Ireland - urgent Help Please West or North
 

Hello I have this tour booked (sees mostly the south) and need your help in deciding if it's better to plan to see the North (Belfast and Giant's causeway ) or West (Dingle, or Galway or Aran islands)

We like to experience Irish culture, food, and my son loves music, farms, and soccer. He plays guitar.

Please let me know asap, we leave in 2 days and still have No itinerary.

total panic. also any hotels recommendations.

Thank you.

Tour is 7 days than we have 5 Full days --- Tour Ends in Drumoland close to Shannon I think.
We Leave out of Shannon Airport early am so the last night we have to stay in Shannon.
please Helpppppp Thank you

Day 1Limerick & Medieval Castle Banquet

Day 2Cliffs of Moher & River Shannon Ferry

Day 3Ring of Kerry Tour & Sheepdog Trials

Day 4 Blarney Castle & Cobh Heritage Centre

Day 5Waterford Crystal & 6th Century Glendalough

Day 6Dublin Sightseeing Tour & Glasnevin Cemetery Museum

Day 7Irish National Stud & Dromoland Castle Hotel

Day 8Tour Ends At Dromoland

You should absolutely stay in the West and visit Dingle, or Galway or Aran islands. Makes no sense to be on the West coast, travel north (to another country) and then back to Shannon for your flight home. The entire West Coast / Wild Atlantic Way is fantastic. Northern Ireland is a great trip in and of itself. My two cents: focus on the Republic of Ireland and stay on the West Coast.

I would stay in the West.Buy Rick Steves Ireland book at your local bookstore or overnight from Amazon.

From Dingle to Westport with a car. Hubby would need an International Drivers license from your local AAA TODAY, This is a translation of his US state license. Reserve a car for pickup at Shannon airport.
Make a hotel reservation for 1 night in Dingle.

From Galway without a car. Take local bus/train from Limerick or Shannon airport to Galway. Make hotel reservation for 2 nights in Galway.

Don't panic. Everything is going to be OK. I will try to help you today on whatever you decide.

Thank youuuuuuuu of course this is our one and only trip, but I understand.

Tera_denten - Thank you... we are leaving in 2 days. I'm injured - I'm totally panicking now.

this will be our one and only trip to ireland, still do the west ?

dugi_otok

ok tour ends in drummoland - from drumeland i have to go to Shannon to get the car apparently than drive to dingle 1 or 2 nights ? than drive to galway 1-3 nights? than shannon for early flight..? we must sleep in shannon last night, flights are 7 am to canada to us

how many nights in each place would you recommend?

And OMG the AAA lady said nothing about international license.... MORE panic please help

You do not need International drivers license in Ireland. My source was wrong. Sorry. Ask for automatic trans not stick shift to ease driv.ing.

https://walkingontravels.com/driving-in-ireland-with-a-us-license/

ahhh TY i just had a mini heart attack. but still what about the itinerary please take a look and LMK thank you.

Can your husband drive a manual shift? We actually heard an agent tell 2 people in front of us that "We shift in Ireland" and there were no automatics to be rented. So don't assume anything; if you have to have an automatic, get that guaranteed way before walking up to the desk.

Since you have been to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry I would only stay 1 night in Dingle. The main reason to go there is for your son to see Fungie the resident dolphin on a dolphine boat cruise (or one of his relatives).

DingleDolphin.com | Dingle Dolphin Boat Tours | Dingle Boat Tours | Fungie Official Boat Tours - DingleDolphin.com
The big attraction is Dingle Peninsula Loop Trip by car (scenic 30 miles) Dingle town to Dingle town. Stop to see the Gallarus Oratory. Similar to the Ring of Kerry.
https://goo.gl/maps/HdAndJQLM2fPFCgF8

If you can rent a car with auto trans in Limerick that might save some time. When driving to/from Dingle DO NOT take road through Conor Pass which is not for the feint of heart.

https://goo.gl/maps/fobigTSpnm1BnMTJ7

Hotel Locations
Night 1 Dingle
Night 2 Galway
Night 3 Galway
Night 4 Clifden or Ashford castle or Galway
Night 5 Bunratty or Shannon airport

Dugi_otok - I asked the tour about renting in Limerick instead of Shannon airport, he said no cars are only available in airports in Ireland and you have to go to Shannon. which is north again. the hotel is the Drummland castle - can we rent a car closer to there, but return it in Shannon airport?

dugi - ashford castle worth the stay ? or just day trip... is it even worth the day trip? please lmk
one day to see Galway
one day aran islands
one other day well half day pretty much. please lmk thank you

>>he said no cars are only available in airports in Ireland<<

That is totally ridiculous -- Of Course there are rental cars in Limerick (and a LOT of other places besides airports).

nooo he can't drive manual

Lilly, do public transportation. You can stay in Killarney and get day tours to see Dingle or just head to Galway on the bus and do tours from there. You can do Galway tours, lally tours and the one to the Aran islands with Michael Faherty. Don't stress your husband out. It is late to reserve an automatic. The bus station in Limerick or train station is good.

galwaytours.com I would not stay at Ashford castle. SSSS Jury's inn on the water in Galway is nice or Meyrick hotel in Galway. You can do day trips on your own even by taking the bus but will see more doing a Connemara tour and pick the nicest day for Inishmor. Take the bus to Salt Hill, 15 min, nice beach and huge arcade and Seapoint Leisure is a huge amusement family center. You son should love all the buskers in Galway. Great music on many streets. You will get more suggestions on your tour but at least book before you can't find a hotel.

Lilly. You have to make up your mind-Car or no car. Each may have different optimum itineraries. My opinion is that having a car is better for you because you have an injury which limits your mobility. Public transportation intra and inter city with luggage is tough and one day guided tours often do not accommodate those less mobile. However if an automatic transmission car is not available or if your husband is not capable of driving on the left side of the road then so be it. So make your decision, finalize your itinerary, and make your hotel reservations.

Ashford castle worth a stay? No IMO, but some like a splurge castle hotel stay on their vacation. You already have yours at Dromoland
Or just a day trip? No IMO, but some like to stop for the bird show
For 3 night stay in Galway- For the 2 whole days: 1. A day trip to Aran island of Inisheer, 2. A day trip Connemara loop drive or guided tour. Galway has no major sights and can be seen in the 3 mornings and 3 evenings of your stay and on arrival half day and departure half day.
You have seen Cliffs of Mohr on your guided Tour and can see the Burren on your arrival or departure day

Lilly has stayed 2 days in Killarney as part of her 7 day guided bus tour. It makes no sense for her to go to Killarney to take a day trip to Dingle. Though I agree she could just head to Galway and make day trips from there. She has been to COMohr as part of her 7 day guided tour so no need for a day trip there. Do not know if there is a day trip to The Burren that does not require a lot of walking.