Honeymoon in Ireland
 

My fiance and I just decided we want to go to Ireland for our honeymoon in January (I know it will be freezing, but that's OK!). All we know so far is we want to go to southern Ireland.

Where should I go to begin getting ideas? Any recommendations on who to book through, etc.? We would love something that includes air, car, and accomodations. I know I'm being vague, but I really don't know where to begin. Any advice, information or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Stephanie

Obviously you know something about where you want to go and I hope what you want to do. Southern/Southwest Ireland is an excellent choice.

Go to a travel agent and get some books on self-drive tours of Ireland. See what they suggest, and go on line and book your own air/rental car.

Call the Irish travel agency and get them to send you info on B&B's and accommodations.

Honeymoon? Find a central location or two to do day trips. On your honeymoon, I wouldn't think you would want to pack/unpack for the entire trip.

Check on some self-catering places.

Ireland is a wonderful place, no matter what time of the year. Do some searches on this forum and you will get lots of ideas. ((b))

Ireland is beautiful and very romantic, even in the cold. You didn't say what the price range is, but you can have a great time no matter what the budget. If you can splurge on a night or two there are some great hotels. Dromoland Castle, near Shannon, is highly recommended. In Killarney there is Aghadoe Heights and Sheen Falls Lodge and the Park Kenmare in Kenmare (wonderful small town.) Since it's your honeymoon, don't try to see everything. Limit yourself to southwest and even then don't try to be too ambitious. Zero in on what you like to do (shop, historic sites, pubs) and plan around that. You'll have a great honeymoon.

We made our first trip to Ireland this year and we got lots of info by searching this website. The other site I used was irelandexpert.com Pat Preston has great advice. I picked up the Eye Witness guide to Ireland and found it useful to pick things to see. The pictures in it were great and sometimes when your reading a text only guide it doesnt do what pictures can.
Depending on where you are from you may find Ireland warm in January!
There are lots of places to book through best bet is look in your Sunday paper. Have fun!

One general piece of advice.

Ireland looks small, but driving times are surprisingly long. And lengthy drives can be unpleasant in horizontal rain (just about the only certainty in Ireland, though you can get glorious days in winter as well)

On the other hand, because Ireland's so transparent, it's really nice to be able to change your plans when you're there.
And outside Dublin (a favourite weekend break all year round for Europeans, especially Brits), there's little pressure on accommodation in midwinter.

So it's mistake to think you can see a lot from one or two centres: moving from place to place is quite important.

Looking for a fly-drive package makes sense (though building your own, possibly using the dense network of special offers from the US to London, and from London to Ireland's dozen or so airports, may be cheaper). But personally, I'd avoid a touring package that included accommodation, unless I really, really wanted to stay in just one or two places.

There are some great air fares for January travel to Ireland. Take a look at the Aer Lingus web site at www.aerlingus.com. I think you'll also find good prices for rental cars.
You won't have long hours of daylight in January, but that just means you stop driving earlier and spend more time in the pubs. I think that's a good thing!
I like Ireland at any time of the year, but think it's especially wonderful in the off-season.

I'm with you Mary -- more pub time!! ((b)) ((b))

Oops -- you'll be on your honeymoon -- more "love" time. ((b))

We spent our 1989 honeymoon in Ireland. We started at the Yeats Country Inn in Sligo and drove down the west coast to Galway, Kinsale then back up to Dublin. Last month we returned and visited Dingle, Kinsale and Dublin.

It is easy enough to make your own arrangements:

-Aer Lingus
-Dingle: Heaton's Guest House (wonderful if open)
-Kinsale: Acton's Hotel or Kilcaw House.
-Dublin: Harcourt House (in back of hotel, not street-side, as construction going on, or, more expensive Buswell's Hotel.
In Dublin dine at Browne's, in a Georgian town house. Also, take the "Walk of the Rebellion" with Lorcan Collins leaving from the International Bar. The Irish Theater, Abbey or Gaiety are great.

FL Steph,
I think Sheen Falls would be a wonderfully romantic place to stay. Ask for a room overlooking the waterfalls. There's candlelight in every common room in the evenings and two restaurants as well as a spa.

