Rental Car Pick UP

Posted by Emily (Omaha, NE, United States) on 04/27/16 03:34 PM

Hi!

I know many of you have rented from Dan Dooley when in Ireland. I plan to rent from this business also, but I am a little confused on what would be the best pick up location. We will be staying at Trinity College, so I thought the Dublin Center location would be easy. However, I have read a few people that suggest getting the car outside of the city since it will be the first time driving on the left.

We will be traveling south, so any thoughts or experiences about a good pick up location from Dan Dooley?

Thanks so much!

Posted by Robert

Colorado Springs

04/27/16 04:18 PM

2828 posts

Even with someone with you to help with the navigation I wouldn't advise starting your LH driving experience in central Dublin.
We've always started from the airport because, even after doing this a lot on previous trips, I like to start on the motorway just to get comfortable with the whole experience again before I tackle the narrow roads in the countryside.
Since you're heading south out of town the Dun Laoghaire location is another possibility, and it's an easy DART ride from the city.
Suggest booking an automatic for your first time - it's worth the extra cost.
And make good use of your co-pilot, whose duties include not only helping with the navigation, watching for signage, and managing the roundabouts but reminding you (constantly) to keep to the left. All of the muscle memory you've acquired from years of driving on the right will be wrong. You'll really need to concentrate when you drive, especially for the first day or two until you get the hang of it.
We found that driving around the countryside was extremely enjoyable. Driving in the city...not so much.
Might also suggest taking a look at the Google maps street view feature to preview your route. Always helps me - might work for you too.
Good luck.

Posted by Emily OP

Omaha, NE, United States

04/29/16 04:56 PM

49 posts

Thanks for these good suggestions Robert!

Posted by Kathy

Chicagoland

04/30/16 01:07 AM

279 posts

We used DD and returned to the airport to pick up our car after three days in Dublin. We had rented an apartment (6 people, so 3 bedrooms was cheaper with a rental instead of a hotel), and the management office provided a ride from the airport for a nominal fee, and I booked the same guy to give us a ride back when we were ready to get the car. It worked out really well, and gave us a familiar type of road to start the drive, thus easing us into Irish roads. Much better than dealing with Dublin roads! Also, we had to book a minibus to give us enough room, and we had more options at the airport than the downtown office. When we switched cars after my siblings and in laws went home and Mom and I had another four days, they tried to give me an upgrade I didn't want because the small automatic I booked wasn't immediately at hand, but I knew I wanted the small car so we waited the 30 minutes for the car we ordered.

Oh, and get the GPS! We didn't, but ended up picking one up at the Belfast airport office (much smaller than Dublin's office).