So, a previously planned trip to Europe fell apart this week and while trying to figure out where we should go (we almost came down to just throwing a dart at the map) we stumbled on Ireland! I can't believe this wasn't at the top, since one of my bucket list trips is to drive around Ireland. So....here we are, trying to plan a last minute trip. OK, I say last minute, but it's really for early July (usually I spend a year planning my trips).

We would arrive either 7/7 or 7/8, and we just need to be back in the US by the 23rd as we have an Alaskan cruise departing on the 27th (as a Professor I get limited travel time in the summer, so I make the most of it!). So, we could potentially stretch this into a longer trip. Initially we were thinking 10 days, but I know I need more. So, we could go as much as 14-15 days on the ground. Of course, I want to see it all. I'm slowly reading through my guidebook to try to figure out an itinerary so determine our flights, etc.

We are planning on renting a car. We are not super outdoorsy people....so we won't be doing any hiking or any of that (DH is also disabled and can't do a ton of walking anyways). We want scenery and castles.

DH prefers hotels that have television and I prefer B&Bs, so we'll likely compromise and do a mix.

We'll arrive and depart from Dublin.

I was thinking that we would spend the arrival day in Dublin. So possibly not rent the car until day 2. Would it be a pain to pick it up on day 2? Or maybe stay outside of Dublin and just train in for the sightseeing.

I want to see Belfast, Giants causeway, the Cliffs, Dingle, Ring of Kerry, and a ton of countryside. I see a lot of talk about Galway as a base for a few nights and then maybe Killarney.

We don't mind spending time in the car....but then stopping and jumping out when we see something interesting. So many of our vacations are planned to the T, but this time I am just letting go and winging it. Except for booking the car and the hotels, I just want to wander and see Ireland.

Am I nuts? How best to squeeze in Belfast? That is would you do Belfast as a 1 night or as a day trip from a Dublin-area base? Use that Dublin-area base to see the Giants causeway?

A friend suggested renting two houses: One outside of Dublin for a week, and another in the SW area for a week. But it seems like that would be too much driving back and forth to the base. That it would be better to stay on the move, but staying for a few days in each place.

Sorry for seeming so lost....like I said, we're just diving into this....and I haven't done as much homework as I'd like, but I'm afraid that the longer we wait the less likely we will be able to get our ideal flights, car, hotels.

I appreciate any and all advice.

Oooohhhh....it's $100 to add the insurance for Belfast. So maybe a day trip with a tour company might be a better way.

Some photos and comments from our August trip to the west/southwest (Killarney, Dingle, Galway) if that helps. Can't add to the other parts -- I'm sure others can.

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ireland.html

Thank you SO much for sharing. That was a great read and terrific pictures!

No problem leaving the airport and heading to Belfast or Bushmills for a couple of days ($100 extra insurance in a pigs eye)

Then Donegal for night 3. Taking the coastal route through Sligo to Mayo and Westport or Clifden for the night/s. Galway is another good Base or move onto The west Clare coast/Burren area for the Cliffs.

You could possibly rent a cottage near Killarney for a week to see county Kerry (inc Dingle/Ring) and west Cork.

All (90%) of B&B have in room TV

Have you considered Open Jaw in Dublin out Shannon in which case put 2 nights Dublin at the start. 15 Days on the ground is a decent amount of time to see 70% of the Island.

Hi Tony,

Thank you so much for your input! I've been reading a lot of threads and was hoping you would comment.

Would you suggest heading straight to Belfast from Dublin and not hanging out there for the day? Maybe adding it to the end of the trip? We were just a bit concerned about too much driving with the jet lag on day 1.

I like the idea of being in Belfast and maybe doing the Causeway Coastal Route (we loved doing these kinds of drives when we lived in California) and end up over in Donegal.

I didn't look at the open jaw since we'll be flying American, who only does Dublin. I'll look to see if maybe a partner airline flies out of Shannon, but at this point I think we're a bit attached to DUB.

Not wanting to get into a "discussion" between husband and wife...but I have stayed in several B&Bs that had tv in the rooms.

Thanks Jaja....I'll let him know....he's worried about wanting to "veg out" in the room and not being able to do that at a B&B.

