Our first Ireland adventure - 3/26/2010-4/2/2010
Apr 8th, 2010, 07:19 AM
#22
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Planning a trip in the fall (my DH has never been) and enjoying the report too.
Travelled to Ireland over 20 years ago, I remember the fear my passenger had too when I overcompensated and almost had her in the bushes. I was also able to hit a curb within the first 10 minutes of driving and ended up with a flat....oh, the memories
Travelled to Ireland over 20 years ago, I remember the fear my passenger had too when I overcompensated and almost had her in the bushes. I was also able to hit a curb within the first 10 minutes of driving and ended up with a flat....oh, the memories
Apr 8th, 2010, 10:33 AM
#23
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April 1:
This morning I had my first traditional irish breakfast and the Lighthouse did not disapoint!! After breakfast, we sadly parted Dingle. This is a place I would certainly visit again.
We started up Suzanne and told her to take us to the Tarbert ferry across the Shannon River. This saves approx. 85 miles and is a 20 minute ride across the Shannon River. This was a pretty easy ride (approx an 1-1.5 hours) with mostly "N" roads.
We deliberated during the 20 minutes ride about whether we should go straight to Galway or take the detour to the Cliff of Moher. My husband's motto is "you've seen one cliff, you've seen them all" but recommended that we go see the cliffs in the event I would later have regret on the plan ride home (which even I will admit is not something anyone who I like should have to endure - I can be brutal). The matter was settled and we decided to see the cliffs and cut through the burren. I mean, how bad of a detour can this really be?
I cursed Suzanne out about a million times and went into "Kerry meltdown mode." She thought the quickest way was to cut through these dirt roads that went through farms - in US standards barely a one-way road. I thought I was going to lose it! Actually, I did lose it but God bless my very calm and understanding husband. We got lost and ended up taking a 45 minute-1 hour detour. Oh well, we "got to see the Irish countryside."
We FINALLY arrived at the cliffs - 8 Euros to park and visit. In the end, I was not overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, they were breathtaking - but I have since inherited by husband's motto re: cliffs. I don't regret seeing the cliffs - I was glad we made the trip b/c now I can say we went. If we get back to Ireland (which i hope we do) - this will definitely not be part of a second visit.
Another area which will never get a second visit from us is the burren. Now, this is only our opion - to each their own we always say. BUT - we do not understand how people flock to see this. Rocks. All rocks. Rocks that I ran over and viewed for miles and miles. By far the most boring part of our drive.
HOWEVER, I will say that we wouldn't trade one bit of this in for anything. Certainly no regrets. We came, we saw, we conquered this area and it will always serve as a funny memory of my Ireland meltdown.
Next up: same day - arrival in Galway
This morning I had my first traditional irish breakfast and the Lighthouse did not disapoint!! After breakfast, we sadly parted Dingle. This is a place I would certainly visit again.
We started up Suzanne and told her to take us to the Tarbert ferry across the Shannon River. This saves approx. 85 miles and is a 20 minute ride across the Shannon River. This was a pretty easy ride (approx an 1-1.5 hours) with mostly "N" roads.
We deliberated during the 20 minutes ride about whether we should go straight to Galway or take the detour to the Cliff of Moher. My husband's motto is "you've seen one cliff, you've seen them all" but recommended that we go see the cliffs in the event I would later have regret on the plan ride home (which even I will admit is not something anyone who I like should have to endure - I can be brutal). The matter was settled and we decided to see the cliffs and cut through the burren. I mean, how bad of a detour can this really be?
I cursed Suzanne out about a million times and went into "Kerry meltdown mode." She thought the quickest way was to cut through these dirt roads that went through farms - in US standards barely a one-way road. I thought I was going to lose it! Actually, I did lose it but God bless my very calm and understanding husband. We got lost and ended up taking a 45 minute-1 hour detour. Oh well, we "got to see the Irish countryside."
We FINALLY arrived at the cliffs - 8 Euros to park and visit. In the end, I was not overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, they were breathtaking - but I have since inherited by husband's motto re: cliffs. I don't regret seeing the cliffs - I was glad we made the trip b/c now I can say we went. If we get back to Ireland (which i hope we do) - this will definitely not be part of a second visit.
