My fiance and I are getting married on August 11, 2012 and we are going to Ireland for our honeymoon. A dream come true for me... The plan is to fly out of Boston on 8/12/12 arriving in Dublin on 8/13/12; in the early AM. We will be flying out of Dublin on 8/26/12 in the early-mid afternoon (I have not bought tickets yet, but those are the times I see most often). My first question is... well more of an introductory statement, I want to see it all and more!!! But I do not want this to be a run, run, run, run trip but I want to pack in a bunch of sites. We plan to pickup a car in Dublin and then leave Dublin heading south, towards Wicklow... What are the "must see sites" and what are the "it'd be really great sites to see" and finally, what are the "if you don't see it you won't miss it" sites (if any) in Ireland. I know I'd like to get to Cork (great, great grandmother was from Cork; great, great grandfather was from Ireland but not sure where) I'd also like to see the Rings of Kerry regions as well as Galway. I'd also like to see "non-touristy" sites as well... My goal was to be back in Dublin early on 8/23/12 to finish up the final 3 days in the Dublin area relying on mass transit or foot (I've heard Dublin is horrible to drive around, any truth?)... My second question is about getting the best airfare... I've seen prices from a low of $896.00 (rt/per person) to over $3,000.00 (rt/per person)... Where does everybody go for the best flights. My final question is about lodging... We want to do a mix of hotels, castles & B&B's... any recommendations?
Posted by
OP
Greenville, RI, USA
2 posts
I've got the Rick Steves guide (RS guide)... it was given to us by a future sister-in-law, the 2012 edition... and man o man is it informative... The plan was to stay in B&B's MOST of the time with one, maybe two nights, in a castle and one or two nights in a hotel (9 or 10 B&B's, and either 3 or 4 castle/hotel stays). My main concern was the "do-ability" of getting to "it all". My main concern was about whether the RS guide made it seem more doable than it actually is... after all, it sounds like he has been there a few times... I've used Kayak and all the related sites... some are better than others. I guess the next step is to reread the RS guide and see what attractions are of interest... Thanks for your help...
Posted by
Land of La
9221 posts
First off, congratulations on your impending wedding. Secondly, lovely country for a honeymoon. Thirdly, you do want it all. Posters will try to help. However, my advice is grab a copy of Rick's ireland book to get a better perspective
of the country. Easy informative read. Will assist you in deciding what you'd like to see. It's your trip, your itinerary, your dollars. One reality to grasp, it's a small island. Not a small as Rhode Island but easy to explore in a car. From Dublin in the East to Shannon in the West is only a 2.5hr drive with Belfast, N. I. from Dublin is approx. an 1.5hrs via their motorways. Yes, dump the car before returning to Dublin. Easy to see Dublin sites by foot. As far as airfare that's like guessing the price of gas in August. Purely a conjecture. Check the kayak website to compare airfares. See if there are better fares from NYC than Boston. sign up on the Are Lingus website for sales. Whatever you think is good for your budget purchase the tickets. As far as lodging you really should buy Rick's book. Very straightforward. B n B's are plentiful, castles are expensive and hotels are hotels. On my visit I enjoyed the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin, picnicing on St. Stephen's Green, theatre, strolling Grafton Street, Glasnevin Museum and visiting Kilmainham Gaol prison. Again personal preference, loved Glendalough, NewGrange, Carlingford, Rock of Cashel, Tramore, Cork, Dingle, ring of Kerry, Belfast, Hill of Tara, Giant's Causeway and simply taking back roads, getting lost, stopping in tiny towns, enjoying a pint at lunch and chatting with the locals. Have a wonderful time.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
I have always found good deals with Aer Lingus, but you might not finder much of a bargain since you are traveling at the tail end of the peak tourist season. It's a bit early to find any kind of "sale" fare for that time period, so just keep an eye on how airfares are running so you will recognize a deal when you see one. Driving in Ireland can be a little challenging, particularly in the more rural areas, so use a website like www.viamichelin.com to estimate your driving times and expenses from one place to another. I always add 25% to their estimated drive times to allow for the random sheep herd in the road, or a slow farm vehicle in front of me. B&Bs are everywhere, and I have never found a need to book ahead. If you want to see what's out there, look at www.discoverireland.com for a listing of accomodations throughout Ireland. I agree that you don't need or want a car in Dublin. It's a very walkable city for the most part.