I went for my niece's destination wedding in August. My significant other and I chose to use "Groupon." It worked out beautifully. We got 7 days (1 night in hotel and 6 nights in bed and breakfasts), car rental and round trip tickets for almost the same price as some paid for just the flight!! We marked our own destination after the wedding near Dublin. Rented a small electric/gas car and only filled once. Many many bed and breakfasts to choose from with Groupon. Went South to Cork and then up the West coast. We ended up not purchasing the Maps download through our phone company which we felt was a mistake, but we got by. Instead, we ended up downloading our destination for the day onto our phones through Google maps using internet at hotel/bed and breakfasts, and then set out for the day. It worked pretty well. Get insurance on car. Get advice on places to travel to from your bed and breakfast. We had a blast venturing out on our own and finding ourselves up in the mountains with the goats! Plan your destinations, but try and go by the seat of your pants a little. To save travel back to Dublin, you could book your flight back out of Shannon.
My wife and I are going to Ireland at the end of March/first 2 weeks in April. We're flying into Dublin but going straight to Cork after we land. We're renting a car, which will allow us to be more flexible where we go (and we won't have to abide by train/bus schedules, etc.) Our plan is to spend 3 night in Cork, the travel up the west coast to Galway, then up to Bushmills (to see the Giant's Causeway), over to Belfast for 3 nights and then spend the last 3 nights in Dublin. We'll be doing some hiking trails around Cork/Dingle but we're looking for possible suggestions on staying in a castle for a night or two (if anyone has stayed in one they really liked.)
I have been to Dublin in 2009 but this was the last city we visited on our European vacation after college (needless to say I was quite tired.) We stayed in the Four Courts Hostel, right across from the Four Courts, and we met an awesome independent tour guide there. We visited Trinity College, and stopped by the Chester Beatty Library (highly recommended if you're looking for a place to see historical material.) We also stopped by the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery, and had lunch at the Brazen Head (oldest pub in Dublin.)
I'll report back to this group after my trip with anything cool/exciting that we encounter on our trip in April!
Hi Josh,
I would be interested in a follow-up on your trip to Ireland. What you liked best, what worked, what didn’t work. Looking forward to hearing about your insights!
No matter the time of year, plan on getting wet. There's a reason Ireland is green all the time. I've been there when there has been little rain and when it's always rained. Its a chance you take just like most vacations. Generally speaking the weather is a little more temperate than Minnesota. Not as warm, but not as cold either. Having said that, the best time of the year for weather and least chance of rain is usually August or September. September is at the end of the peak season for travel in Ireland so depending on where you're flying from and to, you might be a little more limited in flight options.
I spent a week in Ireland as part of my 2 month post-graduation trip in Europe and I absolutely loved it! Ireland is a beautiful country and I didn't find it difficult to get around at all. I traveled by bus and train, traveling from Dublin to Cork, Cork to Ennis and back to Dublin. I was traveling solo at the time and felt totally safe the whole time. I spent a lot of time at the Botanical Gardens in Dublin (they were free and I was living on $30 USD a day by that point in my trip, so cheap/free was needed for me). The Guiness tour was pretty amazing and I'd recommend that as well. I did a day trip from Cork to Middleton, and toured the Jameson distillery. My absolute favorite though, as the Cliffs of Moher. I stayed in Ennis and took an hour bus trip out to the Cliffs. I spent all day hiking with a young woman I met at the bus stop and it was the best time ever! I would definitely recommend seeing the Cliffs. Just be aware of what time the final bus leaves (I almost missed the last bus out); otherwise' you'll be stuck in the nearest town for the night.
Hi Kiehlsa: I'm a new employee about to join Mayo in September but FIRST, I'm traveling to Ireland! Loved all your recommendations on your trip there- thanks for sharing. Question: I'm thinking about going alone and intrigued that you wrote you felt safe in Ireland Can I doublecheck the details about that with you? - did you feel safe everywhere, even out hiking alone? How about in pubs or after dark on the streets? Any cautions you'd recommend for a solo female traveler there? Many thanks.