Thank you everyone for your responses! I will research what you have given me and hopefully make a decision soon. I feel a bit better about going in January now, as a lot of people said we were crazy for going that time of year. My only thing now is who to book through. Do you think it's better to book everything individually as opposed to getting a "package" deal? I have heard pros and cons about each. I do like the idea of being able to stay in a few places during our stay rather than having to come back to the same place every night. Thanks again!

Steph

Most packages come with Vouchers for bed and breakfasts that can be used all over the country. You generally wont be booked into one place or limited to one area. Do upgrade and get an automatic transmission in your car though. You will most likely get a better price with a package but not always so do your homework.

FL,

For my money, the best starting point is obtaining a few top-rate guidebooks on Erin. Consider ther following, all of which have their strengths and drawbacks, but are quite worthwhile:

Fodor's
The Rough Guide
Rick Steves (many weaknesses, but is especially strong for first time visits to the marvelous Dingle Peninsula)
Karen Brown (many nice accommodations featured here)
The Hidden Ireland (many romantic 18th and 19th century lodgings, steeped in history; see wwwindigo.ie/hiddenireland/)

Finally, whatever your itinerary or regions of choice, make an effort to seek-out the hidden byways of Ireland, taking time to savor a few regions in a relaxed manner. Too often tourists - even honeymooners - try to see or do too much on their first visit, resulting in a "I need a vacation from my vacation," attitude. Ireland works best in "low speed". Enjoy its unhurried, laid-back sensibility.

Best of luck.

My wife and I honeymooned in Ireland in 1991. I would recommend Valentia Island. The B & B we stayed in had a palm tree in the front yard. We also stayed at Mrs. Prior's B & B just south of Kinsale where we had a view of the Atlantic and probably weren't far from where the Lusitania was sunk in 1915. I would also recommend spending time at Doolin (Cliffs of Moher and the folk music in town are great fun) and on the Dingle Peninsula, which my wife and I didn't tour.

My husband and I went this past February and had a great time. Weather was in high 40s-50s, but we were fine and we're from Miami no less. We booked a fly/drive package through Sceptre Ireland (sceptreireland.com). We got vouchers for B&Bs as someone else here mentioned and didn't have a single problem using them. Since this is your honeymoon, they have an option to upgrade the package to stay at a few castles instead of B&Bs. I think Sceptre would be your best bet pricewise - it includes air, a rental car at the airport (ours was brand new w/ 40 miles on it) and accomodations. They give you a couple of B&B books with THOUSANDS of places to choose from. You can also get recommendations for good B&Bs (or castles) on this board. We had a lot of fun driving around and I would definitely do it again.

If you do use Sceptre, two tips: book your tickets with a platinum Mastercard (if you have one). It's the only credit card that covers car insurance in Ireland. Also, don't let Sceptre book your first night for you. They will automatically put you in a Best Western-type hotel near the airport. Choose a castle or B&B instead. Also, keep in mind that some B&Bs close for the winter.

Depending on how much time you will be there I would suggest flying into Dublin;taxi to the city and see the sights for 2/3 nights; rent a car at Dublin airport and drive south towards Kinsale, Cobh and visit that area. Its about a 5hr drive. Drive up to Kilarney for a day or two. Finish up in Dingle and fly out of Shannon. Easier to turn in car in Shannon and boarding plane. In Dingle stay at Heaton's!! Charming, great breakfast and less than a 10 minute walk to the center. Have fun!!

Budman: "Go to a travel agent and get some books on self-drive tours of Ireland. See what they suggest, and go on line and book your own air/rental car."

Are you suggesting to FLSteph they tell the agency they will not be booking anything with them, simply asking for the professional advice. Or not advising them of that bit of information? If it's the first, then ignore this. But it sounds really close to the latter and if that is what you are suggesting, for shame. Yes, I am a TA and if I had a client waste my time only using me for advice and not to book anything, I would be furious. We are not a library and subsidized by the government. Our clients pay us fees for a reason. If they don't wish to pay the fees, please, by all means, book online. But don't waste someones time by asking for free professional assistance. You would resent it if people made a habit of doing that to you professionaly, so please treat us with the same respect.

Again, if that was not your intent, please do not take offense.

