Solo Trip - Ireland September 2018

[Trugravity]

I'm planning a trip to Ireland as a retirement gift from me to me...after over 41 years working for John Deere. Anyway, I'm flying into Shannon, with trip dates of 30AUG18 - 14SEP18, I'll probably stay near Galway the first night and try to see the town and some traditional music. Then, I've tee times at Carne GC (2-4 SEP), plan on hiking Slieve Donard (5 SEP), then one round each at Royal County Down (6 SEP) and Royal Portrush (7 SEP). I'm looking for recommendations to round out the trip. I'd also like to do some sight seeing/hiking, with that in mind, any recommendations for the following:

 

1. Any highly recommended sights or hiking between Portrush and Sligo? FYI - planning on Giants Causeway and Antrim coastline. .

 

2. I'm leaning towards playing 2 out of 3 of either Enniscrone and County Sligo or Strandhill GC. Any recommendations of where to base myself for those courses? Will likely do a B&B or AirBnB.

 

3. Would you purchase SDWC insurance prior to going to Ireland or from the rental car company. If before, any recommendations on where to purchase it?

 

One last comment, I'm going to see the Northwest and Northern Ireland on this trip, Southwest some other time, so no recommendations needed for the southwest or Dublin areas. Also, I'm not a big drinker, so the party life isn't a big draw, however, I'll occasionally have a brew, love music and play acoustic guitar. .

 

Thanks for your help,

bk

[gussie]

Nice looking trip

Do some research on wild atlantic way

Stunning drive from Ennis to Galway via lahinch cliffs of moher doolin fanore

This drive brings you tru the burren and in ballyvaughen and kinvara

Some great food spots and great b & b accomadation

Probably 50 miles from Shannon to Galway but it could take you few days as there is a lot to do

Lahinch is a top rated links course in British isles so don’t pass it by

[Trugravity]

Thanks, Gussie, appreciate your feedback!

 

No one has commented on the car insurance, any advice regarding whether to purchase in advance versus at the rental counter?

 

Thanks again,

Bk

[Bandy1080]

For the car insurance do some research, there are certain credit cards that allow you to waive that insurance if you charge the rental to that card.

[davep043]

For the car insurance do some research, there are certain credit cards that allow you to waive that insurance if you charge the rental to that card.

I went to Ireland last summer (2016). As Bandy says, there are a few credit cards that will cover your insurance in Ireland. I have Capital One and Chase, and I can't remember which one I used. You'll need a letter from your insurer verifying that the card covers you in Ireland.

 

As for courses, I agree that Lahinch is a beauty, my personal favorite in Ireland, and its not a long drive out of Galway. Further north, we stayed right in Enniscrone and played Carne and Enniscrone. We stayed at the Waterfront House, a hotel right above the beach, but I'm sure there are B&B or other options.

 

If you want another nice spot kind of on your route, look at Ballyliffin. Two outstanding links courses in a very small village, you could make this stop on your way to Northern Ireland.We stayed at the Ballyliffin Townhouse Hotel, and there aren't a ton of choices in this area. There is a B&B right at the front gate of the golf club that gets good reviews.

 

It sounds like a great trip, enjoy yourself!

[Trugravity]

Thanks all,

 

I opted to bite the bullet on auto insurance as I didn't want another credit card. I have one and I'm good with one. Still, good idea and I appreciate the feedback. One thing that might be helpful to others, I found that renting through Hertz (AutoEurope) a 2-week GPS unit can be rented for $56, if rented in advance. They literally ship it to your house a couple days in advance of departure.

 

Ballyiffin and Rosapenna are options I'm considering. I'm probably going to save Lahinch for a SW buddie's trip, as it looks like tee times are already quite limited.

 

Thanks again,

Bk

[Bandy1080]

Don’t bother with the hertz gps. Rent a portable WiFi unit from them instead. This way you can use google maps on your phone and have WiFi wherever you go and be able to call home using Skype or viber. We rented ours from hertz and ended up being like $70 for the week.

[davep043]

Don’t bother with the hertz gps. Rent a portable WiFi unit from them instead. This way you can use google maps on your phone and have WiFi wherever you go and be able to call home using Skype or viber. We rented ours from hertz and ended up being like $70 for the week.

Another option is to take an unlocked smartphone, and buy a local SIM card then you get there. You can get enough data to use the phone GPS, make local calls, and an occasional call home. I bought a TESCO SIM from Amazon which was delivered to me in the US, so I had my Ireland phone number installed before I left home. Be a little careful following GPS routes. Our friends on the trip brought their Garmin, and it took us down a few farm paths with branches scraping both sides of the car. You should probably consider getting a paper map as well, so you can see which are the semi-main roads.

[adschus]

I’m doing a solo trip, too, in June. This thread was helpful.

 

Are roads difficult to navigate for Americans?

[davep043]

I'm doing a solo trip, too, in June. This thread was helpful.

 

Are roads difficult to navigate for Americans?

I didn't find the roads to be difficult, and I prefer a map to a GPS. A map won't send you down some 2-meter wide farm track with headges brushing both sides of the car. The signposts are pretty well done, in my experience.