Best of Ireland in 14 Days

We did the 14 day tour last September. We arrived in Dublin the day before the tour having just finished the 13 day Scotland tour. We returned to Dublin for a few days after the tour. We had a little time pretour to visit the archeological museum, St. Stephen’s Green and to see Merrion Square with all the colorful doors. We did not spend any extra time in Belfast but chose to take the bus directly back to Dublin. We stayed at the tour hotel pre and post tour (Buswell’s) which was nice and well located. We took the Mary Gibbons Newgrange tour when we returned to Dublin. We wanted extra time in Dublin as well to see other sites. We spent the night before our flight home at an airport hotel.

Thanks much. The Dublin hotel for my tour is a Hampton Inn (Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre), which is kind of dissapointing. It doesn't look very charming, and is not close to Buswell's. Maybe I will choose a different hotel for pre and post.

I’ve stayed at that Hampton Inn and it was very nice and a good location for transport. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

We normally stay at the Ashling Hotel. It’s near Heuston train station, and it’s a super short walk to the Luas tram which has very frequent service into the center of town.

Thanks all, very helpful.
Also, the dates I chose are April 26 - May 9 .. and now I am wondering if I should go a little earlier .. for fewer crowds? (I realize there may be more rain earlier in April). ??thoughts?

We visited Ireland the last 2 weeks of May and the weather was perfect! I do realize we were very lucky with hardly any rain. I think your time frame is good, and think you do risk more cold and rain if you go earlier. When we went, it was not crowded yet at all.

I did this tour late last May (2022) and the weather was OK, one mostly rainy day in Dingle and a few sprinkles elsewhere. Going earlier means more rain risk. I didn't find places especially crowded, but that was last year when pre-flight testing rules may have kept some people home.

Our hotel was Buswell's and it was fine, but I think the convenience of staying in the tour hotel is worth it, if you can. I landed on a Monday before a Friday tour start, so had plenty of Dublin time on my own -- National Archeological Museum, General Post Office, Dublin Castle, St. Patricks and Christ Church, Custom House, Art Museum, and various walks. I also took the Mary Gibbons Newgrange tour which was a great experience. My only regret is not taking a student-led tour of Trinity College, because I mistakenly thought the RS tour would cover more of that.

After the tour ended in Belfast, I went to the Ulster Museum before taking an afternoon Aircoach straight to DUB, spending that night at an airport hotel. Another day in Belfast would have been nice though. I looked into flying home from Belfast, but it would have involved a London connection and it was easier to fly directly across from DUB. The two-hour Belfast-DUB bus ride was easy and inexpensive.

@Dick -- did you just leave your bag at the Belfast hotel while visiting the museum? I will have to think about if another day in Belfast is worth it, or if even more time in the Dublin area (i.e. more day trips) is needed. I will probably do something similar to what you did -- fly into Dublin on Monday ...

The Belfast hotel identified is Europa Hotel Belfast.

Yes Karen, I checked the bag in the lobby and it was the Europa. They gave me a ticket to reclaim it. The Aircoach and Tranlink buses to DUB leave from next to the hotel (different places, across the street from each other), so very convenient. The Ulster Museum is about 20 minutes' walk south of the hotel, I spent a couple of hours there including eating.

The Europa was clean and comfortable, but they had a very loud private "casino night" with a DJ on a high floor late into the night. My room was five floors below the noise but it carried down the elevator shaft. Calling and visiting the lobby did no good; things didn't quiet down till after midnight. Left me with a very bad impression of the hotel's commitment to its guests, which I shared with RSE afterwards. I hope your stay doesn't coincide with an event like that. Might be enough to make you take up smoking. ;-)

@Dick: when you take the bus to Dublin from Belfast .... I believe it goes to the airport, not Dublin city? If so, does it drop you off at individual hotels, or how do you get to your chosen hotel? I am looking at the Clayton or the Crown Plaza right now (less expensive and more highly rated on booking.com).