Hi Kiehlsa: I'm a new employee about to join Mayo in September but FIRST, I'm traveling to Ireland! Loved all your recommendations on your trip there- thanks for sharing. Question: I'm thinking about going alone and intrigued that you wrote you felt safe in Ireland Can I doublecheck the details about that with you? - did you feel safe everywhere, even out hiking alone? How about in pubs or after dark on the streets? Any cautions you'd recommend for a solo female traveler there? Many thanks.
You'll have such a blast! I traveled solo in Ireland and I felt perfectly safe. I just utilized common sense while I was out and about--being aware of my surroundings, I didn't get drunk or anywhere near it. The Cliffs of Moher was the only place out there that I was hiking alone for part of it. As I said above, I met a young woman my age at the bus stop who was going to the Cliffs as well. We hit it off and we hiked most of the day together. She had to leave earlier than me, so I hiked alone the remainder of the way to the tip area (the far end that you can see from the visitor's center) which was about a 2-2.5 hour trek total from the visitor center. And I hiked alone back and was just fine. Didn't run into many people that far out.
One thing just to be aware of if you visit the Cliffs is to make sure that it will be a nice sunny day, and not too windy. It can be really foggy there and if it is, you won't see anything at all. There were a couple girls at my hostel who went the day before and their experience was literally just seeing a sheet of white. Nothing else. If it is super windy, they won't allow anyone to visit, as many people have been blown over the cliff's edge by the sudden wind gusts that occur. I kept a healthy distance from the edge of the Cliffs.
In terms of pubs, I didn't go to many in Ireland since I was on a tight budget by that point. But I would just say to make sure that you are able to still take care of yourself. Personally, I never had more than two drinks when I was out away from my hostel, and as I do here, I didn't lose sight of my drink. Some hostels have bars in them, and those are fun because you can meet your bunkmates and connect with other travelers.
I was an early riser when I was traveling so usually by the time it got dark, I was clonked out in bed already lol
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I went for my niece's destination wedding in August. My significant other and I chose to use "Groupon." It worked out beautifully. We got 7 days (1 night in hotel and 6 nights in bed and breakfasts), car rental and round trip tickets for almost the same price as some paid for just the flight!! We marked our own destination after the wedding near Dublin. Rented a small electric/gas car and only filled once. Many many bed and breakfasts to choose from with Groupon. Went South to Cork and then up the West coast. We ended up not purchasing the Maps download through our phone company which we felt was a mistake, but we got by. Instead, we ended up downloading our destination for the day onto our phones through Google maps using internet at hotel/bed and breakfasts, and then set out for the day. It worked pretty well. Get insurance on car. Get advice on places to travel to from your bed and breakfast. We had a blast venturing out on our own and finding ourselves up in the mountains with the goats! Plan your destinations, but try and go by the seat of your pants a little. To save travel back to Dublin, you could book your flight back out of Shannon.
My wife and I are going to Ireland at the end of March/first 2 weeks in April. We're flying into Dublin but going straight to Cork after we land. We're renting a car, which will allow us to be more flexible where we go (and we won't have to abide by train/bus schedules, etc.) Our plan is to spend 3 night in Cork, the travel up the west coast to Galway, then up to Bushmills (to see the Giant's Causeway), over to Belfast for 3 nights and then spend the last 3 nights in Dublin. We'll be doing some hiking trails around Cork/Dingle but we're looking for possible suggestions on staying in a castle for a night or two (if anyone has stayed in one they really liked.)
I have been to Dublin in 2009 but this was the last city we visited on our European vacation after college (needless to say I was quite tired.) We stayed in the Four Courts Hostel, right across from the Four Courts, and we met an awesome independent tour guide there. We visited Trinity College, and stopped by the Chester Beatty Library (highly recommended if you're looking for a place to see historical material.) We also stopped by the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery, and had lunch at the Brazen Head (oldest pub in Dublin.)
