Traveling to Ireland in late March with 2 sets of parents-need help
 

My fiance and I are traveling to Ireland from March 28 through April 3 with both sets of parents. Our parents are active 80 yr olds, but do not want to rush anything.
This is a special trip for us, as we are getting married on March 25 and are taking our parents to Ireland to celebrate our new marriage.
Our tentative itinerary is as follows:
Night 1-Kilkenny-possibly stay at Fanad House
Night 2-Cork or Cohb or Kinsale. Which is better?
Night 3-Killarny or Dingle. Would like to stay at Emlagh Lodge. Focus on Dingle or Ring of Kerry?
Night 4-Ennis (or somewhere close)
Night 5-??
Night 6-Dublin
We are renting a mini-van and want to reach our B&Bs by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. I have done a lot of reading and my brain in over loaded! The two requests made from my fiance are to stay 1 night in a castle and have a re-creation wedding ceremony. Any suggestions? The Dromoland Castle keeps popping up as the best. Any thoughts on Kinnitty Castle? Also, we'd like to stay at a Farmhouse B&B. Lots of options. Does anyone have a favorite? We all love to explore villages, visit pubs, take in the scenery. None of us are overly interested in very touristy places. I bought the Complete Road Atlas of Ireland, which seems extremely comprehensive.
I appreciate any help!

Thanks-Michelle

YOu are a better person than I am!! I wish I could offer help with places to stay, but will comment on your transport. (devil's in the details!!).
European minivans are quite small. The back row can be really cramped and space for luggage limited. Please be very careful on the type of vehicle rented. The minivans we rent in Europe have been small.

Can anyone on the board suggest a good vehicle?? Or transport option??

Very funny response, as I am finding out I'm not as good of a person as I once thought!!
I need a travel agent!

Go to Trip Advisor and read the reviews of Kinitty Castle and all the other places you planned to stay. Kinitty may not be your cup of tea after you read all the posts.

www.tripadvisor.com

Agree you need to double check on the mini-van. Vehicles in europe can be tiny. And I have seen some mni-vans that 6 people alone would be a squeeze - with no room at all for luggage.

I would check the site of the people you're renting from - or the site of the company manufacturing that vehcile to find out the exact inside dimensions - since in my experience older folks tend to travel with a LOT of stuff.

We rented a minivan in Ireland about 8 years ago - we were a group of 4 traveling with golf clubs. We talked the car rental agency into letting us take out the third row and leaving it there -- there is no way we would have otherwise fit four sets of golf clubs and luggage inside. The second row was a split row of 2 seats - not a 'bench' seat like many in the US.

I would certainly encourage everyone to pack light!

Auto Rentals within Ireland generally refer to mini-vans as 'people movers'. They are available as 5, 7 and 9 passenger, but those designations are suspect. SOME 7 passenger models will adequately handle 6 adults AND luggage, BUT NOT MANY. You NEED a 9 passenger vehicle (VW CARRAVELLE, MERCEDES VITO,or equivilent), because even though the company might list their 7 passenger offering as a Kia Sedona (which WOULD work for you)they DON'T guarrantee that model. Most other "equivilent" 7 passengers, such as the Renault Scenic and the Opel have "JUMP SEATS" that fold up out of the floor of the cargo area and are excedingly DIFFICULT to enter and exit.
You don't mention budget considerations on the Castle stay, so I presume the cost of Dromoland hasn't scared you off. It does get very high marks, so if price isn't a consideration -- go for it.
To spread out your travel and maximize your enjoyment, I vote for spending night #2 in Kinsale. I also vote for Dingle over the ROK -- a shorter tour AND, more "BANG" for the buck, both in things to see and do.
This is a fairly aggressive schedule. It would have been MUCH easier if you had flown into Dublin and out of Shannon. You'll have a good six hour drive (or more) to get back to Dublin from the Ennis area (The good news is that you can break it up with a stop at the Rock of Cashel!)
Think about day #3 in Kenmare, #4 in Dingle and #5 in Ennis ( actually, Dromoland).
Try www.aaroadwatch.ie for route planning, but divide the 'total miles driven' figure by 30 or 35 to get a resonably accurrate estimate of time.

Bob

Congrats on your March marriage. I am a bit amused by the statement "do not want to rush anything" and yet each night is spent in a different place with plenty of driving in between. Are you intent on seeing it all or enjoying the trip?

Do as Itallian_Chauffer suggests and run your trip through a trip planner to see what you are actually proposing. In Ireland you do not "zip" anywhere. Travel is slow.

If I were on a honeymoon (and with 80 year olds along -- no matter their stamina) I would require spending at least two nights in a couple of areas. There may also be jet lag to contend with, depending on where you are coming from. Just my opinion.

For a night at the castle www.adaremanor.com and www.irelands-blue-book.ie
For crack in the pub
www.irishmusicbars.com
For the Shannon region look at www.shannonregiontourism.ie
For a holiday on the farm www.irishfarmholidays.com
and for anything that I may have left out www.ireland.ie
Tip; Be sure and have plenty of room to put the luggage IN the vehicle. Would not like to see any of your family having to sit on the roof !!!!!!
Top travel from Dingle to Ennis could I suggest you look at www.ireland.ie
To fly into Dublin and out of Shannon would spare you a lot of backtracking.

