My husband and I are planning a first trip to Ireland. We have visited Europe and look forward to enjoying Ireland's scenery... I have visited several websites and looked at a few tourbooks and am contemplating the following itinerary - any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated - not sure if these plans are too aggressive...Thanks so much for taking the time to review and comment!

Sat: Arrive in Dublin / Drive to Powerscourt
Sun: Powerscourt
Mon: Rock of Cashel - drive to Dingle
Tues: Dingle
Wed: Drive to Cliffs of Mohr / Drive to Galway
Thurs: Galway to Dublin
Fri: Dublin
Sat: Depart

If 'twere me I think I would fly into Dublin and out of Shannon. Or even in and out of Shannon and eliminate Powerscourt and Dublin altogether. On such a short visit you are spending lots of time in transit.

Not sure Powerscourt is worthy of a whole day, and maybe another half depending on when you arrive in Dublin. But there is Glendalough in the neighborhood.

I agree with jaja, and that's a lot of driving, You might check for other recent threads (there was just one here last week) on a week-long stay or so.

I loved Ireland and I can't wait to go back myself.

Thanks for taking the time to comment! I think we will take the advice of flying into Dublin and out of Shannon.

From Dublin - any recommendation on a nice route (with a possible overnight stay) ending up in Dingle?

Dublin to dingle is a LONG LONG day and you will miss many beautiful things just being on the 'motorway' -- Your trip has you driving more than seeing - actually. I know our first trip to Ireland -- I was like you trying to see the whole country in one week -- we ended up -- focusing more on the west coasts and actually taking the train into dublin for one overnight stay -- that was so wonderful!

Have you driven on the opposite side of the road before? That is an adjustment - the round-da-bouts - are an adjustment

Dublin is a hub -- a massive hub -- if you really really want to start there -- i'd go - lots to see in dublin - i agree powerscourt sounds lovely - but so many other places that are just as great -

Are you staying at B&B's along the way? or hotels?

Dingle is beautiful! I'd stay more than one day if you can -- you can do much there and take tours ...i'd suggest a tour driver (you can get many listings downtown) - and the streets are so much fun-- World famous Murphy's Ice Cream - Fungie the dolpin - the beauty of the seashore --(love dingle - can you tell..lol)

I can share more info if you'd like -- just email me at
[email protected] -- good luck -- enjoy!
J

Irishgal: Great advice...Still changing plans...Now we are thinking about Sat/Sun in Dublin. Monday drive (scenic) to Kilkenny stay at Mount Juliet Conrad for a night (hope I got the town right). Tuesday drive to Dingle (from Kilkenny). Tuesday, Wednesday, Dingle. Thursday - Cliffs of Mohr and then to Galway (Thursday & Friday). Leave Saturday (we can extend to Sunday, if we want to tack a day on anywhere...Thoughts?

Also, if you have a recommendation for a place to stay in Dingle - would love to hear it. I've been on different boards/sites and see several recommendations. Looks like most are B&Bs. Unfortunately, my husband isn't thrilled with staying at a B&Bs - has a preference for hotels. However, something with a waterview would be a compromise for him.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

Are you more interested in the gardens or the waterfall at Powerscourt? Neither will take all day, but Glendalough is nearby, and that is a good via on the route from, say, Dublin to Kilkenny.

We are really just looking for a scenic route...stopping at leisure along the way to Kilkenny. Heard Powerscourt was nice..Would it make more sense to head straight to Glendalough?

Forgive me if I missed it, but I'm not seeing that you've mentioned what time of year you're going. That could make a difference in terms of the gardens at Powerscourt.

sorry...we are planning for the 2nd week of May 2010.

If you are leaving Dingle and Heading up to the Cliffs of Moher, you will have to drive back down to Galway and then back to Shannon. Alot of driving. I would fly into and out of Shannon. I took my daughter in 2003 for 2 weeks and Dingle was our favorite place. We saw Fungee the dolphin, took a tour around the peninsula, but my absolute was the Blasket Islands. We stayed at Captain's House and Mary was lovely and a great breakfast. I believe she is still there.