Another area which will never get a second visit from us is the burren. Now, this is only our opion - to each their own we always say. BUT - we do not understand how people flock to see this. Rocks. All rocks. Rocks that I ran over and viewed for miles and miles. By far the most boring part of our drive.
HOWEVER, I will say that we wouldn't trade one bit of this in for anything. Certainly no regrets. We came, we saw, we conquered this area and it will always serve as a funny memory of my Ireland meltdown.
Next up: same day - arrival in Galway
Apr 9th, 2010, 08:05 AM
#24
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April 1 - continued
I was never so happy to reach a destination before! Of course, we arrived right during what I perceived as rush hour traffic. It didn't bother me too much b/c I was happy to move slowly so we can better navigate where we needed to go.
We stayed at Jury's Inn on Quay Street - we passed it about twice before actually figuring out how to get there. We utilized the parking garage immediately next door - the hotel has a special rate of 10 euros per day. This was very convenient.
I chose Jury's Inn b/c of its location, recommendations, and also b/c I was able to secure a really great price. The price was 59 euros which we pre-paid.
First impression was how clean the hotel was, the friendly front desk receptionist, and the great location. This is my opinion gave us a lot of bang for our buck and I definitely recommend this hotel.
We immediately dropped off our luggage and headed down Quay Street. First impression – what a neat city! Very young too (I assume due to the university). I had a few more relatives to shop for so we popped in and out of shops along the way. However, we were famished and needed nourishment! We stopped at The Front End. This was a nice place down a small street. I had shepherds pie and hubby has bangers and mash. The food and service were both wonderful! It was the perfect last dinner in Ireland for us!
Again, we set out to explore. While there are sites to see, nothing really called out to us. We wanted more than anything just to see the city sites and if we happened to cross anything interesting we would take a peek. It was a relaxing stroll and while we didn’t get the full flavor of Galway, it gave us a taste and a reason to return.
We tried to pop into a few bars with live music but none had open seats (at this point sitting was mandatory). We made our way into the Spanish Arch Hotel bar – there were perhaps 5 or so other people in the place. We didn’t leave our seats and within a couple of hours, the place was jam packed and to our surprise we had great seats to listen to some live music. These guys were great!!! The atmosphere and bartenders were great and the live music was a welcomed surprise. Very happy we found our way here!!!
So with a full belly and a happy heart, we bid adieu to Galway and headed back to our hotel. We wanted to pack and get a good night rest!
Next up: 4/2 – Drive to Shannon Airport and general thoughts
I was never so happy to reach a destination before! Of course, we arrived right during what I perceived as rush hour traffic. It didn't bother me too much b/c I was happy to move slowly so we can better navigate where we needed to go.
We stayed at Jury's Inn on Quay Street - we passed it about twice before actually figuring out how to get there. We utilized the parking garage immediately next door - the hotel has a special rate of 10 euros per day. This was very convenient.
I chose Jury's Inn b/c of its location, recommendations, and also b/c I was able to secure a really great price. The price was 59 euros which we pre-paid.
First impression was how clean the hotel was, the friendly front desk receptionist, and the great location. This is my opinion gave us a lot of bang for our buck and I definitely recommend this hotel.
We immediately dropped off our luggage and headed down Quay Street. First impression – what a neat city! Very young too (I assume due to the university). I had a few more relatives to shop for so we popped in and out of shops along the way. However, we were famished and needed nourishment! We stopped at The Front End. This was a nice place down a small street. I had shepherds pie and hubby has bangers and mash. The food and service were both wonderful! It was the perfect last dinner in Ireland for us!
Again, we set out to explore. While there are sites to see, nothing really called out to us. We wanted more than anything just to see the city sites and if we happened to cross anything interesting we would take a peek. It was a relaxing stroll and while we didn’t get the full flavor of Galway, it gave us a taste and a reason to return.
We tried to pop into a few bars with live music but none had open seats (at this point sitting was mandatory). We made our way into the Spanish Arch Hotel bar – there were perhaps 5 or so other people in the place. We didn’t leave our seats and within a couple of hours, the place was jam packed and to our surprise we had great seats to listen to some live music. These guys were great!!! The atmosphere and bartenders were great and the live music was a welcomed surprise. Very happy we found our way here!!!
