HappyCheesehead

We will be in Dublin for two days in May before we need our rental car. Our hotel is very close to the car rental office downtown.

Originally, we had planned on taking the bus back out to the airport, finding the rental counter, getting the car (might have to take a shuttle out to the lot) and setting out to Kilkenny from the airport. I think we take a ring road to M81, then south to Kilkenny.

Now we have realized that we can get the same car (minus the airport pick up charge) at the same rate, from the downtown office. Is it crazy to start from downtown about 10 am on a Monday morning? It seems that we would save quite a bit of time and hassle by not having to go back out to the airport. By the time we get to the AirCoach stop we could practically be at the rental office. Additionally, the M81 leads out from the city center, (true?) can we just follow it out of town fairly easily?

My husband will be driving, he has never driven on the left but we will have an automatic. He is a confident, competant driver who has driven many a metro mile in Chicago and other large cities, but I have to admit he was a bit freaked out driving downtown Budapest and Prague last year. At least in Dublin we should be able to read the street signs. I am really inclined to start from downtown unless I hear from you all that it would be completely nuts.

StephenG

We picked up a car this last January at the Avis office and drove back to our apartment for luggage an then south towards Glendalough. I was a weekday morning about 9am and was fine.
Your rental agency will give a route usually that will help,also in some ways driving in traffic and major routes can help with where to be on the road,especially oneway streets that you don't drive on one side or the other and follow other cars. I found that Irish drivers in general are more forgiving and not as horn oriented as Italians or French.

hopingtotravel

Although we had previously driven on the left, we rented from the Hertz office some blocks south of St. Stephen's Green. When the car came out of the garage it was already pointed south (our direction to visit Powerscourt) and was on the arterial heading for the highway. It was a breeze and I talked to people later who tried to do the ring road and got lost. Two weeks later we turned it in at the airport. A bit more complicated, but doable. BTW, that was September, and our departure from Dublin was around 10 a.m. on a Sat morning (a day with a big soccer game and a U2 concert happening).

HappyCheesehead

Well then - 2 for 2! This is sounding like I might have been worried for nothing. I am glad that I am hearing positive experiences. Thank you for posting.

laverendrye

Your question reminds me of an experience I had many years ago in Dublin (1968 to be precise). I rented a car from an agency near Stephen's Green (it may indeed have been Hertz)to spend a few days in Galway.

As I got to the outskirts of Dublin, not yet completely comfortable with a right-hand drive car, I turned too tightly and hit a curb, resulting in a flat tire. I mounted the spare, and decided to return to the agency to get a new tire before continuing on my journey.

I was told at the agency that they would give me one, but would charge me what I considered an outrageous amount for it. When I pointed out that this was covered by the insurance, there was much consternation and consultation among the staff. Finally they allowed that yes, it was covered, and that I would not be charged. However, they would not let me have the car back.

So, instead of Galway, I spent the rest of the week in Dublin. A most enjoyable week it was--but I've never again had such a bizarre experience in renting a car.

SiobhanP

How much will you save?? also what street in Dublin and I will let you know what I think.

Personally iof its a smaller fee I would just leave from the airport and not delay the trip and make yourselves even more tired after the flight. This is from experience renting cars after a flight and from living and driving in Dublin which I do now .

cailin

Siobhan - I think they plan to stay in their hotel for a few days before picking up the rental car. Rather than going back out to the airport to pick it up, I would definitely go for the city centre option. Getting out to the airport will cost you unnecessary money and time. Getting out of Dublin city shouldn't be too much of a problem - the road signs have greatly improved. There isn't, however, a road called the M81. I'd imagine it's the N81 you'll be looking for, which is a national route rather than a motorway.

SiobhanP

My mistake. If you were in town then do rent from town and get some good directions to the main roa/motorway where you are going.

HappyCheesehead

Yep - we are planning on arriving May 22 am and won't be renting the car until May 24th am, so we have time to see a bit of Dublin and shake off any jet lag. By the morning of the 24th we should be bright eyed and bushy tailed.

The rental price in town is the same, but we do not have the airport charge (minor expense) and I think it would just be so much faster to pick up downtown and go.