Our flights are booked - flying into Dublin and out of Shannon.
2 nights in Dublin
2 nights in Kilkenny
2 nights in Dingle
Following our stay in Dingle, we will have 2 full days to tour - was hoping to see the Cliffs, however, we are open to the travel advice provided from the experts on this forum!

Kayfos -- you need to email me - lolol - i've got lots of helpful hints (more than most on here want to hear - lol)

I think that schedule is good!
2 nights in dublin is good (I stayed at the Jury's in - right across from Christ Church -- what days are you there again -- they have an INCREDIBLE choral viewing on wednesday's!)
2 nights in Kilkenny -- we did so much in one day - two would be better - you have the national park (don't miss the jaunty cars - they are a hoot) - and you can get tours up to the Ladies View ....such a beautiful beautiful spot.
Dingle - Dingle - Dingle -- I LOVE IT!!!! I stayed at Emlach Lodge (Maggie is hostess) -- it's RIGHT ON THE WATER....and she is non-obtrusive (sp) - fixes a mean Irish Breakfast and for two nights wouldn't be bad if she's available.

The Cliff's -- sigh one of the best places I think in Ireland - and don't forget the Burren --you can do both of those in one day - we stayed at the Ennis Hotel -- darn - can't think of the name - but it's got a Folk Park attached and some minor shopping - we were there two days and well worth it!

Are you driving??? I would HIGHLY recommend getting your car when you head off to Kilkenny -- make sure you can check it in in Shannon Airport -- driving in dublin is insane! The Hop On/Hop Off bus is so convenient and not expensive - and it's good for 24 hours ... plus walkign is everywhere there . If you get a chance go to Arlington's Hotel (we took a cab over) for one flat rate you get a 4-5 course meal and an awesome dinner show by Declan and crew!

Jeri

Kayfos --

I had a brain fart -lol -- we stayed in Killarney and did the National Park, which has all sorts of attractions (Gap of Dunloe, Ladies' View, Ross Castle, Torc Waterfall).

However, I think the more dramatic and beautiful views of Slea Head and Conor Pass are more sublime (these are on Dingle).
jeri

I was wondering about that as I read it, Irishgal I also think it's a good itinerary. While there are lots of things you'll miss, you will still have the best of all three aspects of Ireland - Dublin, medieval cities (Kilkenny) and small towns/countryside. Sort of a progressive decompression

Soooo...for the last 2 days visiting Cliff of Moher and area, would Doolin be the best place to stay? We are departing from Shannon airport.

Dingle is great for the Dingle peninsula, but Ennis would be more central for the Cliffs and for Shannon. Ennis is about 3 hours from Dingle - a very long day trip. Check out www.viamichelin.com for your routes, and remember that 35 mph is the most you'll average on Irish roads, especially in the west. You could either base in Dingle and do a long day trip for the cliffs, or base in Ennis and do a long day trip for Dingle. Or stay somewhere in between, but I wont' recommend Limerick, (fairly big, charmless city), and I am not too familiar with the towns in between to make a good recommendation.

Thanks, GreenDragon. I guess I'm unclear as to the distance from Dingle to see the Cliffs. I was thinking we would depart Dingle, tour the Cliffs and find somewhere in the Cliffs area to stay for two days before departing from Shannon. Would a better idea be a day trip from Dingle to the Cliffs and stay in Dingle until we leave from Shannon?

Ennis is much closer to Shannon, so if you've an early flight out, I would say stay in Ennis. However, other than that, it's six of one, half dozen of the other.

six of one...from what I read, Doolin is a better stay than Ennis and about an hour from Shannon Airport. Does that sound right? We have a 2-night stay in Cliffs area, so perhaps Doolin is a better bet.