Visiting Ireland 7/22/18-8/3/18

My sister and I are planning a trip to Ireland end of July 2018.
Should we book with a tour, AAA, Go Irish?
Do you recommend Air BnB, Hotels?
Any suggestions

Hello, Debbie.

It's really wonderful to have you here with us on the Community.

I'm sure that you're very excited about planning your trip to the Emerald Isle for next year - you've come to the right place to gather some excellent ideas and suggestions for that big trip!  

There are a couple options available to you when it comes to planning your trip, you can book independently, or if you are interested in having something a little more organised, booking through a tour operator can be another excellent possibility.

 Although both options can provide lots of flexibility, as tour operators often offer bespoke tours and can often tailor itineraries to suit you - they also offer self-drive options too, if preferred!

We have an extensive range of tour operators who would be delighted to assist with arranging this for you - and you may also hear from some of them on the Community here.

In regards to accommodation, have you had the opportunity to check out our accommodation section?  We can for sure recommend the extensive accommodation options that are listed on our site - you can even filter the options available to you depending on your preference.  Some others may have other specific accommodation suggestions to share.

I would be really keen to share some ideas with you in regards to places to visit around the island, and what you could get up to - have you thought about where you and your sister might like to visit throughout your tour?

Speak soon,

Colin

Hello Debbie.
Regarding your proposed visit to Ireland in July 2018. I would be more than pleased to advise you if you could let me know the Airport/s you plan using for arrival and departure. The length of your stay and I'm sure you have some idea from family and friends of places you would like to visit while you are in the Country.
I hope to hear from you again.
Conor 

Hi Debbie 
really depends on the kind of traveller you are, do you like things pre organised or are you good to go with the flow
Accommodation is always safer booked ahead but Ireland is reasonably easy to get around and we are very friendly here so you won't ever feel really lost, someone will always help with directions
Maybe a tour here and there throughout the trip, do please visit us in Howth, we are only just 30 mins from the City by train, gorgeous fishing village stuffed with amazing restaurants, visit http://aqua.ie/things-to-see-do-in-howth/
Enjoy the research stage!
Regards
Majella

Hello Debbie,

Welcome to the community!

A great option you might like to consider is camper hire providing your accommodation and transport in one. Lazy Days campers are easy to drive and compact (no bigger than an MPV!), ideal for negotiating small Irish roads, towns & villages.

There are so many things to do and see in Ireland! From behind the wheel of a camper you can explore some of the most spectacular landscapes and heritage sites in the world at your own pace. With a Lazy Days van as your base you can Discover Ireland at your own pace in your home-from-home. Smiles for miles nothing else compares.

If you need help planning your route? We are delighted to help you plan a truly unique and adventurous holiday. We have LOTS of inspiring trip ideas, recommended routes, must-see top attractions and the lesser known hidden gems to share with you. We are only a phone call or email away and are happy to help you throughout your booking, planning and holiday experience.

Happy planning!
Sue (http://www.lazydays.ie/)

Hi Debbie,
It is wonderful to hear that you will be choosing Ireland as your holiday destination.
Here at Railtours Ireland we run tours the length and breath of the country all over Ireland.
Our tours are unique in that you will be traveling by train for the majority of your tour and using luxury coaches also.
We run one day to eleven day tours and use hotels for overnight stays in Killarney, Galway and Dublin.
We visit the must see tourist attractions in the country like the Cliffs of Moher and the Giants Causeway.
Our full list of tours can be found here: https://railtoursireland.com/travel-tours
We would be delighted to show you around the Emerald Isle.
You can contact us directly on Toll Free from USA & Canada: 1-877-451-4783
Many thanks
Mervyn

Dear Debbie,

I am delighted to hear that you and your sister are thinking of visiting Ireland next July.  Great choice!

May I suggest that you might like to consider exploring the Causeway Coastal Route.  This is one of the world’s great road journeys, stretching from Belfast and going towards Derry/Londonderry.  It takes in coastal villages at the foot of beautiful river valleys known as glens. It hugs the coast, giving stunning views of cliffs and long sandy beaches, all waiting to be explored.  Central in the route is the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its hexagonal–shaped basalt stones and columns.  Click and find out about some more of the sights along the way. http://www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com/Portals/0/downloads/CCRMap2016.pdf

This area also boasts a wealth of tours and again I suggest you browse through those on our website at http://www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com/Tours-A164  Perhaps this will help you begin to settle how exactly you want to explore Ireland.