Siobhan - we are staying at the Holiday Inn at 99-107 Pearse Street Dublin 2, and car rental pick up is at 2 Haddington Road, Baggot Street Bridge. According to Maporama, this is some 800+meters from our hotel. What Maporama does not tell us tho, is whether you can get "there" from"here" easily! What do you think?

Cailin - yes, you are so right - it is the N81 - thank you!

cailin

it's very easy to get from the Holiday Inn to Baggot Street - it would be about a 15 minute walk. Your hotel will be able to give you good directions. There's a journey planner here that will give you good directions too: http://www.dto-journeyplanner.ie/dto...ntent/start.do

To get from there to the N81 is also easy enough. You can just follow the road straight from Haddington Road all the way down the canal and the N81 will be signposted from there.

HappyCheesehead

Wonderful! Cailin - thank you for the link and the help. I feel very confident now that it will be faster and easier for us to pick up city center.

SiobhanP

Its near but I would take a taxi if you have bags. It's too far to walk with suitcases you will be miserable.

You will also be fine driving at 10:00am. Just take your time driving in the city if you are not used to driving om the opposite side of the road. Have fun

S

reddattitude

Consider it an adventure! I did the very same two years ago (having never driven on the other side of the road myself) and it wasn't bad. I would suggest not picking it up during rush hour though. I actually found it more challenging driving outside of the city where I'd tend to drift to the side I felt most comfortable on! With all the cars on the road in Dublin, it's easy to remember to stay to the left! Good luck and have a wonderful time!

HappyCheesehead

Thanks! Based on all the positive responses, I have changed the pick up to downtown. Hubby was reassured by your answers.

JuneAnn

Let me add my vote. We picked up a car from Dan Dooley rentals in downtown Dublin and all went well. This was our first visit to Dublin and we would do this again.

LeeP

We have the same dilemma that you have on where to pick up the car- we will also be in Dublin two days then heading south. To avoid driving in city traffic, I had hoped to take the DART to Dun Laoghaire and get the car there, as we plan to visit Powerscourt then on to Kilkenny. Dan Dooley tells me no pick-up in DL unless you are coming in on the ferry. Also they do not allow pick-up downtown until 11:00, which means we would be noon or later leaving Dublin. So I guess we will be forced to go to the airport. I plan to check with other companies, specifically Auro Europe, but understand they do not offer DunLaoghaire as a pick-up point. Perhaps they will offer earlier downtown pick-up but am still worried about the traffic. We will be in Dublin on May 25-26, picking up the car on Thurs. May 27 - just a few days after you. Any advice on this problem will be much appreciated!!
LeeP

slightly_demented

If you need instructions that will tell you exactly where you are driving to get out of dublin then go to http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/
You can get instructions from Jct Haddington Rd/Northumberland Rd,Dublin to whereever you are going, Kilkenny i think you said!

HappyCheesehead

Thanks SD, for the website info!

I am hoping that traffic won't be too bad at that time of day, based on other reports.

Lee P - We are using AutoEurope, who put our rental thru EuropCar. Our voucher has a pick up time of 10 am on it, and I am going to verify that we can get it at that time. Funny - I thought we were going to save the airport pick up charge but going downtown, but they have the same fee there - only it is called a premium pick up fee. I guess they get you one way or the other.... I started to get a bit steamed about it, but the phone rep calculated the price again to pick up city center, and the rental came down by $60, so I am still ahead of the game. We ended up with 296 + 33 US for 12 days with a Nissan Micra automatic, return to Shannon.

It is so much more convenient to me to pick up downtown, I hope it all works out fine. Whatever the traffic is, it can be handled, I think, with a clear set of directions. I liked the comments about being able to follow others to get our bearings.

LeeP

Thanks for the good advice. I too have now made a reservation through Auto Europe with Europcar for pick-up downtown. My voucher says 9:00; maybe by the time we get all the paperwork done the traffic won't be too bad. I am counting on them to give good directions! My price is a lot higher than yours - 14 days for a Toyota Corolla automatic - $757. The main reason it is so high is I had to take the CDW - called my Master Card and was told they do not cover Ireland.

HappyCheesehead

Lee- do you have a Gold or Platinum MC? If so, did you call MasterCard themselves at 800 MC Assist? I just called mine again after I saw your note, they say I have coverage. It is making me nervous however, that they told you that you did not....