I'm planning a trip to Ireland in April. What are your thoughts?

Question

I'm Canadian and am thinking of perhaps renting a vehicle while i'm there. I want to explore the beautiful countryside and coasts and a few large cities as well. Is renting a vehicle expensive? (how about a motorcyle - or is the weather going to be an issue) What about accomodations? Should I be looking for hotels or B&Bs or just wing it (I'd much rather wing it, I don't mind sleeping in a hostel if I have too). As if that isn't enough questions already, I know nearly nothing about Ireland and would love some suggestions for landmarks to visit (country and urban) I would love to see some castles!!!

Answer 1

april here is known as the 4 seasons month sun/snow rain etc hope your lucky with the weather b/bs or hostels best option just go to any shop buy sometyhing and ask they will propably keep u there for ages tellling u the best options its the irish way or pub is another way of finding info go to any pub and i can guarentee u wont have a pint called before your in deep conversation with the locals enjoy

Answer 2

I'm American; I've been to Ireland twice now. My wife and I always stay in B&Bs; as she says, she likes the idea of a nice Irish lady making breakfast for her each morning! Expect to spend between 40-50 euro per night for that. Lots of places have websites, and you can reserve some in advance by either e-mail or even telephone. April is on the edge of the high season, but you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a place to stay. The Visitors Centre in each town is amazingly helpful if you need help finding a place to stay, or you can just look for houses that have the "Bord Fáilte" approved sign outside. My wife and I booked the first few places in advance, but after that, we just found places wherever we wound up that evening, and we could always find a B&B somewhere.

We always hire a car; the most convenient place to do that is at the airport. You can book those online, and automatic transmission cars are available, but you should definitely reserve those in advance. It is expensive, and petrol will be about a euro per liter! Driving in Dublin is very difficult, but public transportation is quite convenient within the city. We didn't actually drive until we were ready to leave Dublin to see the rest of Ireland. But keep your eyes open--the most delightful things we found were because of what I like to call "accidental adventures"--the fun things you didn't know you had ahead of you when you woke up that morning! Maybe someone will tell you about a local cool thing that you didn't know about, or you'll decide to take a road that you weren't planning to.

The best advice I can give you is--write *everything* down! I always have a travel journal I bring with me, and every day I take some time to write down the day's adventures, with the clear intent of writing to myself five years from now. So I want to record a bit of all my thoughts, conversations, people's names and of course the stories and adventures we experience when we're there.

The west coast of Ireland, especially Connemara, is the most beautiful place I've ever seen on this planet. The Cliffs of Moher, 800 feet sheer cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean, was absolutely breathtaking. If there's any place you MUST see, you must see the Cliffs.

I could write for hours about wonderful things to do in Ireland, but this is already getting quite lengthy!

Answer 3

it'll be raining!

Answer 4

First Thing I would suggest is to go into the Internet under Ireland, or Bord Failte, and you will get a lot of information. You should think about booking fly/drive with some of the companies. Perhaps fly into the west of Ireland, via Shannon and travel up towards Dublin. There are many interesting places  to visit in that region, and some very good towns. Close to Shannon airport you have Bunratty Castle which is famous the world over. Close by is Limerick City,and then travel on as you head towards Dublin. You might think of booking your flight into Shannon, hiring a car there, and fly out from Dublin. all of the main car hire companies will allow you to leave the car at Dublin airport. You could book into a Hotel, or a Bed & Breakfast at a reasonable cost. When you book into a B.& B be sure to get a key for your room, and ask if the breakfast will be a full Irish one. That is orange juice, Cereal, Bacon, Egg, Sausage, Mushrooms, and or Black & White pudding. Tea or coffee and toast, or Brown Bread. That should set you up for the day. Avoid Stopping in a Bed & Breakfast in a town called Roscrea.

You must see Dublin but I would suggest you stay overnight just outside the city, possibly in a Bed and Breakfast close to a small village called Malahide. There is a lot to see there, including a Castle, it is beside the Coast. Also, close by approx 6 miles away is a place called Balgriffin, bus no 42 will take you there. Here you will find one of the most interesting Churches in Ireland, or indeed in the World. It has been written about, painted by countless numbers of artists. Photographed by visitors from every corner of the world. Studied by many historians, and much more. It is Irelands oldest stone roofed church still in continuous use as a place of worship. it has links going back to the early Christian church in Ireland, and to it's National Saint. It is St Doulagh's Church, and information on it can be found on the internet, just log in the name. No visit to Ireland should be made without paying it a visit. Most people call in to see it  for 5 minutes and leave after one to two hours. It is located on the R107 road, watch for the stone cross outside. contact phone number can be found on the website. Then travel into Dublin by Bus or Dart from Malahide. Be sure to visit all or some of the following, ( you can travel on one of the open top double decker buses, which allow you to hop on and off) Dublin Castle,Trinity College and the world famous Book of Kells, St Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral/Dublinia. Phoenix Park, its Museums, Guinesses Brewery, Kilmainham Jail, and much more. Leave your car out of Dublin, and save yourself the bother of parking etc. Whatever you do and wherever you go in Ireland, have a good holiday, and enjoy the Cead Mile Failte (100 thousand welcomes you will receive)

Answer 5

this has helped - we're going in May so it's been interesting reading answers and getting ideas.

however, i have to say, the prices i've found so far are much cheaper. we're flying into dublin, renting a car & getting a nice cottage for a wk (to do day trips out of since we don't mind driving around), then doing B&Bs for several more days elsewhere. this is costing us about $1400 each. adding another cottage for a second week would add about $500 to it. i'd keep looking - you may be able to find cheaper places to stay & travel.

good luck & have fun!!

