrier for most walking/hikes) - want to enjoy the green outdoors as much as the weather will allow.

Need: Recommendations for hotel in Dublin, B&Bs or hotels in Sligo, Galway, and recommendations for activities.
Also, would like to do a castle stay, read about Dromoland in Fodor's Ireland book... Is it the way to go or other ideas? Ashford?

Day 1: land in Dublin at ~8:30 am (from CA, USA, overnight flight)
Trinity College (Book of Kells) and some other things nearby (suggestions? So many options I am having trouble narrowing down).
Questions:
Should we plan anything for this day? Or just expect to be wiped out from the travel/jet lag?
Will the hotel hold luggage for us? (I assume 9 am is far too early to check into a room in most cases.)
Hotel recommendations?

Day 2: More Dublin? Recover from jet lag? Or would be be up for Day 3s events here?

Day 3: Hill of Tara/Newgrange/etc.
Question: Should we stay somewhere in the Boyne valley or just remain based in Dublin for this excursion?

Day 4: Drive to Sligo
Question: Which route?
We don't mind spending a good part of the day on the road enjoying the countryside and would like to plan some stops for walking, gardens, other places to visit

Day 5: Bun Bulben, other Yeats sights in Sligo area

Day 6: Drive to Galway
Question: Sights suggestions between Sligo and Galway?
Visit w/family friends

Day 7:

Day 8: Leave Galway for...? Dromoland? southwest coast? southeast coast?
Hmm... Checking availability at Dromo and it looks like we may need to reverse the itinerary to stay there earlier in the trip. Availability isn't great on our 7/8/9th nights unless we opt for a single night stay.

Day 9:

Day 10: Kildare? (Brigid's Well)
Return to hotel near Dublin airport

Day 11: Return flight departs ~10:30 am


Many thanks for your time. We received tons of help in the past from Fodorites when planning vacations to Hawaii - I can't imagine planning any trip without these forums!

OK, here we go :)

First, check out www.irelandyes.com - Michele has been traveling to Ireland for 35 years, has great info and a great forum as well.




Should we plan anything for this day? Or just expect to be wiped out from the travel/jet lag?

Yes and yes. Plan something, but not something that MUST be done that day. Since you are flying from CA, you will likely be wiped unless you can sleep well on the plane. Yes, the hotel will probably have no problem holding your luggage. However, you probably won't be able to check in until 2 or 3, unless you get lucky. My best recommendation would be to take the city tour bus (hop on/hop off) this morning. That gives you a good overview of the city, the sites, and you don't have to walk it :) Tickets are good for 24 hours, so by the time you get to the hotel, drop off bags, etc., it should be at least noon. That way you can do more tomorrow morning.

I have only stayed at B&Bs in Dublin (O'Neill's Victorian pub is relatively inexpensive, but on the noisy side).


Day 2: More Dublin? Recover from jet lag? Or would be be up for Day 3s events here?

You should have recovered by then, unless you're my husband :) I would do anything on this day you were too tired for yesterday. Book of Kells, Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch, Dublinia, Phoenix Park and Zoo, the Gaol, St. Stephen's Green, Guinness Factory, Jameson's Distillery, Grafton Street shopping - all sorts of stuff to keep you busy!

Day 3: Hill of Tara/Newgrange/etc.
Question: Should we stay somewhere in the Boyne valley or just remain based in Dublin for this excursion?

I'd make this one a day trip. Will you have a car while you are in Dublin? (I recommend against it - driving in the city is not for the faint of heart, and parking is terrible). There are bus tours that go up to the Boyne Valley for Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Dowth, etc.

Day 4: Drive to Sligo
Question: Which route?
We don't mind spending a good part of the day on the road enjoying the countryside and would like to plan some stops for walking, gardens, other places to visit

Kildare is on the way (sort of) and has the National Stud Farms, Japanese Gardens, and a shrine to St. Brigid, all in the same spot.