I'll report back to this group after my trip with anything cool/exciting that we encounter on our trip in April!
Hi Josh,
I would be interested in a follow-up on your trip to Ireland. What you liked best, what worked, what didn’t work. Looking forward to hearing about your insights!
wondering what time of year is best for relatively temperate weather?
No matter the time of year, plan on getting wet. There's a reason Ireland is green all the time. I've been there when there has been little rain and when it's always rained. Its a chance you take just like most vacations. Generally speaking the weather is a little more temperate than Minnesota. Not as warm, but not as cold either. Having said that, the best time of the year for weather and least chance of rain is usually August or September. September is at the end of the peak season for travel in Ireland so depending on where you're flying from and to, you might be a little more limited in flight options.
@kaylieguderian so sorry - I must have missed your message regarding 'must dos' from so long ago. How was your Ireland trip?
I spent a week in Ireland as part of my 2 month post-graduation trip in Europe and I absolutely loved it! Ireland is a beautiful country and I didn't find it difficult to get around at all. I traveled by bus and train, traveling from Dublin to Cork, Cork to Ennis and back to Dublin. I was traveling solo at the time and felt totally safe the whole time. I spent a lot of time at the Botanical Gardens in Dublin (they were free and I was living on $30 USD a day by that point in my trip, so cheap/free was needed for me). The Guiness tour was pretty amazing and I'd recommend that as well. I did a day trip from Cork to Middleton, and toured the Jameson distillery. My absolute favorite though, as the Cliffs of Moher. I stayed in Ennis and took an hour bus trip out to the Cliffs. I spent all day hiking with a young woman I met at the bus stop and it was the best time ever! I would definitely recommend seeing the Cliffs. Just be aware of what time the final bus leaves (I almost missed the last bus out); otherwise' you'll be stuck in the nearest town for the night.
I am going to Ireland (Dublin) and England (London) in October. I will need to check out everyone's recommendations.
Hi Kiehlsa: I'm a new employee about to join Mayo in September but FIRST, I'm traveling to Ireland! Loved all your recommendations on your trip there- thanks for sharing. Question: I'm thinking about going alone and intrigued that you wrote you felt safe in Ireland Can I doublecheck the details about that with you? - did you feel safe everywhere, even out hiking alone? How about in pubs or after dark on the streets? Any cautions you'd recommend for a solo female traveler there? Many thanks.
You'll have such a blast! I traveled solo in Ireland and I felt perfectly safe. I just utilized common sense while I was out and about--being aware of my surroundings, I didn't get drunk or anywhere near it. The Cliffs of Moher was the only place out there that I was hiking alone for part of it. As I said above, I met a young woman my age at the bus stop who was going to the Cliffs as well. We hit it off and we hiked most of the day together. She had to leave earlier than me, so I hiked alone the remainder of the way to the tip area (the far end that you can see from the visitor's center) which was about a 2-2.5 hour trek total from the visitor center. And I hiked alone back and was just fine. Didn't run into many people that far out.
One thing just to be aware of if you visit the Cliffs is to make sure that it will be a nice sunny day, and not too windy. It can be really foggy there and if it is, you won't see anything at all. There were a couple girls at my hostel who went the day before and their experience was literally just seeing a sheet of white. Nothing else. If it is super windy, they won't allow anyone to visit, as many people have been blown over the cliff's edge by the sudden wind gusts that occur. I kept a healthy distance from the edge of the Cliffs.
In terms of pubs, I didn't go to many in Ireland since I was on a tight budget by that point. But I would just say to make sure that you are able to still take care of yourself. Personally, I never had more than two drinks when I was out away from my hostel, and as I do here, I didn't lose sight of my drink. Some hostels have bars in them, and those are fun because you can meet your bunkmates and connect with other travelers.
I was an early riser when I was traveling so usually by the time it got dark, I was clonked out in bed already lol