We are going to Ireland for the first time and I know absolutely nothing about it except that it is supposed to be nice. We will be going the middle of August. We will start in Dublin for 6 days. What can anyone recommend? How about hotels and day trips?

The first day, take the city tour bus. Your ticket is good for all day, you can get on and off as you wish. I like to stay on for the entire route, then do get on and off all day.<BR><BR>Day trip - New Grange - neolithic burial mounds

Nadine,<BR><BR>Try the following Useful Web Sites for Ireland holidays - <BR>Ireland and its regions<BR>www.ireland.travel.ie<BR>Ireland West : www.westireland.travel.ie <BR>www.connemarra-tourism.org/<BR>www.connemara-tourism.org/index.html <BR>www.connemara.net/<BR>East Coast/Midlands : www.midlandseastireland.travel.ie <BR>Cork - Kerry : www.cork-kerry.travel.ie <BR>www.dingle-peninsula.ie/ <BR>Ireland South East : www.southeastireland.travel.ie <BR>Ireland North West : www.northwestireland.travel.ie <BR>Dublin : www.visitdublin.com <BR>The Shannon Region : www.shannonireland.travel.ie <BR><BR>General Information on getting around and accessing main sites<BR>www.ireland.com <BR>www.heritageireland.com - Great information on heritage cards which allow access to most sites.<BR> www.cie.ie – CIE is the umbrella company for public transport and has links to the bus and rail schedules and Dublin Bus schedules. CIE tours also has specialized section on tours to main attractions<BR>www.aircoach.ie – This is a non-stop bus link to and from the airport to the major hotels.<BR>www.ryanair.ie – No frills cheap airline has fares as low as 9 Irish pounds to airports in the UK & Europe.<BR>www.tourismresources.ie<BR><BR>Accommod ation & Restaurants<BR>www.ireland.travel.ie<BR>www.townan dcountry.ie<BR>www.irishfarmholidays.com<BR>www.hi dden-ireland.com,<BR>www.jurys.com<BR>www.templehouse.ie (Sligo – NorthWest)<BR>www.beourguest.ie <BR>www.family-homes.ie <BR>www.dublinn.com (Kilronan House)<BR>www.castlesireland.com/<BR>www.gsh.ie<BR>www.irelands-blue-book.ie/<BR>www.ballymaloe.com (In Cork – the southern region – it has an excellent restaurant)<BR>www.irishcountryhousesandcastles.co m<BR> <BR>Passage Graves/Ancient Tombs<BR>www.loughcrew.com,<BR>www.meathtourism.ie <BR>Driving in Ireland<BR>www.roadwatch.ie<BR>Walking Tours<BR>http://www.irishwaymarkedways.ie <BR>Conferences <BR>http://www.conference-ireland.ie or http://www.incentive-ireland.ie<BR>English Tours<BR>http://www.languagelearning.travel.ie<BR>Golf<BR>http://www.golf.travel.ie <BR>Fishing<BR>http://www.cfb.ie<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR><BR>Cathy

Nadine - I think 6 days in Dublin might be too long, dependin on the full length of your trip. How long will you be in Ireland total? Is your plan to fly in and out of Dublin? If so, is this unchangeable? Are you willing to rent a car and do some driving?

I agree that 6 days in Dublin would be too many. I LOVED the West coast -- and the drive/bus ride across the middle was lovely and unexpectedly enjoyable. I recommend Galway and the Aran Islands for natural beauty and ancient monuments...

Nadine - this is not meant as a dig in anyway. Why are you going to Ireland if you know nothing about it? What prompted you to chose the destination? Answers to these might help people help you.

Dublin for 6 days is excessive. I stayed 2 nights and did pretty much everything. It's very walkable and there is not nearly as much as other European capital cities.

Nadine - I agree with the others. If you meant 6 days in Dublin followed by more time elsewhere, then it is 3 or 4 days too many for Dublin. (If your entire trip is 6 days you might want to skip Dublin entirely.) Dublin is a great city but for the first timer to Ireland the countryside is where you want to concentrate your time. 2 or at most 3 days is plenty for Dublin.

I meant to add that nice accomodations in Dublin will cost you 2 to 4 times more than places in the country.

I haven't taken them yet, but I found through the Irish rail system some nice day tours out of Dublin. They may be a good thing to do to see more area. I'm going to take one in May, so I can report more later!