Travelling to Ireland

I am planning a short (and cheap) little holiday to Ireland next year in early January for 3 or 4 days I have never been to Ireland so I don’t know much about it!

Ryan air is doing some good offers 20 pounds return to Dublin from Bristol

I think I will be either renting a car in Ireland (about 50 quid for 3 days)
or put my car on the ferries (check on those ferries site and the qoute was about 200 return for 2 person in total)

Taking a flight plus car rental seems cheaper, but having my own car in a new place is always something nice!

Which one do you think is a wiser option travelling there do you think? I may be travelling in a small group of 4

Where do you recommand me to go in Ireland? I am planning Dublin and Belfast as they seem to be the main ones, but I have no clear idea what they are like at all!

Thanks!

We have been to Southern Ireland 3 times in the last 5 years.As we tend to like the countryside we found the West side and the South the better parts for us. Like most places if it rains it can be quite miserable and Ireland is no exception. I am hoping to go to Northern Ireland next year all being well.

If you shop at TESCO you get Club Card points that are worth 4 times their value when you use them on their Deals. So you can if you have saved any up, get to Ireland on Stenna Line with your car and two people first class if you want,ie priority getting on and off the ferry and two lounge seats reserved for you for “free”. You must book up a few weeks before travelling tho’, you will need to read the terms and conditions in the TESCO brochure.B & B prices weren’t too bad but the exchange rate is not too good at the moment going to ireland. Mind their petrol is cheaper, or it was whwn we were there.

 

I am quite familiar with ferry options, north and south, having lived in N. Ireland for 7 years (and ran the MX5 Club there).

Personally, I prefer the truck ferries, either Liverpool-Belfast, or Dublin-Belfast. Norfolkline serves north and south. I prefer them as there is less driving to do in GB before you get to the ferry; for me, getting to Stranraer or Holyhead was a bit of a haul, compared to a quick dash up the M6 to Liverpool. IOM ferries used to do an excellent Belfast-Heysham fast ferry, but for some reason never reinstated it after their hydrofoil broke down. P&O also do a truck ferry from Fleet to Larne (N. Ireland).

Daytime truck ferries can be quite cheap (espcially tues and thurs), but they are slow boats. I always work out if I can get the overnighter; you get a cabin, dinner and breakfast all included. Overall, cost wise, worked out the same for me as the other routes, if you take petrol into account. Plus you start your holiday refreshed.

Getting out of Dublin at times can be a bit of a nightmare. Dun Laoghaire is a bit easier if you plan on heading South into Wicklow and beyond, as you’re virtually out of the city.

Stranraer-Belfast lands you in the heart of the city; Belfast isn’t very big, so its easy to get out. Liverpool-Belfast gets you to a ferry point just outside of the main city, and is convenient if you’re heading up the Antrim coast, but crossing Belfast, thanks to the West Link. Larne is aways up the Antrim coast. Some fantastic roads in the North; Antrim coast, on a clear sunday, is probably one of the best drives in the world (most of it hugs the foot of a cliff, at sea level). N. ireland also has a strong motorsport tradition; you can still follow the Dundrod TT course, which was the last car road race in the British Isles (Mike Hawthorn holds the lap record); its still used for bike racing, so its cool to see the start line, the old starting tower, and marked corners. Down in Armagh, Slieve Gullion is a fantastic 8 miles of one-way switch-backs. I fear though that the surface has worsened over the years. Generally, however, the road quality in the North is better than the South; it varies a lot down south. The main trunk routes are ok, but it can be a bit difficult off the beaten track. The North is roughly comparable to anywhere in the rest of the UK.

The North is small enough for you to base yourself at one B&B. I organised a club trip in 2005, and we stayed at a superior B&B at Balinderry; very good, and the owner was into his Triumphs. One myth to scotch is the notion you need special car insurance in Northern Ireland. You don’t; I had that question once from someone, who was using at an excuse not to cross the border while on a visit. Don’t visit Northern Ireland in July; stay clear of the place, unless you know it well. There are some spots you don’t want to be during this time. Enthusiastic local MX5 club though will see you right.

Petrol stations down south will generally take Sterling

North or South; I prefer the North for driving. Some great driving down south, but some of it takes a while to get to. You can of course do the Ring of Ireland.

To see up North:
Slieve Gullion
Antrim Coast
Strangford Lough/ Downpatrick
Torr Head
Mournes
Antrim Glen
Rope bridge, Giants Causeway etc
Kirkistown; a local company does regular inexpensive trackdays there
Ards Penninsular
Belfast centre; worth a look.

