It can be quite overwhelming when planning a trip to Ireland. With proper preparation, a trip there shouldn’t be too stressful. Here are planning steps you should do:
- Make a must-see list: With this list, you will know what to do and see in Ireland. Depending on your route, you should include various major sites, including Blarney Castle and Cliff of Moher. Don’t forget to include some off the beaten paths destinations that many people tend to overlook, such as Skellig Michael and Aillwee Cave. When making this list, you should also ask friend and family for recommendations, if they have visited Ireland before. With enough research, making this list shouldn’t be overwhelming. If you have limited time, it is a good idea to narrow down the scope of your trip. As an example, you may want to visit the beach resorts only during summer or try popular Irish cuisines in Dublin or other cities.
- Create an itinerary: After making a must-see list, you should convert into a usable itinerary. Use Google Map to determine which place that you should go first, check the next place and until the last place in your list. As you sort these locations based on the distance from your point of arrival, you will come up with an early itinerary. Continue to refine your itinerary, so you can get the most out of your trip. You may add or remove sites in your itinerary based on latest developments. As an example, a site could be under renovation, so it’s not convenient to go there yet.
- Choose transportation options: Travelling through Ireland is relatively easy, because the country is relatively small, compared to France or Spain. There are also multiple transportation options for you. The easiest mode of transportation is by taking a bus. Renting and driving a car is a more flexible option. It’s relatively simple to drive in Ireland and the roads are in good condition. Even if you are not familiar with the routes, you can study them first in Google Map, so you have a rough idea about where you should go. Use the Google Map navigation and you can reach any of your destination without getting lost. However, like any fairly big capital city, driving in Dublin can be somewhat challenging. Heavy traffic in some roads, one-way streets and pedestrians could make driving a slow progression. However, it should be a safe experience if you obey local road rules and drive slower.
- Choose accommodation: There are different forms of accommodation that you can choose in Ireland. From cozy bed and breakfast to lavish, luxury hotels. If you want to save money and have more authentic experience, it’s recommended to stay in an Irish B&B, that serves filling, traditional breakfast and other meals. You should find accommodation in just about every city and town, even in many villages. Many elegant B&B’s in Ireland provide the same level of service with a 3-star hotel, so they should provide an immense value for the money.