We will be in Dublin from September 11th to the 15th. From there we plan to take the train to Galway. Can we rent a car in Galway and return it in Dublin? Our plane leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Dublin on the 24th. We will be driving in early from Tipperary. It's early and we don't want to have to try to rely on public transport to get to Dublin in time to make our flight. Staying in Dublin the night before our flight is not an option.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7290 posts
Can we rent a car in Galway and return it in Dublin?
Of course. Many people do this.
We will be driving in early from Tipperary....Staying in Dublin the night before our flight is not an option.
You are taking a significant risk by NOT spending your last night in (or at least near) Dublin. I would try hard to arrange things for my last night to be in Dublin proper. There are just too many ways that bad things can happen on the morning you are trying to race to Dublin to catch your flight (flat tire, car trouble, highways closed, traffic, etc., etc. etc.).
Posted by
TX, USA
5583 posts
I think you will just have to see if you find someone who will let you do that. I took a look at AutoEurope and at Europcar but found no results (but of course didn’t have your dates). There is also Budget and Enterprise in Galway, according to Google Maps.
As you already know, none of these are ideal solutions for a 10am flight. Where did you originally plan to return the car? Taking your chances with the bus may be the most viable option if you truly can’t change your plan and stay closer the night before.
Posted by
6098 posts
You'll have to check with the agencies, I am sure you can find one with a different location for pick up and drop-off, thought I'd just drive to Galway (we picked up at airport, and the cab there from Dublin was not long or expensive).
However, I'd also have qualms about anything more than an hour drive to the airport.
Is anything adjustable with the order?
Posted by
1837 posts
Assuming you are directly returning to the US from Dublin (not changing planes in London or in Canada, for example), you will pre-clear US immigration in Dublin. It is recommended that you allow 3 hours to check in for your flight, clear security and clear US immigration. That does not include time to drop off a rental car and shuttle to the terminal.
Posted by
23 posts
We flew out of Dublin on June 6, with 10:00 am flight, dropping our rental car before that. We stayed in Dublin the night before and the traffic started to build by about 6:30-6:45. It's easy on/easy off but it is still like airport traffic in any big city. I agree that you should do whatever you can to stay close the night before.