5 Tips for an unforgettable Irish adventure

Have you been dreaming about traipsing across the wild untamed Irish countryside? Spotting sheep grazing in nearby fields, counting castles and keeping score of how many you’re able to see or visit (*did you know Ireland is home to more than 300+?!!), getting in touch with the past while exploring ancient ruins, historic battle grounds, touring medieval castles and prolithic monuments or observing the allure of a standing stone cirlce? Then you’re in the right place & I’m so glad you found my little page 🙂

The number one thing anyone should know about Ireland is that time seems to run differently there. You won’t find people scurrying about or off in a rush, instead you’ll find that native Irish folks tend to be laid back, authentic and not in a hurry. I found this to be very refreshing and made me want to embrace the slower paced Irish lifestyle even more. Irish people are known for their warm welcoming hospitality, laid back nature and they’re always up for a Craig (good time). Visitors will enjoy the lively atmosphere, friendly Irish folks and welcoming vibes everywhere you go across the island. Ireland really is a special country full of beautiful scenery & lovely people. One visit is all it takes to be hooked! ❤

A few things to consider if you’ve never been to the Emerald Isle or it’s been some time since your last visit:

1) The time of year/season you plan to visit. Going in the right season can make or break your trip. Plan too early in the year and you’re highly likely to be rained out the entire trip. To late in the summer and you’ll be paying higher prices and trying to avoid the crowds. Visiting in late spring or early fall tend to be the best seasons with minimal crowds, lower price ranges and better weather. For our trip we went the end of April and had nearly perfect weather throughout the trip. Only the last day of our adventure was grey, cloudy and a little misty but that only added to the mystery and allure of the medeival castle, abbey’s and historic lighthouse we toured that day.

2) The type of trip you plan to have, the sites you want to visit and the nature of your visit. Everyone has different views about what their perfect Irish itinerary would include. The types of adventures they’re drawn to and the kind of activities and destinations they’re excited about. So, depending on the locations you visit, where you stay during your visit and the kind of activities you hope to partake in your journey may look very different than mine.

3) Budget- not something everyone likes to discuss but I think it’s important to mention. What works for you may not work for me & vice versa. If you’re ideal vacation has you staying in 5 star luxury hotels your itinerary will probably look different than mine and that’s okay. Everyone has a different definition of their ideal mode & means of travel and that’s perfectly normal. Traveling to a new destination or foreign country is not a one size fits all kinda thing, you need to make the arrangements for your trip that fits into your budget and molds into your vision. With that said, my recommendations are: If you’re on a tighter budget plan to stick with the off season travel plans. Use Hopper App to help track flights and find hotel deals, sign up for the Max Travel App for unique hotel finds & deals and utilize groupon or other similar websites to scour for great savings opportunities. Plan to go with the 1-2-1 method of planning *1 luxury/more expensive activity/meal/destination, 2 cheaper options, 1 mid range price point options to help keep things within your budget and adjust as needed. Another option is to look into a camper van as a cheap accomodation alternative to hotel stays. This is the most budget friendly option & it come with a lot of perks. Flexibility to travel wherever you want, lots of great camping locations/pit stops and freedom to roam the roads less traveled. For those looking to stay in fancier accomodations I highly recommend Kinnitty Castle Hotel for an overnight stay (or 2-3 nights) for a truly unique location. Kinnitty is nestled in the foothills of Slieve Bloom mountains and surrounded by forests, nature hikes and only a few hours drive from Dublin.

4) Amount of time you will be visiting. If you only have a short window of time you’ll have to be a little more creative with it and will have to stick to a narrower area and possibly cut out destinations or activities depending on proximity/time to reach etc. With a limited timeframe I recommend planning on one area, sticking to one side of the country so you don’t waste valuable time driving from place to place. *One thing to note is that traveling across Ireland takes more time than you realize. Google Maps might say 1 hour but it’s generally in your best interest to double that, sometimes almost triple depending where your driving and the conditions of the roads. If you’re planning to road trip around Ireland it’s best to have at least 7-10 days and even then you may need to limit the areas that you plan to see.

