Remember the credit card commercial, the one where the man and his son are visiting the man's ancestral home, Norway, when they go to the hall of records and find out that they are Swedish. Well, after decades of lording it over me that she is 1/8 more German than I, we discovered from the census that her German, Braun ancestors are really Irish Browns. So now she wants to go to Ireland. So (don't laugh) I'm preliminarily planning an Irish tour. I don't think it will ever happen. I won't do all the work by myself. She has to take some initiative, and I don't think she'll carry through. I checked out RS Ireland '10 twice and it sat here unread through multiple renewals and an overdue fine. Finally I bought her Ireland '11, and she hasn't looked at it either. Meanwhile, I have started to plan travel. After getting rental car quotes for $800-1000 with CDW and mileage, I've decided cars are not the way. And, Irish Rail doesn't go many places and is expensive. I've put together an itinerary and bus costs (about $300) for the Republic up to Derry. From there I am stuck. Ulster bus, under fares, just gives a number in the UK, for Intralink (?). Where can I get fares for buses in No. Ireland?
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Looks like you can see timetables at : www.translink.co.uk/timetables There's a journey planner there, too.
Posted by
OP
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Timetables were not a problem. What I couldn't find were fares. I don't think there is any question that using the buses will be far less expensive than renting a car, but I want to see proof.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Oh.
My. Word. When I saw the title of the post and decided to click on it, I actually said OUT LOUD "Well, I KNOW this isn't 'RMH LEE'" LOL!!! Has Armageddon started? Blasts of trumpets? We haven't even made it to Dec 12,2012... "So (don't laugh) I'm preliminarily planning an Irish tour" Sorry, Lee - I was ALREADY laughing ;-) Happy Planning and Travels on your (possible) branching out! (no, I got nuthin' on buses...)
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33832 posts
" I've decided cars are not the way " This is on a post from Lee. And do bears perform bodily functions in the woods? ===== Sorry, Lee, I just couldn't help myself... ;-) And sorry I can't help with the buses today. But I work with a guy who has probably ridden every bus throughout Europe, and his knowledge is encyclopaedic. If you don't have an answer by the end of the weekend I'll ask him on Monday.
Posted by
OP
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Sigh. I knew when I posted this I would make everybody's day. When my wife first started talking about going, it was by herself, and she was talking about taking some sort of a bus tour (she can't drive a stick shift and renting an automatic is even more expensive). That's when I decided to go along to drive for her. Since I have heard that rail transportation in Ireland is dismal, I made the typical American, knee-jerk assumption that I would have to rent a car. Driving a right hand drive doesn't bother me for shifting. I've taught a girlfriend and two daughters to drive sticks, starting by sitting in the passenger seat and shifting for them with my left hand. However, I would be concerned every time I started, every time I turned, and at every roundabout least I would instinctively go to the right hand side of the road. I got three car rental quotes which, with fuel estimates, totaled $560 to $790, and those were without CDW, which I consider an absolute requirement. I decided to look at buses. Using the same travel for which I calculated fuel costs, i.e., not including some in-town transit, the bus fares are totaling $360 for two, and that is only if I can't use P-P tickets in Ulster. That's why I want to find Ulster bus fares.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Have you tried DB?!? (the Devil made me do it) Seriously, I've done some spelunking; I even tried searching old Helpline posts for any breadcrumbs of info that might be of help... Nothing. Looks like that phone call is in order. OR, save up those extra pennies for a rental car. Good luck, and keep us posted!
Posted by
OP
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Doesn't anyone know how I can find fares and schedule for Ulster bus?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
From my reading of the Translink/Ulsterbus site, it looks like the only way to get fares is to call the number listed on the site. Very strange! Sour note: When you make that call, you won't get to practice your German :).
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
"Sour note: When you make that call, you won't get to practice your German :)." BUT, perhaps your Indian-, Irish-, or even 'British English'-accent skills... (don't forget - Lee HAS been to Italy (for ~15 minutes...it's not ALL Germany, ALL the time...)
Posted by
OP
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Probably won't get to practice my English either. Mainly because I won't make the call. As I flesh out the trip, I find I want to spend more time in the south, for example Ring of Kerry, more time in Dingle. I'm probably going to skip No. Ireland completely. As for Italy, it was more like 3-4 hours - a little over half an hour from Brennero down to Fortezza, couple hours for a leisurely lunch -"pepperoni" pizza, trip back. They actually spoke German to me! Italy, check.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Lee, 15 German minutes = 3 hours in Italian time... Welcome to Italy.