DarleneSpelling

Hello! Our family is celebrating my upcoming big 5-0 with a trip to Ireland in late June-July 2014, we will be two weeks in total . We have two teenages, who will be 17 and 14 at that time. I have just started the reseach, but would like your help with planning if possible. My Grandfather was born in Sligo, so I would like to visit there, as well as Belfast, Dublin and also enjoy the Irish countryside (Ring of Kerry? Aran Islands? Cliffs of Moher?) . We want to mix it up so we all have fun, a little history, a little sightseeing, a little excitement, alot of pub visits, ect.. We would also like to end up in London for a few days, and fly home from there. I have absolutely no idea of accomodations at this point, but we would aim for value to mid priced ranges. Any suggestions on itineraries, travel methods, sights to see, places to stay, pubs to visit, ect... would all be greatly appreciated and very welcomed.! The excitement is buiding as I am realizing this trip of a lifetime is only 6 months away!

ParisAmsterdam

Because your grandfather was born there did you know you can likely get an Irish passport? If this interests you, getting a certified copy of the original while there in Ireland would be a good thing to do.

DarleneSpelling

This interests me greatly! I will look into it right away, as I would not want to miss the opportunity to get it certified while there. Thank you.

Tony2phones

You have How Long for this?
B&B's about €30 each possibly need 2 rooms..
If you have enough time would you consider self catering for a week in the middle somewhere.
Knock is the closest Airport to Sligo but remember regional flights have strict baggage allowances and these will determine the whole packing regime if you aim to fly between Ireland and UK.
Bar Food prices from €10 - €15 typical
Remember the 6 counties of NI use £ Sterling Ireland uses € €uro.

DarleneSpelling

Thank you for the reply, what are the recommendations and best options for travel within Ireland - Northern Ireland, and Ireland-UK? Is there a route, or itinerary you would recommend for the two week period?

flanneruk

"did you know you can likely get an Irish passport?"

Be aware this is a fairly time-consuming process, not cheap and of limited value unless you want to spend significant amounts of time in the EU later in life. Some Britons and Americans get Irish passports as insurance if they're ever in a tricky part of the world - but guerillas don't usually see Canada as Satan Incarnate, and those that might probably aren't too keen on Ireland either.

There's no single best route between Ireland and Britain, and no particular advantage in routing via the North unless you want to visit it.

There are about a dozen airports on either side of the border with frequent flights from most British airports (including at least six with the prefix "London"): http://tiny.cc/wb3g9w.

It usually makes better financial sense, if you want to holiday on both sides of the Irish Sea, to fly from North America to Britain, then from Britain to wherever in Ireland you want to start your Irish trip - then in your case return home from Dublin, since the UK has higher departure taxes than the Irish Republic.

Surface travel between Ireland and Britain rarely makes sense. There's no limit to how much baggage you can take on cross-Irish Sea flights: but excess baggage charges can kick in.

DarleneSpelling

Thank you, that is a step in the right direction as to starting the preliminary planning. I will start by looking at flights to London, then once we spend 2-4 days there, on to Ireland! Any additional routes, or an itinerary would be also appreciated.

The purpose of the Irish passport would be more of a sentimental reason, I have to first see if I can find the necessary documents.

Thanks again

Tony2phones

Assuming 10 days in Ireland then I recommend you consider just 1/2 of the Island.. Consider where you will fly home from.. Dublin or Shannon. Flying from London you have a choice of inbound airports, as said Knock would be closest for Sligo but an arc between Shannon and Dublin might work best? It depends how set you are on the Ring of Kerry.. personally I would suggest that Malin Head or Achill Island offers as much and more with far less tourists being the only reason these places don't get pushed..

http://goo.gl/maps/WsMPW is a map I did for an Australian couple last year and have boosted for a new visitor this week.

The Irish Passport/Dule nationality is a niggling point for me but it gives non EU citizens more freedom to travel and stay in the EEC. My Grandfather came from Tubber in Sligo but changed his name to escape the Brits on one hand and his Catholic mates on the other hand when he married a Protestant from Antrim. so no Birth cert and Irish born in the 6 counties are classified British. I refuse to pay €1000 to be what I am.

