We are 2 couples no kids 35 years of age travelling to Ireland from India via London for exactly 8 days.I have made an Itenary please see if its ok or anything better can be done.i want to do a medium activity, luxurious trip.

My Itenary is as follows 2 days 1st and 2nd August 2009 Dublin-,After Dublin on the 3rd day we will be leaving for cork at 9.00 in the morning by bus and on the way I will be doing both wicklow 2 hrs and Waterford 2 hrs and reach cork by the evening 6.00 clock….In cork we will be staying in a 5 star hotel in the main city but could u suggest me some exclusive cottage or farmhouse becz hotels are very boring.
Cork we will be staying for 3rd-4th and 5th night and 1 day I would be going again by bus to Ring Of kerry and Dingle Peninsula on 4th…Can I do both in 1 day if I leave in the morning 9.00 a.m. ….We are not too much walking types…Max 1-2 hrs of walking ,so in cork I get 3rd eve and 5th full day as 4th I will be going to Rok and Dingle …If this is ok should I extend 1 more day in Dublin in the beginning and then continue or do I require 2 days for ROK and Dingle then this itenary will be ok….Please guide..After finishing cork on 6th morning I will be leaving for Ashford Castle in Cong County Mayo or should I stay in Dromoland instead.
On 7th morning from Ashford Castle either I visit the Connemara area and come to Galway by 6.00 in the eve …stay in Galway 7th eve and on 8th visit Burren and other places in and around Burren and Galway or should i skip Connemara and just visit in and around Galway and Burren for 2 days 7th and 8th August.
On 9th morning I leave from Galway Airport in the morning 9.00 a.m and reach London Luton Airport at 10.45…Please guide me what to do so that I can make my final itenary im quite confused.I just want to stay in 3 good hotels and 1 castle in the whole trip,visit the most important sightseeing places in the mornings and enjoy the pubs in the night and that’s the reason I have chosen to stay in the 3 main cities Dublin 2 nights,Cork 3 Nights and Galway 2 nights..Im omitting Belfast and Giant Causeway as i have only 8 days or should i omit some other place and add Belfast and causeway ...Please Guide...Thanks once again in advance to everybody who guides me.Im taking bus rides everywhere and I cant self drive a car…
Regards-Gautam

Gautam: the problem with an exclusive cottage, farmhouse or country house/manor is that they are usually out in the countryside...that normally means driving. You might look at www.irelands-blue-book.ie for ideas? (Also, cottages and houses are normally rented by the week during high season.)

To be honest, I wouldn't pick Cork, but can understand that you would have trouble getting much further west if you want to stop in Wicklow and Waterford (?? - the crystal factory is closed) en route on day 3. Trying to do ROK (AND??? is that even possible?) Dingle from Cork is a long haul.

I would be tempted to move on to Killarney and environs on day 4? You could do the Killarney Park/Gap of Dunloe, Muckross House (all nearby) or the Killarney/Kenmare portion of the ROK that afternoon -- then do a trip to Dingle on day 5. For luxury hotels in Killarney you might look at www.aghadoeheights.com -- they also seem to offer private car/driver hires?

After that I think I would pick Ashford over Dromoland if you will depart out of Galway? (Dromoland is very close to Shannon airport.) I would be tempted to simply enjoy the ammenities of Ashford -- but again they may be able to arrange a car/driver to take you to a portion of the sights in Connemara on the afternoon of day 7 and drop you off in Galway? You should have no problem finding a tour from Galway to Cliffs of Moher/the Burren on day 8.

Thank u so much for your time and patience...What do u mean by the crystal factory closed on day 3 in waterford...why is it closed...Dingle and cork not possible on same day i have understood....Tell me something should i stay in killarney instead of cork..only creason of choosing cork was that it waill be active in the night and its a bigger city....should i do 2 days killarney and 3 full days dublin and rest as it is and completely skip cork...Please guide..I can also depart from shannon becz return ticks are not done yet if u recommend dromo over ashford...i really want to stay in the best castle in ireland...Rest i have understood clearly and do u think its a good itenary...Thank u once again..

The Waterford Crystal factory closed earlier this year. I believe the only thing open there is a small exhibit and the store. Prices there are no better than elsewhere...certainly not worth making a special stop.

