help planning trip to ireland
 

I am planing a trip to ireland in the fall this year and i was wondering what the top ten things to see are.I will be going by myself so anything i should know about traveling alone.I already have the traveling solo book.I will be there between 10 and 14 days. I am not going to rent a car so do any of you know how the public transportation in ireland is. What about lodgeing hotel, B&B, or hostels. Any information is greatly appreciated.Any good websited i showed look at. Thanks again for all your replies.

Hi Matt, Mina posted this trip report a couple of years ago about her solo Ireland trip. It might be helpful for you.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34373959

Hi Matt.
I have just read Mina's post and it is hillarious - sums up Ireland to a T but you will not need the Febreze as all public places (in the Republic) are now smoke free.
I live in Belfast and and can send you the web address for transport and accomodation but what airport are you travelling into?
I have read lots of posts on Ireland and almost all of them are centred around the West Coast of Ireland. In my opinion the East Coast is nicer (but I am baised) and if you hav'nt settled on an itinerary N. Ireland has a lot to offer and we are ever bit as friendly as our southern neighbours.
Are you male or female?
As a solo taveller for many years If there is anything I can do to help you with your plans just ask.

cambe, i am going to fly into dulin and hang out there a couple days. I want to goto newgrange and the hill of tara.I want to go to dingle and the cliffs of mohre. After that i am open to anything. Any information you could provide me would be very helpful. I am male thanks

Hi Matt,
Looking at you itinerary I would advise you to hire a car for part of your trip.


web adresses:
Bus and train services in the Republic
www.cie.ie

Republic tourist board:
WWW.failteireland.ie

Tourist board NI
WWW.discovernorthernireland.com

As you are ariving into Dublin I would suggest that you spend about 2 days there.

Then take the train to Limerick from Housten station and (I know you don't want to hear this and perhapes other people will be able to tell you different) hire a car for your trip to the Burra and Dingle.

After that I would go back to Limerick and take the train to Dublin.

From there you can either day trip to Newgrange and Tara from Connolly Station to Drogheda and from there get either a taxi or bus. However, having seen the sights you could go back to Drogheda and take a train to Belfast. Spend 2 in Belfast and visit the Giants Causeway and the north coast by train before travelling back to Dublin again by train.

Have a great trip and if you need any further help please ask

do you know of any good tour operators in belfast or ireland who do a three or 4 day tour.If not what towns would you stay in if i did this trip by train.Also i will be coming in march. what about staying in derry for a night.anything else i should see i northen ireland. thanks again

Matt.
Check out CIE www.cie.ie they have lots of tours available but some are for more than 3 or 4 days.

Look on the Euorope forum and you may find better information on this. Dingle and tne Burren landscape are very popular with tourists so I would be pretty sure there would be some sort of coach trip available.

As for getting to Derry - easy
take a train or bus fom Belfast. No need to pre book.
Central station Belfast
or
Great Victoria Bus Station
Both are quite central - ask where they are -we are a friendly lot!!

Hope this helps but will try to find out more for you.

I'm a big fan of castles so I'll put my vote in for the castles. Really liked Kilkenny, naturally Blarney, and the cute Bunratty Castle area (touristy I know). Those are the more well known castles...of course there are smaller ones as well.

Hi Matt
I'm going to Ireland solo this fall, also - arriving early September. I'm still in the early stages of planning, but there are two things I plan to purchase - you may know these already. I plan to buy a Heritage card, which for approximately 20 euros will let the holder into many sites across the country. It should pay for itself fairly quickly. I don't think it is valid in the North as far as I know. I also plan to purchase an 8-day Irish Explorer ticket which is approximately 180 euros. It is valid on Irish Rail and Bus Eirann. Like you, I don't plan on driving, either. Is this your first trip to Ireland? It will be mine.

I had a fantastic time as a solo traveler in Ireland. I took a quided bus tour which caters to young backpacker types. The company was called Tir na nog. There is another one called Haggis. They might be the same company now.

You travel with about 15 people and stay in hostels. It starts and ends in Dublin. One tour is 7 days, the other is 5. I had the time of my life and made friends who I still correspond with.

Check for their web site.