Rebooking cancelled trip- where to plug in extra days

Are you doing the Arran Islands as a day trip, or planning an overnight? FWIW, we spent 2 nights on Inis Mor and it was one of the highlights of our trip... Like many popular day-trip destinations, it's way better without the day-trippers.

Great idea. I was looking into that but was concerned about schlepping luggage. Not a big deal? The possibility of catching the ferry from Doolin to Inish Mor and then taking the return ferry to Galway the next day looks especially tempting (avoiding the bus ride from Doolin). I'm a sucker for ferries.

I second the idea of spending the night on Inis Mor. We were just there and a partial day (between ferry arrival and ferry departure time) was definitely not enough time!

Tip: Ditch the ferry. The ferry is s-l-o-w. That isn't a deal-killer by itself, but the ferry is where the crowds come from, and the ferry gets you there LATE, and delivers you as part of the crowd. There's a far, far better option: FLY.

Now I know what you're thinking: oh sure, flying is gonna be expensive, and offers no advantages over the slow ferry. Au contraire.

The flights are subsidized by the government. And they're gob-smackingly cheap. They are meant to help the islanders manage life on the island. But tourists are welcome to fly, too. Last time I checked the flights were just €35 each way (less for round-trip).

Why would you want to fly? Well, it's a thrilling ride, for starters - it's just 10 minutes, end-to-end (including taxi time, actual flight is probably about 7 minutes). The flights are LOW - at treetop level - though since you are over the ocean, and there are no trees anyway - it's quite the rush. Very small plane (probably smaller than any you've ever been in), seats just 8 people, including the pilot. Ask nicely when you check in, and you may score the ultimate seat: the co-pilot's (just keep your hands and feet off the controls). Believe me, if you've never been in a plane zooming along at treetop level, it is quite a hoot. Note that some folks who are skittish about tiny airplanes might find that terrifying. I loved it.

Perhaps a bit counter-intuitively, the flights in this tiny, feather-weight airplane will expose you to less of a risk of seasickness than the more pedestrian ferry. Because you will be off the plane in under 10 minutes, but you would be on that slow ferry for what could feel like forever, if you're going green around the gills.

But best of all, the plane can deliver you to Inis Mor early - in fact, mid-morning (take the first flight) - while the slow ferry is still loading all its passengers. You'll be on the island, off adventuring, while the ferry passengers are just starting to get their sea-legs. Similarly, the last flight of the day leaves well after the last ferry departure. So you get a few golden hours on the island, both in the morning and in the afternoon, without all the ferry-based day trippers around. Do check with the airline to ensure the schedules still work that way.

Luggage is definitely limited (small plane). Suggest you triage your luggage and only bring what you'll need for a day or two on the islands in a small day-pack. Leave the rest of your stuff in your larger bags in your Galway B&B, and pick it up on your way out.

Details here: Aer Arann

This is a pretty cool way to go. Don't miss it.

Flying is a crazy good deal at €35-- and another adventure! Is there an easy way to get to the airport from Galway? I'm seeing it as an hour from Galway center, which makes it a rather long addition to a flight that is meant to save time on the ferry. Maybe it's easier if you have a car?