christina_creuzzer2

Hi
I'm 31 and austrian. I have already been to Ireland twice. I have stayed in Wexford for about three weeks in 2003, and travelled the south west with my sister in 2008, my sister owns a driving license but I don't, thats why I will rely on public transportation.

Now, I want to see the north/west. I am planning on starting in Dublin, then heading to Galway, then up north, along the coast (or at least nearby) and then towards Derry and Belfast and back to Dublin ( I'm not sure, if I'm going to go the other way around until now...).

Anyways, I'm travelling alone, rely on public transportation. I think I pretty much know what I'm expecting, the weather, the people. Though I have a few uncertainties depending public transportation and travelling all by myself ( this is going to be my first time all on my own..).

Does anyone have experience on a) travelling Ireland alone b) alone on public transportations c) public transportation in september/october???

It would really be great if you share your experiences and thoughts with me!

anyegr

I was in Ireland in 2009, travelling solo on public transport.

There are lots of buses. You can find bus timetables at http://www.buseireann.ie/

I bought multiday (nonconsecutive days) transport passes to make it easier to jump on and off wherever and whenever I wanted. To be honest I probably could have travelled cheaper by buying separate tickets. I decided not to do a price comparison, because I was afraid I'd only get angry at myself.

I felt perfectly safe on the buses. Some of them don't have toilets, but I remember that the ones going long distance stopped a few times.

christina_creuzzer2

thanks for replying, I read somewhere else that people had problems with the availability of public transportation outside the summer months. I think I will want to be very spontanous in how, where and when I'm going.

Did you stay in hostels, B&Bs oder Guest houses? I'm not interested in bunches of students that are just up to partying. But due to my budget I'm going to stay in hostels, cause I already have good experiences about hostels in Ireland. Maybe I will go to a B&B every few days, I don't know that jet. I think meeting people is a lot easier in Hostels, don't you?

christina_creuzzer2

@ anyegr, just read the thread about your journey, really like it. I'm getting more and more excited.

One other thing I wanted to ask you, is about supermarkets, did you always eat out, or did you cook for yourself, or at least bought some things to eat, to take with you. I can't really rememeber if supermarkets are good to reach when walking. Here in Austria, there is a supermarket nearly at every corner, but I know that in some other european countries, the situation is quite different.

And, does anybody know if busses, also the little ones in the countryside and those to reach tourist spots with, are available in september and october, or do I have to deal with the fact, that I may have to change some plans...?

christina_creuzzer2

and would you recommend buying a heritage card?

anyegr

christina_creuzzer2:

I stayed in one hotel and five hostels. Shared dormrooms in four of the hostels. Yes, it's easier to meet people in hostels. I usually prefer being alone, but I could easily have found someone to talk to.

According to my notes I mostly bought cheap pre-made sandwiches, cheap take-out and things like that for lunch. One day says lunch was apple pie and cola. Another day says lunch was fries and onion rings. Not entirely sure what the dinner that cost 4,30, bought at Texaco, means, but it can't have been real food. Total food costs were somewhere around 270 to 300 Euro or pounds. According to my notes at the time the exchange rate was pretty close at that time and I remember being irritated at having to make mental conversions between three different currencies that did not quite match up.

I bought a heritage card. Can't remember if I actually saved any money on it or not. I do remember that there were times when the staff at one of the sites had no idea how to handle the card. It's probably best to look at the list of included sites and see how many you actually want to visit and how much it would cost to see them without the card. I can say that I did go to a few places I would have skipped if I hadn't bought the card.

I have absolutely no idea how the buses go in september and october. Did you look on the bus website? They had a number of interesting daytrips in 2009, maybe they still do.

soozireland

I have been to Ireland 5 times in last 12 years and have always travelled by public transportation. My past trips were with a friend and as 2 ladies travelling, we always felt very safe in Ireland.
I am returning to Ireland this September for 17 days with my husband this time and we are again travelling by bus and are in the planning process. Have always travelled to Ireland on a budget taking the bus and staying in b and b's and not eating in 'high end' restaurants. With a large breakfast offered at b and b, we only really had one meal later and that was usually pub food.
We always travelled in May or September and had no problem with bus schedules. I did email Bus Eirann(sp?) last week to see if the bus schedule would be different in September than it is now and they replied that it will be the same, so I am just finalizing my route. Cant wait to go back.

christina_creuzzer2

thanks for replying again! I haven't decided until now which locations I am actually visiting, so I just looked at the bustables in general, but the information form Bus Eireann is extremly helpfull, thanks!

