The 14 Day Best of Ireland tour finishes in Belfast, and we are flying back to the US the next day, leaving from Dublin at 12:35PM. Do you recommend spending the last night in Belfast, and taking the Aircoach express bus to the airport in the morning or sending the last night in Dublin? We will be arriving in Dublin a couple days in advance of the tour for some independent exploration. Thanks
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11875 posts
Personally I would spend the last night in Dublin.
The thought of getting up at 5AM to catch a bus at 6 to be reasonably certain to get to the airport on time is unappealing.
In addition to all the routine exit procedures, you will do US immigration and customs before boarding the plane so there is extra time needed. Good news is when you land in the US you just walk out, like having flown from LA to San Fran
I looked at the Aircoach service. https://www.aircoach.ie/book-tickets?orig=20&dest=122&pass%5B4%5D=2&pass%5B5%5D=0&pass%5B6%5D=0&pass%5B9%5D=0&tick=3&out=2022-05-18&o_tt=06%3A00&o_ts=after&curr=eur
It does not seem to run hourly ( as indicated on the RS website--probably a covid adjustment) and for a random date in May the 1st departure is 730AM. Your comfort zone may be different than mine. IF everything works per plan you should be OK. Would not take much of a hiccup to derail the whole endeavour.
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
I did this tour and stayed the last night at the tour hotel in Belfast. The bus station was just behind the hotel, so easy to get to, and I think the airport was only about an hour away.
Posted by
Darmouth, MA, USA
377 posts
I too just made this decision. Originally, I thought I would spend the night in Belfast, but changed my mind. Though I know the bus to the airport is reliable, airports these days need ample time and our latest flight out was 11 AM. We will spend the day in Belfast and a take an after dinner 6ish bus to the airport and spend the night there. No worries and no early wake up on what will be a long day. Our trip begins on May 29 in Dublin.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I'm on this tour also and I'll be taking the bus to DUB the day before my flight home. It's a two-hour bus trip. I'm spending the night at one of the airport hotels, and I'll need time to get a Covid test either the day before or the day of the flight. Plus the additional processing time as Joe noted for US entry.
Besides the Aircoach, there's a Translink bus service that seems to be the same, but would expand your time choices.
Posted by
OP
36 posts
Thanks everyone for your input. I think we will leave Belfast after an early dinner and take the bus to DUB and spend the night at one of the airport hotels.