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Tweaking my itineray, again and again. Any advice please.

Let me thank you guys right out of the gate. I have gone from the crazy road trip around Ireland to concentrate on areas with two nights. Thanks in advance. We have non stop flight from Orlando to Dublin as the only option due to price. Two middle age active kids plan as follows.

2 nights Dublin. Overnight flight. Time to adapt. Rent a car from the Airport (economy or compact dilemma).

1 night in Kilkenny. Stopping at the Falconry at Russborough House on the way down

2 Nights in Kinsale. This kills me but hubby is determined to golf Old Head. Gotta give it to him since he frowned on taking a pic with a driver near a cliff. Kidding.

2 nights in Kenmare. ( Taking the coastal route) Next day explore Beara peninsula.

2 nights in Killarney. (Ladies view, Torc waterfall, National forest, Gap of Dunloe. Not going to do the entire ROC but rather stay up on the Northside}.

2 nights Dingle.

1 night Doolin. (Leave Dingle via Connors Pass. Stop at Loop Head on the way to the Cliffs).

Was hoping to take a day off one of the multi-nights due to Hubby is not excited on the # of days.
Thanks, guys.

Posted by
2448 posts

You might want to consolidate a bit by staying four nights in Kenmare and none in Killarney - Kenmare would be an equally good base for the Beara Peninsula and the ROK/Killarney National Park. Or, give three nights to Kenmare and three to Dingle. Or some other configuration.

Posted by
72 posts

Agree with above poster to consolidate in Kenmare. We prefer over Killarney and like Kenmare as a base for Beara.

As for the car, we usually go compact over economy so we have some room for luggage. A tiny car makes me nervous. A compact is like a Ford Escort. If you are used to a smaller car, then you can go economy. At home we drive a small SUV and a pickup, so economy is just too small for us.

We love Loop Head.

Posted by
1819 posts

If you choose to do only part of the Ring of Kerry, the south side is more scenic. The best part is out at the eastern tip. Kenmare is a good location for both peninsulas.

The Connor Pass can be a nail-biter. We did it one time, no problem. The other time we drove it, heading south, some fool had decided to drive a large RV up there. We had to get the car so close to the cliff face that we scratched the car. The road was not wide enough for their RV beast and our car at the summit and there was no possibility for either car to back up. Plus, it was raining.

Use the Limerick tunnel to get to County Clare, unless you want to take the extra time to do the ferry.

Posted by
359 posts

Skip staying in Killarney.....it's on Rick Steves list of top ten tourist traps of Europe for very good cause. The sights you list are excellent and outside the city....the city is awful. Great advice stay in Kenmare - very easy access to all those sights and about 45 minutes out to the insane scenery of the South side of the ROK. South side is better. Either more time in Kenmare or split the two Killarney days between Kenmare and Dingle. Can't stress enough....skip Killarney....Rick is right.

Posted by
2448 posts

Another possibility - if you want to do a day trip to the Aran Islands, you could do 3 nights Kenmare, 2 nights Dingle, and 2 nights Doolin.