Ireland in May anyone?

[Deleted]

Has anyone been. My coworker wants to surprise his wife for their 30th wedding aniv.  Suggestions? 

Should they rent a car?

ETA:
Any info about these hotels are appreciated

Temple Gate Hotel
Blarney Hotel Golf and Spa Resort in Cork
Scott's Hotel
Limerick Strand Hotel

[Susie]

I went on about June 1 a couple years ago, and we're planning to go in May this year.  I loved it.  What do you want to know?

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 11:43:10 GMT -5 Susie said:

I went on about June 1 a couple years ago, and we're planning to go in May this year.  I loved it.  What do you want to know?

Where to stay.  Where to stay away from.  And he also wants to know if it was too cold. 

[justjen]

I went in May many years ago. It was like 80 and sunny and the whole time

ETA: Everyone there let me know this was a huge anomaly.

[Nonny]

Jan 31, 2013 11:44:38 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Jan 31, 2013 11:43:10 GMT -5 Susie said:

I went on about June 1 a couple years ago, and we're planning to go in May this year.  I loved it.  What do you want to know?

Where to stay.  Where to stay away from.  And he also wants to know if it was too cold. 

Stay far far far away from the indoor water park in Tralee.  Grossest place ever!  (Not that they'll probably be doing this, but was listed as a good/fun place to go in Rick Steve's Ireland guide, and it was awful.)

My friend and I went in April a few years ago and we had beautiful weather (high 60s low 70s) the entire time, which we were also told was an anomaly.  As long as they bring layers (at least one water proof) and good shoes, I think they'll have a great time no matter what.

[Susie]

It won't be too cold. You always need a rain jacket in Ireland, but I wore skirts/skorts and long sleeves most of the time.

As far as where to go/not go? That's really, really broad, and totally taste- and interest-dependent. It's a whole country! I recommend Rick Steves' Ireland as a guide book, I thought his accommodation and activity recs were good. I mostly toured western Ireland. We stayed in Galway, Doolin, Dingle, Kenmare, and Kinsale.

General comments: except for Dublin itself, renting a car is the best way to go. Automatics are expensive and need to be reserved well in advance. I drove stick over there, but I know a lot of people aren't comfortable with that on the opposite side of the road/driving on the opposite side of the car. B&Bs are a nice way to stay and meet people. The Guinness is awesome. So are the people that we met.

[FWP]

Jan 31, 2013 11:44:38 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Where to stay.  Where to stay away from.  And he also wants to know if it was too cold. 

I went in late April/early May. It wasn't too bad, we were fine with lighter jackets (definitely have something waterproof though!).

It depends on what you want to do. We had some time in Dublin and also drove to the west coast and visited the Cliffs of Moher. I really enjoyed driving along the coast, although it's not for the faint of heart.

[aspentosh]

Oh, bookmarking this post!

We are going in June for a wedding but I want to make a vacation out of it.

[mbcdefg]

I was there in July 2010. I was fine in jeans, my sister wore skirts/dresses, and everyone in our family had a windbreaker or sweatshirt.

Things we saw:

Dublin: Jameson Distillery, Temple Bar, Trinity College (Book of Kells), Guinness Storehouse, Muckross House just outside of town. We walked or took taxis/light rail around the city, then rented a minivan to drive around the country.

towns: Kinsale (small waterside town; Fishy Fishy is supposedly a great restaurant but it was closed when we were there), Killarney, Doonbeg (my ancestors' home), Spanish Point

Blarney Castle/Blarney Stone

Ring of Kerry (you can drive yourself or take a bus)

Cliffs of Moher

We flew home from Shannon.

My parents asked the locals lots of questions, and everyone was very nice and eager to chat.

I had the Rick Steves guidebook with me.

[CloudBee]

We went in May of last year and loved it. I booked us at the Hilton Dublin. It was within walking distance of everything. We were only there for 4 days I believe. Most of what we wanted to see was in the city, so we didn't rent a car.

We did hire a driver to take us all over the countryside and seaside. I think that was the smartest move in our situation. We got the most out of our time because we could focus on the scenery and surroundings without focusing on navigating the narrow roads and being on the opposite side of the street. I'm trying to find info on the company we used. I'll come back and post if I find it.

