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tamela_j...so, that's basically, like EVERYONE!
In a little less then a month, my niece,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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 thewrong 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! ♥
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
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! ♥
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Date: 2010-07-04 01:28 am (UTC)here's some ideas:
Charles Dickens's home at 48 Doughty Street (London)
• Sherlock Holmes's home at 221b Baker Street (London) not very amazing but there is a statue of him outside the relevant subway stop and there is a room set up like his; i wouldn't go back tbh. also there's a tacky lunch room there as well. There was also a man dressed up like him at the subway stop handing out SH Victorian visiting cards LOL
• Duke of York's Theatre (London)
• Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey (London) I like it, Westminster is beautiful and you see the holy Scottish chair the monarch sits in etc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poets'_Corner
• Blackwells Books (Oxford)
• William Shakespeare's birthplace (Stratford-upon-Avon)
• William Shakespeare's burial site (Stratford-upon-Avon)
• Oscar Wilde's house (Dublin)
• Davy Byrne's Pub (Dublin) from Ulysses by Joyce
• Abbey Theatre (Dublin)
http://www.zimbio.com/Westminster+Abbey/articles/16/Literary+Landmarks+Visited+England+Ireland
If you love Shakespeare see a play at the Globe theater.
In Ireland see the Book of Kells if you like, but recall it's only one page open per day. The Cliffs of Moher are distant from Dublin but beautiful if you want to drive there. There will be sheep on the country roads you'll have to honk at. Make sure to drive in the country a little and see the beautiful green gem color rolling hills.
Also the Aran Islands are where I REALLY want to go in Ireland, so do it if you like. Esp. if you love the ocean, Irish Gaelic or rural areas. If you like Joyce, this list is gonna get wayyyyyy longer LOL Cause you can see all the places in Ulysses and all the Joyce-centric places.
Also in England you could go and see the House of Lords if it's in session, or the Commons. I would def see the crown jewels despite the wait etc. They are super beautiful and I lovvvvvvvve them.
Make sure to get soda bread at diff places : D!!! And one Guinness :D
Also for breakfast make sure to have oatmeal at some point and a traditional fry up too. Mmmmm
If you like history make sure to see key places in the 1916 Easter Rebellion like the Post Office (one of the places where it all went down etc.)
Go kiss the Blarney stone if you want, it's high up in an old ruined castle, but realize you have to lay down on the ground and grab a rail over thin air (you're really high up from the ground) and it is a bit scary!!!! Just FYI here
Newgrange is an ancient tomb mound building, so see it if you like. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newgrange
If you like holy wells, for real, you can go see some: http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/alandmks/holywells.html
I wouldn't see Stonehenge again --you have to stay really far away from the rocks on a path. It is not worth it imho. I wouldn't see Buckingham either again. If you like museums of ancient cultures go see the Elgin marbles and the Bablyonian I think stuff at the British Museum.
http://www.authenticireland.com/7+irish+landmarks --- for more ideas
I am sooo jealous of you :D !!!! Have fun with your niece!!!!!