I have never been to Cork, so can't comment on the nightlife. Most people who go there are those determined to kiss the Blarney Stone at nearby Blarney Castle. Otherwise, most people visiting Co. Cork seem to go to Kinsale for the restaurants and to visit Charles Fort -- but I wouldn't divert there given the limited amount of time you have.

If you stay an extra day in Dublin you could do Powerscourt Gardens and Glendalough as a day trip. Or head north to Newgrange and the Boyne Valley?

If you go directly to Killarney, most express buses seem to go to Cork and then onward. You might consider the train for this leg of the trip?

I'm sure Ashford and Dromoland consider themselves comparable. I might pick Ashford, but that's a sentimental choice as it was my brother's favorite place to stay in all of Ireland.

I think you've got a good outline for your trip. Definitely save Belfast and the Giant's Causeway for another time; do the south and west "properly" and don't try to dart off in another direction. You're covering a lot of territory as it is. Good luck!

I'm a moderately experienced Ireland visitor, but I always self-drive and am not as interested in 'Luxury', so I've hesitated to offer my 1 euro cent worth ...

Given your travel perogatives, I would definitely advise that you base in Dublin, Galway and Killarney. Killarney is accessible from Dublin by train (as is Galway).

From Galway and Killarney there are NUMEROUS activities/tours and options which require little or no transportation issues. All three locations offer top-tier accommodations, ample night-life and access to marvelous people.

I love Cork city -- my wife has family nearby and we spend a few days there, every year -- but, given your expressed tastes, available time and transport limitations, for me Killarney makes the most sense.

There is an Airlink bus that runs directly from Galway to Shannon Airport.

Bob

Thank you so much for your prompt and clear reply.all my confusions and problems are totally solved because of your help...If possible please send me your email id so that if there is anything in future i can write to you directly..R u irish, u look very well travelled in Ireland...Thanks once again...Gautam

One more thing i wanted to know if i travel out from Galway to Luton airport London is there any problem...Is Luton airport very far from the main city of London like Oxford Regent and Bond Street....Since im holding an indian passport
i hope there is no govt problem in flying out from Galway to Luton (Domestic ) airport London,staying in London for 2 nights in a hotel and then flying out from London Heathrow Airport to India.Please guide

Itallian_Chauffer...Thank u so much for your help.I sincerely apprecitae your irelanf travel expertise and genuinely thank you for your kind attitude and help.Please send me your email Id if possible so that i can be in touch with you directly.
Gautam

Gautam: no I'm not Irish! My ancestors on one side were Scot-Irish (I'm certain the Irish among us will tell you: that's NOT the same thing!) but they emigrated to America in 1765. We will be looking for our family roots near Longford next month; this will be only our second trip to Ireland. But I love to travel and do EXTENSIVE research (call me compulsive) beforehand...so I'm just a bit ahead of you as far as planning Irish travel goes.

Thank u once again finally becz of u im doing 3 days dublin ! day visit to Wicklow and Glendalough in between...2 Days Killarney-1 day to ROK and 1 day to Dingle...1 day ashford and 2 days Galway and flying out from Galway to London..I hope this is fine
Gautam

Gautam - We have just returned from spending 2 weeks in Ireland.
I will be posting a trip report in the next couple of weeks with photos.
Even with all the research in the world, reading travel guides, and planning a sort-of-itinerary, nothing stopped the weather turning foul and putting paid to seeing two of the main attractions - Cliffs of Moher and Giants causeway.

Ireland is vast and driving can become slightly monotonous especially when it's raining most of the day and the beautiful countryside is swathed in mist.
Coming from a warm climate we felt the cold quite a lot but when the sun came out we sweated like everyone else!

Gautam: sounds like a good plan. Have a great trip! Hopefully you (and we) will have better weather than Tod!

Hi tod ...Im actually about to finish with my tickets and hotel booking in the next few days ..If ossibl plz check ,y itenary which is posted above and give me suggestions if you have any to improve the trip...Weather cannot be controlled so lets leave that on Destiny..Thanks
Thank you Skibumette for your approval and best wishes.
Regards
Gautam