It takes at least 6 and a half hours by rail and will invlolve 2 or three changes depending onthe time of your train. The cost is currently showing as £115 per person one way. I'd guess that a plane will not cost much more, maybe less including paying for a few extra kilos of baggage.

The whole trip via this route will take at least 14 or 15 hours. Get a plane.

<i>The cost is currently showing as £115 per person one way.</i>

Sailrail for tomorrow is showing as £43 per person from Edinburgh to Dublin Port (Stena). It seems a little flaky for other bits of Dublin

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/sailrail/

CityLink is £38 per person tomorrow

http://www.citylink.co.uk/index.php

Both take over 10 hours

My one piece of advice would be to get comfortable with two or more options, then lay them out for your friend and let her choose. I traveled a couple of years ago with a friend who dislikes flying, but also dislikes ferries. But we had to get from Spain to Morocco somehow... she picked a flight because it was shorter, and landed closer to where we wanted to be. She was not particularly happy during said flight (to say the least) but at least we could remind her she picked it!

Amy,
Traveling with someone who doesn't like to fly or ride a bus and can't pack light is going to make for a slightly miserable trip. At the least the husband should find his own entertainment, unless you are being paid for this ordeal.

alan, I made the error of looking on the National Rail website, what a joke our pricing is! However, the route you describe invlolves two changes and a train leaving Edinburgh just after 6 in the morning. Regardless of the price, I'd get a plane.

The OP should use the Mr T solution for her friend.

How about adding in an extra day and putting interesting Belfast in your itinerary - go to Belfast via train/bus or however you get to the ferry to Northern Ireland - stay in Belfast a day and then take the Peace Train the few hours to Dublin.

Just a thought if you have time. Belfast to me, given its turbulent history, etc was one of the most interesting cities I have been to and it is also a nice looking city in many parts.

<<Traveling with someone who doesn't like to fly or ride a bus and can't pack light is going to make for a slightly miserable trip. >>

Thinking you should fly and tell your buddy to take the trains/buses/ferries/donkey carts on her own so she doesn't waste one of your days of vacation.

<i>
BigRuss on Mar 6, 13 at 11:37am
Thinking you should fly and tell your buddy to take the trains/buses/ferries/donkey carts on her own so she doesn't waste one of your days of vacation.</i>

Speaking of donkey carts, a hilarious travel tome of Ireland is <b>Last of the Donkey Pilgrims</b> by Kevin O'Hara.

Thinking you should fly and tell your buddy to take the trains/buses/ferries/donkey carts on her own so she doesn't waste one of your days of vacation>

and then by flying you see nothing of the lovely England and Wales and Scotland in between as you do from the train, boat, donkey cart, etc. I go to Europe not just to see big tourist meccas but also the lay of the land in between - I do not consider it a day wasted - and flying takes a half a day as well with all the rigmarole involved in flying these days, including hiccuping Icleandic volcanoes!

Thanks guys! I'm not being paid to do this but the friend is well aware of my planning nature and I'm well aware of her many issues. Plus once I get her over there I can't wait to show her Paris and discover new places with her. There will just be a lot of compromise from everyone.

We have a large group trip to LA coming up and she is going to get the packing lesson for that 5 day trip to prepare her for my picky-ness with packing on the trip.

Once I have more details ironed out I'll be posting our itinerary for suggestions and ideas.

Your trip sounds a bit like ours ; ).... We are doing London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Florence and finishing in Rome.

I was having trouble with the Edinburgh/Dublin travel too. I think we will stay with flying, we have three children, and I think we are better off flying across, instead of the rail and boat. It would be nice to see the scenery, but it becomes a long day!

<i>tenangels77 on Jan 7, 14 at 11:59pm
Your trip sounds a bit like ours ; ).... We are doing London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Florence and finishing in Rome.
I was having trouble with the Edinburgh/Dublin travel too. I think we will stay with flying, we have three children, and I think we are better off flying across, instead of the rail and boat. It would be nice to see the scenery, but it becomes a long day!</i>

With that list I assume you are traveling for two months. I would drop Glasgow and add Cork and Belfast.

It may be too long a day for you but the kids won't get enough of it. They will love the ferry.

Yeah I have had ro cut quiet a bit out, from ideas from others on here, it's like we are cramming too much in. I've had some great advice and have dropped a few places off, so we can enjoy the trip a lot more with the children.

So we may have to plans a second trip next time around so everyone in my family is happy ; )

Thanks for the tips and ideas ; )