The main thing to remember when planning your dream trip is that everyone in your travel party may have different ideas of what the trip should include, so try to remain flexible, vote on a list of favorite locations or activities (if needed) and utilize the 5 tips below to help ensure you have the trip of a lifetime!

Tip #1 Plan to travel during a shoulder season. It’s the best time to travel that allows you to witness the majestic landscape and historic sites throughout Ireland sans crowds. The best times to visit Ireland are notably Spring and Fall, when prices are lower and as an added bonus the weather is likely to be decent too. Keeping your travel dates flexible is another tip for securing the best deals!

Tip #2 Do your research! A little time spent looking things up, comfirming hours of operation etc before your trip will save you valuable hours while you’re on vacation. One thing that I always recommend is spending the time to research points of interest, nearby restaurants, hours of operation/opening & closing times for sightseeing/locations, potential tours to join or register for, determine if prepurchased tickets will be required for entry at famous sites, track flight prices & purchase when they’re at their lowest price. I also recommend comparing prices of rental car companies, accommodations and getting a feel for the total cost of those and adding that into your projected travel budget to gain a clearer idea of the total cost for the trip.

Tip #3 Rent a car & get off the beaten path *if you feel comfortable driving on the left side of the road & on narrow, windy roads, it’s the best way to see the most that the country has to offer. If you want an authentic experience (and to see more of Ireland than just the streets of Dublin or restricted to the limited areas the tour buses visit) nothing beats the freedom and flexibility that will afford you the opportunity to go wherever your heart guides you and allow you time to linger at all the hidden gems you’ll inevitably discover along the way. The open road & the wonders of Ireland await!

Tip #4 Arrange your itinerary based around your top destinations,must see/must do activities, must visit locations and use that to create a mock/initial itinerary. Once you have that loosley organized you’ll have what you need to organize the rest of your itinerary. Rearrange and make alterations/substitutions if needed until your itinerary reflects your dream trip and includes all of your non negotiable, top must see locations possible.

Tip #5 Look for unique places to stay, such as an airbnb rental or perhaps a castle? Nothing compares to waking up in an 11th century medeival castle! It’s pure magic & something you’ll never forget! *I highly recommend reserving one of the perfectly decorated rooms at Kinnitty Castle hotel in Birr, Co. Offaly which is conveniently located in the heart of Ireland. While you’re here enjoy a delicious dinner in the dungeon bar and after dinner drinks in the library lounge. *The dungeon bar & library bar are both open to anyone, you don’t need to be a guest to make a reservation to dine at the castle. I recommend enjoying a hearty traditional Irish breakfast at the famed Sli Dala restaurant, sampling delicious savories at the Monk’s Cafe, and dinner in the Dungeon Bar while listening to live music.

Ireland is bound to keep you captivated, swept up in her mystery, magic and allure. The rugged natural beauty combined with soft thick scent of pastures, fresh salty air, majestic mountains and rolling hills carpeted in lush green grass & brilliant yellow scotch broom, beautiful mountain lakes nestled between rocky peaks & massive sea cliffs towering against a pale blue sky promise to keep you transfixed the entirety of your trip. No matter the length of your stay, once you step foot on Irish soil you’ll be hooked and forever in love with the remarkable Emerald Isle.

If you’re struggling to know where to begin you’re research or knowing what to include in your itinerary no need to worry, I’ve taken care of it for you. My complete 7 day Irish itinerary has everything you need to copy my itinerary or make adjustments to suit your preferences. This is the exact itinerary used for my first visit to Ireland. It includes a little bit of everything from epic sea cliff views at Kilkee Cliffs & the Cliffs of Moher, touring the original seat of the Kings of Munster at Rock of Cashel, the Monastic City of Glendalough, stops along the Ring of Kerry & Slea Head Loop as well as the Hook Head Loop, the top sights of Dublin and includes a 2 night stay in a castle! Check it out here: https://stampsinmypassport.com/store/ *You’ll find it under: “7 day Authentic Irish Adventure”. Also available is the “Irish Holiday Companion Guide

Have any questions for me? Drop them in the comments or shoot me an email and I’ll do my best to answer them 🙂

Until next time! ~ Krista