Top 10 Tips for Planning Your Holiday to Ireland

With the dawn of a new year upon us and everyone making bucket lists for 2016, we thought it’s the perfect time to fill you in on some great tips for planning your holiday to Ireland in 2016… ten to be precise! And why not?! Ireland edged out the likes of St. Lucia, Morocco and the Philippines to place 5th in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2015’ guide. So here are our top 10 tips for planning your holiday to Ireland in 2016.

1. Plan transport ahead of time

If you plan on renting a car make sure to do so before departing to the Emerald Isle. If you’re accustomed to driving an automatic car make sure to specify as the majority of cars in Ireland are manual gear stick and always remember, the Irish drive on the left hand side of the road. If you plan on using public transport such as buses or trains, you can always book in advance online. It usually always works out cheaper too. Not every county can be accessed by train so depending on where your destination is, a public bus may be your best option.

2. Stick to one or two regions, depending on time

Ireland is a small country in size, but that doesn’t take away from the fact there is something to see or do in every county so if you plan on taking on Ireland in one trip, think again. Depending on the amount of time you have, it’s usually best to stick to one or two regions. If flying into Dublin, people tend to stay one or two nights in the city and venture out for a few days of discovery. This is a great way as it takes in both city and rural Ireland in one trip. But no matter where you choose to visit, there are always amazing attractions on your way. Irish Cities such as Dublin, Galway and Cork offer the arts, architecture and modern vibrancy coupled with old world charm. If you decide to take a trip west you have the Wild Atlantic Way at your disposal. A coastline of 2,500 km to discover, but make sure to choose your route ahead of time as it would be impossible to fit everything in in one journey. To the South you have some of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerry, Cork and Kilkenny. This region is well known for its medieval architecture, stunning sandy beaches and scenery. The east of Ireland boasts beauty in abundance. You'll find a picture perfect world in Wicklow, also known as the garden of Ireland, while Carlow boasts beautiful rivers and mountains. If you choose to travel north you will enter Northern Ireland. Part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland is rich in culture and history while complimented by a fascinating and unique coastline.

3. Study up on your chosen destination

Once you’ve chosen your destination(s), it wouldn’t hurt to do a bit of research ahead of time. You have a world of information at your fingertips so whether you’re looking for the top family fun activities in Galway or the top 10 pubs to visit, you’ll definitely find the info online. A great way to find out about each county is to check out our B&B Ireland Destinations page. There’s an abundance of knowledge and info on each county. This will definitely help in making your trip a more relaxing and leisurely one.

4. Don’t forget your travel adapter

If you’re travelling from the Americas, mainland Europe or Asia, you’ll want to bring a travel adapter for your devices. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination ready to take thousands of photos with a camera with no battery. But don’t worry, you’ll find the right adaptor in most airports throughout the world.

5. Book early to avoid disappointment

This tip stretches across all avenues. Be it accommodation, tickets to that concert or sporting event or your rental car it’s a great idea to book ahead of time. When it comes to accommodation in peak season, places get booked up quite quickly. Remember it’s better to be safe than sorry!

6. Choosing your accommodation is vital

There are so many alternative types of accommodation available today so it’s wise to choose the most suitable accommodation for your journey. If your journey to Ireland is a holiday then a B&B is the perfect option. B&B hosts provide helpful information on where to visit in the area, the most popular attractions and hidden gems and even recommend the best places for dining and entertainment. This is coupled with the opportunity for you to truly experience life in Ireland. If you’re on the hunt for something a little more specific, be it an adventure holiday, golfing or fishing trip make sure to check out the activity B&Bs available.

7. Bring a rain jacket… and sunglasses!!

Irish weather is a mystery. It’s just unpredictable. You could have all four seasons making an appearance in the space of a day so we’d recommend packing your rain jacket as well as your sunglasses.

8. Pick up a Heritage Card, Dublin Pass and other Great Value Cards

There are a number of great value savings cards available throughout the country for travelling tourists. The Dublin Pass covers over €190 worth of admission prices to top tourist attractions in the city while the Heritage Card allows free admission to all fee paying Heritage sites such as Newgrange.

9. Be sure to indulge in local produce

Ireland has a natural, honest approach to food. For such a small country, the counties are bursting with food and drink producers so don’t be shy and indulge. You’ll find a farmers market in nearly every county promoting anything from local meats and cheeses to ales and stouts.

10. Don’t forget to exchange your money

Unless you’re travelling from a country that already uses the Euro, make sure to exchange your cash for Euro and if you’re travelling to Northern Ireland, you’ll need to change to the Pound Sterling.

We hope these tips will come in useful for when you decide to plan your trip to Ireland and as always, Happy Holidaying!

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Posted: 06 Jan 2015 by Niall McKee | with 2 comments

Tags: Holiday, Irish holiday, Travel