I know I want a small car for the rural roads and for parking.
2 people, 2 carry-ons, and two small back packs..
I hope to get automatic, but I am concerned that might push me up into a larger car that will be too large for the roads around Dingle.
I got "upgraded" in France this year and regret taking the car with the issues I had with parking, so I'm doing my research on size.
Can I actually get a small automatic at Dublin Airport?
I don't think an upgraded car will be too big. The smallest size is hard to find in an automatic. There was one spot on Slea Head road where no amount of tiny-ness would solve the pinch between opposing traffic. We were double-upgraded because of scarcity of our requested "economy, manual" to what felt like an SUV and had no problems. Even the big cars are smaller than typical American vehicles.
Thanks for the reply.
I think I'll do the required automatic and reserve the smallest possible.
Has anyone ever refused an upgrade and won? I mean that they "found" a car in the same category?
Any day of the week or time better to get the car we reserve?
The smallest cars are rare as automatic as mentioned, but they are common as electric. For two persons a VW ID.3, Renault Zoe or similar will work fine. But you can also look for a Fiat 500e or similar size.
common as electric
What about charging? How far can you travel before having to chage and are there plenty of charging points in the areas you want to go?
Not specific to Ireland, but based on my recent trip with a hybrid, I don’t think the charging infrastructure is ready for prime time when driving in rural areas. It may be good if staying in urban areas, but I wouldn’t want to transit any country where towns and villages are far apart. Only one hotel we stayed at had a charging station and that may be because its hotel vehicle was electric.
For me, I wouldn’t want to spend limited vacation time waiting for a vehicle to charge.
I agree on the electric/hybrid issue.
My future trip to Ireland is still in the planning stage. I know a small regular, automatic car is in my future.
Thanks to all on your help with this issue.
Getting upgraded is a definite possibility. I am there now and was “upgraded” from a compact to a small SUV. I asked to be downgraded to a economy size but also none available with automatic This was from a large company at Dublin airport where they would be more likely to have a variety of cars. But turns out to be a non issue, thanks to google I learned the difference in width between what I reserved and what I got is all of 10mm.
If you do get upgraded see if they will also give you lower deductible on insurance ( if using theirs) I was able to get zero deductible from the reduced deductible I reserved at no extra charge. Upgrade or not you may likely have a close encounter or two with roadside hedgerows.
Thank you for the info.
Good to know on the width. Wonder if length matters for parking?
Hope the trip goes well for you.
Be specific with your needs. Especially regarding you desire for an automatic.
I learned on a shift so that wasn’t important to me.
On one Ireland visit Enterprise provided a 4 door sedan. I wasn’t pleased but was easily able to drive through the Gap Of Dunloe with it.
Parking in Killarney was difficult. Had to find a car park.
Next trip when I drove from Belfast to Dingle I did so in a small hatchback. Preferred the hatchback.
Thank you so much for the info.
I wonder if there is a best and worst day to try our rental car?
What does the forum think: Better chance on a Thursday or Friday?
Not in Ireland, but in Frankfurt, I was offered only a upgraded massive Transit Van seating eight in automatic by Hertz. When I refused it, it took an hour (at FRA airport!) to turnaround and issue a just-returned small manual.
I would never want a manly SUV in rural UK, Ireland, or even continental Europe. The parking stalls and indoor garage ramps are just too narrow, let alone medieval streets.
Now that is a thought---
Plan on a couple of hour wait until a smaller car is returned and made available...
Anyone else have success with camping out in the rental office?
Just returned - had a Toyota hybrid SUV and it was fine for Ireland. Actually, did not find the roads around Dingle narrow - other roads through Ireland are narrow. Now being an american driver I still had to slow down around curves on the narrow roads - wasn't confident enough. But a smaller car would not have helped me. There was one parking garage for a hotel that required a little back/forth to park but it wasn't bad. I have driven a lot in France and this was much easier to be honest. I rented from Dublin city (Enterprise at St Stephens Green). WE taxiid into the hotel and had a few days to settle in before driving.
