is lrealand worth it? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

living my adventure · 05-22-2005, 01:05 PM

so i have thrity days in europe i have a rough itnerary of where and when, with plenty of flexibility, and i have three days at the end of my trip that i am thinking of going to irealand. should i book a ticket now (4 days before i leave) or should i wait and see as i go along if i still want to or if i would rather go back to somewhere i missed or loved etc?

**omisan** · 05-22-2005, 03:10 PM

Cheap tickets to Ireland are often available on the fly via RyanAir and numerous other lo-cost airlines, so you could feasibly leave it to the last minute. Personally, I'd highly recommend going there - not only is the scenery beautiful and the Guinness fresh, but the people are wonderful as well!

**TimmyJames1976** · 05-22-2005, 09:18 PM

hey i got a cheap ass flight like $8 usd plus taxes, so maybe $25-$30 from london to dublin. you have to love ryanair and easyjet.

**U2fan** · 05-22-2005, 09:19 PM

Um yes, definitely worth it. Let's just say I loved it so much I got a four leaf clover tattoo to "represent my love" for it w/o even thinking about it.

**Canadian Dude** · 05-23-2005, 04:22 AM

Ireland is well worth the trip. I would wait and get your ticket near the end, cause seat sales kick ass over in the UK and EU. Just make sure you budget for it.

**bluepea** · 05-23-2005, 11:35 AM

From everyone that I've ever talked to that's been to Ireland (quite a few people actually) they have all threatened to never come home.

People seem to absolutely love it there, and we picked it as our landing spot when we leave. Had to cut our two weeks down to 8 days since we have to go meet up with fam damily in Germany instead.

Anyhow, as they said, you can get super cheap tickets on planes (fast!), or for a more scenic route, you can take a ferry (not so fast!). I would say it would probably be well worth it.

**space virgin** · 05-23-2005, 12:10 PM

Even though I haven't been there yet I would have to agree that a trip to Ireland would DEFINITELY be worth it!

However, the (northern) Irish guys I met in San Francisco told me not to hurry when I said I wanted to go there some day.

**voyd** · 05-23-2005, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by space virgin@May 23 2005, 01:09 PM
However, the (northern) Irish guys I met in San Francisco told me not to hurry when I said I wanted to go there some day.*

Ha, well the northern part is a warzone, but the rest of it is lush green hills, sheep, rainbows, Neolithic ruins and Guinness!

So, plenty to enjoy there!

tragic_kingdom · 05-23-2005, 04:14 PM

well im from ireland,so i s'pose my perspective is a bit different as you dont always appreciate your surroundings as much as tourists do!

but ill tell you this much, the north is is not a warzone, belfast is a real happening city...some argue more so the dublin!some lovely scenery up there too, like the giants causeway.

dublins cool,but get to see other places...like my favoured galway,a great city(thats even better in the lst week of july and 1st week of august due to festivals) thats always lively ..yet reallly close to the senic side of ireland,connemara is only a drive away!

well im sure you guys know all the sites and stuff to get the info you want,like on the things happening etc. but if you've any Q's ask me,

**bluepea** · 05-23-2005, 06:34 PM

Let me highjack this post for a second - got any advice on smaller cities in the west - north west coast? I'm looking mainly for scenery and seclusion. Not looking for a happening bar scene or anything.

Post given back... well after he answers.

tragic_kingdom · 05-25-2005, 11:14 AM

well first of all im a she!...
and from my experience theres not really many smaller cities its really galway or else larger towns in places like mayo or else the complete middle of nowhere(thats where all the real senic parts are)
clare is good for for scenery,the cliffs of moher,the burren and the ailwee caves are good!
as for county galway, connemara and lennane are beautiful and theres boats going more than daily from the city out to the aran islands where cars are rare,mainly just traditional 'oirish' pubs and bikes so you can go exploring yourself!
as we go up north we come to donegal,iv never been there but all the reports iv heard are good
but my faveourite place for 'getting away from the city buzz' would be lennane or killary in county galway,the only time i was ever there was with school tours..as theres an adventure activity centre out there,canooeing,mountain climbing,goirge walking etc. and the scenery is 2nd to none!

my advice to you would be if your around the west for and substantial length of time is check a few of them out there all pretty near together!, i mean if you were to book in to galway for a night you'd see dozens of brochures at the recption area with the time for busses leaving for all the lovely senic parts(mainly day tours, but hey you could just catch a lift and if you like what you see find a hostel and go exploring)!

sorry for the rant,but hope iv bee of some help heres a site that mioght help too
http://www.westirelandholidays.com/

mr-turisty · 06-03-2005, 06:17 PM

Ive been all over the island of Ireland and absolutely love it. The one place I've never been is Belfast except passing thru. I've been to the Republic of Ireland 4 times and went to the North for the first time last year. I was in Derry for Halloween - 40,000 people dressed up at a massive street party. Ive seen anything like it and have never met so many amazingly friendly people, it was a total carnival atmosphere. Once you get past the intial culture shock of the political murals and crazy looking police vans it really is a great place. I dont think I have ever been in a city where I have had such a welcome and felt so at home.

mr-turisty · 06-03-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by voyd@May 23 2005, 11:19 AM
Ha, well the northern part is a warzone, but the rest of it is lush green hills, sheep, rainbows, Neolithic ruins and Guinness! * So, plenty to enjoy there!

i meant to quote that in my previous reply. oops.

**MeTurk** · 06-08-2005, 06:07 AM

Northern Irelands settled down alot nows the time to visit.

I'd highly recomend to everyone to get out of Dublin, and go west like tragic says Galways always got something going on. During the summer there's art feastivals and horse racing and the rest of the year it's full of collage students from all over the world.

If your looking for small towns, theres Tuam which was the seat of the last high king of Ireland, there's a place called letterfrack and lettergess (spelling could be off on them two) there a campsite and a beach with an island that you can walk to in the day but it gets cut off when the tide comes in there both in connemra walking distance from eachother and they practicly have the beach all to themselfs miles in ether direction (it's been years since I've gone there but I remember it as a really lovely place). You just have to watch out for jellyfish at letterfrack at a certain time of the year 1000s of them seem to wash up on the beach.

The atlantic is supposed to be a great place for spotting dolphins and seals... OH fungie the dolphin! Irelands adopted dolphin. It's been living in (Dingle bay, Tragie??)for years it just won't leave and the town it's their clam to fame now. "Where is a dolphin a man's best friend??" as the add goes..

There are some nice towns that still have the old town halls and bits of castles and ramparts troughout the town but I can't remember the name of them.

Getting around out in connemara won't be easy though, there aren't bus routes from what I remember (though that could have changed, but it is the countryside) so you ether have to thump or get droped off by a tour.

You have to remember Ireland's a long standing tourist country, we're used to visitors so your going to find something to do.