Hello, my husband and I are planning a trip to Ireland in December and need advice on where to go. We will most likely be there a total of 8-9 nights. I definitely want to stay a few nights in Dublin and also in Galway, but need advice on where else to go. I've read Steve's guidebook, but I still can't narrow it down. There's too much to see! We won't be driving so everywhere we go needs to be accessible via public transportation. We don't care too much about touristy sites, as we do more about the experience of fitting in with the locals. Any recommendations of specific hotels/b&b's are appreciated too, especially if there are any interesting places you've stayed at (old, castles, cottages, etc.) although we are a little restricted with our budget (trying to stay under $125/nt). Any advice you can give is appreciated, TIA!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
Doesn't Rick's book have a section (or multiple sections) titled "(Place) at a Glance"? That's where you start. I find those recommendations generally pretty spot-on. Of course, your tastes may not align 100% with the book's, that's why you don't follow it slavishly, but rather you use it as a starting point, then you pick and choose what aligns with your own preferences.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8319 posts
You might want to look at the cities you are wanting to visit on Wikipedia. They have a section with average high and low temperatures, average rainfall, days with precipitation, etc.
December days get very short that far north, and Irish weather in December might not be very good for travel, especially by public buses.
We just returned from Ireland and it is one of those places best served with a rental car. But the roads can be demanding off the beaten path. We did love the Irish people, but found the country life to be very quiet.