Ireland/Scotland Itinerary for Family Vacation July/Aug 2014
 

Ive bean reading the boards and doing a lot of research and I still need help on planning.
We have about 16-17 days....will have it defined once air is booked, but I want to fly open jaw and I need to still sort that out. Using United miles.

Kids are boys 14 and 11..... Interests...history, culture, adventure, hiking, biking, wildlife, food and drink (mom and dad love beer and pubs and want to learn more about scotch/whiskey)
No interest in Golf

We will rent a car, even though we are concerned about the driving the the opposite side issues.

Thinking...
Flight from US to Dublin.
Ireland - 8 days
Dublin
Dingle
Burren
Cashel

fly Shannon to Edinburgh

Scotland - 8 days
Edinburgh
Tatoo (trip will over lap into beginning of August) - should we go?
Stirling
Then Im not sure -
Isle of Skye looks amazing - but its far....
Ive read there are places for learn about falconry, shear a sheep, see sheepdogs at work - I think the kids would like these types of things...

Fly back to US from Edinburgh

Thanks in advance!!!

IMO you are cutting both countries too short. I'd pick one or the other. Re the Tattoo -- absolutely yes.

That's our plan...give or take a day. Any feedback on what to include?

We spent 34 days in Ireland and Northern Ireland--I can't imagine visiting Ireland for only 8 days when you have 16 days available. I agree with janisj.

That's whisky in Scotland and whiskey in Ireland MiamiBeach.
http://www.thekitchn.com/whiskey-vs-...-the-di-100476

Your 8 days per country is the equivalent of going to 'see America' in 8 days. Your total of 16 days is a bare minimum for one country or the other in my opinion.

What would you say if my plan was, fly to Miami from the UK, east coast 8 days, New York City, Boston, Cape Cod. Fly to Phoenix, west coast 8 days, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, San Diego, drive up coast and fly home from San Francisco. Give or take a day. Any feedback?

Can you get 4 open-jaws tickets using miles at this late date? If so, I'm looking into the frequent flyer program at United. With British Air, I usually book 11 months ahead of my return trip. And then I still don't get the best flights.

Just found out my husband already booked air as I mentioned in OP. In to Dublin, out of Edinburgh. Still need to book air between 2 countries.

Mimar- British air is impossible. United and delta are easier. Got the tickets on united.com... 60,000 miles a pop for coach.

I'm looking for helpful comments....not lectures.

Thanks.

Ireland..
8 days DUB-SNN. maybe start with a couple of days in Dublin.

On Morning 3 collect the rental car (city or airport) head to Kilkenny for the night (possibly via Glendalough and Wicklow or via National Stud/Japanese Gardens & the Rock of Dunamase)

Day 4 from Kilkenny to Cork calling in at Cashel and Cahir maybe Blarney (could overnight Blarney?)

Days 5 & 6 use Killarney as a base for Kerry, Kenmare would be another alternative. Kissane Sheep dog demo, Coach tour of the Ring or Dingle

Day 7 drive up to west Clare for the Cliffs and a bit of Burren ending the night in Ennis ready for the 11am? flight to Edinburgh on Day 8.

If you are flying day 9 then drive yourselves round Dingle to Ennis day 7 and use Day 8 for the Cliffs and Burren (include Ailwee for the caves and Birds of Prey centre(Hawk walk?)).

Scotland
Tattoo.. Busy time in the city not sure I would go but I'm not you..
Stirling probably my favourite Castle and a must see. Edinburgh Zoo for the kids. Royal Yacht Britannia in the Docks?
Have a look at Rabbies tours http://www.rabbies.com/edinburgh_tour_departures.asp

Also be aware your Baggage will be limited for the whole trip by the restrictions on the Aer Lingus regional flight Shannon to Edinburgh. Book 10 to 6 weeks in advance for best prices.
Ryanair fly Knock to Glasgow or juggle the above to fly Cork to Edinburgh or make a loop back to Dublin for flight options and Sail/Rail sail/coach options Ireland to Scotland.