[mmmomof2]

We went in May 2008. It was not hot, but not too cold. We're from Southern CA, so definitely cooler than we are used to. Jeans, long sleeves and windbreakers.

We did rent a car, but went with a stick for budget reasons. I never drove at all. We underestimated how long each trip would take though - lots of winding rural roads. Dh was really worn out after long days of driving and we should have built more rest time in.

I was surprised how late it stayed sunny. We'd go out to dinner and the sun would still be out after. It's really far north!

We stayed in a lot of B&Bs.

[mrshandy]

DH and I went to Ireland for our honeymoon in May and it was beautiful.

Definitely rent a car. We stayed mostly at B&Bs, which I would highly recommend. So I can't recommend any hotels.

We skipped Dublin and just stuck to the countryside. We were pretty happy with our decision.

We loved Galway, Dingle esp. the Ring of Dingle, and Kinsale. I could have done without Tralee. Nothing too special there.

[drloretta]

I've been twice. Both times we did a fly/drive/B&B package and wandered the countryside. If they plan to stay in one city, a car isn't necessary. If they want to see a lot of places, I think a car would give them a lot of flexibility. We had no problems driving there either time.

We stayed at the Temple Bar Hotel, I think. Are you sure it's the Temple Gate?

The west coast is going to be generally warmer than the east/north, but May should be a good time of year anyway.

What do they like to do? That will really color what they should do/where they should go. Someone who wants to do pub crawls and whiskey tastings may have a very different looking trip than someone who's into history, or museums, or outdoor stuff, or something more food-centric.

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 12:06:10 GMT -5 drloretta said:

What do they like to do? That will really color what they should do/where they should go. Someone who wants to do pub crawls and whiskey tastings may have a very different looking trip than someone who's into history, or museums, or outdoor stuff, or something more food-centric.

They are in their 50's.  The husband is 55 and not overly adventurous. Not at all the hiker, sky diver, pub crawl people.

[FWP]

In Dublin we stayed at both of these and enjoyed them both:
Stauntons On The Green - Guest House
O'Neills Victorian Pub and Townhouse

My favorite attraction in Dublin was the Book of Kells @ Trinity College, but I am a book nerd. I also really enjoyed just walking around. We found that Italian food was the best escape from Irish food (maybe we just hit the wrong places, but I didn't particularly enjoy any Irish meals). The coffee shops there are great, if they're into coffee. It's fun to go to bars during soccer games. I have heard that the Jameson Distillery is a fun visit but we didn't have time. The Guinness factory is pretty touristy. My H really liked Kilmainham Gaol, although it's kind of a downer.

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 12:03:38 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

We did hire a driver to take us all over the countryside and seaside.

My coworker wants to know what is the cost of this and how do you find one.

[awkwardpenguin]

Jan 31, 2013 12:09:32 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Jan 31, 2013 12:06:10 GMT -5 drloretta said:

What do they like to do? That will really color what they should do/where they should go. Someone who wants to do pub crawls and whiskey tastings may have a very different looking trip than someone who's into history, or museums, or outdoor stuff, or something more food-centric.

They are in their 50's.  The husband is 55 and not overly adventurous. Not at all the hiker, sky diver, pub crawl people.

My inlaws have been to Ireland twice since I've known them and the LOVE it.  They have rented a car to see the countryside and stayed in B&Bs and really enjoyed it.  They did go to the Guinness brewery and also did an Irish Whiskey tasting, which FIL loved.  They also took a ride on a three person covered bike (where they sit in the back and the peddler is in the front) and for whatever reason this was the highlight of their tour.  This past time they went in October when it was pretty rainy and on the chilly side, and they still had a great time.

I think Ireland is an awesome international destination for not particularly adventurous travelers.

[drloretta]

Jan 31, 2013 12:09:32 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Jan 31, 2013 12:06:10 GMT -5 drloretta said:

What do they like to do? That will really color what they should do/where they should go. Someone who wants to do pub crawls and whiskey tastings may have a very different looking trip than someone who's into history, or museums, or outdoor stuff, or something more food-centric.

They are in their 50's.  The husband is 55 and not overly adventurous. Not at all the hiker, sky diver, pub crawl people.

If you want, PM me and I can send you our itineraries that you can pass along. We didn't do anything overly adventurous, but we did see quite a bit of Ireland (at least on the second trip). We leaned toward some churches, museums, stopping at random castles, and shopping.

