We will be in Ireland for 9 actual days. We fly in to Dublin and will fly out of Dublin on our way to Paris. What are recommendations for touring? We aren't sure if we should head west immediately or spend the first night in Dublin to then go up to Belfast and do the southern loop before cutting across back to Dublin. We have a rough itinerary of places we would like to stay. Christmas Day will be Ireland and not sure where would be the best place to celebrate. One of our itineraries puts us in Dingle on the 25th. Should we try to work out being in a larger city?
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9369 posts
Your post is confusing. You speak of going up to Belfast and doing "the southern loop" before heading back to Dublin. Did you mean the northern loop, or did you mean you plan to go north and then go all the way south? Things will be closed all over on Christmas. You will have limited options for places to eat (and to stay - many B&Bs close over the Christmas holidays). What is your rough itinerary so far?
Posted by
OP
Missoula, MT
76 posts
Hi Nancy: Sorry about the confusion, I guess I should've proofread a little closer. Yes, the question was go to Belfast and then head south. We have plans to stay in Cong at the Ashford Castle but kind of thought we should put that towards the end of our Ireland trip. Rough itinerary so far: 21Dec - arrive in Dublin, stay in Dublin? ((not sure if we should stay in Dublin that first night or keep moving, what do you think?)) 22Dec - Belfast 23Dec - Dublin ((or should we keep moving??)) 24Dec - Cork or Kinsale 25Dec - Cork or Kinsale 26Dec - Dingle 27Dec - Dingle 28Dec - Cong 29Dec - Dublin
30Dec - fly out to Paris I was a little worried about B&Bs/restaurants during Christmas. I've also read that some of the sites actually close down that weekend between Christmas and New Years. So thats why we're asking the experts on here what they think! Hope this is a little easier to understand and can help you help us. Thanks!
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2428 posts
Not sure if they still do it but the Irish Tourist Bureau used to put out a free book of over 1000 B'B's that were only approved by the bureau and gave fairly detailed info, number of rooms, cost, e-mail address, when they are open and closed which would be important for the time of year you are going. Give them a try. We carried it with us and was very helpful. We were there in early December and did not have a problem finding an open place but were not there over the holidays.