So with a full belly and a happy heart, we bid adieu to Galway and headed back to our hotel. We wanted to pack and get a good night rest!
Next up: 4/2 – Drive to Shannon Airport and general thoughts
Apr 9th, 2010, 10:30 AM
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Friday 4/2 – a sad farewell
We had a 1:00 direct flight from Shannon to JFK. We planned what time to leave by counting backwards. (a) 1pm flight, should get there at least 2 hours ahead of time (b) 11AM – need to return car (c) 10:30AM – drive is about 1.5 hours (d) leave Galway at 9AM.
Since we prepared the night before, we were out the door by 8:30! The drive wasn’t as straight-forward as I envisioned (although it was one of the easiest drives). I was reunited with my dear friend… the “M” road. Nothing like a cement divider b/w you and opposite traffic to make a girl feel secure.
The Hertz rental office is VERY easy to locate. Actually the entire airport is easy to maneuver (I compare is to Macarthur Airport in Islip, NY (Long Island)). We dropped off our car with no issues. I was so relieved!!! We caught a shuttle to the departure area (literally a 2 minute drive). After checking in, we were on the look-out for breakfast.
Before the security gate there was an area upstairs to get food and sit down (cafeteria style). I had the porridge (which was in all honesty horrible) and hubby had scrambled eggs and hash browns.
After that, we went through security and nosed around the duty-free shop for a little bit. We then did that VAT tax return thing – someone else may be able to explain it better. All I know is that they were putting money back on my credit card).
We were done with walking around and made our way to the gate. The gate was much further than we anticipated and we were greeted by airport security who checks ALL bags and pats everyone down. We were very early so this was quick. If we had delayed going to the gate by 10 minutes or so, we would’ve been on a very long line. It pays to be early sometimes!! There was free Wi-Fii in the airport so I checked a few personal e-mails, some facebook, and relaxed until it was time to board.
Again, I must give Aer Lingus glowing reviews. I couldn’t have been happier with a flight experience. We boarded the plane, settled in, and got comfortable for a long flight back home after a wonderful Ireland adventure. =)
General comments and random thoughts (in no particular order):
1. Capital One does not charge a fee when you utilize your cc overseas.
2. Notified Bank of America prior to leaving and took money out of ATM’s – they did charge a 1% fee plus whatever the ATM charged (if anything) – we could go to any ATM with a VISA of PLUS.
3. I felt we chose the right times/locations for 2 night stays – it allowed us time to relax and take a step back. I recommend to anyone traveling to allow yourself this small luxury.
4. I am obsessed with Ireland B&B’s – so is my husband and he was a little nervous at first.
5. Anytime you use your CC, tell them to charge it in Euros and not US Dollars – I thank those who brought this point up before and I will repeat it now.
6. Brown bread is awesome and I want more
7. Vegetable soup is not what you would be used to in the US – it is pureed (at least in the 4 places I ordered it in Ireland in all different parts of the country). However, it is delicious!
8. Guinness is awesome in Ireland and after my first taste of it last night in NY (The Long Room midtown NYC) I declare myself ruined for life and can no longer order it here (well – unless it’s a car bomb).
9. Driving is not easy in Ireland – plan ahead. I generally did not surpass 80KM on 100 KM roads and didn’t surpass 100 KM on 120KM roads – needless to say many people passed me on the road. I was OK with that!
10. To repeat my method of driving by stopped the car and letting the opposite traffic do the work when they passed me (this is on “R” roads) – I love how people point their finger (pointer finger, not the middle one haha) while still holding the wheel. Where I live, we give a full exaggerated wave – I was loving the point. I did it many times.
11. If you are in Dublin – do the Hop On/Hop Off bus. This is a great way to see the city.
12. You can do Kilkenny in under 5 hours (actually – you can probably do it in less than 3). It does deserve a visit.
13. If you are ignorant to it (like I wish I still was)– never ask what is used to make “black pudding” and “white pudding”
14. If you are on the Dingle peninsula – please do yourself the service of driving Slea Head Drive – absolutely breathtaking.
15. If you do Slea Head drive – you probably don’t need to see the Cliffs of Moher.
16. We were greeted in bars with “your welcome” – if you are from the US – “your welcome” usually comes after a “thank you” – they do it to say hello and welcome you into the establishment. We loved this!
