planning a trip to ireland for 2 weeks. help needed.
Dec 31st, 2007, 02:49 PM
#1
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planning a trip to ireland for 2 weeks. help needed.
I am going to be graduating high school this summer and I, along with 3 other friends my own age, plan to go to Ireland as my big trip before college. I am planning most of it on my own with some help from my friends (2 guys and 1 other girl).
I was wondering if anyone could help me in finding the most inexpensive way to travel around Ireland (train, rental car, or whatever), and the cheapest form of accomodations. I have heard hostels are a great option and I wanted to know which ones are the best, safest, and cheapest.
Thanks so much in advance for any help!
I was wondering if anyone could help me in finding the most inexpensive way to travel around Ireland (train, rental car, or whatever), and the cheapest form of accomodations. I have heard hostels are a great option and I wanted to know which ones are the best, safest, and cheapest.
Thanks so much in advance for any help!
Dec 31st, 2007, 03:11 PM
#2
I just have time for one quick comment right now. I assume you are all 17 or 18 -- right? If so you won't be able to rent a car. Even a 20 yo would have a hard time finding a rental car in Ireland.
So you are going to have to rely on buses/trains and maybe the odd guided day bus tour.
Have great fun planning your trip - there is a lot of good info on here.
I'll try to post some more later . . . . .
So you are going to have to rely on buses/trains and maybe the odd guided day bus tour.
Have great fun planning your trip - there is a lot of good info on here.
I'll try to post some more later . . . . .
Dec 31st, 2007, 05:03 PM
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Hi,
Two young friends of mine did this and made it affordable. They flew to Dublin, visited there, then took the train to Galway and took buses everywhere else.
While you'll miss some things if you're not in a rental car, they saw plenty and had a great time and an affordable trip. Check out the train and bus schedules and see where all you can go for cheap!
Hostels - I think these are very difficult in Dublin. My daughter stayed in one of the better ones and it was still a bit sketchy. But outside of Dublin my friends stayed in hostels and liked them just fine.
Have a great trip!
Two young friends of mine did this and made it affordable. They flew to Dublin, visited there, then took the train to Galway and took buses everywhere else.
While you'll miss some things if you're not in a rental car, they saw plenty and had a great time and an affordable trip. Check out the train and bus schedules and see where all you can go for cheap!
Hostels - I think these are very difficult in Dublin. My daughter stayed in one of the better ones and it was still a bit sketchy. But outside of Dublin my friends stayed in hostels and liked them just fine.
Have a great trip!
Jan 2nd, 2008, 01:12 AM
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You might look into PaddywagonTours
http://www.paddywagontours.com or alternatively, buy bus or railpasses like Irish Rover. BusEireann is generally a good way to get around, although it may not take you some places you would like to go and would require planning on your part.
http://www.paddywagontours.com or alternatively, buy bus or railpasses like Irish Rover. BusEireann is generally a good way to get around, although it may not take you some places you would like to go and would require planning on your part.
Jan 2nd, 2008, 08:22 PM
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In Dublin, Globetrotters Hostel is very nice with an amazing breakfast included. Isaac's Hostel is okay. Both are near the bus station...I felt safe there...only a two blocks from O'Connell Street, others may disagree.
Seriously check out Paddywagon Tours and the Lonely Planet Thorntree message board.
Seriously check out Paddywagon Tours and the Lonely Planet Thorntree message board.
Jan 4th, 2008, 04:47 PM
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yesiree wrote: "In Dublin, Globetrotters Hostel is very nice with an amazing breakfast included. Isaac's Hostel is okay. Both are near the bus station...I felt safe there...only a two blocks from O'Connell Street, others may disagree."
I have reservations about the location: it's only for the streetwise.
This is in a better location: http://www.kinlaydublin.ie/ .
I have reservations about the location: it's only for the streetwise.
This is in a better location: http://www.kinlaydublin.ie/ .
Jan 4th, 2008, 04:54 PM
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Sounds like a great trip. Suggest you do some detailed research on not only sights but prices before you go (the dollar is in a pitiful state - and many things will cost MUCH more in Ireland.)
I strongly suggest you have a look at some of the student guide books (Let's Go guides are a favorite of my step daughters) and web sites - for some real life experience of young super budget student travelers.
Doubt car rental is an option given your ages - even though a small car might make the most sense financially for 4 people. Trains tend to be very slow and don't go everywhere - so you may have to plan mostly on buses.
I strongly suggest you have a look at some of the student guide books (Let's Go guides are a favorite of my step daughters) and web sites - for some real life experience of young super budget student travelers.
Doubt car rental is an option given your ages - even though a small car might make the most sense financially for 4 people. Trains tend to be very slow and don't go everywhere - so you may have to plan mostly on buses.
Jan 7th, 2008, 08:05 AM
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Hi,
How long do you have? Buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around, but work better if you're not hurrying all over the place. I went for 3 weeks in 2006 and used the buses exclusively - had a fantastic time. My trip report is quite long, but might be of some interest to you because it has some stuff on buses and hostels - just click on my name and it's titled something like "2 Girls Enjoy the Heck out of Ireland for 3 Wonderful Weeks", if you're interested.
For the buses, it's best to plan in advance - check out the schedules on the Bus Eireann website for your destinations so you're not wasting valuable time at bus stations, or being stuck because a certain bus you were counting on doesn't run that day.
To see some of the more scenic areas, organized bus tours could be a good option for you - for example, if you base yourself in Galway for a few days, you could take an organized tour to the Connemara region, or Aran Islands, or Cliffs of Moher. If in Killarney, you could do a Ring of Kerry tour, etc. etc.
Hostels are definitely a great option if you're on a budget and are plentiful in Ireland. I always stayed in private rooms rather than in dorms, but since you have 4 people you could probably just buy all the beds in a 4 bed dorm room and have it all to yourself. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum is a good place to ask for advice on things like hostels. Just do your research before you book - look at reviews, location, security features, etc. and you shouldn't go wrong.
Once you have a better idea of the places you'd like to go, people might be able to recommend some specific hostels, like some already have for Dublin.
Happy Planning!
How long do you have? Buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around, but work better if you're not hurrying all over the place. I went for 3 weeks in 2006 and used the buses exclusively - had a fantastic time. My trip report is quite long, but might be of some interest to you because it has some stuff on buses and hostels - just click on my name and it's titled something like "2 Girls Enjoy the Heck out of Ireland for 3 Wonderful Weeks", if you're interested.
For the buses, it's best to plan in advance - check out the schedules on the Bus Eireann website for your destinations so you're not wasting valuable time at bus stations, or being stuck because a certain bus you were counting on doesn't run that day.
To see some of the more scenic areas, organized bus tours could be a good option for you - for example, if you base yourself in Galway for a few days, you could take an organized tour to the Connemara region, or Aran Islands, or Cliffs of Moher. If in Killarney, you could do a Ring of Kerry tour, etc. etc.
Hostels are definitely a great option if you're on a budget and are plentiful in Ireland. I always stayed in private rooms rather than in dorms, but since you have 4 people you could probably just buy all the beds in a 4 bed dorm room and have it all to yourself. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum is a good place to ask for advice on things like hostels. Just do your research before you book - look at reviews, location, security features, etc. and you shouldn't go wrong.
Once you have a better idea of the places you'd like to go, people might be able to recommend some specific hostels, like some already have for Dublin.
Happy Planning!
