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Advice on Itinerary for Trip with School Age Kids and Retiree

Posted by on

Hello! Humbly asking for any advice as I plan a multi-generational trip. My husband I will be flying to Dublin, March 26 - April 4. We'll have my 70-year-old mother and our two kids (9 and 13). We're excited to explore Ireland!

  • March 27: Fly into Dublin, rent a car and drive to Kilkenny, Stay at Lawcus Farms Guesthouse for 3 nights (highly recommended by RS). Use this as a home base for exploring the area.

  • March 30 - Drive to Dingle, stay for 3 nights at Dingle Skellig Hotel. (pool for 9 year old)

  • April 2: Drive back to Dublin, return rental car and stay two nights in either central Dublin or Howth.

  • April 4: Fly back to Minnesota

I'm really trying to slow down and opting for longer stays in one location, as opposed to hopping hotels each night. I realize this may result in longer driving days. I'm trying to decide if we stay in London, or opt for a slower paced area like Howth.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Posted by
570 posts

I would be reluctant to drive in a strange country right after getting off a long international flight. So I would start with the days in Dublin and then head out.

Posted by
7966 posts

I agree with Renee. At least spend one night in Dublin before you traverse the vagaries of the roads there. It's a lot to deal with even without jet lag.

In fact, if you haven't booked your stay at the Guesthouse, I would follow Renee's advice and spend the first few days in Dublin. That way, after several activity-filled days in Dublin, you'll be ready to relax in your nice guesthouse in Kilkenny.

Posted by
1031 posts

Last year, our family of 6, Grandparents, parents and school age kids, enjoyed the rib boat ride. the raptor exhibit and Murphy’s ice cream in Dingle. The castle in Kilkenny. And the tour of the Rock of Cashel. The kids loved London especially the world’s biggest Lego store, not so much Dublin although Murphy’s ice cream had a storefront there, too. In London we did the Natural History Museum for the dinosaurs, a boat ride on the Thames, a family tour of the Globe Theater, a kids tea and a black cab tour. Fun!

Posted by
417 posts

How about finishing up in Newgrange and the Boyne Valley? Lots of nice places to stay in that area, especially with a car. Cabra Castle is a little far afield, but it's a castle you can stay in. If you shift your Dublin time to the start of the trip, as suggested by the other commenters, this would round out the trip nicely.

Posted by
166 posts

Agree with others driving in Ireland for the first time is NOT something you want to do jet lagged! If you cannot work your itinerary to stay in Dublin for a night a two before you venture to Killkenny then I would suggest taking public transit.

You can take a bus directly from the Dublin Airport to Killkenny.

Or another option is from the airport take a DoDublin Express Bus (from either Terminal 1 or 2) (route 782) which has a stop at Dublin Heuston Train Station. You can then voyage via train to Killkenny from Dublin Heuston Train Station. You can reserve all of this in advance. Then in Killkenny you can rent a car or wait until Day 2 while there when you have settled in more. We've used the buses and the train in Ireland and it worked well for us. Our family really enjoyed the train ride!

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