We're traveling with another couple and drafted the itinerary below. Disclaimer: we know that there's probably too much packed in but at least want to book hotels near places we want the option to see. We only have two weeks and have already booked our flight from the U.S. to Dublin (in hindsight we should have flown into Shannon but too late to change).

What we're looking for are suggestions on places to stay, anything en route we may want to know about, and if there are any glaring errors in our travel research. We're all quirky, energetic, well-traveled people in our early 30s. Budget is middle to upper. Will probably stay at B&Bs but splurge on a castle stay for 1-2 nights. Vegetarian tips are a bonus for two of us. Any any lesser know whiskey distillery gems, too.


WED MAY 19
Land in Dublin. Rent Car.
We'd like to forgo Dublin and stay somewhere between the airport and Glendalaugh since we're planning to visit there the following day. Any suggestions — Wicklow? Newbridge? Kildare? There's four of us so even if we're jet lagged we can take turns and manage 1-2 hours of driving before we faceplant at the B&B/hotel.

THR MAY 20
Sleep in. Day trip to Glendalaugh. Leave Glendalaugh in the late afternoon and drive straight to County Cork (4 hour drive? We'd get in early evening). Is Kinsale the recommended place to stay in County Cork? Heard Cork City was nothing to write home about and would put us near Blarney Castle and en route to the Ring of Kerry.

FRI MAY 21
AM - See the Blarney Castle and relax in the area. Overnight in Kinsale?

SAT MAY 22
Early morning rise to catch 10am tour bus. Get a guided 8-hour tour of the Ring of Kerry. We get break from driving. After the tour, land in Kenmare (or open to suggestions on another place to stay knowing we're heading north up the coast). Read good things about Kenmare and Dingle, but for a packed day Kenmare seems more accesible? Suggestions?

SUN MAY 23
See the Cliffs of Moher. Suggestions on where to stay? Doolin or Galway? B&B or Castle suggestions? I've read Doolin is relatively more touristy, but a cute, convenient base for exploring this area.

MON MAY 24
Visit Aran Islands. Stay at same place as above.

TUES MAY 25
Relax in the morning/expore. Fly from Galway to Edinburgh (there's a cheap one way flight that leaves at 2:10PM)

WED MAY 26
Edinburgh full day site seeing.

THR MAY 27
Day trip to Glasgow via train (1 hour each way from what I've gathered?)

FRI MAY 28
Day trip from Glasgow or Edinburgh to somewhere out in the country (maybe a bus/historical tour). Back to the hotel in Edinburgh.

SAT MAY 29
Fly back to Dublin in early AM (there's a one way flight at 8:20AM). Tour the Guiness Factory in the afternoon or explore the city.

SUN MAY 30
Dublin site seeing and museums. Relax. Pack.

MON MAY 31
Fly home in the morning.

I am in the planning stages of a trip to Ireland & have been doing extensive research on this forum and other resources. Here is my 2 cents:

1. On the day of arrival, why not just head straight to Glendalough? That way you wake up where you want to be. It is only approx 58 km(approx 1.25 hours?)to Glendalough. This would save you some drive time.

2. Glendalough to Kinsale is approx 278 km (4.25 hours). This seems to be a hefty drive after a day of sight-seeing.

3. Driving 115 km from Kinsale to Kenmare to catch a 10am 8-hr tour bus? Sounds a little hectic.

4. There isn't a significant difference in time between driving from Dingle or Kenmare to the Cliffs of Moher. I can't see driving to Dingle since you won't have anytime to enjoy the town. You might as well stay in Kenmare.

5. Doolin to Galway is 75km. I've read that the tours from Galway tend to be more reliable than out of Doolin. Also, you'd be closer to the aiport for day of departure.

Personally, I find your itinerary very exhausting. We're doing in 14 nights what you are doing in 5 I guess it is doable but it sounds like a lot of driving and really not taking the time to sit back and take in the culture.

Have you considered dropping your drive-by visit to Glendalough and just heading straight to the west coast? You could do the Killarney Nat'l Park &/or the Connemara area for some great scenery. Just a thought. Did you already by tickets? Maybe fly into Shannon instead of Dublin? Happy travels!

