Scotland and Ireland in 2 weeks, Recommendations
 

We are planning one week in Scotland and one in Ireland in May 2014. We would prefer to stay in B&B's and possibly rent a car. Looking for suggestions, ideas, good experiences and bad ones. Right now our plan is to fly in to Edinburgh and out of Dublin. Is flying in to Dublin and out of Glasgow a better option?

Just a very quick comment right now.

With just seven days in each country you will only have time for a teensy taste of either- so you will have to be VERY selective where you go/what you try to see. There are hundreds of options so you really need to get a couple of guidebooks and start to narrow things down a bit.

Fly into Edinburgh stay a while (3 days), then fly to Orkney (hire a car) and stay a while (3 days), flight back to Dublin via Glasgow or Edinburgh airports (as the prices and times work out), go out into the country (for me East coast, but loads love the West side, finish in Dublin for 3 days.

Open Jaw Edinburgh and Dublin. Janisj has it right you will be rushed

Depends on where you are flying from. Dublin flights are cheap right now. We did rt to Dublin and took a one hour flight cheapy flight to Edinburgh a couple of years ago. We stayed in Dublin for several nights and then flew to Edinburgh on an early morning flight. Stayed there for several nights and then took the hour long flight out of Edinburgh which is an small airport and very easy back to Dublin. It was way cheaper than flying into Edinburgh for us from Fl. My friends like Glasgow because there is a straight through flight to their home airport on USAIR. Not sure if it is any cheaper. If money is no concern them do an open jaw.

I would concentrate on one area of Scotland, Edinburgh as a base and do some day trips. Ireland, what do you want to see?

I would personally drop Ireland.

Dublin is a lovely place but not one of the world's great cities. A week in Ireland only with Dublin and the West Coast would be rushed. Combine it with a week in Scotland rushing around and throw in transit time (one day), you have one heck of a rush around.

Personally, I would fly into Edinburgh, 3 days here with maybe a trip out to Rosslyn Chapel or St. Andrews. Then just get the map out and plan 10 good days touring Scotland. Fly back out of Glasgow.

I am not sure whether you class driving as a chore or a pleasure but we have used these many times

http://www.calmac.co.uk/tickets/island-hopping/

Great way of getting round.

I will agree 2 weeks is little enough time for 2 countries, but that's the time you have then you can work with it.
Firstly though you need to filter the would like to see from the can see. trying to fit in all of both countries will be way too much yet just seeing the cities will not give a feel for the county.

Have a good think of the priorities and remember you can fly from any Irish airport to Scotland but these regional flights and their restrictions will limit the baggage for the whole trip. You can coach/rail and sail via Belfast between the two locations without baggage restrictions but at a time cost.

I love Scotland but with the pound against the dollar had to be practical so only stayed there three nights. We got to see Edinburgh which is what we wanted to see. I always fight for Dublin as it is one of my fav places. You can see a lot of Ireland in a week. That is what second and third and fourth trips are for. Be careful with the regional airlines as Tony said because they will make up for cheap tickets with huge baggage fees.

>>but with the pound against the dollar had to be practical . . .<<

Sorry but that really doesn't make sense?? You do get more € per $ than you do £. But that has absolutely nothing to do with buying power. In actuality the exchange rates are nearly identical re what things cost.

I meant the dollar is so weak against the pound. On the positive side euro is dropping again. 1.35 today and we are going Thursday.

That is what I was trying to explain. The dollar is no weaker against the £ than it is against the €.

Folks mix up the exchange 'rate' with the monetary values.

.15 difference today with the euro and the pound but when went last year it was more plus we were in London. We are headed to Germany and we stay on base where we pay USD. That helps when you are a budget traveler.

No it doesn't help budget travelers. You are confusing apples and oranges. If anything, the $ is currently slightly stronger vs. the £ than vs. the €.

It is very close though.

The dollar is so weak again the pound.

Really?

Digging up the facts :

http://fxtop.com/en/historical-excha...DD2=04&LANG=en

I will not forget trips to the US prior to 2008 when we couldn't spend our cash, things were just so cheap, we were getting over $2 to the pound. Travel to the US is not expensive for us, I would say the tourist purchasing power equality rate should be around £1 to $1.80.

Of course in Britain we don't add tax and tips onto our menu bills so you can factor that into your exchange rate.

That should have been " travel to the US is NOW expensive for us".

Sorry, first post didn't post and then tried again and got both. Dickie, I live in Fl where we have many British tourist. They have to buy new suitcases to take home their goods.I am glas it is not as good for you! We always convert it into beer prices. I have gone when 200.00 USD converted to Euro would cost me 300.00 USD. I am happy to see it at 1.35 today. Every bit helps.

>>I have gone when 200.00 USD converted to Euro would cost me 300.00 USD. <<

OK - how would $200 converted to € cost $300? $200 converted to € would cost. . . . $200

But it looks like you are still a bit confused. Yes, the € and £ have been more expensive (and less expensive) over the years. But the $:€ rate at $1.35 does not mean it is a better deal than $:£ at $1.59 or $1.60

Geez janis I put my atm card into the machine in a European city cash machine asking for 200 euro. My atm card came back out of the machine like it is suppose to and it gave me 200 euro but it took 300 USD out of my bank account from America. The exchange rate was 1.50 that day. I am not confused.

OK - that makes more sense. I was commenting on what you originally wrote . . . Which was different. You said $200 dollars worth of euro cost you $300

Clothes are cheap in America for a comparable product.

Restaurant meals are expensive.