Day 5: Bun Bulben, other Yeats sights in Sligo area

Day 6: Drive to Galway
Question: Sights suggestions between Sligo and Galway?
Visit w/family friends

Haven't been there yet - I'm going in 2010 :)

Day 7:

Day 8: Leave Galway for...? Dromoland? southwest coast? southeast coast?
Hmm... Checking availability at Dromo and it looks like we may need to reverse the itinerary to stay there earlier in the trip. Availability isn't great on our 7/8/9th nights unless we opt for a single night stay.

If I had to pick the most beautiful spot I've (yet) been in Ireland, it would be the southwest - specifically the Dingle peninsula.



Day 9:

Day 10: Kildare? (Brigid's Well)
Return to hotel near Dublin airport

Ah, you've already got that on the list I see :)


You will have a fantastic time, especially if you remember to take it slow, enjoy the land and the people, and keep a sense of humor :) Ireland is a magical land, and I'm quite addicted. I'm planning my fourth trip now!

I agree. Ireland is a magical place and there is so much that should not be missed. I have been 3 times and have seen so many parts.

First, the area south of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains, is an area that is just spectacular!!! Glendalough is simply breathtaking. The one area I have not been to is the Dingle peninsula. It was my plan to get there on my last trip but the trip did not work out as I had hoped.

I cannot offer much in the way of places to stay as my hotels were in more "party central" zones. I stayed in the Temple Bar area in Dublin and loved it. Not recommended with a child. Rented a house in Drumclif (just north of Sligo), which is actually where Yeats' gravesite is located.

I also love the area north of Sligo; a town called Donegal. There is a wonderful area called Slieve League that is great for the nature lovers. The cliffs there are spectacular and far less crowded than the Cliffs of Moher (should not be missed either).

There are many great websites to visit. To me the perfect vacation is completely up to you and what you want. Ireland is an absolutely wonderful spot for nature lovers. The weather does not always cooperate, so pack accordingly.

Driving in the city is not for the faint of heart, especially given the "wrong" side of the car thing. I paid a small fortune to park my car for 3 days there. I would rent the car on my way out of Dublin from the airport (for sake of ease). Once out of the city, driving is the only way to see Ireland. Watch out for the sheep!!!

Have a great time. And I hope that the youngster does ok on that long flight.

Thank you Green Dragon & Catherine!

We are getting a car at some point. It may be most convenient just to get it outright, as I would prefer we drive ourselves to the Boyne valley than to take a bus, so we'd need it by the 2nd night to head there the 3rd morning. We do not plan to drive *in* Dublin though (other than to arrive/depart), we'll walk or use transport to get around in the city.

Thanks for the suggestion of Dublinia - I've read about it and thought it looks interesting. Also considered the zoo but thinking we may prefer to so things that we can't do at home (not to say the Dublin zoo isn't special - but there are so many other more unique things to do in Dublin...).

We'd love to do both Dingle and Wickow, but there isn't time for both without rushing, which we very much do not want to do. We'll have to save one for our next trip :)

Hi,

I dont think the driving is that scary in Ireland, Dublin drivers are terrible, the road signs awful but once out of there the countryside will be fine. The roads are a lot better than they used to be and even in the bad parts just go slow and you will be grand.

The drive from Sligo to Galway if you go through Connemara is really pretty. It is one of my favourate spots in the country. If you have time to stop off at Connemara national park there is a nice walk up to the top of it, gives wonderful views around and only takes about an hour each way, with lower alternative routes.

South of Galway the drive along the coast past Galway bay, through the Burren (not that exciting to be honest but it is on the way) and to the Cliffs of Moher (worth seeing) is very nice.

If you could fit in either the north antrim coast or around Kerry that would be great, if you ask me they are the two prettiest areas in the entire island.

Kerry is a pretty decent drive from the Galway area, depending on traffic etc it could take you a good few hours, though there is a decent stretch of motorway. Sligo to the North antrim coast would be about 3 hours or so taking you either through Donegal or past another nice area, the Fermanagh Lakes. Antrim is in Sterling not Euro and as such would be a lot cheaper but it would put you a long way from Kildare though closer to Dublin that Kerry would be.

Have fun.

It's not that scary driving outside of Dublin - it's IN Dublin that's iffy. And unnecessary, as parking is tough and they seem to have invented one-way streets :)