Hi, Four of us are travelling to Britain/Ireland in August. We have a rental car and want to take it over to Ireland for four days then back to Wales/ Scotland. What I need is advice on what Ferries to take from Penbroke and then from Dublin, also costs etc. and pitfalls if any. Thanks very much

Dear Tricia <BR> <BR> When I went to Ireland 3 years ago we crossed from Fishguard Wales to Rosslare Ireland. Then on the way back we left from Dun Laoghaire Ireland to Holyhead. We traveled on the Stena Sealink Ferry both times. I hunted up some of my information from that trip (which came from my fodors Ireland book) and there were two principle ferry routes to the Irish Republic: to Dublin from Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesea, and to Rosslare from Fishguard or Pembroke in Wales. At the time two companies sailed the Dublin Route 1) Irish ferries from Dublin port and Stena Sealink, whose ferries go both to Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire. The prices and departure times vary according to season. So you need to call the companies to confirm. The information said that summer, reservations are strongly recommended. Irish ferries operates the Pembroke to Rosslare route and Stena Sealink operates the fishguard to Rosslare route. Contact numbers for Irish ferries 01/661-0511 and for Stena Sealink at Ferryport, Dun Laoghaire 01/204-7777 or 204-7700. If anyone has any updated information I hope they will share it with you. If not hope this helps. The cost of the ferry was included in our trip. <BR> <BR> Peace Robbie

FERRY TRANSPORTATION TO WALES <BR>Dublin, Ireland to Holyhead, Wales (Check which harbor each of the companies depart from to get to Wales. <BR>1.) Irish Ferries: 2-4 Merrion Row, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6610511. Fax: 01-6610743. Hrs. Mon. Fri. 9am-5pm & Sat. 9:15am-12:45pm. Republic of Ireland Tel: 1890-313131. Northern Ireland Freephone Tel: 0800-0182211. Web sites: http://www.irishferries.ie/ or http://www.irishferries.com/ Dublin Port to Holyhead (3 per day, Dublin Swift 1 3/4 hrs. or 2 per day Cruise ferry 3 1/2 hrs.). 2.) Stena Line: Toll-Free from U.S.A.: (800) 677-8585 or New York, U.S.A.Tel: (212) 575-2667. <BR>Ireland Tel: 08705-707070. <BR>Dublin Tel: 01-2047777. Fax: 01-2047630. <BR>Web site: http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ Dublin Port to Holyhead (2 per day, HSS ferry 4 hrs). Dublin Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead (4 per day). <BR>

Try the following website. It gives good information on all aspects of travelling to Ireland. <BR> <BR>www.wannabeinireland.com

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Tables 2055, 2040, 2045 and 2052 show that Irish Ferries leave Pembroke at 0315 and 1500 daily, and reach Rosslare at 0700 and 1845. The other tables shows frequent boats from Dublin and nearby Dun Laoghaire of Irish Feries and of Stena Line. The web sites are <BR>http://www.irishferries.ie/ and http://www.stenaline.co.uk/traveluk/Stena_Line_UK/ <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

Just make sure your rental car will allow you to take the car over to Ireland. Some do not and will not honor any insurance etc. that you have.

Another pitfall can be the weather. It's unlikely you'll have a storm in August that will prevent the ferries from sailing, but in Ireland, you never know.