Just started planning my trip to Ireland for October this year. Leaning heavily towards renting a car b/c I hopefully plan to find those hidden treasure one can only find by leaving the main road. Will start in Dublin (will rent car after Dublin) and head to Connemara, Galway then south, and end up back in Dublin) Should I reconsider train/bus, or I am on the right track?

topping

You will definitely need a car to see much along the west and southwest coast. Trains just don't go the places you'd want to visit and taking local buses is a VERY slow way to get around.<BR><BR>Outside of Dublin driving is not a problem - not fast but certainly faster than by bus.

Hello Danacat...Rent a car. It will be difficult to find those &quot;hidden treasures&quot; (and there are so, so many), while depending on bus or train travel. Our 6th Ireland trip is coming up and we have always traveled by car...Happy and Safe Travels...Helen

Rent a car, you won't regret it.

I add another vote for renting a car. Public transportation in Ireland is difficult and time consuming. Assuming that you have limited time in Ireland, why spend half of it trying to figure out train and bus schedules? Rent the car, go off the beaten path, discover all those little gems that only traveling by car makes possible.

Scroll down thru the 'posts' and take a look at my &quot;A non-driver's west of Ireland itinerary.&quot; I disagree with Janis and EmeraldIsle as to BusEireann being slow. I plan my itinerary in advance with schedules from http://www.BusEireann.ie<BR>Maybe I had extra advantages like last September when Mrs. Riordan took me to see my late Mother's 103 year old first cousin or when Jimmy Barrett toured me around Bangor, or even when the lady from the B&amp;B provided pick-up and drop-off service from/to the bus stop. <BR>There's only 1-bus daily each way between Ballina &amp; Belmullet but if you know the schedule, you're fine. If you want to get off the beaten path: I have ridden BusEireann between Galway and Connemara and between Ennis and the Coast (Miltown Malbay &amp; Lahinch). <BR><BR>As I say in my other post, car rental companies are hesitant to rent a car to a septuagenarian, so I am often left with no alternative - but I get around.<BR>P.S.<BR>BusEireann service in October is not as frequent as it is in July/August.

I've been round Ireland using trains and buses. It's a much better way of learning about the country and meeting local people - they really are so friendly. Rural services are not frequent, but if you have to wait for a bus, there will be somewhere to get a Guinness - that's the pace of life in rural Ireland. The Bus Eireann timetable shows that even most villages get at least some buses. Go with the pace of Irish life and you will learn so much more about the country.

I vote for the coach (bus). A chance to look around and visit with folks. I like the coach, much more than a car and most certainly more than the train, even when it was available. Have a grand time!