One of the best farmhouses in Ireland is Glasha Farmhouse, www.glashafarmhouse.com. The lovely hostess has won numerous awards -- Landlady of the Year, Les Routiers, AA 5-diamond award to name a few -- and her food is outstanding. It's located in rural County Waterford so it may not be in the right location for you, although you could base here and take day trips to Waterford, Kilkenny, Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Abbey and more. Glasha is our favorite place to stay in all Ireland.

aGlad you have the Atlas of Ireland. Its the only way to go. If you have never driven in Ireland you will be amazed at how long it takes to get places!! Don't know if you would have enough time to get to Dingle from Cork or Kinsale - especially if you drive the roads thru the small towns . There is a lot around Killarny and I think the "Seniors" would enjoy it more.
The people of Ireland are so wonderful. Be prepared for rain and cool weather. If you do get to Dingle, you will see more of the real Ireland - sheep and seacoast.
Have fun!!

A few general comments:

The distances may seem short but the drive times will be long. Especially in a large 7 or 9 passenger vehicle. On many of those routes you will be LUCKY to average 35 mph.

The poor folks stuck in the back seats will be uncomfortable so you'll have to factor in simple stretch breaks.

This itinerary would be fairly strenuous but certainly doable for 2 20-somethings but for 2 (I'm guessing) middle agers and 4 80 year olds - it is a trek.

Since you say you want to &quot;<i>explore villages, visit pubs, take in the scenery. None of us are overly interested in very touristy places</i> you might want to consider slowing down. Stay 2 or 3 nights in one place. It would be a LOT easier on your parents and give you a chance to experience &quot;Ireland&quot; w/o rushing from one area to another every day.

Tiki11 and Nannybray: Are you talking about the Ordnance Survey Road Atlas or the Atlas of GB and Ireland put out by Michelin? I've considered both and, while I know many suggest waiting to get to Ireland before purchasing this, I think I'd enjoy having it for the planning. Do you have a recommendation for which is best, and can you tell me if yours has place names in Gaelic as well? Thanks!

Thank you all for your advice. I will reconsider my itinerary. I agree to slow down. I only wish I had made my plane reservations into Shannon instead.
Thank you again!

Michelle

The michelin map is great, I have one myself for my trip in June.

I agree that slowing down is preferable -- remember, each day you change lodgings involves packing, unpacking, checking out, traveling, checking in -- something you can skip when you stay in one place.

Why are you bringing the parents on a honeymoon?? :)

In Kilkenny, we stayed at Knocktopher Abbey, and it was great -- actually about 20 minutes south of Kilkenny.

Check out the Adare Manor.

http://www.adaremanor.com/

I told my mother-in-law that that is where I was marrying my next husband.

And I just wrote about this to someone else. Since your parents are elderly, a temporary handicapped parking pass will make parking near things you want to see much easier. If any of them qualify for one, they are recognized world wide. Traveling like that takes a lot out of anyone, so the less walking they do, the better.

Great advice on obtaining a Handicap license. I believe we do qualify. Yikes!
In response the question of &quot;Why are you bringing your parents on a honeymoon?&quot;...my husband to be and I are fortunate in that we do quite a bit of traveling. We both feel blessed to have two sets of parents healthy enough to travel with us. So, it's not really a honeymoon, but more of a gift to our parents for being really terrific people.
Now, I have to convince my adventure seeking fiance to slow down on this trip!
Thanks All!!

Have you heard of www.world-honeymoons.net
click on western europe - ireland - Irish honeymoon packages.
I would agree with the others here about slowing down. There is so much to see and a lot to be missed for that next trip. Great to see that you are thinking of your parents. Ye are so lucky to have each other. Long may they be with you both.
Enjoy.

The question about going on your honeymoon with your parents was tongue in cheek -- I sort of did the same thing. My husband and I went to Ireland for a week with my parents shortly after we were married, too. Of course, they were only in their late 50s :)

You will have a wonderful time in Ireland, and you are truly blessed to not only have your parents to travel with, but like them enough to do so!!! :)

Hello,
This hopefully, will be my last request for assistance!
My adventurer has agreed to slow down! I cannot change the plane tickets to travel onto Shannon without adding on $1200 US dollars.
Here is my new tentative itinerary:

Nights 1-2-Shannon Region. Stay in town or in farmhouse. (same place, 2 nights)
Nights 3-4 Dingle Peninsula. Emlagh Lodge has vacancy for 2 nights.
Night 5-Dromoland Castle for wedding #2.
Night 6 Dublin. According to my dad, who's trying to follow my itinerary on his trusty AAA map, the drive to Dublin from Ennis would only be approximately 3 1/2 hours. Is that true?

We hope to arrive in Dublin on our last day around 2:00pm. I'm open to any suggestions on any favorite places!

