January 2016

a wee little travel for two coots

Our first trip of 2016 takes us across the sea to the Emerald Isle, Ireland. We're excited about exploring this country together for the very first time, and we're thrilled to be able to see our daughter and meet our grandchildren. First, we explore.
We're shared our itinerary with you - the more we look at a map, the more we realize we might have been a little optimistic about what we will have accomplished in a day - given the "driving on the wrong side of the road" thing.
We're answering the mind-blowing question we get EVERY SINGLE TIME we tell someone we're going to Ireland in January: 
"What were you thinking?" Ireland/Winter/Travel.
We have LOTS of wool socks, rain gear and boots! #WEGO
There's a lot of miles (and stops) between Day 1 and Day 8, but we're confident that wee (see, what I did) Two Coots can see it all.

follow day-by-day

#TwoCootsTravelIRELAND

 @January 29                            5:20 am Groome Transportation
                                              ATL > JFK
                                              JFK > Heathrow
 
January 30                            Arrive at Heathrow
DAY 1                                    Heathrow > Dublin
                                              Arrive in Dublin
                                              CAR: Dooley’s Rental, Dublin Airport
                                              Dublin > Powerscourt House and
                                              Gardens > Glendalough > Kilkenny
                                              Kilkenny  @ Butlers Court) – 75 e 

January 31                            Kilkenny > Castle > Rock of Cashel
DAY 2                                    > Cork City >Blarney Castle (and
                                              THE stone!) > Kenmare
                                              Kenmare @ Little White Cottage,    
                                               Airbnb – 73 e
 
February 1                            Kenmare > Killarney National Park >
DAY 3                                   Muckross House > Dingle
                                             Dingle @ Bamburys Guesthouse,
                                             70 e
 
February 2                            Dingle > Slea Head & Loop > Tarbert
DAY 4                                   > FERRY > Killmer > Cliffs of Moher
                                              > Doolin
                                              Doolin @ Hotel Doolin
 
February 3                            Doolin > Galway > Connemara
DAY 5                                   National Park > Westport
                                             Westport @ Clew Bay Hotel, 59 e
 
February 4                            Westport > County Donegal
DAY 6                                   Tea with Roie
                                              DONEGAL@ Abbey Hotel
 
February 5                            Donegal
DAY 7
 
February 6                            Donegal
DAY 8                                   Dublin @ Carlton Hotel Dublin 
                                             Airport, 139 e
 
February 7                            Dublin > London
DAY 9                                   London > JFK
                                             JFK > ATL

tips for planning/travel

• Rent a car, proving that spontaneity is a very good thing. Add Wifi coverage to rental.
• Get a good road map. The Complete Road Atlas of Ireland. This, plus GPS, should aid us in getting just about anywhere.
  
• Guidebooks lead the way. Most up-to-date and reliable is Ireland 2015, Rick Steves. What you get on his tours you'll get through the guidebook.
  
• Planning is essential. Make your own road map of your journey. Make a list of places you want to visit and the ones that will take priority. If you're like us, you realize early on that there's no way to see everything. Pick what's most important to you and stick by it.
  
• Add international coverage to your cell phone before you leave home. You can purchase per billing cycle, so it's not a long-term commitment. We bought the gold plan from ATT with the cheapest rates and most usage. We'll let you know how that works.
  
• Even if you have a map, ask for directions, even if you know where you're going. Get to know the locals, for they are the reason that you're there in the first place.