Flying in/out Shannon, but traveling to N. Ireland
Feb 11th, 2003, 04:42 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flying in/out Shannon, but traveling to N. Ireland
Hi All,
I've been reading the posts here for just a couple of days, but you seem to be a very knowledgeable group concerning travel in Ireland. Our trip plans came about very suddenly this week so I really didn't get a chance to explore all the information I needed in advance.
I booked flights a few minutes ago for our trip to Ireland (May 31), but ended up with arrival and departure at Shannon instead of Dublin as I'd originally planned.
My dilemma is that we're actually planning to spend our first week with relatives in N. Ireland along the Antrim coast, and want to book a self-catering cottage in that area for arrival the evening of May 31 (they all book Sat. to Sat.). After I made the flight reservations I realized I have NO idea how long the drive is from Shannon.
1) What’s the best company to arrange for car rental, allowing for travel in N. Ireland?
2) What would be the quickest route to get from Shannon to Derry?
3) Is it even feasible to consider making the trip in one day and still enjoy it? If not, I'd rather make it a more leisurely trip north and change our lodging plans.
We'll be spending our 2nd week in the Kilkenny area and will explore the southern sites from there. My teenagers will return home and then I'll have the 3rd week alone to do family research in Dublin and Kilkenny, and more sightseeing.
4) Am I crazy to be crisscrossing Ireland this way???
5) Any angle I look at it, it seems I have to make a trip to or from Shannon and the northern coast.
6) Have I really screwed up with the Shannon arrival/departure, and need to call the airlines back tonight and change my tickets!!! I think they told me I could change within the next couple of hours.
Hope someone’s online now who can give me advice quickly.
Thanks,
Lynmaire
I've been reading the posts here for just a couple of days, but you seem to be a very knowledgeable group concerning travel in Ireland. Our trip plans came about very suddenly this week so I really didn't get a chance to explore all the information I needed in advance.
I booked flights a few minutes ago for our trip to Ireland (May 31), but ended up with arrival and departure at Shannon instead of Dublin as I'd originally planned.
My dilemma is that we're actually planning to spend our first week with relatives in N. Ireland along the Antrim coast, and want to book a self-catering cottage in that area for arrival the evening of May 31 (they all book Sat. to Sat.). After I made the flight reservations I realized I have NO idea how long the drive is from Shannon.
1) What’s the best company to arrange for car rental, allowing for travel in N. Ireland?
2) What would be the quickest route to get from Shannon to Derry?
3) Is it even feasible to consider making the trip in one day and still enjoy it? If not, I'd rather make it a more leisurely trip north and change our lodging plans.
We'll be spending our 2nd week in the Kilkenny area and will explore the southern sites from there. My teenagers will return home and then I'll have the 3rd week alone to do family research in Dublin and Kilkenny, and more sightseeing.
4) Am I crazy to be crisscrossing Ireland this way???
5) Any angle I look at it, it seems I have to make a trip to or from Shannon and the northern coast.
6) Have I really screwed up with the Shannon arrival/departure, and need to call the airlines back tonight and change my tickets!!! I think they told me I could change within the next couple of hours.
Hope someone’s online now who can give me advice quickly.
Thanks,
Lynmaire
Feb 11th, 2003, 11:35 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Shannon to Derry (also known as Londonderry) will take about 5 hours.You can get route details in www.viamichelin.com. There are lots of interesting things to see almost everywhere so get a good map and a good guide and enjoy yourself.The days are very long in June-until 10pm or later.
Feb 12th, 2003, 01:09 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It took me about 5 hours to drive from Connemara to Belfast. You're not going quite as far, but the it may still take about that length of time to get to Derry. I'd allow 5 hours to be on the safe side.
The drive is neither bad nor good. If you leave in the morning you would have time to stop a couple of times to take in a few quick sites. But it is still a long day on those Irish roads. You could take the scenic route up along the coastline of Donegal, but that would add a lot of time to your drive on a day when you're already going to be tired from the flight.
Most rental companies allow you to take your car across the border without any problem. Some used to impose a fee, but I haven't seen that since around the time of the Good Friday agreement. Just make sure you ask about taking it across. I usually book through priceline.co.uk. You end up with one of the majors (Avis, National/Alamo). And actually there's a guy working at Avis who's from Northern Ireland who could probably give you good advice on your route if he happens to be around.
I'd just stick with flying into Shannon. Your other options are flying into Dubin, and then it's still about a 3 hour drive up to Derry, or to fly to London and then on to Belfast or Derry. With the time you spend in transferring, you're not really saving any time.
The Antrim Coast is gorgeous, and May's a nice time to go. You should have a wonderful trip.