I've enjoyed all your advice and suggestions. Thank you!
Michelle

That looks a whole lot better to me. Tell your father that maps can be deceiving. Newmarket-on-Fergus (that is where Dromoland is) to Dublin is more like 4 to 4 1/2 hours and probably depends on where in Dublin you are going to. Were you planning on seeing anything in Dublin? You may not have enough time. You could do sightseeing on the way instead.

according to WWW.AAROADWATCH.IE the direct route from Dromoland Castle to Dublin (City Center) is the N7, through Roscrea. It lists the mileage as 140.6 and claims a drive time of 3 hours 9 minutes. Even though the N7 is a pretty good road,by Irish standards, I would place the trip (without stops) at more like 4 hours (using the 35mph rule -- at 30 mph, it will work out to more like 4 1/2 - 4 3/4).
If you opt for the slightly longer route through Cashel, the route planner pegs it at 166 miles and claims a drive time of 3 hours and 45 minutes (at 35 mph, it will take 4 3/4, and 5 1/2, if you only average 30 mph), but then you'll want to ADD an hour or two, to tour the Rock of Cashel.
Are you dropping the car at the airport? If so, you'll need to allow 30-45 minutes to get from the airport to City Center...PLUS however much time it takes to actually return the van.
Bob

Tiki11
To cover your first day near Shannon in a farmhouse have a look at www.cahergal.com It is only 10 miles from Shannon and a good base to travel out from.
For your journey to Dingle have a look at www.shannonferries.com
And for your stay in Kerry www.corkkerry.ie
For your trip to Dublin www.visitdublin.com
and finally for that bit of duty free shopping at the airport www.airportshopping.ie
Enjoy your stay and safe travelling.

Hello,

I hope some of you are still around to reply to my new question.
My new itinerary is as follows:
Night 1 and 2-Kinsale. Booked at Old Bank.
Nights 3-4 Dingle. Booked at Emlagh Lodge.
Night 5-Open. We were hoping for a castle, however I need an emergency back up plan for our re-enactment of our wedding vows.
All of the castles are fairly well booked for April 1. Chuck and I could stay at Dromoland or Adare Manor-but both places only have 1 room left. I don't think our parents would mind staying someplace nice and close, but we really want to stay together.
Can anyone share with me a wonderfully romantic place were we could all stay in re-enact our wedding vows between Dingle and Dublin?

I appreciate any suggestions!! Your previous advice has come in very handy.

Michelle

In April, Dingle will be fairly quiet, with no large masses of tourists to 'over-run' everything. Since it will be so quiet, why not renew your vows inside Gallarus Oratory? Not a castle, true enough, but how many people can say that their vows were consecrated in a 1,200 year old church?
Alternatively, but also on the Dingle, is Kilmalkedar Church, ruins of a 12th Century complex. There is an Ogham Stone there with a hole through it, that tradition holds that celts used to sanctify / legitimize their unions. Plus, you could also renew your vows under the Romanesque doorway, which, in effect, offers you a &quot;twofer&quot;.

Bob

Hi Tiki11, I have been following your post as we are visiting Ireland at the beginning of May and were also trying to sort out our itinerary. Congrats on your upcoming nuptials and I'm sure the memories of travelling with both sets of parents will be something you all will cherish. As for your castle conundrum, I have used a site to help find unique accommodation in England where we are spending some time before Ireland. The site is http://www.specialplacestostay.com/ and one place you might be interested in near Nenagh, on the way to Dublin, northeast of Limerick is http://www.ashleypark.com/. Not a castle but looks charming and very romantic. Another couple that might be of interest are http://www.castleballaghmore.com/ and http://www.roundwoodhouse.com/. Hope these help and that you all have an unforgettably good time!

As long as you adhere to cancellation policies, why don't you reserve the rooms you can and hope that more become available?

Thank you for the information on Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkedar Church. That sounds perfect! We are, in fact, staying at Dromoland, but as there is another wedding taking place, they cannot accommodate our vow renewals. The locations in Dingle sound so much better!

Thank you all for your assistance! I will share with you results of our trip in a couple of weeks.

Happy Spring!

Glad you liked the idea of using Dingle (since you'll be there, anyway). You do realize that there will be no officiant? Guess you'll have to be self-proclaimed!

We arrive Shannon on 31 March. The weather should be in the 40 - 50 degree range and MOSTLY dry. Have a great trip, a solemn and joyous re-marraige and enjoy your company.

We took my then, 81 year old father-in-law to Ireland, to meet his cousins for the first time, in April of 1999. The folling June, we went back with him and his wife, for two weeks. Neither one of them can handle such a trip, anymore, but ...

We had the two of them over for dinner last night, and both of them spent 1/2 the night reminiscing about those trips.

You can buy memories like that, at any price.

Bob

Tiki11 and Bob, wishing you both wonderful trips! We'll look forward to hearing about them when you return. Safe journey.

Starfish1:
Thanks for your well-wishes. Unlike Tiki11, there are NO vows planned for us, this trip (35th Anniversary) -- I'm thinking that if the FIRST time didn't stick ...

On another note: check out this earlier thread, viv a vis Car Rentals:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34564682

Maybe it will provide you with some reassurance.

Bob