So I know there are a million posts on here about Ireland trips but I am still struggling a bit especially because the trip is for myself, and my husband but we also decided to bring our 10-year-old son. We plan on starting in Dublin, and then would love to see Galway, Aran Island, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Dingle, Ring of Kerry, and Cork. My main issue is lodging. Are any of these areas close enough that we can stay in one hotel for a few nights and drive to certain areas daily, or do we need a different hotel in each area? Any recommendation on lodging for 3 people (would prefer if all 3 of us didn't have to share a king bed)? Are any of these areas I should skip or is there a site I should add as it's a can't miss? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
463 posts
I think you can group Galway, Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher into one stay in/near Galway. You could group Killarney, Dingle and ROK into another stay in Killarney (which folks on the site don't recommend). Cork is the outlier. I would consider dropping it with only 9 days. 3 Dublin, 3 Galway, 3 Killarney doesn't really account for getting from Dublin to Galway and from Killarney back to Dublin.
Re: accommodation, many hotels and B&Bs have a "family room" which usually has a double and a twin bed. Of course, with a car, you can stay anywhere, so don't rule out AirBnBs.
Posted by
Irving
3275 posts
Ireland has two international airports Dublin and Shannon with the latter in Western Ireland. Because you’re visiting both the eastern and western regions buy multi-city tickets or one-way meaning fly into one airport and out the other. If this isn’t convenient fly in and out of Dublin and take a bus from Dublin airport to Galway.
How many nights will you be in Ireland? Dingle is an outlier and you need two nights there but I’m not sure if you have time.
If you visit Inishmore sleep in Galway for two nights. Rent a car the day you leave Galway and drive to the Cliffs of Moher. From the cliffs drive to Killarney and the next day drive the Ring of Kerry. Sleep in Killarney two nights.
From Killarney drive to Cork for one night and the next day drive to Dublin for three nights.
Posted by
Chicago
575 posts
I'm a five-time visitor to Ireland. I agree with G3rryCee: You can group Galway, Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher into one stay in/near Galway. And you could group Killarney, Dingle and Ring of Kerry into another stay in Killarney. In addition to Killarney, you could also stay in Tralee.
Maybe you could drop either Dingle or the Ring of Kerry. They're both incredibly beautiful, but maybe you should drop one of them for the sake of seeing other things. (Note: The best thing I ever did in Ireland was to walk the 100-mile-long Dingle Way: https://www.dingleway.com/; here's info on the Kerry Way: https://www.kerryway.com/. When you visit, you could walk a section of one of those.)
I also agree about potentially dropping Cork.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2320 posts
Allow a couple of days to explore Dublin (and recover from jet lag). I would scrap Cork and divide the rest of your time between two places - Galway and Kilarney/Dingle area.
Do a day trip to the Aran Islands for Galway. Plan to stop off at Cliffs of Moher on the way from Galway to your second base. Killarney, Ring of Kerry and Dingle with Slea Head can all be done from the one base.
Posted by
Germany
200 posts
For loding in Killarney with the family have you checked the Holiday Homes at Castlerosse Hotel Resort in Killarney
They offer short breaks and breakfast and dinner in the Hotel Restaurant
Thats what we did once in April
We did daytours from Killarney with Deros Tours and Walkwithme.ie and Kerry Experience Tours
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
783 posts
I agree with the other suggestions, but I would use DIngle as your base instead of Killarney. That's a bias rooted in our craving for good music in the evenings. I'd also suggest you hustle on reservations or you won't have many choices.
Posted by
Vermont
6 posts
My family- a group of 10- did a similar trip last year in April. My husband and two kids stay in family rooms, consisting of double bed and two twin beds, at these hotels/ bed and breakfast. We started in Dublin - 3 nights (we reserved the night before our arrival so we could check in at 6am), Kenmare 1 night, Dingle 3 nights, Galway 2 nights.
From Dublin we drove to Rock of Cashel, and Muckross House before we stayed in Kenmare. Then we drove the Ring of Kerry on the way to Dingle. The Dingle Falconry Experience, and Dingle Sheep dogs were great as well. We flew to the Aran Islands-Inishmore- highly recommend, and took a tour from a guide "Benny" we picked up in town.
Castle Hotel - Dublin
Brook Lane Hotel - Kenmare
Bambury's Guest House- Dingle
Balcony House / Petra House - Galway
I hope you have a great trip- we really enjoyed it!