17. When they hand you the bill, many say “now here is the bad news”
18. When they hand you the drink, they always say “cheers”
19. Soccer is on all the time – I still play soccer so this was a great bonus for me.
20. Go to Ireland. It is a beautiful country with so much to see. We had a packed schedule but are glad we did it they way we wanted. We are always on the go and definitely travel that way. Ireland is beautiful, the people are amazing, and the pints are plentiful!
If I think of any other random thoughts I will add….
Hope you enjoyed my trip report. Please let me know if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer. My husband and I thank you all for your advice and opinions.
We had a 1:00 direct flight from Shannon to JFK. We planned what time to leave by counting backwards. (a) 1pm flight, should get there at least 2 hours ahead of time (b) 11AM – need to return car (c) 10:30AM – drive is about 1.5 hours (d) leave Galway at 9AM.
Since we prepared the night before, we were out the door by 8:30! The drive wasn’t as straight-forward as I envisioned (although it was one of the easiest drives). I was reunited with my dear friend… the “M” road. Nothing like a cement divider b/w you and opposite traffic to make a girl feel secure.
The Hertz rental office is VERY easy to locate. Actually the entire airport is easy to maneuver (I compare is to Macarthur Airport in Islip, NY (Long Island)). We dropped off our car with no issues. I was so relieved!!! We caught a shuttle to the departure area (literally a 2 minute drive). After checking in, we were on the look-out for breakfast.
Before the security gate there was an area upstairs to get food and sit down (cafeteria style). I had the porridge (which was in all honesty horrible) and hubby had scrambled eggs and hash browns.
After that, we went through security and nosed around the duty-free shop for a little bit. We then did that VAT tax return thing – someone else may be able to explain it better. All I know is that they were putting money back on my credit card).
We were done with walking around and made our way to the gate. The gate was much further than we anticipated and we were greeted by airport security who checks ALL bags and pats everyone down. We were very early so this was quick. If we had delayed going to the gate by 10 minutes or so, we would’ve been on a very long line. It pays to be early sometimes!! There was free Wi-Fii in the airport so I checked a few personal e-mails, some facebook, and relaxed until it was time to board.
Again, I must give Aer Lingus glowing reviews. I couldn’t have been happier with a flight experience. We boarded the plane, settled in, and got comfortable for a long flight back home after a wonderful Ireland adventure. =)
General comments and random thoughts (in no particular order):
1. Capital One does not charge a fee when you utilize your cc overseas.
2. Notified Bank of America prior to leaving and took money out of ATM’s – they did charge a 1% fee plus whatever the ATM charged (if anything) – we could go to any ATM with a VISA of PLUS.
3. I felt we chose the right times/locations for 2 night stays – it allowed us time to relax and take a step back. I recommend to anyone traveling to allow yourself this small luxury.
4. I am obsessed with Ireland B&B’s – so is my husband and he was a little nervous at first.
5. Anytime you use your CC, tell them to charge it in Euros and not US Dollars – I thank those who brought this point up before and I will repeat it now.
6. Brown bread is awesome and I want more
7. Vegetable soup is not what you would be used to in the US – it is pureed (at least in the 4 places I ordered it in Ireland in all different parts of the country). However, it is delicious!
8. Guinness is awesome in Ireland and after my first taste of it last night in NY (The Long Room midtown NYC) I declare myself ruined for life and can no longer order it here (well – unless it’s a car bomb).
9. Driving is not easy in Ireland – plan ahead. I generally did not surpass 80KM on 100 KM roads and didn’t surpass 100 KM on 120KM roads – needless to say many people passed me on the road. I was OK with that!
10. To repeat my method of driving by stopped the car and letting the opposite traffic do the work when they passed me (this is on “R” roads) – I love how people point their finger (pointer finger, not the middle one haha) while still holding the wheel. Where I live, we give a full exaggerated wave – I was loving the point. I did it many times.
11. If you are in Dublin – do the Hop On/Hop Off bus. This is a great way to see the city.
12. You can do Kilkenny in under 5 hours (actually – you can probably do it in less than 3). It does deserve a visit.
13. If you are ignorant to it (like I wish I still was)– never ask what is used to make “black pudding” and “white pudding”
14. If you are on the Dingle peninsula – please do yourself the service of driving Slea Head Drive – absolutely breathtaking.