 I have done both a few times and fine as I live in London the air option a bit better but if I was coser to the ports here is nothing wrong with the boat.
Fly/higher can cost a less.
 Get acress to the south and Cork. Very good times every time a get accross…

 thanks for both of your replies
I am located in Cardiff so I don’t think taking a ferry from liverpool or somewhere a bit up north will be my ideal plan, I found there are ferries going from pembroke to somwhere in southern ireland, but the cost is a little bit expensive costing me about 200 quid for return.4 people travelling together may make the ferry price cheaper for each person, however, it means I won’t be able to take my 5 there but instead a ford KA or rover 25 (which obviously means less fun!)
I would like to go to both Dublin and Belfast, at least just to see the main cities in ireland! and my partner would like to see the belfast university cause she almost went there. For my 4 days plan I am thinking of spending 2 days in the cities, and the rest find somewhere nice in the outdoor to visit such as places you recomanned
If I am using my own car then i may do pembroke -> Southern Ireland, hang around in southern ireland for 2 days including going to Dublin. Then 3rd day morning travel towards northern ireland (2-3 hours drive) and have a look around there. at the very end take a ferry from belfast to liverpool (or somewhere) and drive home. does it sound like a plan?

Do you think 200 quid for  2 people return travelling include a car is reasonable? Is there anywhere I can get tickets cheaper rather than the ferry sites? I just spent my clubcard points (d**n) on tesco shopping otherwise I could have 15quid of points available to spend!
is there any special documants which I will need to do to “export” my car from mainland to ireland?
 
cheers guys

 
I used to lecture at Queens University; if you mean Ulster University, thats a bit further up the coast. QUB is kind of a spread out campus. The hospital bit is on the picturesque Falls Road…

 Some of the ferry companies do a Rover ticket; so you can use different ports.

Norfolkline are offering 10% off on ferries for MX5OC member. Check http://mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/554.aspx for the code needed. They have a special of £77 each way car, driver and passenger; this is the slow day crossing, so think of it as a mini cruise, with a free bit of lunch (hearty food is served aboard). Travelling from Liverpool might be a bind though, but at least it is Birkenhead (right side of the Mersey).
 With some hunting around, you could get that; 1-way ferry overnight from Fishguard to Rosslare, about £130, with cabin. You can get a lot of cheap deals on the Belfast-Stranraer (or Cairnryan) as its the shortest crossing. Slow boats are cheaper than the fast boats.
 
Check the ferry companies own websites; they often do mid week sailing specials; P&O, Stena, Irish Ferries and Norse

 

 
No; if you’re in the AA etc, let them know. AA and RAC are in the Irish Republic, but they’re not the same as GB. AA and RAC in NI are the same as GB. You can get 72 hours free cover while over there. If you intend flying over, and renting a car, I recommend hiring the car from Belfast airport and then travelling south, rather than getting a car from Dublin. At least it will be Easyjet or BMI, rather than the hateful Ryan Air.

 

 

Can anyone reccomend an area to stay in a rented cottage for a week or two so that we can explore all of Northern Ireland at our liesure?

Contact Stephen the N.Ireland AC for latest.

Location; somewhere near Templepatrick will make a good base of operations; for many years, it won awards for being a pretty village. Still very nice, and accessible. If you want something more to do in the evenings, then one of the bigger towns, such as Holywood, Hillsborough (where the Queen lives officially). Northern Ireland tourist board is also a good place to start.

Can’t recommend the place highly enough. Went on Saz’s trip and it was truly fantastic. Great roads, breathtaking scenery - the coast road he mentioned is wonderful - and lovely people. Would concentrate on areas outside of conurbations though. Sorry to say it but neither Dublin, nor Belfast hold a candle to the rest of the Country they’re located in. Just watch the change from KPH to MPH between South and North. My son got done for speeding because he’d forgotten about the difference.

And the Gardai may, on occasion, escort you to a cash point to pay your fine. The Irish Police do have access to DVLNI driver records; not sure if that extends to the rest of the UK. They have speed cameras, fixed and mobile.

North and South; unmarked cars can be fairly beaten up compared to here. In the North; mostly mobile cameras, and they will make use of local topography to best effect (using tractors, hedges etc as cover). Increasingly, Northern ireland poice are getting more and more standard looking squad cars, rather than the Land Rovers. If you get pulled for speeding in Northern Ireland, you cannot get points, but you may have to attend court.

Dublin and Belfast are fine cities to spend some time in

Sorry Saz, not knocking Dublin or Belfast as such, just much preferred the rural. Some of the little villages were great - and the country roads - wow!

Sorry to rain on your parade but I live in Ireland and it is crap, I go to Scotland whenever possible and can’t believe the place is still undiscovered by a lot of the mobile chicane mob (caravaners).

The Republic of Ireland has the YOYO (euro) the exchange rate is crap and you will be ripped off by the Banks,take my advice and go to Scotland the money saved by not being held to ransom by the Ferry companies will buy lots of petrol or sheep.