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Leap Card vs Family Rambler

Family of 2 adults, 2kids will be based in Dublin for 5 days (less than 120 hours). We’d like to take Airlink back and forth from our hotel. We arrive mid-day on Sunday, will be in Dublin all day Monday, but then out of the city (with no need for public transportation) until Thursday evening. Friday we will be in Dublin to see a few sights before using Airlink to return to the airport that early evening. Expect we will mostly be walking but with kids and sometimes getting behind on our own itinerary it is nice to just grab a bus. I don’t expect we will use any other form of public transportation.

So, it did not seem like a Leap Visitor 3 or 5 card was a good idea given we would not use it that many consecutive days. I heard about a Family Rambler card that would cover our family exactly (2 adults, 2 kids) for 14 € per day. It seems like buying 3 of those to use Sunday, Monday, and Friday would be our best bet?

Does anyone know if the Family Rambler is still sold? If so, can I purchase it before I go? Do we have to have a Leap card and add the family rambler to it? If so, does that need to be done in Dublin (can it be done at the airport)?

Thank you very much for any guidance.

Posted by
1172 posts

I would just pay as you go. Dublin is a pretty compact city and easy to walk and get around. 2 years ago, we stayed in central Dublin and just paid for the Airlink bus to get to and from the airport. Beyond that, we only used a taxi once in one direction which was cheaper for 4 people than public transportation. Last year, we stayed in Dun laoghaire and the leap card was well worth based on daily travel on the Dart and city buses

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you both for this. I was going to buy the Airlink (return tickets) but then saw the Rambler. I just know that sometimes it's nice to catch the bus if we've been walking with the kids a lot - especially if the weather isn't great. But maybe a taxi would be just a good. Thanks again!