Wherever they go, tell them to avoid the tourist trap that is the Waterford factory. We did not enjoy, and you can get similar deals on crystal and shipping just about anywhere.

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 12:21:58 GMT -5 awkwardpenguin said:

Jan 31, 2013 12:09:32 GMT -5 vigurl said:

They are in their 50's.  The husband is 55 and not overly adventurous. Not at

I think Ireland is an awesome international destination for not particularly adventurous travelers.

That is exactly what they are looking for.  This is their first time out of the US.

[runblondie26]

I went with a friend for a girls getaway the last weekend of April 2012.  We saw the Jameson Distillery, Temple Bar, Trinity College (Book of Kells), Guinness Storehouse, and took a tourbus ride out to PowersCourt House gardens.

It was a fun weekend, but I agree with awkwardpenguin's opinion. Since it was a girls weekend, we were more about relaxing and drinking enough of Guiness and Bailey's Irish Coffee to float a boat, so it was fine with us that it wasn't some wild adventure. 

While I  enjoyed it, it wasn't amazing enough that I'm dying to go back there anytime soon, unlike most places I've visited in Europe.The majority of our time was spent in Dublin. I hear the countryside is really where it's at in Ireland, so seeing more of that may have changed my opinion.

[CloudBee]

Jan 31, 2013 12:21:46 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Jan 31, 2013 12:03:38 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

We did hire a driver to take us all over the countryside and seaside.

My coworker wants to know what is the cost of this and how do you find one.

Found it!

Here's the contact info:

E. [e-mail]

W.
www.tourdublin.ie

The drivers phone numbers:
- Kieran
([phone])
- Jimmy ([phone])

Service:
Full-Day tour from the Hilton Charlemont (pickup at whatever hotel you're staying at - this is where we were)

Rate:
€350.
Entrance fees not included.

We drove through much of Dublin, then out to County Wicklow, and then over to the seaside village of Howth.

-Here are some of the stops we made:
-Sandycove (small seaside village)
-Forty Foot (local swimming spot off of a cliff)
-Grabbed takeout lunch from a deli and ate it on a green hill/cliff above the old Guinness estate
-Drove past Bjork's private castle, lol
-Toured Powercourt Estate/Gardens (spent about 90 mins here, per choice)
-Toured Glendalough and the Monastic City (old ruins, amazing, spent about 90 mins here as well)

Our guide was Kieran.  We had chatted via email about the types of things we wanted to see.  The day he picked us up he came prepared with a bunch ideas, but ultiamtely we chose the destinations.  We loooved being able to stop at random scenic points, stores, etc.  After chatting with him and deciding we didn't want a formal sit down lunch, he brought us to an organic deli where we ordered food to go, and took us to the most amazing hillside/cliffs to eat a picnic lunch.  He also gave us a lot of space, so it felt like we were alone, just the two of us.

We will certainly consider hiring drivers again on futuure trips where we mainly want to stick to the city, yet get a taste of the country or scenery outside of the city.

</p>

[gtkim]

We went late March a couple of years ago and it wasn't cold at all.  We started in Dublin, then rented a car and drove southwest, eventually ending up in and flying out of Shannon.  We enjoyed Dublin, but enjoyed the rest of Ireland much more.  We stayed in Kilkenny, Kinsale, Killarney and spent our last 2 nights at Dromoland Castle near Shannon. 

We opted for the Dingle Peninsula over Ring of Kerry and are glad we did.  We couldn't do both and were amazed by Dingle.  The driving was easy, but we borrowed a friend's GPS which did help.

[halfpint]

We went in mid-April in 2010, and it was amazing. Really wonderful weather, sunny the entire time, but that was a bit of a freak occurrence. They'd need to be prepared for rain or shine, even if it's seems to be sunny in the morning, by lunch it could be raining, and then sunny again an hour later. It doesn't ever really get TOO cold, we dressed in layers and I brought a lot of pashmina/scarf type accessories that I could wrap up in if it got too chilly at night.

The nice thing about April/May is that you're still early enough that it's not peak tourist season, but you're not so off-season that things are closed.

