Help, Ireland experts, please!!!
 

Hi,
We are 3 couples who are trying to plan an Ireland vacation for July. We will fly in and out of Shannon and will have 7 nights to tour the southwestern part. We have agreed we are interested in Doolin, Dingle and the Ring of Kerry based on tour books and coworker's advice! We are hoping to drive from the airport to ROK for ? nights, then to Dingle for ? nights, and lastly to Doolin, leaving from there to the airport the next day.

Questions:
Does this itinerary sound feasible?
How many nights should we stay in each location?
Where should we stay when visiting the Ring of Kerry?
Is Doolin to Shannon with a 10:50 AM flight possible?
Flights are $700 Bos to Snn. Isn't that high?
Typically, are there sales on flights in February?

Thanks for your time and advice!!!

ttt

After an overnight flight, I recommend you limit your driving on the first day. Consider spending the night in Adare. Nights two & three in Kenmare. Nights four & five in Dingle. Personally, I'd choose Ballyvaughan for night six and Ennis for night seven. www.viamichelin.com estimates the driving time from Doolin to Shannon to be 1hr10min. However, I'd allow up to two hours just to be safe.

Hi Tim,
Thanks for responding! Why do you suggest Ballyvaughn over Doolin? Are there pubs within walking distance to the hotels in Ballyvaughan? We were thinking it would be fun to stay in Doolin and go the O'Connors then walk back to Daly's Bed and Breakfast. Do you have suggestions for accommodations in Ballyvaughan? Thanks again!

The journey from Shannon to Kerry on your first day may be that bit too long.
I agree with Tims.Look at www.aaireland.ie for routes. A stop off in Bunratty only 18 minutes from Shannon would be nice with a visit to Bunratty Castle, Folk Park and a pint in Durty Nellies across the road. If you want to cross over to the shopping area go to Wollen Mills (www.blarney.ie). A good nights sleep, up early in the morning and off to Kerry with a smile.(www.kerry-tourism.com). Back then to Clare and have a look at www.shannonferries.com and you will find the map interesting. You will find plenty to do around Doolin and a visit to Gus Connors will live with you. Call to the Cliffs of Moher on the way and have a cuppa. For a flight at 10.50 a.m. in the middle of summer especially if it is a Friday or Saturday arrival at the airport 3 hours in advance of take off time is recommended.Check in, Security check and immigration clearance will take up that time not to mention leaving back your car. Ballyvaughan is nice put would be that bit too far for my liking. Doolin would be my limit as the roads are not that straight and the last thing you want is to panic.When I am travelling I always say the flight is leaving ,say in your case, at 9.50 a.m. and I plan my arrival at the airport that way.
Anyway have a good holiday and to help you on your way have a look at www.goireland.ie and for a drink www.irishmusicbars.com

While I haven't slept in Ballyvaughan, I've stopped for lunch there. It's a lovely town and enough off the beaten track so you won't be overrun with tour buses (like in Doolin). Here's how the Lonely Planet Ireland guidebook describes it: "All the charm of the Burren is distilled into its favored location, Ballyvaughan, where the hard land of the hills gives way to a quiet leafy corner of Galway Bay. It makes for a persuasive base for visiting the northern part of the Burren. You'll be reluctant to leave."

For lodging, both Lonely Planet and Rick Steves say you can't beat Rusheen Lodge. Other places listed are Hyland's Burren Hotel and Stonepark House. Monk's Bar is famous for its shellfish and has traditional music sessions on Tuesday and Saturday in the summer.

Last May I stayed in Ennis during the Fleadh Nua, the annual traditional music and dance festival. Wonderful! Ennis has several traditional music pubs that have sessions virtually every night.

CU and Tim: Do you really think Shannon Airport to Killarney is too far to drive on our first day? According to AAwatch it is 2 hrs 21 min. I live in the country in Massachusetts and we drive all the time. Are the roads really difficult? Please help me visualize the roads on this route. Also, my husband CAN sleep on planes so I don't think we will be totally sleep deprived.

My next question is whether we should do Killarney or Galway? We are trying to pinpoint 3 locations that would be good for our first time in Ireland. Dingle is a definite and also around the Cliffs and Burren. What would you suggest?

Jayneann:
The roads in Ireland are very narrow and the adjustment to driving on the left side of the road, maybe shifting gears with left hand takes a little getting used to. I would not push the first day. Try to relax and rush to see it all. My family and I spent our first two nights in Ennis and used it as a base to do the Cliffs and the Burren. Dingle was one of my favorite places in Ireland but there is so much to see, my wife says it will take many more trips to explore Ireland and we can't wait to go back. Enjoy the trip!

My daughter and I went to Ireland last year and were so happy not to have missed staying at least 1 night on Inish Moor in the Aran Islands at Kelly House....we only wished we had stayed longer, once the last ferry leaves the island at 5:30 p.m. you can walk around and check everything out without any crowds...don't miss Joe Watly's Pub....

I've only driven a short section of the N21 (between Killarney and Farranfore on my way to Tralee and Dingle) so I can't comment on how the road is between Limerick and Farranfore. However, since it is a major route, I think it will be like a lot of N roads--smooth, but somewhat narrow and fairly slow compared to what you're used to at home.

If your husband is rested, driving to Killarney the first day should be OK. If you do that, then I suggest that you drive the Ring of Kerry counterclockwise the second day and spend the night in the lovely town of Kenmare.

Day 3 - Take the pretty drive through Killarney National Park to Killarney, on to Tralee, and on to Dingle. If the weather is clear, drive over Connor Pass into Dingle.