If you have specific questions about the area or need help with booking accommodation - and we definitely recommend booking in advance -  we in Coleraine Visitor Information Centre will be only too happy to help you. 

I hope you have a great trip.

Kind regards,

Mary.

Good morning from Offaly, Debbie,

I'm delighted to hear you are planning a trip to Ireland next Summer, and I am sure you will have such a good time with your Sister.  

Your travel arrangements will obviously be the key to the start of these plans.  Here at Kinnitty Castle we have a vast range of visitors from abroad and we have a good mix of people who visit as part of a Tour Group, or those who choose to self-drive.  If self-drive is possibly an option for you I would definitely recommend that as it gives you more flexibility to plan your itinerary and change your route if you decide to stay on somewhere really great for an extra night.  Some people find the idea of driving in Ireland daunting as the country roads can be quite narrow and winding and you do meet a lot of slow-moving tractors; however, we hear a lot of feedback from guests that although they find it a little scary at times they really, really enjoy it, and they can visit a lot of little villages that they would otherwise miss if they were part of an organised tour group.  Having said that, if you are thinking along the lines of a tour group you may find one that specialises in certain interests that people have, some companies do the Castle Tours, staying an visiting all Castles during your trip, some others may specialise in walking tours or Gardens & Houses tours.  Check out Irish Welcome Tours, they are regular visitors to us here at Kinnitty Castle Hotel and they offer Group and Individual itineraries:

https://irishwelcometours.com/

We ourselves are based in the Midlands of Ireland, and I really must recommend that you visit this area during your stay.  There is so much to see and do in here in the Heart of the country, and the Counties of Offaly, Laois, Westmeath and Tipperary shouldn't be overshadowed by the usual attractions of Galway, Dublin or Cork.  

You could fly into Shannon Airport if this is possible for you, and perhaps fly out of Dublin, that way you could build a 'round trip' itinerary to include a few more spots that you may otherwise miss.  We are located a 90 minute drive from either Dublin Airport or Shannon, so you can get an idea of how easily accessible this part of Ireland is.  We fall under the category of 'Ireland's Ancient East' even though we are very central, but you really should try and visit the area as it has a lot to offer visitors.  Along the West coast you will hear of the "Wild Atlantic Way" which is also a wonderful part of the country to visit, so I'd definitely try and see parts of both if you can during your stay.

https://www.irelandsancienteast.com

I hope this is of some use to you Debbie, I am sure after reading all of your responses your head will be spinning, but it helps to hear advice from all areas and you have certainly come to the right forum for help.  Happy planning with your itinerary.  If you would consider staying with us here at Kinnitty Castle Hotel here is our website for some further information:

www.kinnittycastlehotel.com 

Kind regards,
Clair Dongher
clair@kinnittycastlehotel.com

Hi Debbie

It's great to hear that you are planning a trip to Ireland next summer. This is a great time of year to visit the Emerald Isle. 

Adding to what Mary from the Causeway Coast and Glens has explained previously in this discussion, if you are considering travelling towards the Causeway Coastal Route then I would recommend a visit to the Historic Walled City of Derry-Londonderry. Derry-Londonderry is an excellent cultural location with a series of visitor attractions steeped in history. These include the likes of the 17th Century City Walls, Guildhall, World Famous Murals, St Columb’s Cathedral as well as many fascinating museums and exhibitions. The city also provides great options for tours, leisure, shopping and dining as well as excellent accommodation options should you choose to spend the night here. The city provides the perfect base for exploring Ireland as we are located on the gateway to Donegal/Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route. More detailed information on what the city has to offer can be found in our official visitor guide here. We would also invite you to contact us should you have any inquiries or questions at all. We are more than happy to help. 

Kind Regards

Barry 

Web: www.visitderry.com
Tel: +44 (0) 28 7126 7284
Email: info@visitderry.com 

Hello, Debbie!

We haven't heard from you in a while! I hope you enjoyed the amazing weather over the month of July! Where did you manage to see during your time in Ireland?

Please feel free to share your memories and suggestions with the rest of our Community, as I am sure other members will find this thread very useful.

Hoping to hear from you soon!

Francesco