15. If you do Slea Head drive – you probably don’t need to see the Cliffs of Moher.
16. We were greeted in bars with “your welcome” – if you are from the US – “your welcome” usually comes after a “thank you” – they do it to say hello and welcome you into the establishment. We loved this!
17. When they hand you the bill, many say “now here is the bad news”
18. When they hand you the drink, they always say “cheers”
19. Soccer is on all the time – I still play soccer so this was a great bonus for me.
20. Go to Ireland. It is a beautiful country with so much to see. We had a packed schedule but are glad we did it they way we wanted. We are always on the go and definitely travel that way. Ireland is beautiful, the people are amazing, and the pints are plentiful!
If I think of any other random thoughts I will add….
Hope you enjoyed my trip report. Please let me know if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer. My husband and I thank you all for your advice and opinions.
Apr 11th, 2010, 05:37 AM
#30
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I really appreciate all the time you took to write such a wonderful trip report! Thank you!! Did you ever try the black and white pudding? My husband and I will be going mid-May and will be following a very similar route as you. We pend 2 nights in Dublin, 1 in Kilkenny, 3 in Kenmare, 3 in Dingle, 1 in Galway, then fly out of Dublin. I am also planning to bike Slea Head...but I guess I may have to play that by ear if the weather doesn't cooperate. I am sure you must be sad it is all over, but remember that a part of you will always remain in Ireland ...your little pink luggage strap!
Apr 11th, 2010, 09:43 PM
#31
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Great report!! When are you going back? 
Regarding your list above -
#2 - I don't have the definitive answer on this but I THINK the reason you got charged the 1% on your ATM use was simply because it's the unavoidable VISA fee. I have two different ATM cards from my bank - a credit union. One is a regular VISA debit card/ATM, and one is ONLY an ATM. On my trip to Scotland last year, I took along both, to see if I could get away with using the one that is ONLY an ATM, and I was able to use it without any troubles at all to withdraw money. In this way I avoided all VISA fees. I still had to pay any ATM fees, but avoided the stupid 1% VISA fee. If you won't need your ATM card as a debit card, see if your bank offers an ATM card that is nothing but an ATM card, no VISA attached.
#7 - Agreed!! Loved it!
#20 - Agreed as well! I'm going back ... some day!
Thanks again for the report!
Regarding your list above -
#2 - I don't have the definitive answer on this but I THINK the reason you got charged the 1% on your ATM use was simply because it's the unavoidable VISA fee. I have two different ATM cards from my bank - a credit union. One is a regular VISA debit card/ATM, and one is ONLY an ATM. On my trip to Scotland last year, I took along both, to see if I could get away with using the one that is ONLY an ATM, and I was able to use it without any troubles at all to withdraw money. In this way I avoided all VISA fees. I still had to pay any ATM fees, but avoided the stupid 1% VISA fee. If you won't need your ATM card as a debit card, see if your bank offers an ATM card that is nothing but an ATM card, no VISA attached.
#7 - Agreed!! Loved it!
#20 - Agreed as well! I'm going back ... some day!
Thanks again for the report!
Apr 13th, 2010, 07:29 AM
#32
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Great trip report! Thanks for sharing. I've been to many of the places you went, and am planning another trip (my fourth) for 2011.
The place you ate in Kilkenny could be Marble City Bar - it had great sandwiches when we went there. It was right across the tiny alley from Kyteler's Inn.
Wasn't the stained glass amazing in the Black Abbey? Very organic and abstract... http://www.greendragonartist.com/Gal...orofSpirit.jpg
The place you ate in Kilkenny could be Marble City Bar - it had great sandwiches when we went there. It was right across the tiny alley from Kyteler's Inn.
Wasn't the stained glass amazing in the Black Abbey? Very organic and abstract... http://www.greendragonartist.com/Gal...orofSpirit.jpg
Apr 16th, 2010, 12:03 PM
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Thanks everyone for your kind words - glad you all enjoyed the report! We had a fabulous time!
And yes, despite learning what was in the black/white pudding I still tried some - it was delicious!!
And yes, despite learning what was in the black/white pudding I still tried some - it was delicious!!
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