Retired US couple making first trip to Scotland and Ireland. We will be taking ferry from Cairnryan Scotland to Belfast for one week in Ireland. We are scheduled to fly out of Ireland a week later from Shannon. Looks like we can take train from Belfast to Dublin (about 2.5 hour trip) and from Dublin to Galway (also about 2.5 hours). Then we could rent a car in Galway and head out - right now we are thinking of Donegal area. Then return car to Galway and get bus to Shannon for flight home. Does this make sense? We could also reverse things and rent a car in Belfast, visit Donegal and other nearby sites, then return car to Belfast and take the same train route back to Dublin, Galway and Shannon for flight home. Time period is late June/early July 2017. I have been told that renting a car in one location and returning it to a different location is significantly more expensive. I would value any comments or suggestions regarding our plans. Thanks you. Carl Malsom
Posted by
Pantego, NC, USA
1014 posts
When you go to the car rental site, it asks you where you want to return the car. Number one, see how much it is to return it to the rental site. Then go back and change the return to another town and see what the rental cost is. That way, you know what fees are involved and if it is worth it. Also, factor in bus fares too. Returning it to the airport rental site would eliminate bus fares.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Renting in one place and returning in another within the same country only costs a small bit more, if any. The significant expense comes in when you rent in one country and return in another. If you plan to rent in Galway, you could return the car at the Shannon airport with very little additional cost. You don't want to rent in Belfast and return to Shannon because they are in two different countries. Either of your proposed routes will work, though I think the train Belfast>Dublin>Galway, then renting, is the best option because it would allow you flexibility in visiting the Cliffs of Moher as well as the Connemara area.
Posted by
Lewisburg, PA, USA
346 posts
I found that renting a car from Dan Dooley in Dublin and returning it to Shannon was really quite reasonable. Having a car gave the freedom of scheduling, space for spreading out luggage and side trips where buses couldn't go. The only advantage I could see to traveling by bus would be not having to personally contend with traffic coming the other way. We flew into Belfast, took a train to Dublin, then rented a car. You can PM me if you want more details. Have fun.