The Aran Islands, worth it? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**florencia9699** · 01-26-2007, 06:59 PM

I was looking at the transportation going from Galway to the Aran Islands and it's 20€ + 5€ return for the bus to take you from the city to the port and back.

Well I was thinking that 25€ is a bit pricy... what do you guys think? Is it like a "must go there" sort of thing? (I'm listening to some celtic music riight now... which is making the desition absolutely impossible!!

What do you guys think? Is it worth it?

**MeTurk** · 01-29-2007, 06:41 AM

Aran Islands are definitely worth it. There's a really cool fort on the big Island and it's a very Irish community, they all speak Irish and are big into their Irish music.

€25 for ferry and bus, return? That's not to bad. Try shopping around there are a few different ferry companies, you might be able to find a cheaper one but I doubt it.

You could always borrow a boat from the Galway docks, the security doesn't look that good.

**florencia9699** · 01-29-2007, 07:13 AM

LOL Thanks Turk!! I think I'll give it a try... I've seen some pictures and it looked gorgeous! The problem with Ireland is that I like every new thing I see or hear about I just have to add it to my route! I dunno how I'm gonna go everywhere I wanna go...

mackerous · 01-29-2007, 07:36 AM

Completely and utterly worth it. It's the Ireland you expect before you get to Ireland. Locked in time.

I only went for a day to Inis Mor, the largest of the islands, and was one of the best experiences I had in my 9 weeks in Europe. You can rent a bike, but I perfered just walking around. Ended up hitting a dead end in one of the small dry stone wall paths and instead turning back, just started jumping the walls and got to the edge of the cliffs. Quite wonderful. Just make sure you get back to your hostel/ect before night fall unless you can see well enough by the moonlight.

Also, the hostel closest to the docks allows you to stay for free if you're staying for a bit and will work 2 hours/day.

BTW MeTurk, where the hell were you when I was trying to Couchsurf in Galway? You, with your Definately has Couch. I was in Galway a solid week and the only person to say yes was a Swedish guy who, after I'd already spent all night in Rosin Dubh, took me to an all nighter at his friends place, where we made it til sunrise, where they stumbled through the streets of Galway, looking for a pub that's open (I know it's Ireland and all, but 8am, guys?). Then slept on his floor for about 5 hours. Hell of a time though.

**MeTurk** · 01-29-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by florencia

The problem with Ireland is that I like every new thing I see or hear about I just have to add it to my route! I dunno how I'm gonna go everywhere I wanna go...

Well Ireland is tiny, you can get from one side of the country to the other in 3 hours. You can do day tours of connemara that would cover the main sights. What places are you planning to visit? Galway, Dublin, Cork and belfast would be the main citys to base yourself around as you can day trip to everywhere else easily from those citys.

Quote:

BTW MeTurk, where the hell were you when I was trying to Couchsurf in Galway?

I don't know for sure what I was at this weekend man :D I should really change my profile I'm kinda inbetween houses at the moment and living at home with me ma. I have another place orginised but I don't know if I want to move in there it's a really old house (my grandparents first house after they got married) it has a tiny kitchen and bathroom.

I get allot of requests though when where you in Galway? Sounds like you would have fitted right in around here if you can survive a 2 day drinking sesion in Galway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mackerous

where we made it til sunrise, where they stumbled through the streets of Galway, looking for a pub that's open

:D I've done that too, everyone thinks that pub on the docks is open all the time for the sailors but I think that's just a myth. We started getting on the boats looking for drink we where full sure sailors must have something onboard to keep them going but we couldn't find anything.

**BigE** · 01-29-2007, 09:26 AM

One of my goals in life is to go to the Aran Islands. I am just not ready for it. It is almost like not being ready to die. The place always has a sense of the estoteric or the mystique to me as being the old Ireland and I just want to go when I am ready.

**indierock05** · 01-29-2007, 10:22 AM

Definitely go, it is completely worth it. It's just a day trip and in the end you will be happy you went. Make sure to drink a Guiness for me when you are there, I freaking love Galway!

lemlern · 01-30-2007, 12:37 PM

Well I am glad you asked this question because I was also debating if Aran Islands were worth a day trip. I have a free day during my two week study abroad class, and I will probably be in Tramore or Waterford during that time. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much to get to the islands from there, but I want a big old Aran-made sweater!!!

**MeTurk** · 01-31-2007, 08:26 AM

Waterford is in the south of Ireland so it's far by Irish standards you'd need to allow at least 4 hours to get to Galway so you'd be best off to overnight in Galway city.

www.citylink.ie do late buses to the airports from the major citys. So they should be doing a run between Cork and Galway.

**Diorama** · 01-31-2007, 09:33 AM

Definately go!!! I also did the day trip and it was probably my fav part of Ireland. Once I got on Inismor then one of the local taxi drivers took me and a few others around the Island for a tour. It was fantastic!! what a character. They are all lined up to meet the ferry. Anyways you HAVE to go or it will be a big regret. Next time i get to Ireland I am going to stay there for a few days. It's peaceful and the history is spellbinding.