Christmas in Ireland and traveling to Scotland for New Year's

Posted by katedeforest on 05/29/19 06:50 PM

Hi,

Traveling alone to Ireland and Scotland for the holidays. Flying RT between Boston and Dublin. Thinking of Ireland from 12/23 - 12/28 for Christmas, then flying to Scotland on 12/28 and staying there until the 1st or 2nd. My flight back to Boston out of Dublin is on 1/3. Any thoughts on whether or not I should fly from Edinburgh to Dublin on 1/1 or 1/2? Working my tickets this way was sooo much cheaper than trying to fly home from Scotland, but gives me a chance to spend another night or two in Ireland.

Additionally, I'm toying with spending Christmas in Galway (12/23-12/25 or 26) before spending time in Dublin before Scotland. Any experience in Galway at Christmas? The idea of small(er) city for the holiday sounds cozy and relaxing.

Thanks for any insights or recommendations!

Posted by FFS

Ireland

05/29/19 08:13 PM

217 posts

Be aware that Ireland pretty much shuts down on Christmas Day so you'll need to sort out your meals for that day in plenty of time, whether you're staying at a hotel or in self-catering.

Posted by epltd

05/30/19 05:56 PM

3122 posts

Flying to Scotland on 12/28 will put you there during Hogmany, which should be fun!

It sounds like your Boston-Dublin RT is a separate ticket from your flights between Ireland and Scotland. That means that if you encounter a delay that makes you miss your connection, you'd be on the hook for the price of the ticket (i.e. no refund). Planes can get delayed for weather, among other reasons. Therefore I'd recommend booking a flight back to Dublin at least 24 hours (better 36 hrs) before the check-in time of your US-bound flight. Also be aware that Dublin (and Shannon, for that matter) has USA Pre-Clearance, which means about an extra 30-60 minutes to go through passport control before you can go to your boarding gate. The time in Pre-Clearance could be longer if there are many travelers ahead of you and of course you have no control over how long it will take.

Since you'll only have a few days in Scotland, I recommend Edinburgh over Glasgow, but it depends on your interests. Be aware that days are extremely short in the British Isles in midwinter, which will limit your ability to get out and enjoy scenery during daylight hours.

Posted by Claudia

Land of La

05/30/19 07:35 PM

8655 posts

It will start getting dark around 3:30pm. Plan your days accordingly.
Galway Christmas Market
Buskers and lights Shop Street
Research the 12 pubs of Christmas route
See what’s on at the Galway Art Center
Check to see what choral groups are performing/churches will have listings
If so inclined attend midnight mass. Check the Galway Cathedral website
Check the Galway Events website in October to see
December Christmas events that are being advertised

Posted by Cyn

Colorado Mountains, USA

05/30/19 08:53 PM

7343 posts

Haven’t been in the British Isles at Christmas, but for what it’s worth, I’m guessing that Boxing Day, Dec. 26, could have an impact in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but not sure whether it affects what’s open in the Republic of Ireland.