ParisAmsterdam

Passport... it's not that expensive: 127 euros plus whatever fees needed for copies of required documents. Here's a link with info:
http://genealogy.about.com/od/irelan...izenship_2.htm

DarleneSpelling

Hello Tony,
Your map in incredible, thank you! I am very flexible at this point and would be ok with missing the Rings of Derry choosing instead Malin Head or Achill island. Let me ask this, does it make more sense to spend the whole 14 days and visit ALL of Ireland! Would there be a lot more to see?

DarleneSpelling

Thank you ParisAmsterdam for the link, I will work on obtaining these documents regardless if they arrive in time for my trip or not,
Darlene

longhorn55

Even with 14 days, you can't see ALL of Ireland. I have made 2 8-day trips to Ireland, visiting different areas each time, and there is still a lot of Ireland I have not seen. So, if you want to go to London, do so and then adjust your route in Ireland accordingly.

Tony2phones

To be honest I say 14 days for 75% of the outer Island (or coastline) would you see more? possibly but you wouldn't experience more. Other than the inside of the car.. Look at it as 2 trips, this one and the one you will make in the future to see the rest.

Unfortunately Queen Victoria started the trend for visiting Ireland or Killarney and the Ring.. Rick Steves and a Dolphin made Dingle famous... Someone came up with a Cookery competition in Kinsale and someone said Doolin was the best place in Ireland for music (even though I would only drink in 2 of the total 4 bars). Ireland has all the scenery you need around the coast, whole Schools of Dolphin (even Orca off the North coast). Excellent field/sea to table food and great music. People ask why I don't rave about Dingle.. simple answer is I don't read guide books and I have experienced the rest (or much of the rest) of the island.

DarleneSpelling

Very interesting perspective Tony, I agree that a topic can "trend" and create the next "must-see" spot, not necessarily with merit. I am currently looking at airfare, to see if using different airports for arrival / destination will help lower the cost, and then will plan the trip that way, i.e. Dublin in, Shannon out, or vice versa. I would be interested in your pub recommendations once I get the route down, but your map looks like it might work for us! Very interested in sea/field to table food. Keep the tips coming,very helpful info from everyone ! Many thanks!!

Tony2phones

Don't forget to check London in the open jaw prices.. then consider the cost of London - Ireland airfare with consideration of Baggage Allowance/Charge.. For London to Dublin there is always Rail and sail. Leave London Euston 09:10 arrive Dublin Port (Stena)about 5pm costs £38 if booked 2 days in advance.

reddun

Did you see this back in the summer?
http://canadaam.ctvnews.ca/canadian-...iral-1.1382883

Or on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L15q2q-G4T8

Also, perhaps you are aware, WestJet will be starting flights to Dublin.

DarleneSpelling

Thank you reddun, I hadn't seen the video, very fun,

I also didn't know about westjet's seasonal service, so appreciate the tip there.

DarleneSpelling

Hello Tony2phone, would your map (above) work for 10 nights ? Would you be able to suggest where to stop for a few nights? Second question, would it be a huge backtrack to depart from Dublin instead of Shannon? Reason being less expensive flights and car hire to return it to same city.

Third question, do we really have to leave pubs at 9:00 when the music starts! Our kids look older than they are, is the law very strict?

Tony2phones

The map was for 10 days Dublin to Dublin (2 pages).. the breakdown was on my old defunct laptop but I could put in any missing bits (tomorrow, its 2am now)the basic list is on the header sheet but other points could be substituted?

The law on pubs is 10.30 in summer and provided you are in a rural bar minding your own business you should be fine anyway.

DarleneSpelling

Thank you, I did 'nt expect a reply tonight Tony, you must be a night owl!

Wonderful news about the pubs, I will have to look at the map again, I only saw one page, my apologies.

If you are up for it, i would so appreciative and in your debt for a route map, Dublin to Shannon 10 days with stops of at least 2 or 3 nights in the same place (based on everyone's recommendations of not rushing) and Dublin to Dublin same.