Renting a car in Ireland
Jun 15th, 2009 | 01:01 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2009
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Renting a car in Ireland
We are arriving in Shannon and considering a rental car for our 7 day visit. Is there a difference in rental companies? Also, I once heard that age may prohibit us from renting a car? (husband is 72) If there is a train from Shannon to Galway, we would opt for that.. I did read that a taxi from Shannon airport to Galway city was E150....which is cloes to $300 I think...and quite out of the question. Any suggestions?
Jun 15th, 2009 | 02:28 PM
#2
Joined: Jun 2006
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You'll find many threads for "car rentals in Ireland" or similar; Dan Dooley and Autoeurope are rental companies popular with Fodorites. As you'll note from reading the threads, do be careful you know what your rate includes, especially when it comes to insurance. There is often a surcharge for drivers age 70-75.
I checked trains; you can't get from Shannon to Galway without going east almost to Dublin and then heading back westward!
But there is bus service (check out www.buseireann.ie). The Route 51 Cork/Limerick/Shannon airport/Galway bus leaves hourly on the :55 from 7:55 am until 8:55 pm. The trip takes 1 hr 50 minutes, and the fare is Euros 14 one way or Euros 20 roundtrip.
The bigger question will be whether you think you need a car if you're going to explore Connemara on your own (rather than an organized tour). Good luck! -- feel free to ask for input as you develop your itinerary!
I checked trains; you can't get from Shannon to Galway without going east almost to Dublin and then heading back westward!
But there is bus service (check out www.buseireann.ie). The Route 51 Cork/Limerick/Shannon airport/Galway bus leaves hourly on the :55 from 7:55 am until 8:55 pm. The trip takes 1 hr 50 minutes, and the fare is Euros 14 one way or Euros 20 roundtrip.
The bigger question will be whether you think you need a car if you're going to explore Connemara on your own (rather than an organized tour). Good luck! -- feel free to ask for input as you develop your itinerary!
Jun 15th, 2009 | 04:41 PM
#3
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Thank you Skibumette!...The bus sounds like the best for us. We do have friends in Galway and North of there.. but I do not want to impose on them for pick-up and delivery to the airport..I am very grateful for your info on the bus schedules.. The car rental may still be necessary for us..but if so, we would probably be able to do that in the city of Galway. It has been a few years since we have been there..and I do have some anxiety about driving again.
Jun 16th, 2009 | 09:18 PM
#4
Joined: Oct 2007
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On our last trip to Ireland, we had "age issues" too, DH being 77 at the time. Enterprise -- the Ireland website, www.enterprise.ie, was the only agency we found that would rent to him. The rental went smoothly and we would recommend them. They accepted our World MasterCard in lieu of their collision insurance.