I think I'm going to take that heritage pass, it seems not that expensive and the possibilities are diverse.

Yesterday I looked at helpx.com and was thinking about getting me a job in an hostel or b&b for a few weeks, so I can lengthen my vacation.

Getting more and more excited every hour, its only may now..

Greetings from Austria

christina_creuzzer2

Today I woke up at 6 am with thoughts over thoughts and its only may, however if I don't think about my journey I have to think about my masterthesis, so Ireland is the better option.

Have to get information about prepaid cell phones, travel insurances, get a new backpack, get a new raincoat, look at the heritage pass homepage, book a flight now or later?, get a job in a hostel or not - to lengthen my stay..

don't know if anybody is reading this, but had to write that down, so I can switch to my masterthesis...but coffee first!

Have a great day everybody!

mariha2912

Hello Christina!

Here are some of my thoughts...
First of all about solo traveling in general.
There seems to be a misunderstanding on some people, that often influence solo travelers' their selves. Often people think that someone travels solo because there is no other options and it is important to meet people along the way and do things together. While this is true for some solo travelers, it is not a rule. Many people travel solo by choice, because they feel comfortable with their own company, they enjoy flexibility of do what they want when they want and enjoy traveling in loneliness. Or focus on meeting local population rather than fellow travelers. I believe most people stand somewhere in the middle, they are happy traveling alone but like to meet people every now and then and have a chat, a meal or a day trip together. It is only you who knows on which category you fall and even if you do not know, now is a chance to find out lol

Then about backpacking... What does this means to you? This term seems nowadays to mean traveling on low budget and independantly, but each person gives a different meaning to this word... I think you may find this thread on an other forum very interesting http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2153186 Nowadays for some reason "backpacking" and even solo travel often relates with hostels. This is not necessarily the case though. A side note that has to do with my above comments on solo traveling is that it is not necessary to stay in hostels to meet people. I find this common belief way overrated. You can join a walking or bus tour to meet fellow travelers or hung around pubs/restaurants where visitors frequent to do so, or even doing so you may not manage to socialise. It is a matter of luck but mostly on personality too...Often a private room in a hostel costs similar to a room in a B&B where your chances to meet some local host are often higher that on a hostel where many foreign workers are to be found. So it depends on what you look for and your prioirities and what you feel comfortable with.

I find that although there are varied opinions and views in every travel forum, some forums are more keen on particular demographic or ways of travel. You may want to have a look on LP Thorntree for example where members tend to be more of the independant travel variety.

About traveling on Ireland in particular.
Bus and train system is very decent. I have some objections on the NW though where area is more rural, for example great attractions of Donegal area is natural beauty, often on places not so easy to reach on a bus. Bus in general is set to serve local population and runs year around, but maybe not to the places you would like to go. Some flexibility is necessary here. I do not find September and even October especially off-season in Ireland, although I have been only once many years ago. My other visits have been off season too, mostly January, February and early March. It is hard to advice without you mentioning specific locations, but maybe you could start with far off, rural, less visited destinations then making your way towards more busy, larger cities as winter approaches.
Traveling as a solo budget traveler I think you'll face no problems. The only think I need to point out is that on more quiet, less touristy areas, hostels are not so common and B&B usually charge same rates as for 2 pax or slightly more. In general accomodation for solo travelers outside hostels is a bit pricey comparing to other countries. You have been in Ireland, so you know how friendly and good natured Irish people area. They'll welcome you and make you feel comfortable as far as you send good vybes yourself : )

Enjoy your trip!

mariha2912

That sould read "B&B usually charge a singlee occupancy similar rates that for 2 pax(double occupancy) or slightly LESS thatn that."

christina_creuzzer2

Hey there, thanks for the answer! Well I think I'm going to find out which kind of solo traveller I am. I am just finishing with univeristy (well started late..) and just want to get out of austria, and go to ireland, where I always had a real great time and visit all the places, or at least as many as possible, I didn't see while my last trips.
I think I pretty much know what I am expecting, except the fact that I am on my own, for the first time. But I am really looking forward to do so. Just wanted to write down some thoughts. I am going to look at that other forum you mentioned, stumbled over fodor's by chance.

Liebe Grüße
Christina

christina_creuzzer2

ah and backpacking means to me, that I am carrying my stuff in a rucksack

mariha2912

I have a feeling you'll enjoy solo travel... Let us know how it went!