We rented a car and did B&Bs each night. They were lovely. We spent the first two nights in Dublin at the Croke Park Hotel, which was lovely and new and modern. Then we drove over to the opposite coast and stayed in Galway, then drove through County Clare, saw the Cliffs of Moher, spent some time around the Dingle Peninsula, visited Bunratty Castle, went through Limerick, went to Blarney castle, spent a night in the Wicklow Mountains and saw Glendalough (lovely, lovely, lovely). We finished our trip outside of Dublin at the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt, then another night in Dublin back at the Croke Park before flying home.

If I were going back, I'd want to visit the Aran Islands, drive around the Ring of Kerry, head up north and see the Giant's Causeway, spend more time visiting castles and manor houses, and maybe go to a horse race.

Driving was easy. Honestly, our favorite parts of the trip were just driving and seeing the countryside, getting lost on winding, hilly roads, around every corner there was something to make us say, "Oh, LOOK!" We had a GPS from the care hire company, which was a lifesaver.

Honestly, you can't go wrong. I'd spend more times in smaller towns and villages than large cities. We just kind of planned each day as we went - "today, let's drive here and see if we can stay at this B&B".

They might check out sceptretours.com - they often have really great package deals on flights, car, hotel, B&B, etc.

[UnderProtest]

We went last July and it was unseasonably cold and wet, but we still had fun. We rented a car and drove all over (well, he drove). We stayed at the Castlemartyr Resort near Cork and the Europe Hotel in Killarney. Both of these places my husband found on luxurylink.com. We were able to get some really great prices using that website. We drove from Dublin to Cork to Waterford to Cork to Killarney and then back to Dublin in a week. It was a little too much driving for my taste, but it was fun. I enjoyed the Waterford factory tour and the Blarney Stone. We also took a cart through the Gap of Dunloe. That was my favorite thing. Killarney has a lot to do and see if they want to stick in one spot.

[mrshabious]

Bookmarking this post - i'm going with a friend in April.  Luckily, my Irish BFF will be the tour guide, but I still wnat to give her recs.

[winemaker06]

We went in mid-May last year. It was definitely cool. We had heavy sweaters but no gloves, but would have been okay if we just had some gloves.

Highly suggest visiting the Dingle Peninsula. Driving was terrifying, but the only way we got to see some of the really amazing views, especially off the Conor Pass

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 11:59:40 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I was there in July 2010. I was fine in jeans, my sister wore skirts/dresses, and everyone in our family had a windbreaker or sweatshirt.

Things we saw:

Dublin: Jameson Distillery, Temple Bar, Trinity College (Book of Kells), Guinness Storehouse, Muckross House just outside of town. We walked or took taxis/light rail around the city, then rented a minivan to drive around the country.

towns: Kinsale (small waterside town; Fishy Fishy is supposedly a great restaurant but it was closed when we were there), Killarney, Doonbeg (my ancestors' home), Spanish Point

Blarney Castle/Blarney Stone

Ring of Kerry (you can drive yourself or take a bus)

Cliffs of Moher

We flew home from Shannon.

My parents asked the locals lots of questions, and everyone was very nice and eager to chat.

I had the Rick Steves guidebook with me.

We basically did this same thing (though through a touring company, back in Oct. 2004) - flew into Dublin -went to the Guinness Factory, Book of Kells, etc., Kilarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, etc. and flew out of Shannon.  For us it was end of Oct. and rainy, but the country was still beautiful and we had an amazing time. It was great for our first time to not have to drive anywhere(bus tour)but I think next time we go, we want to rent a car and drive so we can really take our time to see places we want. 

I think it was called, "A Taste of Ireland," with CIE tours
www.cietours.com/us/landingpages/TasteofIreland.aspx

[ellipses84]

I went at the end of March and we had a combo of nice sunny weather and cold, windy, rainy weather. I think May would be nicer. If they stay in Dublin, they don't really need a car, but depending on what they do outside of the city, they might. I like the idea of hiring a driver or day tour bus for them, but driving there didn't seem as scary as a lot of other European countries I've been to.

We stayed with friends in a suburb town and they showed us how to take the bus to the city and when they weren't working they drove us to other places. I LOVED the Guiness Factory but it wasn't very crowded in the morning when we went and we ate a fantastic carvery lunch at the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland, nearby. We also went to Temple Bar, Trinity College, Dublin Castle and Christ Church in Dublin. Outside the city, the Newgrange Passage Tomb was a great experience. We also went to the Irish Sea and some other castles.