Vacation to Ireland and Scotland

Hi guys, I'm planning on going on holidays to Ireland and Scotland at the end of the month for 2 weeks (gonna be my first time going to Europe).

My general itinerary:
April 19 - land in Dublin, visit the GPO museum
April 20 - Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol
April 21 - day trip to Giant's Causeway (with stop in Belfast)
April 22 - day trip to Derry
April 23 - Dublin Castle, National Museum of Ireland
April 24 - fly to Glasgow
April 25 - Celtic Park tour, Scottish Football Museum (Hampden Park Tour)
April 26 - day trip somewhere
April 27 - Celtic vs. Inverness
April 28 - Glengoyne Distillery tour, Tennents Brewery tour
April 29 - train to Edinburgh
April 30 - day trip somewhere
May 1 - Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, National Museum of Scotland
May 2 - fly back to Canada...

Any advise about my plan or any general tips would be greatly appreciated!

Also, I have a few questions:
1. What's the cheapest way of flying from Dublin to Glasgow? (I heard something about RyanAir from Dublin to Prestwick)
2. Are hostels in Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh alright (as in not sketch, if that makes sense, hahaha)? I was planning on using the website airbnb to book rooms, but hostel prices are much cheaper.


Thanks!

 

Ryanair is cheap just watch the luggage (T&C's) and what you check in for the flight as they are robbing wanks and I have only flown once with leary's crew and got "stiffed" at check in, suppose it is my fault but heyho I hate them now :smiley-laughing002:

The day trips in Scotland, try and get something organised to head up the west coast, you can get a train I believe to Fort William then on to Mallaig stunning.

Also, if possible, maybe get up to see Lochness/Inverness although you will be pushed time wise I reckon oh and Stirling Castle is worth a look as well as you could also visit the Wallace Monument. You got any chance of hiring/borrowing a car ?

 

Make sure you know the hours for everything you want to do in Dublin, the GPO shuts at 5pm so be careful not to land too late! When you do, grab the number 16 at the airport and it'll take you right through to O'Connell Street. You can also check out the Garden of Remembrance on the same day. :icon_mrgreen:

The gaol will take up about 3 hours of your time, and I think the Guinness tour will be be about the same, I've not been on that one. :smiley-laughing002: It might seem like a waste of money but I really recommend getting a ticket for one of those tour buses. I think for non-students it costs about 20 Euro? But it'll take you to everything you want to see. On my second trip to the gaol I made the mistake of trying to navigate there just using my rambler ticket. :smiley-laughing002:

I've flown into Glasgow and Prestwick from Dublin with both Ryan Air and Aer Lingus (Aer Arann). And although I prefer Ryan Air, I'd strongly recommend flying into Glasgow International because it'll be a lot easier for you to grab a bus or a taxi into Glasgow City centre.

I can't help you with hostels or anything. Maybe look into the Premier Inn places? And there's a lot to be said for just taking some time to walk around Dublin, with no real plan in mind, stopping for a pint anywhere but in Temple Bar. :smiley-laughing002:

 

Thanks for the heads up about Ryanair Tim-Time!
For the day trips, I was thinking about the Loch Ness, Glencoe, and Highlands trip from Glasgow (Discover Scotland Tours) and the Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle trip from Edinburgh (Rabbie's Tours). And no, I won't have a car.

I should probably also mention that I'm travelling alone.

 

How do you plan to travel for your day trip to Derry. By car this would be an 8 hour round trip. There are no trains direct to Derry. As you are going to both Belfast and Derry would you not be better basing yourself in the northern half of the country for some of your trip.

I have never been to the giants causeway but have heard from numerous people that they have been disappointed after visiting.

 

If you want to stay in Glasgow in a hostel, you could have a look at Eurohostel. Premier Inn and Travellodge (the UK one, not the US ones) are a good shout too (these are hotels).

Travellodge at Haymarket when staying in Edinburgh is usually quite cheap (stayed there a lot). It is not in the city centre, but it is close to Haymarket railway station.

 

I know that Derry's generally cut off from most everywhere else in Ireland, but I thought you could get a train direct from Belfast to Derry? * ridiculous if you can't. All the more reason for a united Ireand, Dublin would actually lay infrastructure that would economically benefit Derry.

 

Easyjet fly Belfast to Glasgow city and are pretty close to ryanair on price.

 

You can get a train from Belfast to Derry but if he wanted to travel from Dublin by train he would need to go via Belfast.

 

I think Prestwick is all right. The train fare is cheap (half price) and you can take in some of the scenery during the 1 hour train trip.

 

Thanks for the quick responses everyone!

Gabriel, I plan on taking the Bus Eireann no.33. Don't really plan on staying long, just kinda wanna "see" the city.

Also, I made a thread in the Celtic Supporters Info section with a few questions about going to the game against Inverness if anyone could help me out: http://www.talkceltic.net/forum/showthread.php?t=141999
Thanks again!

 

I have done a tour like that. It is the best alternative to renting a car, but be aware that you will be sitting in a bus for most of the time.

 

* * I "forgot" about Glencoe you got that covered anyway.
I would try and get The train out to Mallaig as it was voted one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world a few years back I seen somewhere. As I said would allow you to see a chunck of the west coast.
As has been said though Ryanair can be good/cheap just don't do as I done and not pay attention.

Some links - Ben Nevis/Aonach mor if you go to Fort william area on way to Mallaig
http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/

Info on the train to mallaig
http://www.seat61.com/WestHighlandLine.htm

 

I think he was planning Dublin -> Belfast -> Derry -> Belfast -> Glasgow. :icon_mrgreen:

I think Glasgow Int' is better for foreigner travelers, it's just easier to navigate in my mind.

 

I have to second Tim-Time on Mallaig. My holidays growing up were always at Arisaig and Mallaig. The trouble is, it's not really a "day trip" is it?

 

Your mistaken he is basing in Dublin only for Ireland

 

Then aye, that'll never work. He should take your advice. Base himself in Dublin for the first half, in Belfast/Derry for the second half. So he should everything in Dublin that he wants to do, before heading north.

 

It could be done In a day, although it would certainly be a long day, need to be the first train out of Queen Street in the morning and last train back at night but worth it in my opinion. Its not so much Mallaig it's the getting too and from the place (scenery) and if you are a harry potter fan you get to cross the causeway that was used in the film I believe (i am not a fan and have not watched a single one of those dam films). Fort william does have many hotels/hostels/B&B's so maybe an overnight trip be worth thinking about.

 

Thanks again for the responses!

Gabriel, would you think a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher would be better than one to the Giant's Causeway?

 

Yes although you will miss out on Belfast.

Edit Shopping city centre Belfast will not differ much from Glasgow.