Ireland - a few questions - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Kjeldahl · 08-14-2009, 03:06 AM

Hello there,

My husband and me will fly to Ireland on August 30th for two weeks and we are really really looking forward to it.

We'd like to see a few cities and I already booked all the B&Bs and hostels. That was easy and evryone was friendly.

We'd like to travel around by bus/coach and buseireann has those Open Road Passes, but I can't order them online, it just doesn't work on their site. Where can I buy it then?

We will spend the first few days in Dublin, our hotel is near Parnell Square, how will we find it, is there a bus station? The Dublin bus site isn't that good, I thought I might fill out a form and it will tell me in which bus to go and where to get out... do you know where I can find some map with all the bus lines?

I'm really anxious not to find the stations where the buses leave.

I hope I can ask someone on the way.

So we'll be there for 2 weeks, Ryanair only allows 15 kg, what do I really need for Ireland? Does it really rain that often?

Thank you so much!!

**MeTurk** · 08-14-2009, 07:42 AM

Yes it does rain that much here. We always laugh when the English complain about their rain because they don't know rain like we know rain. It doesn't rain constantly, it's much trickier than that. You might look outside in the morning and the sun will be shinning and think there's no need to bring the jacket but in Ireland it will rain eventually it's only a matter of time, the weather can change in an instant. The other problem is it's humid.

You'll just have to get used to being lost while in Ireland. Our sign posts flat our lie to you and the only way to get to somewhere you need to be is to already know how to get there. You just have to go with the flow.

I'm not to sure about Dublin myself I avoid the place, it's a nightmare but I don't think Parnell Sq. is to far from the bus station. I'm not exactly sure where the bus station is I think it's in the same place as the train station which is behind the customs house, which is only around the corner from Parnell Sq.

They're will more than likely be a tourist office in the airport or bus station. If you see any guards around ask them, giving out directions is about all their good for. You should be able to ask anyone on the street and they'll help you out.

Remember don't panic about being lost, I was born and raised here and can still get lost within 20 miles of my home when I'm driving.

**Dig** · 08-14-2009, 02:46 PM

I stayed in a hostel just down the street from the main bus station in Dublin. It is on the opposite side of the river the the Temple Bar area, but just off the river a couple of blocks. I found the bus system easy to understand there.

What are you doing in Ireland? It is summer, so I wouldn't worry about heavy stuff. When I was in Dublin on June 21st '08, there was no need for a jacket to keep warm.

2 Cents

astro25e · 08-21-2009, 05:59 AM

So now I am on a role checking out the weather of locations in the fall because people tend to think the end of August-September is still summer in Northern Europe (no offense to Dig, as I used to think that way when I was still enjoying my extra long/dry american summers, sigh...)

So I have only been to Ireland twice, but for the most part it's mild (esp Dublin), but with sooo much rain!!! Now for the weather facts- Averages for Dublin in Sept - 57 degress (ranging from a low of 50 to a high of 63). Average rainfall- 66mm. hehehe, that sucks, but it makes those sheepy hills extra green! And an average of 16 rainy days in the month. Soooo, yeah, just prepare for rain.

As for getting around Dublin itself, I found it pretty easy by foot, but I didnt like their bus system so much. It reminds me of an American city, more than european capital, so there are more straight streets and anyone can tell you where to go if you need help. Just be prepared for one of the most expensive drinks of your life if you go to Temple Bar!

And I couldnt find a map of bus routes, but they have this that shows the areas of the bus stops

City Centre Bus Stops - Dublin Bus

Anyway, it shouldnt be a problem, getting around by foot for most city centre things!

**MeTurk** · 08-21-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astro25e

As for getting around Dublin itself, I found it pretty easy by foot, but I didnt like their bus system so much. It reminds me of an American city, more than european capital,

That's very true, Ireland is probably the most Americanised country in Europe, you have to remember Irelands founding father was an American and we always looked up to America because we got so much help from America. Looking at the way Ireland is it's easy to see where America got all it's bad habits from.

When I say you will get lost I don't mean to scare you off, while you will get lost Ireland is tiny and you can't really get all that lost it's just not worth worrying about you'll get there eventually.

**Elizabeth** · 08-21-2009, 06:08 PM

pfft...once you guys get your cars on the other side of the road then we'll start talking