More Edinburgh, more Scotland. Driving in Scotland is bad but I think driving in Ireland is far worse and you seem to be doing a lot of it.

Honestly, I'd strongly consider picking one country and going there. You've got 13 days on the ground and only 9 will be full days to see and explore because one is arrival (SUCK), one is departure, and two are hops between the countries (why not open jaw?). My pick would be Scotland any day, and especially in May when the islands on the west coast should be teeming with seasonal fauna.

I'm in the final week of my own Ireland/Scotland trip (in Perth at the moment).

There's really no reason to spend so much time in big cities here. One day of sight-seeing in Edinburgh should cover it. The historic stuff is all walkable, or you could do like me and the lazy-hop on hop off tour.

Considering your limited time, maybe consider something in Perthshire, or Loch Lomond for a couple of nights.

I hope that Janisj and Shelia chime in, they'll have the right suggestions for you.

You've gotten good suggestions so far. I completely agree - please check into open-jaw tickets! They make so much more sense for your itinerary. Even if you have to pay a change fee, compare that to the cost of your one-way flights, and the days you have where all you do is travel and sit in airports. Unless the change fee is really exorbitant, I'd do it.

I tend to travel fairly quickly myself and get why you want to pack so much in. But traveling in Ireland does not go quickly, and that's part of what people like about it. Plan to average 35mph when driving. (And driving is REALLY not that bad. Just get the smallest car that's feasible, and take the insurance.)

1. WED MAY 19 - completely agree with the suggestion to go straight to Glendalough. It's not far and you might as well do it all at once.

2. THR MAY 20/FRI MAY 21 - Your drive to County Cork does seem like a long drive after a full day of sightseeing, even though you'll have lots of daylight in May. There are castles and big houses in County Kerry; my preference would be to stay in Glendalough Thursday night (or at least not drive all four hours), then spend part of Friday driving on to Kerry. If you drive an hour or two Thursday night, you could end up in Kerry early enough to see Muckross House or Ross Castle.

3. SAT MAY 22 - I'd rather drive myself so I can stop when I want, eat where I want, all that. Your choice, though. If you stay in Kenmare you could also look at doing the Beara Peninsula instead. Stay in Kenmare. I completely agree with mykidsmom - if you aren't going to plan time to actually see anything around Dingle, there's NO point in driving there.

4. SUN MAY 23/MON MAY 24 - Doolin is very small. Like, smaller than a village small. Some people love that, some people get bored quickly. Personally, I'd drive to the Cliffs and continue to Galway - I've heard the same about the Aran Island tours being more reliable from Galway.

5. THR MAY 27/FRI MAY 28 - I'd skip Glasgow on this trip, unless there's a reason you really want to visit. Edinburgh plenty to see for two days.

6. SAT MAY 29/SUN MAY 30 - your plan at the beginning of your trip suggests that you're not that interested in Dublin. If that's the case, I would strongly suggest flying home from Edinburgh or Glasgow and either adding the extra day or two to your time in Ireland, or exploring somewhere else in Scotland. Perhaps fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh, go somewhere in the Highlands for a couple of days, then do your Edinburgh sightseeing to fly home (keep in mind that I haven't been to the Highlands, much as I'd love to, so I'm not exactly sure what would be realistic for you).

Hi,

Assuming you already have your flights booked (simply because you are going so soon - if not, then open jaw could fix much of what is wrong w/ the plan)

I'm not believing what I'm about to say since Scotland is my very favorite place on Earth -- but w/ just 12 free days and one of those likely a jet lagged fog, I'd forget about Scotland this trip.

Travel in Ireland is sloooow, and travel w/ 2 couples makes it even slower. You just can't avoid that - count on about 30-35 mph in most areas. 12 days is a nice amount for a brief/highlights driving tour of the west coast/SW and a couple of days in Dublin.

I personally would HATE riding in a coach around the RoK.

Now - If you haven't booked your flights - then you have some more options. You could fly into Shannon, spend a full week on the west coast, fly to Edinburgh for 5 days in Scotland and fly home from there. If you do this - 2 days in Edinburgh and 3 days exploring Fife and central Scotland/Perthshire. You'd miss Dublin, which is a nice city but IMHO doesn't hold a candle to Edinburgh.