The drive is neither bad nor good. If you leave in the morning you would have time to stop a couple of times to take in a few quick sites. But it is still a long day on those Irish roads. You could take the scenic route up along the coastline of Donegal, but that would add a lot of time to your drive on a day when you're already going to be tired from the flight.
Most rental companies allow you to take your car across the border without any problem. Some used to impose a fee, but I haven't seen that since around the time of the Good Friday agreement. Just make sure you ask about taking it across. I usually book through priceline.co.uk. You end up with one of the majors (Avis, National/Alamo). And actually there's a guy working at Avis who's from Northern Ireland who could probably give you good advice on your route if he happens to be around.
I'd just stick with flying into Shannon. Your other options are flying into Dubin, and then it's still about a 3 hour drive up to Derry, or to fly to London and then on to Belfast or Derry. With the time you spend in transferring, you're not really saving any time.
The Antrim Coast is gorgeous, and May's a nice time to go. You should have a wonderful trip.
Feb 12th, 2003, 01:23 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,873
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lynnmaire - If it were me I would have booked into Shannon anyway. Arriving in Dublin is OK - but the scenery along the NW coast is so fabulous, I would prefer Shannon.
The drive will certainly be doable. So go ahead with yoyr Sat/Sat self catering plans. But you won't know ahead of time how tired/jet-lagged you will be, so have a "Plan B" ready. Book the cottage but be sure you have a contact phone number. Then as you work your way toward Antrim, if you find you are just too tired to do it safely, find a B&B (easy - just look for signs along the road) and ring the cottage and tell them you'll be arriving the next morning instead. You'll have to "eat" the missed night in the cottage but having that back up plan will give you peace of mind.
The drive will certainly be doable. So go ahead with yoyr Sat/Sat self catering plans. But you won't know ahead of time how tired/jet-lagged you will be, so have a "Plan B" ready. Book the cottage but be sure you have a contact phone number. Then as you work your way toward Antrim, if you find you are just too tired to do it safely, find a B&B (easy - just look for signs along the road) and ring the cottage and tell them you'll be arriving the next morning instead. You'll have to "eat" the missed night in the cottage but having that back up plan will give you peace of mind.
Feb 13th, 2003, 06:57 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lynmaire,
To get your vacation off to a good, more relaxing start, try to take a flight upon arrival from Shannon to Belfast. If memory serves, it's a less than 30-minute flight, and by doing so you'll land in the North facing a relatively easy drive up to the Antrim Coast. Compared with the very lengthy drive (especially following a transatlantic flight) from Shannon to the North, you'll be getting your vacation off to a fine, fast start.
Best of luck.
To get your vacation off to a good, more relaxing start, try to take a flight upon arrival from Shannon to Belfast. If memory serves, it's a less than 30-minute flight, and by doing so you'll land in the North facing a relatively easy drive up to the Antrim Coast. Compared with the very lengthy drive (especially following a transatlantic flight) from Shannon to the North, you'll be getting your vacation off to a fine, fast start.
Best of luck.
Feb 14th, 2003, 07:33 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ann41,
I can't speak for Aer Lingus' current flight availability, but in the summer of '99 I took a flight on an MD11 from Shannon to Belfast. I opted for this as I wasn't able at that time to get an Aer Lingus direct flight from Boston to Belfast. If these flights are no longer available - and apparently they are not - it's a shame.
Were I facing Lynmaire's current dilemma, I'd not to make the non-stop drive from Shannon to northern NI; rather, I'd drive north along the Republic's N18 and N17 until I reach County Sligo. Coopershill House (www.cooperhill.com), located in Riverstown, located about 10 miles SE of Sligo town, would make for an ideal overnight stay following a flight and lengthy drive. This is a first-rate B & B, featuring quality food, distinctive rooms, and a touch of class. The next morning: wake up refreshed, satisfied, and ready to make the drive into the UK.
Best of luck.
I can't speak for Aer Lingus' current flight availability, but in the summer of '99 I took a flight on an MD11 from Shannon to Belfast. I opted for this as I wasn't able at that time to get an Aer Lingus direct flight from Boston to Belfast. If these flights are no longer available - and apparently they are not - it's a shame.
Were I facing Lynmaire's current dilemma, I'd not to make the non-stop drive from Shannon to northern NI; rather, I'd drive north along the Republic's N18 and N17 until I reach County Sligo. Coopershill House (www.cooperhill.com), located in Riverstown, located about 10 miles SE of Sligo town, would make for an ideal overnight stay following a flight and lengthy drive. This is a first-rate B & B, featuring quality food, distinctive rooms, and a touch of class. The next morning: wake up refreshed, satisfied, and ready to make the drive into the UK.
Best of luck.