Dublin Airport is the North side of the city and only 90 minutes drive from Belfast on Good roads.

I am the biggest opposer of what I call the Redeye Rovers but Heading to Belfast is well inside the sensible limit.

If you do decide to go counter clockwise then Belfast night one to acclimatise gives the options of using the city as a base or moving to a night in Derry before Donegal. The North Antrim Coast is on my top ten list for the Island. I used to cross the Foyle by ferry and drive down the west bank to Donegal http://loughfoyleferry.com/main.htm more scenic than the bridge.

I am on the wrong computer for my accommodation bookmarks but if you need any links I can come back to you.

Just look over a map or route planner and cobble a rough itinerary.

There are lots of good contributors on this and other forums who will be happy to help you plan "Your" (remember that word) holiday.

On the western end of the Antrim coast, close to the ferry to the Republic across Lough Foyle, I can recommend a lovely B&B if you are interested. Don't remember TV in the rooms but an absolutely wonderful guest lounge and sunporch downstairs.

Thank you Tony and Jaja! I am pouring through my guidebook now. I like the idea of going to Belfast on the main road.

As I'm reading, I noticed that north of the city is also Trim Castle and Bru na Boinne. They look a little out of the way though. Perhaps something to keep in mind if there is time?

I like cobbling this together as I go....very different from how I normally travel!!!

Turns out that we'll be there during the height of marching season, which really interests me.

Arrive DUB July 7 or 8 (I haven't decided on this yet)
Day 1: Drive to Belfast

Things to see in Belfast:
Titanic Quarter
The Falls, Shankill, Sandy Row and just generally driving around the sectarian neighborhoods
City Hall

Stay in the city tonight? Or push to Carrickfergus? Or just get to somewhere outside the city?

Day 2: Antrim Coast Drive
Giants Causeway
Dunluce Castle
Stops along the way....whatever strikes our fancy.

Stop in Derry? Or take the ferry across and then down to Donegal?

I am trying to heed everyone's warnings about how long it takes to get around and don't want to push things. But it also seems like a lot of moving around...

Or do I skip Derry and push on to Donegal and spend 2 nights there. Spending a full day driving around the Donegal area and then start heading south? I'm not really sure that the Donegal area interests me that much to spend a whole day driving it. Is it really worth it?

Sorry, you're getting my random thoughts as I try to put this all together!

My truncated thoughts so far:

Day 1: Arrive DUB. Drive to Belfast. Overnight in Belfast.

Day 2: Carrickfergus, Antrim coast (Giants Causeway, Dunluce), Derry (explore city walls, murals). Overnight in Derry.

Day 3: Derry to Donegal (stop & explore) to Sligo to Westport. Overnight in Westport.

Day 4: Explore Connemara around coast to Galway. Overnight in Galway to use as a base.

Day 5: Leisurely day to drive up to Ashford Castle and explore Galway. Overnight in Galway.

Day 6: Cliffs & Burren. Overnight in Doolin?

Day 7: Explore more of the area. Ferry to Aran Islands? Overnight in Doolin.

Day 8: Now I want to make it down to Dingle/Kerry. How many days? What to see....

Days 9 - 14????

Day 15 - Dublin

Day 16 - Depart

Any thoughts thus far?

re: Days 6-7. We stated in Doolin last June as our base for seeing the Cliffs and the Burran, plus it's reputation for music in every pub every night. Doolin is a teeny-tiny out of the way place, so it's low-key, without crowds, tour buses, etc. One night worked out perfectly for us; the sea was way too rough so we didn't go to the islands. From Doolin down to Dingle/Kerry will be a haul that you might want to break up. We stopped in Adare, known as "the prettiest village in Ireland". It's big enough to walk around and explore, and the Adare Manor (which is now a luxury hotel) does allow tourists some access to the grounds. There's a horse racing venue nearby if you're into that. From there you'd be fresh for the drive into Dingle/Kerry.

Annetta- thank you! Did you stay overnight in Adare or just stopped during the day?

Also, hubby is asking me to avoid really long days..... So I would appreciate any advice on what I have so far with respect to keeping the days shorter. That is, I can drop him off at the hotel and then go exploring in our overnight town.

