I'm looking to plan a trip to Ireland around Labor Day this year. Flights are relatively inexpensive and I want to take advantage! We can either fly into and out of Dublin or into Dublin and out of Shannon or vice versa.

After reading some posts, I'm confused about what to do (like usual)! I will be travelling with my boyfriend and we will have either 5 or 6 full days (not including travel) depending on how many days we decide to take off of work.

We'd like to see Dublin and experience the city, but we'd also like to see a completely different part of Ireland as well. Is it possible to spend 2-3 days in Dublin, and then move on to another coastal town for 2-3 days? If so, what town do you recommend? Could we get to Dingle easily? I feel that this is the area we don't want to miss for the views we are looking for. The pictures from there look exactly like what we want to see!

Any ideas on other area to visit after Dublin would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Defintely do-able, I don't know how much the cost of the airline tickets will increase but if you can fly into DUB and fly out of SNN it would be best.

Spend 3 nights in Dublin, you can do the normal, Templebar, Trinity Book Of Kells, Grafton Street for shopping, Guinness factory. Then take a train to Kerry for 2 days where you can visit Dingle, Ring Of Kerry etc, stunning views! Then you can go to Shannon to fly home instead of travelling back to Dublin.

Keep in mind though that airline cost will probably go up if you fly into one city and leave from another.

abclimo is spot on. don't look any further. just go and find the best ticket deals and have a guinness on me.

Surprisingly, it was only $10 more to fly into Dublin and out of Shannon! Pretty amazing if you ask me!!

Thanks for the advice- going to research these places now.

Do we rent a car in Kerry to visit Dingle and Ring of Kerry and then train to Shannon airport from Kerry?

Either train or bus back to Shannon airport
$10 additional is a bargain!

I would NOT rent a car in Kerry, it has been years since I have been there but the roads are narrow and they drive on the opposite side of the road, I remember that it was a little nervewracking!
I would try find a B&B close to the coast, a quick google search will help you out a lot, the ownersof the B&Bs are generally very helpful and would probably take you to the scenic areas in their own car as a goodwill gesture, or a neighbour......in exhange for a few euros.
I think you will have a great time, best of both:
Dublin, Super Vibrant
Kerry, Very Tranquil and scenic.

Here is a map of the county of Kerry, will help you when deciding where to stay.
http://www.ringofkerrytourism.com/kerry_map.html

I would recommend renting a car when you get to Kerry. There are so many things off the beaten path and you can go at your own pace, stop where you want for lunch or a picnic, etc. I have driven there and, while the roads are narrow, it was very doable.

I totally agree with irishface - renting a car is a great idea. Yes, the roads are narrower than in the US, and they drive on the left; you'll be nervous while you get used to it. But it is really not bad, and it's so much better to be able to stop when and where you want to when you're driving the ROK or Slea Head, or stop off in a town for lunch... you get the idea.

You could take a cheap flight between Dublin and Kerry and rent a car at the Kerry airport. I'm not sure about the closest car hire location for a train journey.

Thank you all for your advice! After more research, I'm ironing out the details of the trip, but obviously still have questions!

We are going to arrive Wednesday at 8am in Dublin. Explore Dublin on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday morning and then take a flight from Dublin to Kerry Friday at 3:30pm. (Are ryanair flights generally on time?).

Friday night we'll stay in Killarney. Saturday, explore Killarney and Ring of Kerry ending up in Dingle for the evening. Sunday spend in Dingle. We need to be at Shannon airport on Monday for an 11:35am flight, do we leave really early from Dingle Monday morning or should we stay near the airport Sunday night?

After reading lots of posts, I definitely want to get to Dingle. Do we skip Ring of Kerry all together and spend more time in Dingle or is what I have planned okay? We don't mind driving, especially if there are really scenic views and places to stop, it's the switching hotels/b&b's every night that I'm worried about. We want this to be a relaxing trip.

We can take an early morning flight on Friday to arrive in Kerry by 9am- is that better? Though we don't want to miss out on Dublin.

It appears I'm more confused than I originally thought...

I think you have a lot of "personal preference" questions. As far as whether to leave earlier from Dublin: What all do you want to see in Dublin? Do you think you can do that all in a day and a half (and how does jet lag usually affect you, if you know)? For me a day and a half would probably be enough, but pushing it.

As far as the Dingle/Kerry conundrum, well, it's a pretty common question. My <b>personal</b> opinion is that Dingle is great and I would head over there once you land in Kerry, if you stick with the 3:30 flight. That way you'd have a day and a half or so to relax and see Dingle, before heading closer to Shannon for your flight home (which, yes, I would recommend). But that's just my preference.

As far as Ryanair flights, I've only taken a few but all were on time (or at least not noticeably late). Just make sure you know all the luggage restrictions, etc. That's where they make a lot of their money.

Ryanair only allows you to carry 15kg as hold luggage (and another 10kg as hand luggage) They are very strict about this so if you're carrying a lot more than that, you might want to consider another airline. As for punctuality, they are pretty good. One great place near Dublin that no one has mentioned yet is Glendalough. It is a magical place with tons of history and is only an hour from Dublin. To see it properly. stay locally overnight and enjoy it without the tourists. Visit the monastic city by moonlight and you'll never forget it.
I have some photos here: http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/glendalough_ireland.htm

Definitely go to Dingle!

My son and I spent some time in the same areas about three years ago and here's my opinion (your mileage may vary).

Dublin is nice (the National Museum is FANTASTIC!), but I was surprisingly not crazy about the city.

Dingle is absolutely amazing! My son and I both preferred this area to the ring of Kerry. The ring was wonderful, but the views were sweeping and panoramic (kind of a strange thing to complain about, I know) vs. Dingle where everything on the peninsula drive was so much more immediate and 'in your face'.

If you do end up in Dingle, definitely rent a car. There are no tour buses around the peninsula, and you absolutely don't want to miss the drive.

Hope this helps,

Chris

I too prefer Dingle peninsula over Killarney; I'm sorry you won't get to Galway, but you'll be seeing a lot with Dublin and Dingle area.

For night before flight out of Shannon, I recall Ennis was a good option.