Answer 6

Okay, as regards renting a car in Ireland, go to one of the car hire companies. You could also investigate a fly-drive package, in which the flight and car are paid in one.

For accommodation, you can stay in hostels, but as this is out of the high season, you should also be able to get B&Bs pretty easily, so you should be able to 'wing it', as you put it.

I would advise NOT driving into Dublin, as finding parking is a nightmare and various organisations in Dublin are a little too clamp-happy! The other cities are okay, just be aware that many of these have one-way street systems, and a disc parking system.

I live in the south-west of Ireland so I'm a little biased for this area. And as for castles, well the big tourist places of Bunratty etc (well worth a visit, including the folk village) are only the tip of the iceberg, there are two ruined castles within 3 miles of my house, one is in a farmyard, we are tripping over the bloody things here!

My suggestion is to stick to a region, because while it's not a large country, driving is slow because the roads are not made for fast driving. If you're arriving at Shannon airport, for example, this is in the south-west and a good place to start for touring Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Cork.

Answer 7

I went to Amsterdam and I know a friend that went to Germany, we both went on bike tours, which I think they would offer in Ireland, it is a fantastic way to see the country side and city, I highly recommend it, and it is rather cheap and lasts a few hours. Accommodation's just depend on what you prefer, I always like to know where I'm staying, even if you want to stay in a hostel, you should look them up before you go, so you have an idea of where to be headed. Usually hostels don't have storage space so if your bringing more than a backpack I'd recommend a hotel, and also some hostels and hotels are in better locations than others, so it might save you a little extra money to plan ahead and know where they are located, so you don't have to spend the money on transportation. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 8

Unfortunately you can't guarantee good weather in Ireland. If I were you just wing it because it's much better to just keep to your own schedule.

Ireland is a land of much beauty so I have so many suggestions.

Dublin: 1.Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, South William Street

The Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is a speciality shopping centre set in an elegant Georgian house, just off Grafton Street. It is one of the finest 18th century town mansions in Dublin, and serves as a magnificent setting for browser's and shoppers alike.

2.Mulligans Pub

Mulligans Pub in Poolbeg Street was founded in 1782, and the owners to 'modernise' this much-loved establishment.

3.Bewleys, Grafton Street

A multi-million euro Irish success story, still going strong!

4.Ha'penny Bridge

Up to 1816, the year the Ha'penny Bridge was erected, no other bridge existed between Essex (Grattan or Capel Street) Bridge and Carlisle (O'Connell) Bridge

5.St Stephen's Green

Admittance to the park was once confined to the local residents which was deeply resented by other citizens accustomed to its accessibility.

6.The Brazen Head

The Brazen Head Inn, Bridge Street, claimed to be Dublin's oldest pub, stands close to Father Mathew Bridge

7.Gate Theatre

Orson Welles and James Mason cut their acting teeth on the stage of the Gate.

8.

South City Markets, Great George's Street South

South City Markets was Dublin's first and only purpose built Victorian Shopping Centre.

9. Trinity college.

Galway: My favorite!

1.Eyre Square:

Known Locally as "the Square", this central plot was officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name.

Originally surrounded with a wooden fence, it was enclosed with iron railings in the late 1700s. These were removed in the 1960s, and subsequently re-erected around St Nicholas' Collegiate Church.

In 1965, the square was officially renamed "Kennedy Memorial Park" in honour of US President John F. Kennedy, who visited here shortly before his assassination in 1963.

2. Padhraig O' Conaire:

At the top of Eyre Square sits Albert Power's sculpture of Galway author Pádhraig Ó Conaire.

Unveiled in 1934, it is one of the cities most cherished monuments. The limestone statue immortalises the writer, sitting at his work.

Pádhraig's birthplace was a pub in the docks area, not far from where his statue stands today.

In his short lifespan (1882 - 1928), he produced 24 books, including 100 short stories, all written in the Irish language

3. Lynch's castle:

Lynch's castle  

was the historic home of Galway's most powerful family. A magnificent limestone building, it is an excellent example of the Irish Gothic style. Its heavily carved facade bears the arms of Henry VIII.

Standing on the corner of Shop Street and Abbeygate Street, Lynch's Castle gives us a rare glimpse of old Galway. The 1651 Pictorial Map of the city shows fourteen lavish merchant homes. Lynch's Castle alone survives intact. Today it houses the AIB bank.

4.The Claddagh:

The name of this area area is based on the Irish word "cladach", meaning a stony beach. People have been gathering seafood and fishing from here for millennia. Historically, its existence has been recorded since the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Claddagh people kept Galway City supplied with fish, which they sold on the square in front of the Spanish Arch.

The area has been immortalised in the song "Galway Bay", and internationalised through its traditional jewellry, the Claddagh Ring, which is worn by people all over the world.