We have 7 nights to see what we can in Ireland in early June with a rental car. I thought I'd concentrate on southern Ireland considering our limited time.
We're flying into Dublin and spending 2 nights,
From there we're thinking day 3 drive to Kilkenny and Cashel, overnight in Cashel.
Day 4 drive to Kinsale and then on to Dingle. Spend the night in Dingle.
Day 5 drive the Dingle peninsula and then we have to be in Limerick by the afternoon (3/4/5 pm) to visit family. Spend the night in Limerick.
Day 6 drive through the Buren, see the Cliffs of Moher, on to Galway. Overnight in Galway.
Day 7 see Galway, and spend our last night in Galway.
Day 8 drive to Dublin for our flight back to Canada
I've booked our first 2 nights in Dublin and our last 2 in Galway. Beyond that I'm open for suggestions. Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6816 posts
On the day you fly home to Canada, you're planning to wake up in Galway, drive to Dublin, return a car, and catch your flight?
Personally, I'd be uncomfortable doing that. I find my departure day is a lot less stressful if I wake up in (or at least very close to) the city I'm departing from, to minimize the risk of missing my flight and having to take out a second mortgage to pay for the ticket home.
Posted by
OP
Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada
161 posts
We fly at 240 pm, plan to be at the airpot by 1130 am, leave Galway by 830 am. Bad idea?
Posted by
TN, USA
2163 posts
Carol,
That would be cutting it a little close for me.....but, without any car problems or other delays, you could likely make it. I just like a bit more time cushion in catching my overseas flight.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6816 posts
It's a little tight for my tastes. Galway to Dublin isn't terribly long, but Stuff Happens. Personally, I'd head for Dublin the night before departure and sleep there, greatly reducing the risk and my associated worries, but that's just me.
Posted by
OP
Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada
161 posts
Thanks guys. We'll re-think our last night.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
3014 posts
I'm with David on this one. I tend to lose sleep the night before anyway, worrying about all the real and imaginary things that might go wrong the next day, and so try to minimize any additional stressors by nailing down all the extraneous details beforehand.
Guess it comes down to how risk-averse you are.
Posted by
Florida
509 posts
Either way -- but especially if you fly on your last day -- study your rental car return directions before leaving Dublin. We did a lap or two through the airport before spotting the icon/sign for rental car return. It wasn't an issue as we were flying the following morning, but still a lesson learned. It's a bit tricky (well, at least for me behind the wheel) because the return area is just outside the airport property; if you miss that sign/exit on the round-about, you will drive thru the airport without seeing another sign. This map is helpful; wish I'd looked or inquired earlier: http://www.dublinairportt2.com/car-rental-returns/ The text says it's "very well-sign posted", which is true if you're paying attention on your approach to the airport, immediately after exiting the M-1.
Posted by
OP
Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada
161 posts
I think we're going to plan B: returning our rental car in Galway and taking the Citylink airport shuttle Galway to Dublin airport 830-11.