Sorry for the soapbox and sorry FLSteph for getting off the original subject. I will be traveling to Ireland next month and hopefully I can report back on weather conditions and other helpful information for you. Have fun!

sjbisanz1, I am telling FLSteph to go to a travel agent and get some brochures on Ireland, tours and self-drive. I'm not asking for her to waste your time, or even ask you for advice. Just get some brochures to brouse thru.

When I said "see what they suggest," I'm certainly not talking about you, the travel agent -- I'm talking about what the brochures suggest.

Then, come to this site for some GREAT advise based on what itinerary they would like. ((b))

Sorry Budman, and sorry again, FLSteph for changing the subject. Several times on Fodors I have read the suggestion of obtaining information and material from a Travel Agency then booking it on their own. I simply misinterpreted what your suggestion was and obviously took it the wrong way. I do hope you understand where I was coming from. Again, my sincerest apologies.

Budman: Actually, in hindsight, I would like to reiterate one thing; travel agencies are not public libraries and even if you go into one and do not ask for advice but for materials only, you ARE wasting that persons time in getting you the materials as well as taking brochures intended for paying customers. If your intention is to book everything online, then obtain brochures the same way. Agencies are happy to help paying clients, but if you are only using us for information (printed or otherwise), then it is a waste of time. As you said, you can find GREAT information right here.

sjbisanz1, That's the cost to being in business. You're not going to sell a trip to everyone who walks into your office. You are not a public library, but you are open to the public, and you have free brochures.

I have a good friend who is a travel agent. I flat out told her that I couldn't afford her fees because it was easier to do it on line. She agrees.

I'm sorry you feel cheated. ((b))

My fiancee and I did 7 days in Ireland this summer (honeymooning in Italy in 2004). I agree with Fergie - Dromoland Castle and Sheens Falls Lodge were both phenomenal hotels. Dinner and the Dromoland was the best in Ireland (ablbeit very expensive with a required jacket - don't worry they have a large selection of jackets for your husband). Make sure you go to the sing a long at the Dromoland that starts around 10:00... Sheens Fall Lodge is romantic and out of the way. The best food in town is the Purple Heather and a take out joint on the mainstreet. (It is the only restaurant that serves after 10:00). Sorry I don't remeber the name but the best fish and chips and burers in a brown bag I have ever had. For the best breakfast in Ireland, we found Jams.. Delicious.. Everyone on fodors recommended and were right on target.. Also go south to Kinsale - very quaint town not to be missed. Cobh is a must see as well as the Waterford cyrstal factory. If you have to choose Dingle Peninsula or Ring of Kerry - don't miss Connor's Pass and Dingle Peninsula.

I agree with the travel agent. It is one thing to have the balls to rip off brochures when plan to book online, but to make the suggestions to folks on fodors shows real lack of class.

Budman: You did not suggest comparing the agency to what was online, you flat out said to go in and get the materials only, then book it themselves online. That is the crux of it. If that is your only intent, go online and get the information there or go to a library or bookstore. Yes, the information is free to us, but it is for the benefit of our PAYING clients. If you announced your intent when coming into my office, I would be happy to offer you the brochures, for a fee.

And no, I wouldn't feel cheated; I would feel used. And if the shoe was on the other foot, you would feel the same.

You guys are too funny.

If I go into a travel agent and ask for some travel information and brochures on Ireland, are they going to tell me NO, or are they going to tell me, well only if you promise to book your travel with us.

Most reputable agencies would be more than happy to help you with whatever information you desire and give you their card -- asking if they could be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to call.

No one is ripping off anything or anybody, Steve. Sorry you feel used, sjbisanz1. That's the cost of doing business, and it really didn't cost you anything. ((b))

Budman, If you don't consider that using someone, nothing I say will change your opinion.

Thank you StephenG for your support. We do not as a rule "qualify" potential customers, so yes, we do have people who come in for information/brochures and then book it elsewhere, knowing they are going to book it elsewhere. It's rude, unprofessional, and for someone to suggest to another they do just that, is also extremely tacky.

So yes, you are correct, people like that are part of life and unfortionately they penetrate our professional lives as well. Does that mean that simply because deceptive behavior exists one should become an advocate of it? I hope not.

