My husband and I will be taking an RS 14 day tour of Ireland beginning in Dublin and ending in Belfast. Two questions- what is the best and easiest mode of transportation from the Dublin Airport to our hotel in Dublin and, at the end of the trip, is it best ( more cost effective) to fly out of the Dublin Airport rather than Belfast? In beginning to work with a travel agent on airfare, I didn't realize that Belfast was about 1 1/2 hrs from Dublin and I told her to look for fares from Philadelphia into Dublin and then out of Belfast. If we were to return to Dublin, would we be looking at a train or a bus to get to the Dublin airport? I would appreciate any advice.
We took a bus from the Dublin airport into town to our lodging. I don't remember the bus number, but I recall that we followed the clear directions provided in the RS guidebook. We were traveling light, so it was easy to do and inexpensive. Someone from your hotel in Dublin should also be able to tell you how to get there from the airport.
There is an inexpensive airport bus that runs fairly frequently, but taxis are pretty cheap at around 25 Euros from Dublin to the airport. (At least that's what we paid this past May). I don't know if I would take the train all the way back to Dublin just to catch a flight, maybe if there is a big difference in the price. Definitely don't try to jump on a flight from Dublin the same day after arriving on a train from Belfast, too many things can go wrong with the train. Unless you want en extra partial day in Dublin, the cost of another night's hotel and the train probably eat up any savings. There are probably plenty of good flights routed through London to get you home from Belfast.
There are a couple of bus companies that run our of the airport to a few different stops in Dublin. It was a quick and cheap way to do it.
There is a very nice bus service from the airport into the city, called Airlink. Here is a link:
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/Airport-Services/
You can buy a round trip ticket at the airport. It's 6 euros one way, 10 euros for the round trip.
It stops at several hotels and several major bus stops and light rail stations.
If we knew which hotel you were staying in we could tell you which bus is best. They do different routes.
Belfast is 2.5 hours away from Dublin. There is an hourly bus service that operates 24/7, and each bus stops at Dublin Airport. Fly in and out of Dublin, and look for airfares on Aer Lingus.
Dublin Airport is connected to the city centre by the Dublin Bus 747 and 757 routes and the Aircoach service. Both companies have staff at the airport who can help you take the correct bus for your hotel. Tickets for Dublin Bus are 6 euro single and 10 euro return, while the Aircoach comes in 7 euro single and 12 euro return.
You may also consider taking a taxi, although the fare will range from from 25 - 40 euro, depending on the location of the hotel.
I just took one of the airport buses into Dublin. It dropped me off about a block from where I was staying. If your tour finishes in Belfast just fly home from there, then you don't have to waste any time backtracking to Dublin. It's what I did, and there was no difference in the price. It's called open jaw, and I do it all the time.