jo021

Hello all!
Last time I travelled to Europe I received the best suggestions from Fodors users and it helped make our trip EPIC. I turn to you again for another family trip planned for June.
We have planned trip to Northern Ireland, Ireland and then onto Sardinia Italy. We are travelling with our two small boys, 3 years old and 5 months old. We will land in Dublin Saturday May 30 and are picking up a rental car at the airport. We will drive to Northern Ireland where we have rented a cottage just outside of Ballycastle. We will have that as our home base for two weeks taking us to June 13. My husband was born in Belfast and we have family to visit in the area. We were there a few years ago and toured the Antrim Coast. Any ideas or suggestions for that area, can't miss places or restaurants, food markets etc would be greatly appreciated.

We then plan to drive south and here's where I really need help. I have no idea what's a MUST to see and do. We will have from June 13-22 to tour around. We wish to spend a few days in Dublin as we fly out of there at 9am on June 22. I have not pre booked anything as we plan to stay at B&B's and just sort of wing it but I need some direction.

From there we will fly to Sardinia Italy for 8 days, we will fly back to Canada on July 1. We have booked a B&B- La Dolce Vita, received rave reviews on TripAdvisor. It's located 5 km from the Poetto beach and 8.5 km from Quartu Sant'Elena, nearest city centre would be Cagliari. We have not rented a car but I am wondering if we should for a few days maybe to tour the island. It's quite large and any thoughts on where to go and what to take in would be helpful.

We love just walking around people watching and sight seeing, shopping, eating, drinking.
We want a relaxing trip and not to feel too rushed through anything, especially with kids so if that means seeing less and taking more time in the places that we do take in, that's what we are up for.

Cheers

Tony2phones

How does something like this http://goo.gl/xrDQtD appeal. The route more than the overnights which were specific to the couple the plan was for.

bvlenci

It sounds as though you really have just a week unplanned if you want to spend a few days in Dublin. I think you'd have to take just one small piece of the tour proposed by Tony. Some of his tour you probably have already seen, if you toured the Antrim coast on an earlier trip.

We took the following route (also after visiting family in Northern Ireland. After leaving the Enniskillen area, we drove to Westport, where we spent the night. Then we drove through the Connemara, spending three nights in a B&B in Carraroe (a Gaeltacht). While there, we took a day trip by boat to Inishmore, one of the Aran islands. There are boats leaving from near Carraroe. Finally, we spent two days in Galway before returning to Dublin.

On an earlier trip (about 25 years ago) we stayed in Doolin, and visited the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, and another Aran island (Inisheer, which can be reached from Doolin). I've heard that Doolin has become very touristy, but there would surely be other nice towns in the area.

This part of Ireland is exceptionally beautiful. I haven't ever been south of Doolin, but I find it hard to imagine that anything would be more beautiful.

Before leaving Northern Ireland, I suggest you visit Lough Erne, which is also very nice. There are boat trips on the lake, which visit some of the little islands. The Sperrin Mountains, in County Tyrone are another favorite spot of mine; most of my family was from that area.

bvlenci

By the way, I would want a car in Sardegna. Public transportation is scarce there.

jo021

Thanks so much for the info. We have decided to rent a car in Italy too, will make the experience so much better rather than relying on a bus with two kids in tow.
Cheers

Finecheapboxofwine

If you rent a car, don't forget the motion sickness tablets as the roads can be curvy!