You might want to check out www.12travel.com. They offer tours and planning for trips to Ireland and are a great resource for maps, accommodations etc... They also organize drive-yourself tours and have honeymoon packages. We are going on our honeymoon using them and will be staying at Dromoland Castle, Sheen Falls Lodge, Waterford Castle, and Butler's Townhouse in Dublin. Good luck!!!

Oh my! My post has turned into a travel agent debate! lol!

I have done TONS of research and had decided to book with sceptretours...well when I went on their site tonight it has been drastically revamped and none of the links are working now. So now I feel like I'm back to square one with who to book with. I'll look into 1-2 Travel as the above post mentioned. I really like the idea of staying a couple nights at Dromoland Castle, with the rest of the time at B&B's. Everyone's suggestions on where to go and stay have been much appreciated. Please know I write down and research everything you give me! I'll keep you posted as to what we ultimately decide, and thanks again to all who have helped so far.

Stephanie

Stephanie, Sorry again for using your post as a soap box. Just wanted to let you know another agent from my office just returned from a trip using Sceptre and was thrilled with their "performance". I myself am using CIE Tours in a couple weeks. Both trips were independent and we received air, car, and vouchers. I am staying at Dromoland our first night, and B&B's the rest. Will hopefully be able to file a report shortly after returning with as much detail as possible. We will also be in Southern Ireland.

Have fun planning, and very important, keep detailed notes. I have lost track of all the post-its with a name on it that could be either a town, pub or B&B!

Shelly

FLSteph,

I've not used Sceptre Tours for an entire package though I have used them to book flights - and got great deals to boot. Best if you call them - I'm sure they will send you more info as well. You can also call 1-800-SHAMROCK for free info about Ireland tours and such (hope that doesn't offend any one! lol!) and you can get a feel for the "lay of the land" so to speak.

Really, when it comes to dealing with Irish companies/people, it's best just to call them. The Irish are personable people and I think they just feel more comfortable dealing with a voice and not an email.

Good luck to you and congrats!

Is mise le meas,
Wendy
[email protected]

PS sjbisanz1 - Hon, I know exactly where you are coming from! My husband sells cars and if you think people want "something for nothing" from a travel agent you should see the sorry way a commission-only car salesperson is treated! Ha!

OK, it's official! We booked with Lynott Tours and ended up spending just under $2000 for everything! That includes airfare, (automatic) car rental for 7 days, 6 days acommodations at B&B's with private baths, one night at Dromoland Castle, and all taxes, fees, etc.

We are flying into Dublin and out of Shannon. I know many people have advised against flying into Dublin, but our last night is at Dromoland Castle near the Shannon airport so we felt we had no choice since we DO want to see Dublin. I am going to start doing searches on these boards so I can come up with some sort of itinerary. Any suggestions for our 7 day trip are welcome! (I so wish we had more time!!)

I don't know if I'm more excited about the wedding or the honeymoon now!

FLSteph, since you have already booked your 6 nights accommodations, please tell us what cities you decided to stay in order for us to make any further recommendations. I assume you are looking for sites to see in the places you've decided on staying??

Check with your travel agent and get brochures on proposed/suggested itineraries. ((b))

Budman--We haven't booked the 6 nights at B&B's yet. The only night we have booked is the last night (at Dromoland.) We are going to just go at our own pace the rest of the time, see where we end up, and use the B&B vouchers. All I know so far is we are spending our first night or two in the Dublin area and our last night at the castle near the Shannon airport. I'm looking for itinerary suggestions for those days in between. We will be driving all through the southwest areas, I'm assuming.

If you have not already booked your first night or two in Dublin, you should do so right away. Although it is not high season, some B&Bs close, and most in Dublin don't accept vouchers. (I am not a big fan of vouchers after having gone with and without them.) You will need to decide what you want to see. We did a route a few years ago that went sort of: Dublin (we stayed in Ballsbridge) to Avoca/Wicklow, to Killkenny, down to Cork/Blarney/Kinsale, over to Dingle, up to the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Aran Islands, the back to Dublin. It took us 10 days to do this in the summer when the days were long and the weather was just about perfect. It was a LOT of driving; driving time in Ireland takes much longer than you can imagine. I would suggest picking out two or three key areas and trying to base yourselves for a couple of nights in each. Avoid the "green blur" trip that we so often take. It's a wonderful place to honeymoon!

