Somehow I received bad intel or simply what may have been a misinterpretation on my part: “flying into Shannon is as economic as flying into Dublin.” Not so. Recent tracking of flights, one way flight into Shannon was double the cost. Based on my misinterpretation I have built an itinerary and secured lodging around landing in Shannon. So...now we are considering flying into Dublin and adding a few days to our trip (Thursday the 26 of July rather than Sunday the 29th) and traveling by train toward Limerick. Looking for recommendations for a 1 or 2 nights restful stay along that train route (already set for Ennis3 including Cliff of Moher, Dingle3, Kenmare2, Galway2 and Dublin4). Or, maybe we should just stick with the flight into Shannon?!?
Posted by
11569 posts
Why are you taking a one way flight instead of a multi city flight? One way flights are always much more expensive.
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
This is the first leg of a 3 month long journey. We are checking and comparing flights, but it is too early to look into our eventual multi-city flight arrangements. We could add a few days at the front. If it will cost us $500 more per ticket flying into Shannon, we might as well get our money’s worth by flying into Dublin and spending the $1000 on train, hotel &food in a town between Dublin and Shannon/Ennis.
Also, we set 3 nights in Ennis to shake jet lag, but we could change that to 2 and rest up in a smaller town along the rail midway. So, where do you recommend for the midway Irish hospitality stay?
Posted by
1 posts
I think it is cheaper to fly into Dublin. I flew in and out of SNN and it was the most low stress airport I ever went to in my life! My favorite place was Dromoland castle hotel, but I also really liked the Fitzgerald's woodlands House in Adare. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
Thank you for this personable endorsement. We will, with the insight of our fellow travelers, experience a rich, rewarding and enlightening journey
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
You should be able to see or book actual flight options soon, 11 months in advance of your return date. If I test a scenario like SEA-Shannon 7/29 and Paris-SEA 10/14, preferring one connection each way, the prices don't seem significantly different for Shannon vs Dublin airports, though Iceland Air comes up in the mix for Dublin. Today's prices generally start at $900 per person with Iceland Air, Delta/Air France, or Air Canada/Lufthansa. Another deciding factor may be your preference for departure time.
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
Thank you for the flight arrangement tips, particularly the 11 months prior to return date. I am checking via Skyscanner and sometimes Kyack every few days. Latest recommendations suggest purchasing flight @4 months in advance of departure for best pricing. That makes me a little nervous, but must be smart budgeting for 100 days abroad. Word is it costs more early and late. Wondering if the day of the week rule still applies: fly Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday for best pricing. Our itinerary points to return via Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Munich.
I heard Rick Steves completed a 100 Days European journey. Wondering if a published journal will be forth coming.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Yes, when I've booked flights for myself lately, I've usually been able to see through a low-fare calendar what the savings are to avoid at least Fridays and Saturdays. Now, if I were prepared to book flights from Seattle for next summer, as in the example, I'd be happy with the $900 rates that I saw. Closer to departure, I've usually paid over $1200.
Rick is in Europe for at least 4 months out of every year, but not all at once. The 100 days reference is from his blog, where his goal was to make 100 posts from Europe. You'd have to scroll through a few pages to find the earlier material at https://blog.ricksteves.com/. I don't expect a journal published in paper format.
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
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What about flying into Cork Airport?? I do that often (Washington DC area). I also have many times flown into Kerry Airport. I'm going next month Kerry - Dublin - Heathrow - Dulles because I like British Air. I could go Kerry - Dublin - Dulles on AerLingus and save time, but it was almost 300 euros more on Aer Lingus......
Another option is, if indeed Dublin is your cheaper option, fly into Dublin and then fly into Kerry or another West Coast airport to be near Shannon where your trip was originally planned.
Finally - I had a long trip planned a couple of years ago. Round trip was SO cheap compared to one way, I booked it Rpundtrip from the usa to Austria, and then just took off. Never expected to fly back via Austria but held it as a "maybe." Eventually when I changed my return, it was cheaper to pay the change penalty than it would have been to book the one-way fare home.....
Hope that tidbit helps!
Susan
ExPat living in Waterville (because, well, I met my now husband and never took that Austria flight home!)
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
Thank you for these valuable tips, Susan. Happy for you, and grateful you have made me a more savvy traveler.
Posted by
OP
Spokane WA
256 posts
Lots of good insights. Simmered it all down such that once we have entered the calendar at the point we can purchase multi-city flight returning from Frankfurt on 11/06/2018 we will compare and set arrival city in Ireland.
We are a little nervous to wait much past Dec 6 to purchase. Should we wait till after the Christmas holidays, or is the holiday season a bargain time to purchase international flights?
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
I'm afraid I have no advice on when to buy!
I see these $415 flights mentioned on previous posts and i'm flummoxed. In 4 years I've never gotten a round trip less than 840 euros! So flight deals are not my forte!
Glad my advice could help, above....
Susan
Ex Pat in Waterville