I get a lot of questions from fellow Dining Travelers about travel tips, where to go, and what to eat around the world. The questions are so good that I decided to make a monthly series where I answer one travel question either using my own experiences or my network of well traveled friends and pros. This month question is: Should I rent a car in Ireland? Although I’ve never been to Ireland, I’ve enlisted help from an Irish local and Dining Traveler contributor (Audrey), a seasoned traveler of Ireland (Amy from Creatrice Mondial) and a pro (the folks at car rental company Auto Europe) for this post. This is what the experts had to say about driving in Ireland:
The Ring of Kerry
Photo Credit: Amy Lynne Hayes, Creatrice Mondial
Question:
I’m planning on going to Ireland either this July or next July, but I don’t know if I should take a bus tour with strangers, should I rent a car in Ireland (which scares me) or go alone and take buses. Have you been to Ireland? If so which would you suggest? – Siomara, Rochester, NY:
Audrey’s Answer: Driving around the country in Ireland is easier than it seems, just need to take to look to the left instead of the right. (Great tips on Wikihow on how to prepare yourself.) I always encourage travelers to drive. That way you can stop at any point you want to see a point of interest, visit a cool pub, and see anyone of the thousands of sights that will catch your attention…
The buses in ireland are OK, but just OK: they are a cheap way to get around. If you choose to travel by bus, make sure you plan your trip well. There are great day tours you could take from the cities. For example, getting from Dublin to Galway is easy. There are several buses from the city via Gobus or CityLink. Getting around Galway is a cinch as it is a pretty small city.
To me, if you want to experience the real Irish countryside, you should rent a car or book a tour. Also, I would highly recommend a night on the Aran Islands. We took the little plane over and stayed in a B&B with a package and had dinner in a fab resto, live music all night, it was truly awesome, first time there! We hired bikes around the island, a total must do if you’re traveling in the summer. Another drive I recommend is from Dublin to Cork which has amazing views of the Irish countryside. The drive takes around 3 1/2 hours without stops, but then again, the stops are the fun part.
Cliffs of Moher
Photo Credit: Amy Lynne Hayes, Creatrice Mondial
Amy’s Answer: Should you rent a car in Ireland? Yes!!! As for a tip, my advice for an Irish road trip is to take your time. Don’t try to follow a strict itinerary or schedule, but you’ll be charmed around every bend and want to have the time to stop, take loads of photos, and share a pint of Guinness with the locals. Don’t miss an evening in a local pub – musicians inevitably always show up and treat patrons to a taste of traditional music. It’s those unplanned moments that will be the highlight of the trip!
Dingle Peninsula
Photo Credit: Amy Lynne Hayes, Creatrice Mondial
Auto Europe Car Rental Tip: The best roads to drive in Ireland are arguably also the least traveled. If you’re outside of any major city and exploring the countryside looking for humble villages, castle ruins, or ancient monasteries, you’re going to find yourself cruising on many narrow, windy country roads. These roads can be notoriously bumpy and occasionally you’ll encounter congestion (though not necessarily with cars). Look out for potholes, frost heaves, and elderly shepherds piloting their sheep across the road. It’s absolutely crucial that you follow the speed limit posted on these roads, as they were implemented at sometimes sluggish paces to protect both drivers and pedestrians alike.
If you’re spending most of your driving time in large cities or congested towns, a compact-sized car is likely more appropriate as it will allow you to park easily in compact spaces. Ultimately, the best vehicle for your vacation is the one that fits your travel needs and your budget.
If you’re being tailgated, keep your cool and temporarily use the hard shoulder to allow faster vehicles to overtake you. This is allowed on all non-motorways and will let you keep your focus where it should be: enjoying the scenery during your road trip!
Useful links:
Tips for driving in Ireland: http://www.autoeurope.com/go/travel-guides/ireland/tips-for-driving-in-ireland/
Ireland Car Rental FAQs: http://www.autoeurope.com/go/travel-guides/ireland/ireland-car-rental-faq/
Ireland Road Signs: http://www.autoeurope.com/go/travel-guides/ireland/ireland-road-signs/
The Verdict: Rent a car, enjoy your trip, and take the time to talk to locals, who always have the best tips!
Where are you headed to next? E-mail me your travel questions at jessica(at)diningtraveler.com
Ireland was my first country outside of the U.S. and the first place I rented a car overseas. It was really nice to have my own transportation to go at my own pace to see this beautiful country. Of course you have to get used to driving on the opposite side of the road than in the U.S. and stopping for the occasional sheep traffic jam, but it’s definitely worth it. I did, however have to pay much more for an automatic–like in most parts of the world, it’s not the standard like in the U.S.
Great tip Vicky about the automatic transmission! I was glad I learned to drive manual when I was 18! I never thought it would come in handy… until I moved to Europe…
Awesome, thank you so much! I did decide on going next July. I’ll let you know how it all goes, and I’ll share pics.
Awesome! Can’t wait to see your photos! Hope the tips help!
Thank you for this post. A Q&A format is very interesting and clear. Looking forward to reading your next posts.
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