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Thread: Planning a trip to Ireland

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    Banned Aniela's Avatar
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    Default Planning a trip to Ireland

    I have a good friend who is currently living in Ireland, engaged to an Irish guy, & last time I talked to her she said they are planning to get married nxt yr.

    I started my preliminary trip research today, playing w/ flights & dates to get a general idea of the cost. At this point I am expecting to be flying into Dublin but don't know for sure yet. So far I am planning for a five-day trip & looking also for thoughts on hotels/hostels vs couchsurf.com-type arrangements. I would like sm advice from members who are more familiar w/ the country abt good places to stay, in Dublin & elsewhere since I won't know for sure where I'll be going until I talk to her again (hopefully this wk or nxt wk sm time).

    Also, do you think it's worth getting a rental car? I guess it depends on how much travelling around I plan on doing, but honestly I have enough trouble managing American-style driving on the 'right' side of the road, plus I don't know how to drive stickshift! The thought of driving over there makes me want a drink lol.

    Thnx for any advice!

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    I've stayed at the Shelbourne in Dublin, the suites are really good for Europe. I would recommend against renting a car there. You drive on the other side of the road and some of the roads are narrow. You'll have a great time, Dublin is awesome.

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    Banned Aniela's Avatar
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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    Quote Originally Posted by NoRegrets View Post
    I've stayed at the Shelbourne in Dublin, the suites are really good for Europe. I would recommend against renting a car there. You drive on the other side of the road and some of the roads are narrow. You'll have a great time, Dublin is awesome.
    Thnx for the reply! I just glanced at a map of the country, & it seems that the major airports are all located well south of Northern Ireland. Dublin is still my guinea-pig destination but I'm wondering what the longer-distance transportation system is like -- trains & whatnot? I know from experience that the French, German, Polish train systems are quite extensive & mostly very efficient, at least when the French are not striking Trying to get an idea of how to manage travel w/o my own vehicle. Just learnt today that I may soon be learning to drive a stick after all, but the confusion of driving on the opposite side of the road

    As of now I am thinking either the Dublin area or sm where in Northern Ireland, but I will hopefully get a clearer picture Monday when I talk to my friend. Have you visited other areas of the country besides Dublin?

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    You should watch Anthony Bourdain's food/alcohol coverage of Ireland...it's on Netflix.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    Quote Originally Posted by Aniela View Post
    As of now I am thinking either the Dublin area or sm where in Northern Ireland, but I will hopefully get a clearer picture Monday when I talk to my friend. Have you visited other areas of the country besides Dublin?
    I've been as far north as Derry (Londonderry). If you get up there you'll enjoy the accent everyone has. I've taken the train from Dublin to Belfast, it was about 2 hours if I remember correctly. I mostly have a driver/tourguide or fly into the smaller airports to get around. There's public transport (buses, trains) just like in most of England and Europe. Be sure to bring the right kind of clothes depending on what time of year you're going. It can be very windy, cold, and rainy.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    I suggest not driving there. Driving on the wrong side of the road can be very confusing. Maybe you can try Uber.

    https://www.uber.com/cities/dublin

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    ^ just don't dance there girl..... Cheapos!

    Jelly... have an awesome time, do a jig for me http://lidsblog.files.wordpress.com/...kznso1_400.gif
    Last edited by Flickdreams; 09-06-2015 at 01:54 AM.
    Tiny tweaks----->BIG CHANGES

    Quote Originally Posted by Kirakonstantin View Post
    More fear-mongering? Really? Yes, this is not the 1990's anymore. Yes, things are changing. Either dance or don't. Freaking out and sowing fear isn't going to help anyone.




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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    Quote Originally Posted by Flickdreams View Post
    ^ just do dance there girl..... Cheapos!

    Jelly... have an awesome time, do a jig for me
    It's a personal trip. Not going to be dancing, esp not w/ my feet in the condition they're in
    Last edited by Aniela; 09-06-2015 at 09:14 PM.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    Also, any thoughts on Belfast & the vicinity? My friend is in Northern Ireland so I started including Belfast in my search ... but it's around $200 more expensive than flying into Dublin. Kinda seems like saving $$$ on the flight into Dulles but blowing all that savings on travelling to/from Baltimore so I might as well just suck-up the extra cost of going right into Northern Ireland.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    First, don't believe the hype that Belfast isn't safe. I never felt in danger there and there were no incidents while I was there. It will cost you a bit more to stay in Belfast, but just a little. If you like art, parks, and old architecture you'll like Belfast. For me I prefer the smaller towns because parts of Belfast feel urban. But, Saint Anne's Cathedral is beautiful and the art district is small but great. If you're going to be in Northern Ireland anyway it makes sense to fly straight into Belfast. You could always make a day trip into Dublin by train if you wanted.

    I could ask my guys what driver/tourguide service I used and send you their contact info via PM if you want.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    ^^^^ I hadn't even heard anything abt Belfast in particular being unsafe! But good to know! I have travelled in Europe as an adult (altho it's been a few yrs) but I have always felt it's no different than a lot of American cities. Sure there are areas you would want to avoid but you will find that element in any location.

    I was just kinda slow on checking Belfast costs bc it didn't occur to me to check them sooner :doh:

    But yeah … if it ends up happening, I am open to making a day/day.5-trip down to Dublin & also a couple spots below Dublin. Mapquest says it's only abt 90min between Belfast & the southeast area I want to see. Talked to my friend ystrdy & she is suggesting a day trip to other areas of Europe but I am leaning more towards staying in-country. Would rather enjoy & better remember a few In the meantime I am just going to keep researching & trying to arrange a few other things so that I can make this trip. Thnx vm for the helpful info NoRegrets, & if any others have recommendations on what to see, do or avoid (Thnx Flick!) I would be happy to hear it.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    ^there are some really dodgy areas of Belfast, it used to have a pretty horrible reputation. Two of my best regulars were from there-- I'm sure you're familiar with the political issues in Northern Ireland, but I'm told it's like anywhere else, there's good and bad, stay out of the bad and take safety precautions and you'll be fine, I've heard it's cleaned up a lot. They told me it wasn't an amazing city to visit but if you're going to be near it it's a good place to see. Dublin is definitely the more impressive city but there are some other beautiful parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Irish LOVE American women and they're really nice, warm, lovely people (tho make the mistake of referring to Ireland as part of the UK and you'll get a very pissed off Irish person in your face).

    I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you do, Dublin is at the top of my places to visit but the flight makes more complicated than going to Paris.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    Quote Originally Posted by audrey_k View Post
    I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you do, Dublin is at the top of my places to visit but the flight makes more complicated than going to Paris.
    I personally enjoyed Dublin much more than Belfast. But the countryside and small towns in Northern Ireland can't be beat.

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    Default Re: Planning a trip to Ireland

    I'll go w/ya.


    MANY MEN WANTED TO LAY ME DOWN, BUT FEW WANTED TO LIFT ME UP

    -Eartha Kitt

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