Day 4 - Tour Slea Head and as much of the rest of the Dingle Peninsula as time allows. Stay in Dingle a second night.

Day 5 - If the weather wasn't clear before but is now, drive over Connor Pass to Tralee and take the N69 to Tarbert. Take the ferry across the Shannon River. Drive the coastal road through Kilkee and Milltown and on to Doolin, stopping at the Cliffs of Moher on the way. Spend the night in Doolin or Ballyvaughan.

Day 6 - Drive to Galway. Tour a bit of the Connemara. Spend the night in Galway.

Day 7 - Drive through the Burren, then on to Ennis. Spend the night in Ennis.

Day 8 - Drive to Shannon and fly home.

Variation: Spend your first night in Killarney, but skip the Ring of Kerry the next day and drive to Dingle. Spend more time in the Connemara or take a boat to the Aran Islands and stay a second night in Galway.

Ireland is simply wonderful! You won't go wrong no matter what choices you make.

The one thing to be careful about in your planning is your driving times. My wife and I spent a week in Ireland and drove quite a bit, including in the southwest. It always takes longer then you would think. Killarney National Park is very nice and we stayed in kenmare - its a nice little town to use as a base.

Gosh- decisions, decisions!!! I just talked to an Irishman, (owns an Irish Pub in the town next to mine) and he said we could stay in Dingle and visit the Ring of Kerry from there. He didn't think we needed to stay at another hotel closer. Do you all agree? Remember, we live in a very rural town, with all back roads, so it might not be that different for us. I'm also doing alot of research. Thanks!!!!

I've driven the Dingle Peninsula but not the Ring of Kerry. However, based on my experience--and what my guidebooks say--on either peninsula the slower you go the more you'll enjoy the drive. The books say that the ROK can be driven in a day but that, if time allows, taking parts of two days would be better. So, can you get up early, drive the whole ROK, and then drive on to Dingle all in one day? I'd say it's possible because it's not all that many miles, but you would lose out on the fun of stopping to see historical sites, going for brief walks on a whim along a particularly pretty stretch, or lingering over lunch. Never getting out of the car is not my idea of fun along such spectacular coastlines.

Hi Tim,
I agree with you, plus we don't want to spend all of our time driving! So, definitely Dingle for a couple of nights and maybe skip Ring of Kerry, we'll see.

We are now thinking maybe we'll spend our first night or two in Doolin, then drive south, finishing up our last night near the airport. Any thoughts?

Also, we like to shop for jewelry, pottery, unique items. Any suggestions? Out of Doolin, Dingle, Killarney, and Kenmare which area is best for shopping? Thanks for your help!

The road between Shannon via Limerick to Killarney is just fine. I do it in about 1 1/2 hours, although it will probably take you 2 hours.

In Dingle Louis Mulcahy has great pottery. I like Quills shops, the linen and lace shops in Dingle, Kenmare and Killarney.

Our one regret aboout Ireland is the amount of driving we did! I agree with d1carter, driving is just more tiring there!
You are on the "wrong" side of a very windy road often with no shoulder, only stone walls and hedgerows and looking for unfamiliar signs and markers. We thought it would be no problem for us - we drive long distances without batting an eye at home - and found it really exhausting. Limit your driving!
I also thought we could have done without the Ring of Kerry. We went because you hear so much about it. It was bumper to bumper traffic (and often the bumper behind you was a tour bus!) the whole way around.
We thought Slea Head/Dingle was spectacular and preferred it. I think we would have been okay doing one or the other (kerry or slea head) but both with only one day between was too much! I also think part of the reason we loved Dingle was that we stayed a few days and felt more at leisure to stop and explore and hike around.
Just an opinion - you will have a wonderful time no matter what you decide!

Going to Doolin first and then working your way south is not a bad idea. The drive from Shannon to Doolin doesn't take very long so you'll have quite a bit of the day before you after you arrive.

I think staying in Doolin your last night with a 10:40am flight the following morning is a stretch.

You have to allow 2 hours for check-in.

plus time to turn in your rental car.

plus time to queue in the Tax Refund line.

plus time to clear immigration (yes, you clear U.S. immigration at Shannon airport).

plus time for last minute duty free shopping (they have a very nice shop at Shannon with great prices on booze & last minute stuff).

plus time for your last Irish Guinness.

You'll have to get up early and skip breakfast to depart Doolin in time to do all these things. ((b))

As you are arriving at Shannon could I suggest that you travel to Bunratty which is a short journey from Shannon Airport (www.shannonheritage.com)
Then across the road to the shopping area (www.blarney.ie)
Next day hit for Dingle 3 nights (www.corkkerry.ie)I would not worry about the ROK as you will be able to see it across Dingle Bay from Dingle.
Then on to Tarbert (www.shannonferries.com) and across to Clare and on to Lahinch, Cliffs of Moher and down into Doolin. You then have the option of a day trip to the Aran Islands (www.doolinferries.com)and
(www.shannonregiontourism.ie)
Then make your way back to the airport and know that you have seen a lot but there is still much more to see on the next trip.
Before you fly out have a look at what is on offer in the duty free shop (www.airportshopping.ie)
Have a great time and I hope this will help you along the way. Do not do too much driving, stop and take in the beauty of the region.

I really liked the shopping in Dingle much better than in Killarny. There is some great pottery in Dingle and also some very nice linens. The linen shop is also in Killarney, but for some reason, it was just a nicer experience in Dingle. Also, in Doolin, there is a great craft shop at one of the crossroads about a mile out of the main area. It is called the Doolin Crafts Gallery. I bought a fantastic silver bracelet and some woven scarves there.Their website is doolincrafts.com
Theresa