Ireland and UK quandries for those who know more than I...

[tamela_j]

...so, that's basically, like EVERYONE!

In a little less then a month, my niece, ajavajunky and I will be heading over to Ireland for about a week and then to Scotland/England for another 4 or 5 days. Besides a cruise we took about 8 years ago, a few trips to Canada and one horrific trip to Mexico, I've never really been out of the country.

I HAVE QUESTIONS! MANY, MANY QUESTIONS. Opinions, advice, tips all would be muchly appreciated. If you've been there, live there, thought of going there and have some "Must Dos," all are welcome!



So, we land in Dublin and are staying the first day there, then the next day we are getting in a rental car and touring around for six days. Here's a map I was thinking of using. Take a look and tell me what you think:


View My Saved Places in a larger map

So, I was thinking, two nights in the Cork area, two nights in the Cliffs of Moher area and then two nights in the Northern Ireland/Belfast area.

My questions for this leg of the trip are:

1. What are the MUST SEES here? (ajavajunky wants to see lots of castles, I want to see as many literary landmarks as possible...and the ones that are in pubs are double WIN!)

2. Any opinions in what is over-rated, not worth the tourist time? I mean I want to see all those things, but we are going in the summery, touristy time and I'd like to know what's not worth it.

3. Any advice and tips on driving on the wrong left side of the road for the first time ever? I was thinking of practicing, but besides being terribly dangerous, it really isn't the same as I'm on the wrong side of the car anyway.

4. We're going to be on a budget and also aren't going to want to be lugging lots of luggage with us, so any advice on any of that? Deals we could find? Cheap funs? Things we won't need to bring?

5. Money: would it be better to change it here or there? I'm going to try and avoid using credit cards because of the fees they charge for using it in foreign countries. :(

6. Phone vs. finding WiFi: I think the phone will have to stay home as we don't have the right carrier and I don't feel like dealing with the rental and the different chips for the different countries, and the expensive per minute, per text fees. So, my question is, how easy/hard is it to find places with access to the internet? I can't imagine not having any access to family/friends back home or here in the webz.



After the week in Ireland, we get to the part of our vacation that I don't really have planned at all with the exception that we have like 5 days to get to London where we fly out of to come home.

I was thinking of taking the ferry from Belfast to Stranraer and then the train from there to Glasgow, staying there a day, then to Edinburgh for a day before taking the train to London and trying to find a relatively cheap place there for a night or two.

So, my questions for this leg:

1. I will be car-less in this part, so any fun things in these areas, or tips on transportation would be helpful.

2. Are these selected places the best places to get a snapshot of this country? I only have this small window and would like to see as much as I can. Also, the same question as above about things to skip...is Stonehenge really super cool?

3. Also, any literary landmarks here that NEED to be seen--other then Platform 9 3/4 natch! :)

4. How hard is it to find a reasonably priced place to stay in London? Would it be easier/better to stay outside of London, or would transportation in and out of the city make it not worth it?

5. Any tips on places to stay in Glasgow/Edinburgh? We have vouchers for the Ireland leg, but this part is totally on us. I've looked at some hostels and they look okay, but don't know if they need to be booked ahead of time?

6. Finally, any of you living in the area want to get together for a drink or something?

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND HOPEFULLY FOR GIVING ME SOME AWESOME IDEAS! Any thing I forgot, assume I don't know and tell me anyway! ♥

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

Change money here, AND NOT AT THE AIRPORT. Travelex often has a deal that waives fees if you change over a certain amount. If you can do this, even if it's more than you want to spend, do this if they have the policy where theyw ill change back extra without fee within 30 days. That'sw what I do.

Cost of transportation in and out of London can be expensive especially if not preplanned. Stay in London.

In London, consider checking on Orbitz for hotels. You have to pay in advance, but often one or two night stays can be very cheap because people are taking longer holidays and they just want to fill the damn rooms. I got 5 star hotels there for US$100 on two different nights. Also check Easy Hotel and Travelodge -- if you boko at least a month in advance you can get very cheap rates. Realize your rooms will be tiny. REALLY REALLY TINY. But they will also be safe, clean and have a private bathroom.

A quasi-budget hotel I can recommend is City Hotel in Brick Lane, where Patty and I stayed and liked very much. Also, for the love of god, EAT IN BRICK LANE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. Best food ever.

[tamela-j.livejournal.com]

Awesome info! Thank you!! I don't know why I didn't think of Orbitz and the like! I will check them out!

Tinier then NYC hotel rooms?

Oh, what type food is Brick Lane? I'm thinking I'll be eating lot of curry takeaway in London as I'll be rather full up on English food by then. :))

[rm.livejournal.com]

Much tinier than NYC hotels rooms.

Brick Lane is where all the SE-Asian food is. Ignore every asshole in every hotel review that's all "it's dangerous here because I'm a racist fucktard." I felt the most comfortable, and ate the best food in Brick Lane that I have ever had, ANYWHERE, EVER.

[tamela-j.livejournal.com]

YUM!

And haha, oh England! Dangerous neighborhoods? YOU GUYS AREN'T EVEN ARMED! :))