As allisonm mentioned, a lot of the nice B&B's don't accept the vouchers. If at all possible you might want to rethink using vouchers, if you can. It just limits you.

After you spend a couple of days in Dublin, I would recommend heading for Kinsale -- 2 days in Kinsale, head for Dingle, Kiss the Blarney stone on the way (or just look at it. Disgusting looking).

Drive to Dingle via Connor Pass, 2 nights in Dingle, on to Doolin via the Killmer ferry, with a stop over at Lahinch for shopping and the Cliffs of Mohor for sights. Spend the night in Doolin, dinner at Lazy Lobster, and if you have more time before your stay at Dromoland Castle drive up to Galway City.

Bunratty Castle and the Mideival Banquet is worth a trip the night before departing Shannon if you can fit it into your itinerary.

So much to see, and so little time, now you have to pick & chose. Good Luck!((b))

My boyfriend and I went to Ireland in March. We booked a air/car/b&b package with Sceptre Tours and I definitely recommend it. However, unlike some of the people that have recommended that you book online, I recommend you book through a travel agency. We had problems with our flights and our travel agent fixed it immediately. You just don't get that kind of service booking online. I also recommend the Ring of Kerry, the Waterford Crystal Factory, and Blarney Castle (although it is a bit of a tourist thing). Galway was very nice and we stayed in a wonderful b&b called St. Jude. If you are going to Dublin, the Evergreen B&B managed by Olive Hopkins is wonderful. We also spent the extra money to stay at Dromoland Castle one night and I highly recommend it. It was wonderful except for the room service. The rooms and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous. The people in Ireland are so friendly, you will have a wonderful time. We are already planning a trip back.

Now that we have all the reservations squared away I'm working on the itinerary. We will be flying into Dublin and out of Shannon. We have already reserved our first night at a B&B near Dublin and our final night is at Dromoland Castle. We only have a week, so I am looking for suggestions on what to do/where to stay during the middle of our trip. Since we are going in January I know our driving time is limited due to the early sunset, but we would like to see as much as we can without being in too much of a rush. Wish we had more time there, but that will just give us an excuse to go back! Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

P.S...I am looking into the couple of itineraries already suggested, but wanted to see if there were any other suggestions before we make our decision.

FLSteph, After using your post as a soapbox, I thought it only fair to advise you of our recent trip. I won't go into all the details (I have a separate post under Ireland Trip Report if you are really bored!). But our basic itinerary was as follows:

Shannon - stay at Dromoland Castel, see Cliffs that first day, toured castle then went to Bunratty banquet that night.
Day 2 - Drove to Dingle, visited town, stayed at Ashe's B&B, good location but rooms small and not really clean.
Day 3 - Drove to Killarney, did the Ring, stayed at Redwood B&B, nice place just outside of town, fairly large rooms.
Day 4 - Drove thru the Killarney National Park, then over to Kenmare. From there detoured to Cork briefly (roads very dug up over there; avoid if you can) Then north thru Cahir and Cashel to Thurles. Stayed at The Castle there; absolutely our favorite place. Really large rooms, great hostess with its own smallish castle behind the house. House itself was built in 1400's. Cool.
Day 5 - Drove to Cashel to see the Rock, then on to a small village to see purported piece of the original cross, then over to Kilkenny to see castle there. Stayed at the Shillogher House. Rooms there were average size, but were either in the house or in second building with private entrances. Nice if you come in late and don't wish to disturb family.
Day 6 - Drove to Dublin, got lost, dropped off car in town, arrived too late to really do much besides see the Book of Kells and just walk around downtown. Took a carriage around St. Stephens Green though. Stayed at the Hibernian which was within walking distance (10 min) to Grafton St., had a great breakfast, nice room and great staff. Left the next day. Overall, great trip.. people are exceptional, driving on "wrong" side took little time to get used to and highly, highly recommend the extra insurance on the car! (haha!) Congratulations on your pending nuptials and hope your trip is wonderful. If I can answer any questions, please ask. If I don't know, others certainly will!

Thanks sjbisanz!! Your itinerary looks to be about what we are looking for and covers the areas we wished to visit. (Only we would be doing it backwards since we are flying into Dublin and out of Shannon!) I'm going to go read up on your experience right now while I have some (rare) free time tonight!