Hi! Our little family (husband, self, daughter/12/excellent traveller) are headed to Ireland in June. Flying into Shannon, out of Dublin (fingers crossed we may catch a Eurocup game!). This is what I'm thinking in terms of stays:
Tralee/Killarney - 2 nights
Cork - 2 nights (the River Lee?)
Galway area - 2 nights (Glenlo Abbey)
Dublin - 3 nights
I'm thinking this is doable for 9 nights, I don't necessarily want to break it down to 3/3/3, I feel like we'd be doing more driving at that point.
Any thoughts or recommendations on places to stay are welcome. Thank you!
Posted by
Sunnyside, New York, United States
439 posts
The Galway area, I like Salt Hill Hotel.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7356 posts
You may have personal, specific reasons for visiting where, and in what order, but throwing in my 2 cents: Not sure if this is your first trip there. In 2 trips, our first was in June (2011), before full vacation season had hit, a good time, as it wasn’t as busy as it would be in July.
All things being equal, since Cork is a shorter drive from the Shannon airport, what if you drove there first, then worked your way north and east, avoiding a backtrack thru Limerick on your way to Galway? The Tarbert-to-Killimer ferry can keep you on track, through some lovely countryside.
And, while Dublin’s a great, historic city with sights, our favorite parts of Ireland have been out in the country, especially in the west. So, if you’d take one day from your Dublin itinerary, what about including Rick Steves’ Irish “backdoor,” Dingle? After Cork, head to Tralee/Killarney, then over to Dingle for a night. If your plan was to see Dingle as a day trip from Tralee/Killarney anyway, then make it 3 nights in Tralee/Killarney, and 2 nights in Dublin.
Our stay in Dingle was at a cozy cottage, but really only for 2 people. Unless someone slept on the floor, it wouldn’t fit 3, so I won’t bother you with it. Have a great trip, however you do it!
Posted by
OP
21 posts
Thanks! This may be the way to go, but you're right...husband wouldn't like the floor, haha!
Posted by
OP
21 posts
So now I'm thinking: 2 nights Cork (or, should we stay somewhere close to that area - I'm not set on Cork city, just proximity for day trips), 2 in Tralee, 1 Doolin, 2 Galway (have booked Glenlo Abbey), and 2 Dublin.
My decision making has me questioning the Cork area - stay there, or in a town close by?
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7356 posts
This might not be a lot of help, as I’ve not been to Cork, or that far south in Ireland - yet. And in addition to staying for that time in Dingle, rather than staying in Doolin, we had a B&B just up the road, in the wonderful village of Lisdoonvarna. It’s home to a fantastic salmon smokehouse (started by a Norwegian woman who relocated), and is also just down the road from the Cliffs of Moher.