Ireland

[Sabeine]

I am just a posting maniac today! ;D

Here's a question about Ireland, I know that Denise is from that lovely country, so maybe she, or anyone who has travelled there could help me?

Anders has $400 worth of travel vouchers from SAS airlines, because a trip he took last Sept he volunteered to be bumped from, and as compensation they booked him on another flight a bit later, and gave him these vouchers.
The vouchers have to be used up by the end of August of this year. I am starting school tomorrow, and will not be able to take time off at all until June. To fly anywhere then is pricey so we thought maybe mid August. I can't take weeks off, because I start school again then, so we thought maybe a 4 or 5 day trip somewhere here in Europe. Ireland comes to mind. I have never been there, and neither has Anders. Has anyone been there, and if so, could you recommend cities to consider? Of course there is the larger cities, but we don't have to go to a big city. Also, what is the best way of getting moderate priced accomodations? We don't want 5 star hotels, but also prefer not to go the youth hostel route. Ideas anyone?

[Carolyn]

I know Jessica has been to Ireland and totally adored the place, and both my Anders and I want to go there too.

Instead of hostels and hotels, have you ever considered going bed and breakfast? I traveled all around England and Wales doing that and had some of the nicest accommodations VERY cheaply. I just booked through the tourist bureau, and I think a single room ran me about 15-20 pounds sterling a night, which also gave me a great HUGE breakfast in that price.

[Macushla]

Well I can definitely help you get all the info you want. I used to work with an internet travel guide so I know its good!!

Its a website that is owned and run by my old college friends and is called www.softguides.com.

They have loads of info about Dublin, Galway and the rest of Ireland and you can book all of your accomodation, with them, before you go. Their reviews are very honest and not financially based. If they don't like the place it doesn't get mentioned. I did the Dublin pub guide. Now that was fun! ;D

Like Carolyn, I too would recommend B&B's but there are always special offers for hotels available, especially mid-week.

If you find something interesting I can see if they can do a deal for you. I don't know if that's still posssible but I'll try.

www.ireland.ie is the offical tourist website but I'm very loyal to my friends.....

SAS always do a campaign fare to Ireland if you book about 3 weeks in advance and include a weekend. I usually get flights for 2600SEK.

As for places to go, well Ireland's pretty small so you could cover quite a bit in 4-5 days. I would recommend getting over to the west coast either Galway or Cork/Kerry. It's very scenic over there. If you want any specific info on an area just ask.

Denise

[Brandy]

If you're going to Ireland, you have to kiss the blarney stone! It is a huge tourist thing, but quite an experience anyway. I will always remember my upside down view of Blarney castle from so many stories above the ground!

We were there in August, also. Does the Rose of Tralee still go on then?

[Macushla]

Yeah it's usually on around the 22nd August for a week. There's always a great buzz around the town then!

[Sabeine]

I heard some people have peed on the Blarney Stone. Is this true, and if so, I think I'll avoid kissing it.

Thank you for the great info Denise. I need to look into those sites now. I also thought of Cork. Dublin is an interest, but a smaller city could probably be better, possibly less tourists. I think we had planned to rent a car, and do some driving. Do they drive on the left side as in England?

[Macushla]

Yeah we drive on the left. Our roads are pretty bad though, lots of bad bends and potholes and as for signposts.... Driving in Ireland is an experience! Hiring a car is a good idea though as our public transprt is awful and quite expensive. A car gives you a lot more freedom to explore the country.

Haven't heard about anyone peeing on the Blarney stone. There's usually a lovely old man who guards it and you have to walk up through a castle to get to it but you never know!!!

[Brandy]

Besides, the stone is very shiny and that little old man wipes it very clean, with a cloth about the size of a face cloth which he never lets go of (while he's holding you by your feet hanging you over the side of the castle). He does this after each kiss (on the blarney stone!), and I'm sure he washes it every evening when he gets home from work!

Clean being a word of perspective here. I wanted to kiss it, and it was sparkling, therefore it must have been Mr. Muscle clean!

[Sabeine]

Well that is good to hear. I am beginning to think that the peeing story I heard was an urban legend. I heard it in college a couple times, once from someone who had been to the Blarney Stone. I think he may of made the story up.

I am not sure when we could go to Ireland. I need to save up some money. I would like to have a fair ammount of spending money when we are there, so it will take a while to save. Meanwhile, we may or may not go to the States either this Nov or Dec. Anders and I started talking about possibly going to Egypt for Xmas and New Years but when my dad heard that it was nothing but a guilt trip about not visiting. So now I don't know what to do. If we go to Egypt later on, then we would visit the States in the summer, and then no Ireland, but if we skip Egypt then we will go to the States at Xmas, and Ireland in the summer. I am confused and undecided. I really want to go to Ireland and Egypt but my parents would hurt if I didn't see them this year, and I cannot afford all three places.

[LadyDuff]

Just have to say I have always loved Ireland and I would love to go there one day....

[Sabeine]

Sadly, my trip to Ireland is off for this year.

I will be making another trip to the States this April to be with my mom who has been hospitalized, so I can't afford to go to both California and Ireland. I am still very interested to go to Ireland, but it will be another time.

Maybe this time next year will be a better.