historytraveler

flpab, that's just part of the travel snobbery that frequents this forum. I think it's fine and even appropriate to say you don't care for a certain city or place and explain your reasons but to simply say avoid it because there are too many tourists reflects a rather limited view of travel.

BTW, Gardyloo is right. The Isle of Jura is too far to go with just three days.

Tony2phones

http://isleofjura.scot/travel-and-local-transport/

BritishCaicos

Travel Snobbery?

Silly comment.

Just how much local Irish culture do you experience in the average Tapas Bar in Temple Bar?

And yes, the first thing I do when I land at Newark, Atlanta or Dulles is get out.

And then find a Blue Grass festival in the marshes of South Carolina not go for a Frappafeckingcino at Starbucks in downtown Anywhere.

flpab

BritishCaicos, We have friends that live in Ireland and they are very modern. A peat fire and some country village is fine for a day but I'd rather be in the city at night. We are renting an apartment close to Christ Church this trip in Dublin that has a nice artist and farmers market on Saturday. We are close to local places to eat and we are doing a day trip to Wicklow plus can catch the dart north or south for the day. I have been many times and this trip I have two museums on my to do list and some other historical places I want to take my husband in the city. We are going to the Northwest 200 in NI but staying in Belfast. I have been wanting to visit there for a number of years and this is the trip. A day trip to Giants Causeway but back in the city at night. I am not really caring about soaking up any Irish culture in a tapas bar. I don't drink at starbucks here so won't be there.

historytraveler

Travel snobbery...assuming your preferences are superior to someone else's. . Enough said.

gypsygirl3

These replies are wonderful food for thought. My oldest daughter has developed my love for detail planning and has made a family spreadsheet to find us the most economical and realistic itenarary. These suggestions are most helpful. I'm hoping to do the trip for $8000 for my husband and I before the kids kick in for the lodging.

flpab

gypsygirl3, we all have our favs and hope you pick what makes you happy.

tom_mn

For $8000 you can spend a week in each country. You are going to have to get going on getting a good rate reserving rental cars since that is the economical way for a family to get around. You will also have to get going on lodging since only special hotel rooms sleep 4. Look for self-catering holiday cottage rentals that you can base yourself out of. Watch the EasyJet and Ryanair websites for cheap flights Scotland to Ireland. Some things like groceries and flights are cheaper in Europe. This is doable if you attack it one thing at a time. Start with the big airline tickets and make sure you fly into one country and back from another. It will fall into place.

Tony2phones

Be aware the flight between Scotland and Ireland will determine your baggage limits for the trip. Book 10~8 weeks ahead for best prices on these flights as that's when the airlines determine passenger:fuel ratio and push the seat sales.

tom_mn

When I said $8000 I made some assumptions. Your budget would work for 5 days in each country, but since rental cars and self-catering holiday homes are often the same price 5 days or a week, I think you could push it to a week in each place. It means basically never eating out and being clever with admissions, like buying this pass for 3 major sites in Scotland http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
the family pass is 60 pounds, over $100 but not so bad if covering 3 places. Note that in the UK at least, over 15 is considered an adult and so not part of a family ticket. Same is true for family rooms in hotels, I think, families with a child 16 year old or older can't use a family room. All the more reason to look for an apartment or house with a kitchen.

Gardyloo

A couple of things...

First, if the trip is in September, that's an ideal time to visit the rural areas of both Scotland and Ireland. Prices will be past their peak, the roads will be emptier, the heather purple, and, depending on <i>when</i> in September, you might start getting some autumn colo(u)r too. And while the big cities are compelling and historic, how much time do you want to spend in shops or museums when you could be out in some of the most glorious countryside in Europe?

Second, if you're considering both countries, by all means fly <i>into</i> the UK, and <i>out of</i> Ireland. Britain imposes a high departure tax ("air passenger duty") on long-distance flights departing the UK, which is waived if you're just transiting Britain, so even if your return was Dublin - London - USA with just a plane change in London, you wouldn't pay it. But by starting the return in Ireland, either Ireland > USA or via London, you won't pay the APD. Setting up "open-jaw" air tickets (e.g. to Glasgow, from Dublin) is super easy, just use the "multi-destination" (or similarly-named) option on travel or airline websites.

gypsygirl3

We are the queens of economy, getting excited , thanks for the tips/ We were thinking fly into London, then train to Edinburgh, then somehow get to Ireland. Husband has done the fly into London and train to Scotland. What is everyones suggestion with regards to getting to Ireland. The only reason we would not stay 2 weeks is because we have 2 dogs that are like children to me. One of them is going to treat me very badly after I've abandoned her for as long as we are planning,

RM67

If you are only doing 3 days in each place then no way would I fly into London and then travel on - fly into Glasgow, Edinburgh or Dublin directly. To be really honest, if you are sticking with the 6 day plan I'd not even bother with Ireland. Scotland will have more than enough for you to see and do in that timeframe.

elberko

I love my dog--he doesn't know the difference between 1 week and 2 weeks. Your dog won't either.

Gardyloo

Yes, the hassle and cost of flying into London and then making your way to Kings Cross, only to pay even more to travel to Edinburgh kills a whole day and will likely be more expensive than just flying to Scotland in the first place.

As for getting to Dublin, Aer Lingus (Irish airline) flies several times a day from both Glasgow and Edinburgh to Dublin, takes an hour and costs around US$90 one way.

janisj

I wouldn't do this w/ less than 2 weeks. By the time you recover from the jet lag and add in all the to-ing and fro-ing . . . you will have almost no time anywhere.

As elberko says -- to a pet, 7 days is about the same as 27 days. Your biggest expense is the airfare -- going all that way for so little time seems a waste. Go for at <i>least</i> 14 days -- especially if you also want to stop in London for a few days.

gypsygirl3

This makes me feel much better. I will just keep repeating-"Tessa doesn't know I've been gone this long." She'll still be happy to see me. We left our 5 year old for our quick Rugby tour of Wales years ago and see turned her back on me when we came home. It was a dagger to the heart. But I'm sure my dog is more like my 3 year old-she was blissfully happy.

flpab

gypsygirl, I am crazy about my two but just hired a new pet/house sitter. I think that makes you feel better. If they are safe and taken care of they will be ok. Enjoy and don't think about it.