Just so you are aware of http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/...FdHLtAodw1kA6A given your dates, rooms are going to be tight for what is normally Europe's biggest theatre festival.

If you are absolutely set on this (maybe your husband can change the booking for not too much penalty) . . . Then you need to realize what Edinburgh will be like. It is a WONDERFUL time in the city w/ all the festivals and the Tattoo. BUT it will be absolutely slammed. The population more than doubles, and triples on weekends. Hotels charge sometimes double what they cost other months. There are often three day minimums - which will seriously limit which other parts of the country you can visit.

Unless you simply MUST go to the Tattoo and Festivals you would do better to collect a rental car when you land at EDI and get as far from Edinburgh as you can.

(If there is a penalty for changing your flights, there is a chance it would be less than the extra $$/££ you'll pay for being in Edinburgh in August)

"I'm looking for helpful comments....not lectures."

Funny how many people think any comments that disagree with their plans are not helpful.

<Funny how many people think any comments that disagree with their plans are not helpful.>

And then the mods wipe out the comments.

To the OP: Edinburgh triples in size in August - it has a native population of 450K or so but will accommodate more than 1.3 million thanks to the tourists visiting for the various festivals, Tattoo, etc.

Consider flying not from Shannon to Edinburgh (unless the Mr. booked the tickets) and from __ Ireland to Inverness. That way you'd be near Skye. Hire a car and drive as necessary.

Dunrobin Castle has falconry, but it's about 2 hrs north of I'ness.

End with 4-5 nights Edinburgh (if possible) and day trip to Stirling. Dump the car in Edinburgh. It's a hassle not a help.

Edinburgh and Dublin are booked.

Working through the rest of Ireland.

Which is better to stay? Kenmare or Killarney for a few nights for my family?

Some people love one over the other.

Makes Little difference in August,, Kenmare will have everyone avoiding Killarney which is bigger with more facilities.
If you plan on taking coach tours of Dingle and the ring of Kerry then Killarney, if you want to explore a lesser know peninsula like Beara and the west of Cork then Kenmare. To be honest I prefer Killarney but with youngsters and not aiming for late night action then Kenmare would probably edge the two.

Exciting news!!! I was able to use my SPG points for Edinburgh!! No issue with jacked up prices and no avaialibity! Its all booked! Now on to the rest of the itinerary.

I think I have Ireland nailed down...Scotland is still a little tricky...

Thinking of flying into to EDI from Shannon and heading straight to get the car and start the touring. There are no direct or one stop flights from Shannon or Dublin to Inverness. Cork to Inverness is a one stop - but takes half a day and is expensive. I could fly to Glasgow if that is a better idea.

My reservation for Edinburg is for the last 3 nights of the trip, which will give me 2 full days in the city.

I'm trying to eliminate each and every day of the trip being many hours of driving. I would also consider using the train for a leg of the trip to cut down on driving..if we could rent a car once at our destination.

Would like to visit Skye and Inverness....

I am just running out the door (literally) so can't post a response til later - but may I ask why Inverness? Is it simply because you've heard of it or do you have a reason for visiting there? It is just a city w/ not much of anything to recommend it. Or do you just mean up north in the general Inverness vicinity?

Honestly - I've been reading tons of itineraries and they all pass through that direction.

Torn on Loch Ness - my kids are interested in going - but Ive read its a waste.

I feel like we may be missing out of something by not visiting Inverness area - but we dont need to be in the city.

We arent fixated on any one idea for the trip.
While I love castles, I think that 3-4 for the trip for Scotland are plenty (as we will also visit some in Ireland.)
2 for sure are Edinburgh and Stirling.

Want to see one whiskey distillery.

The beauty of Skye is calling my name - but if there is a better plan - then Im Ok missing out.

My kids arent Harry Potter die hards so they arent going to care about the Hogwarts express.