kate1

For a 7 seven day trip (in/out of Shannon),
would it be a good idea to base ourselves in Galway for 2-3 days and then in Kenmare for 2-3 days? Or, is it a must to continually move around, as it seems most people plan to do when visiting western ireland?
kate

Melissa5

kate1, I'm planning our first trip to Ireland. Although I haven't been to Ireland yet I planned our June 2005 trip to Costa Rica and our June 2004 trip to Italy. They were great trips!

My general trip-planning advice is it's better to choose a hotel base which is surrounded by fascinating day-trips, and then just take day-trips from there. I have also found that, assuming you have chose an interesting destination, the more time you spend there, the more you will fall in love with it.

Many people who "dislike" a destination will mention that they spent a half-day there, didn't like it, and left. A half-day isn't enough time to get to know a place intimately.

If somebody came to San Diego, my home town, and spent a half-day in downtown San Diego, maybe they would hate it. But if they spent 3 days in San diego, and took day-trips to the neighborhoods of La Jolla, Pt. Loma, and Pacific Beach, they might grow to love it.

That's my travel philosophy and it works for us. Others may have different philosophies. Good luck finding the one that works for you.

chatham

kate1, That looks like a good plan to me. I'm a real slow traveler so I have stayed 6 nights or more at both locations. Well, Connemara, not Galway city. I think you're real smart in staying just a couple of places. When you are ready to start booking your accommodations, you'll get lot's of help on this forum. Good luck, Joan

panhandle

I agree you are very wise to pick a couple spots and stay...having said that....
I am sure others may disagree and while Galway City is a nice place I would really tend to pick a smaller town for a base unless you are looking for more of a city type atmosphere. I thought the smaller towns in Ireland made our trip. Galway was fun for a day but I wouldnt have wanted to base myself there. Clifden,Roundstone, a little farther away is Westport which is a great town with tons of good pubs and music. Just a thought. Either way you wont be rushing from place to place and you will enjoy your trip more!

kate1

Thanks for the votes of support!
We want this trip to be fairly relaxing, and the thought of packing-up and moving into new lodging nearly every night seems like the opposite of relaxing. We are thinking of spending two days seeing Galway and Connemara and four days seeing Kinsale, Kerry and Dingle. Does that sound right? I'd appreciate any lodging recommendations in Connemara, though nothing too, too far away as we will be driving on little to no sleep that first day.
Kate

allisonm

Kate, why don't you look into Salthill. You would be very near Galway and could easily drive into the city or take a bus (10 minute trip.) Then it would be easy to get out to Connemara. We are dilly-dalliers, though, and like to take our time getting to places. It took us from about 10 am to 6pm to drive to Clifden, because we kept stopping along the way: lunch, photos, a couple of hours in Roundstone, then a beautiful beach....

On our last trip we spent 3 nights in Kenmare and never ran out of daytrips; it makes a wonderful base. You could spend an afternoon just in Quills!

MaryZ

I think you're doing some very smart planning in basing yourself in a couple of places...and you've chosen two good ones. (I love Galway City, but then I also love the small Connemara towns.) You'll have lots of day trip options in both areas.

Kinsale, though, seems kind of far afield from the rest of the places you'd like to see. Is that an important stop for you? If not, I'd reconsider it--- just because there's more than enough right around Kenmare to keep you busy for your time there.

socal

Kate... A couple of years ago we spent a week In Kenmare in a cute little 2 bedroom/2 bath condo/duplex that we found on the internet. We rented from a nice couple who live opposite the Kenmare golf course. It had everything you could desire... all modern appliances dish, reridg, washer/dryer cable tv, etc, It was quite centrally located for us since we had a rental car and we were able to take different side trips out each day. Killarney was a short 45 minute drive over the mountains and Kenmare is not that far from Bantry Bay and is right on the Ring of Kerry. If you want to see Cork then plan a day trip or one night away from your rental. We did our 2 of our 3 week visit in weekly house rentals and one week in B&B's and it was during the summer music festivals in Kerry ie. Puck Fair in Kilorglin, Rose of Tralee Festival in Tralee and the annual all Ireland Fleadh in Listowl. We spent all 3 weeks of our vacation in Kerry touring Dingle, and the towns that I've mentioned and don't really think that driving up to Gallway would have been worth it with so many small town and things to visit near out rentals. Keep it simple and stay in one or two locations... Good luck..

chatham

Dear Kate1, You've heard from some poster who really know Ireland. Two years ago MaryZ was a great help to me on my 2 weeks in Connemara. I based us in Clifden and a few nights at Ballynahinch. I agree with her about Kinsale. It's a nice place but I'd spend more time in Kenmare or County Galway. I was in Kenmare for 7 nights in April and had no problems finding places to go. I spend the last 2 days just wandering around Kenmare. Allisonm, Panhandle, and Socal have all given good advice.

chatham

I didn't mean to leave Melissa5 out. She'll give us a great trip report next year.

coccinelle

Kenmare was fine but we should have explored more. We were rushing and will never do that again.

kate1

Yes, thank you, this is all very helpful! I've found a place in Kenmare and am now looking for something in Conemarra. Considering that we will probably spend our last night in the town we pick and have a 1 PM departing flight from Shannon, are either Ballynahinch (Castle, I think) or the Delpi Lodge good choices?
Kate

Budman

Delphi Lodge is about a 3-hour drive to Shannon. I would stay your last night closer to Shannon. I like Bunratty, others like Ennis.

With a 1pm flight, you have to get to the airport by 11am. Prior to that, you have breakfast, last minute packing, drive to the airport, rental car return, etc.

Once you get to the airport, if you are going to the States, you have to check your luggage/airline check in, clear immigration, turn in all your duty free receipts, last minute shopping at the duty free shop, and your last Guinness prior to departure.