Ireland Trip

[ICantSpellDawg]

My girlfriend and I are going to the U.K. and Ireland on April 8th-April 15th.
I'm looking at rail prices and they seem incredibly high. How does one travel economically in these countries?

anyone have any insight?

places that we will be staying include: London (2 nights), Shannon (2 nights), Cork (3 nights)

[Duke Malcolm]

How does one travel economically in these countries?

Walk.

The train prices are too high, coach would be cheaper.

[_Martyr_]

Rail in the UK is terribly expensive, but at least there is a pretty good network. Rail in Ireland is terribly expensive and the network is terrible. The Cork region is absolutely beautiful. I would especially recomend West Cork, its one of my favourite areas of the country. Some people might disagree, but I dont rate the Shannon area that highly. You'd be better off going either a little further north to Connemara, a little further South to Kerry, or if you want to, go visit Dublin for 2 days instead. Expect to get a little ripped off though. Its pretty expensive over here. What are you mainly looking for out of the trip?

[Duke of Gloucester]

Try to buy the tickets in advance. You can do this on www.trainline.co.uk for the UK, but with your itinerary I am not sure how helpful this will be. You may be able to get cheap flights from the likes of ryanair or easyjet. Probably too late though.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

When your in london pop up to the Midlands for some culture and all around friendly faces and nice places. Birmingham is a very nice place and whoever says its a concrete jungle they don't know their arse from their elbow

From Brum to London return it would be around 30 quid. From manchester to Brum is 27.90 so it would be around the 30 mark.

[ICantSpellDawg]

i appreciate it. i already have a round trip flight schedule purchased.

is there a price for 8 days unlimited coachfare?

[Ianofsmeg16]

While your in Ireland, check out the nightlife, anywhere you go its just phenominal.

[lancelot]

When I go from London to Nottingham by train, If I book online anytime before 6pm the day before travel, you can get a ticket for as cheap as £7.

Crazy thing is...go into the station on the day and ask for the exact same ticket and it will cost you £44 return!!!

Even more bizzare, exact same situation but only one-way is £43!!!

So Id advise anyone to do a bit of research before they travel, as shown it can save a fortune.

(BTW: the differences I have outlined is not a nice/fast £44 train and a slow/crappy £7 train...they are exactly the same...train/time/even platform)

[Kanamori]

Depending on what you're doing in London, it might be good to get a day pass, if you aren't planning on it yet. If you will be travelling a lot inside of the city, it would almost certainly be cheaper to get a day pass than to buy tickets individually.

[ICantSpellDawg]

i'm only going to london in the UK. in ireland i want to be able to travel wherever between limrick, cork and waterford.

i'm looking to to see the cliffs of moher, bunratty castle, blarney castle, some seaside towns and maybe the waterford glass factory

i was looking at the EMERALD CARD on buseirann, any ideas? i can't rent a car, my girlfriends parents have vetoed that idea

[_Martyr_]

Heres a Rail tour from Limerick that covers the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, Burren & Galway Bay. Cost, 45 Euro per person. Pricey...

http://www.railtours.ie/lc06.asp

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

there is some sort of interrail pass that gives unlimited travel for a certain amount of time. I think it's available in the British Isles (I've only ever looked at it for eastern Europe though).

The railway's not bad. Coach travel is cheaper but is bad and uncomfortable.

If you are doing specific railway journies then book early as there are cheaper tickets. The prices for rail vary dramatically depending on when and how you book it.

Hitching is fun in rural areas if you want to chance it.

[_Martyr_]

If you are a student, make sure you bring your Uni card with you, and ask EVERYWHERE for student discounts.

Im pretty sure Interrailing is only possible if you are from Europe. At least it was when I did it.

[SwordsMaster]

have a look at www.irishrail.ie, and www.buseireann.ie , those are the train and bus networks respectively. As of being expensive, Ireland is. No way around it. And don't try to drive, even irish people can't drive on these roads.

[Tribesman]

Where are you flying , is Shannon arrival and departure ?
Times of day for Bunratty , are you doing the folk park(daytime) or medieval banquet(evening) ?
If its day then do it early and get the bus up to moher and either loop back with it to Limerick (why Limerick though ?) or spend the night up in Doolin .
Buses are OK , but see for others apart from CIE services and you may find a better deal . Hitch-hiking is also a viable alternative on main routes .
and maybe the waterford glass factory

Pay it a visit before it closes for good .


And don't try to drive, even irish people can't drive on these roads.
Behave yourself there Swords , the roads have improved a hell of a lot (though they still use the wrong tarmac on a lot of them) and the govenment is trying to get people to actually own a driving license now , though not very successfully .

[SwordsMaster]

Behave yourself there Swords , the roads have improved a hell of a lot (though they still use the wrong tarmac on a lot of them) and the govenment is trying to get people to actually own a driving license now , though not very successfully .

Heh, try driving at 2 am anywhere between Longford and Achill, and you'll see drivers doing 120mph on roads that were designed for cars doing 35.

[Tribesman]

Come on Swords , doing that trip you will see cars doing 120 on roads that aren't even designed for cars .

[SwordsMaster]

Come on Swords , doing that trip you will see cars doing 120 on roads that aren't even designed for cars .

Or on roads that aren't even designed. Full stop.

[English assassin]

Birmingham is a very nice place and whoever says its a concrete jungle they don't know their arse from their elbow

That's easy. If it looks like the Bull Ring, its your arse, if its more like the Rotunda, its your elbow...

I don't know about Ireland but if all you are seeing in the UK is London then a zone 1-2 or 1-4 one day travel card is all you need (There is nothing in zones five or six that would interest a tourist. Except Heathrow airport I suppose).

[Tribesman]

Or on roads that aren't even designed. Full stop.
Yeah , it must be the only country in the world where they decide to widen the roads , but manage to do it without considering what to do with the telegraph poles that line the roadside , resulting in them being left standing in the middle of the roadway .