I've been flipping through my ETBD books and they all say don't rent your car in Dublin, but I'm not finding a lot of advice as to where to ultimately pick up a rental car. I fly in on a Monday, stay 3 nights near Christ Church Cathedral, pick up a car on Thursday and head out to explore Ireland for 9 days with no set itinerary yet. Any advice on where to rent a car would be appreciated, specifically because I've never driven on the left side. Thanks!!
Posted by
1172 posts
We are renting at the airport and picking it up on our way out of Dublin.
We fly in to Dublin Saturday morning... spending 3 nights in the city centre and then going back to the airport to pick up our car
Posted by
Maine Coast
35 posts
We did the same thing two years ago. Picked up our Avis rental car at the Dublin airport and had quite a good experience with Avis there. Would do the same thing again!
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8050 posts
We also rented at the Dublin Airport, but reverse of the previous poster. We landed, picked up the car, did our thing (Kilkenny, Waterford, Kinsale...) returned the car to the airport, then did a couple nights in Dublin. The airport is out on the Ring Road (M50) so driving in town is not an issue and there is good transport between the airport and city center.
Do plan on the rental costing more than in most places, just for the daily charge, plus nearly all credit cards do not include Ireland in their rental coverage (though I would not recommend using CC coverage anyway). That leaves buying the rental agency CDW or doing something through a third party.
As for driving on the left, things are complicated in that nearly all rentals (unless you pay more and reserve ahead) are manuals...so shifting with your left hand and driving is an experience. Have a navigator and pay particular attention when turning, your tendency will be to turn into the wrong lane. Other than that, with care, you adapt fairly quick.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
Others on this forum have recommended Dan Dooley for rental cars. Can Google his website for locations and details.
Do specify an automatic transmission when booking if it's going to be your first adventure driving on the left. Trust me - it's worth the extra cost.
Posted by
Birmingham AL
346 posts
You didn't ask this, but in case you don't know -- you should definitely take ALL the Super CDW insurance. You will almost certainly swipe a rock wall or hedge along the way, and it is much easier on your wallet and your nerves to know that you are not on the hook for damage. And most (I think all) credit cards exclude Ireland from their rental car coverage in the fine print. Have so much fun!
Posted by
Meridian MS
248 posts
Our plan for your consideration: fly into Dublin, shuttle via Airlink to Dublin hotel (Drury Court) for 2 nights. Hopefully now adjusted to the time, we will train from Dublin Heuston to Limerick where Enterprise car rental will pick us up at the station. We rented an automatic transmission as this is "our" (my husband's) first time driving on the right side of the car, left side of the road. (Mantra I chant to remind us) We will see some of Ireland - Cliffs of Moher, Dingle, ROK, Cashel - before returning our car to the Dublin airport. I booked through Enterprise.com and almost immediately received an email from the manager of Enterprise, Limerick thanking me. I asked about the pick up at the station and he said to just call when we're about 10 minutes out from the station "so you won't have to wait". Don't know what the reality will be when we go in May, but I feel good about the plan! (You could also just return car back to Limerick and train to Dublin Airport - this just didn't fit our plan)
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Yep, pick up at the airport on the way out. (Easy to first learn on the freeway, if you master the 1st roundabout!) Dan Dooley is awesome. Get max insurance coverage. Auto is mandatory ( I drive a stick shift all the time, and rented one; what a mistake!) And get the smallest car you can rent.
Plan on every trip/drive taking twice the amount of time you thought it would. And learn to hug the center line on the two lane roads, or your passenger will be screaming all the time, as you drive into the ditch or scrape the car on the rock walls!
Don't worry. Just take your time and let your passenger/navigator do all of the sight seeing. We loved driving and exploring Ireland.
PS You may want to do a lot of pre-booking/ itinerary planning. In some places we had a heck of a time finding available lodging when we called on the day of our arrival.