What about the drive from Doolin to the Dingle area.....how bad is it? What would be a good base for Dingke/RoK?

twiggers -- we took the ferry to Aran Islands from Rossaveal which isn't as weather dependent. It was about 40 minutes from Salthill, our Galway base.

Note, the RoK will be a long day in the car, albeit with many stops. We chose to skip it and just do the Slea Head drive in Dingle but we didn't have as many days as you do.

Our longest day was the Dingle to Galway trip. It was made longer by our purposeful detour to Loop Head. We also saw a few sites in the Burren on the way (but no Cliffs of Moher). That's probably more than you want to do in a day. Can't help with places to stay though.

Night's 1, 2, 3, fine but 4 also Westport and visit Cong (not a big fan) or Achill Island from there.

Night 5 If you want to visit InisMor then stay in Spiddal (Tua Beag) rather than Galway and go from Rossaveal. If you want do do the Inis Orr and clifs cruise from Doolin then stay Galway.

Cant edit so back later, (Chickens to feed)

Thanks indy! Dingle to Galway - How long of a day did you have?

For Connemara, my original thought was to drive from Westport to Galway along the coast and stopping and seeing things. Then having the next day in Galway to see a little more inland (Cong).

But, now I'm wondering if I should stay in Westport an extra night and explore the coastal area of Connemara from there and then head back at the end of the day.

Then head to Galway the next day, stop at Cong/Ashford Castle.

Then, should we even both moving to Doolin, or just stay in Galway?


Day 1: Arrive DUB. Drive to Belfast. Overnight in Belfast.

Day 2: Carrickfergus, Antrim coast (Giants Causeway, Dunluce), Derry (explore city walls, murals). Overnight in Derry.

Day 3: Derry to Donegal (stop & explore) to Sligo to Westport. Overnight in Westport.

Day 4: Explore Westport. Drive coastal area of Connemara around coast. Back to Westport for overnight.

Day 5: Leisurely day to drive to Galway via Ashford Castle and explore Galway. Overnight in Galway.

Day 6: Cliffs & Burren. Overnight in Galway?

Day 7: Explore more of the area. Ferry to Aran Islands? Overnight in Galway? It may be better for me to go from Rossaveal because I could just catch the shuttle bus and leave DH at the hotel....then he gets his day of relaxation.

Day 8: Now I want to make it down to Dingle/Kerry. How many days? What to see....

Days 9 - 14????

Day 15 - Dublin

Day 16 - Depart

Have you found this resource for the drives? DISCOVERIRELAND.IE has a route planner that is very detailed---from your starting point to destination you will get both a map and text directions down to every turn, amount of time and distance. For those of us accustomed to driving on the wrong side of the road, I'd suggest you increase their travel time by 30% or more. I did go 120km on a couple of highways, but drove under the posted speed on the smaller roads. The alphebetic/color code is a good indication of "how bad" the drive is. Last June we found the green roads beginning with M to be highways, the N-blue ones were main connectors with good conditions. It's the yellow routes beginning with the letter R that will offer you some challenges---part of the fun of driving in Ireland.

Before I join again what are you looking for when it comes to Accomodation? Central within 1or2 miles of central or rural/scenic?

Thank you Annetta!

Tony - I think we would prefer being central...that way I can just wander off and leave DH at the hotel.

I'm also rethinking the Dublin plan. I know my husband's travel style and he gets really grumpy after the long haul flight. So being able to plunk him at a hotel in Dublin would be ideal. So I would just do the arrival day in Dublin and then the next day we could pick up the car and head out to Belfast.

Doing that means I could slow down a bit and stop at Trim, etc. on the way to Belfast.

Does that make any sense?

So I guess now I need to think about what would be a central place to park ourselves for 3-4 days to explore Dingle, RoK, etc.

No problem staying Dublin day one. Good site for 24hr check in hotels (if you need a quick room) http://www.wotif.com/hotels/ireland-...in-hotels.html

Some Ideas for the Dublin day & days
http://www.ireland.com/travel/itiner...-dublin/648856

For Belfast see http://ireland.activeboard.com/t4868...t-premier-inn/

Will have a look at my accommodation List and see what's good for your later dates. Also put my mind to the later stages.