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Visiting Ireland - Suggestions for holidays, trains, itineraries, day-trips, and sightseeing from someone who has lived and traveled extensively in Ireland

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Archive for the ‘Dublin’ Category

Best Ireland Guidebooks

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Every major guidebook company from Lonely Planet to Let’s Go makes at least one Ireland guidebook.

Most guidebook companies make a book on Ireland as a whole, but the country’s territory and diversity of places to visit make for enough material for a full guidebook on specific regions and cities like Dublin.

If you’re only planning on visiting one city in Ireland, getting a specific guidebook for the city is a good idea. For example, Lonely Planet’s book on Dublin gives good in-depth coverage of Dublin and the surrounding area.

If you’ll be visiting lots of places in Ireland, getting a larger guidebook like The Rough Guide to Ireland is a good idea. If you’re handy with scissors, you can cut out the chapters you need and leave the rest of the guidebook at home to save room as you pack your bags.

Once you know what size Ireland guidebook you need, shop around for an Ireland guidebook that fits your travel style. If you’re backpacking, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, and the Rough Guide are some of the best Ireland guidebooks.

If you’re going upscale, look into guides like the Wallpaper Guide to Dublin that offer more high-end suggestions for Dublin hotels, restaurants, bars, and shopping.

If you love sightseeing, consider picking up the Eyewitness Travel Guide to Ireland. With photos and illustrations on every page, the Eyewitness Ireland guidebook is great for explaining the details of Ireland’s many historic castles and landmarks.

On a budget? A lot of the best deals on Ireland guidebooks can be found on websites where travelers that have just returned from Ireland are selling their books. If you’re lucky you can get a copy with good notes and suggestions written in!

One last tip on finding the best Ireland guidebooks: check the date the guidebook was published. If it is more than a year old, don’t buy it. Things change so quickly in Ireland that an old Ireland guidebook will be of little use to you today.


Ferry from Dublin to Liverpool

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Ferry services from Dublin to Liverpool are run by two companies, Norfolkline and P&O Irish Sea Ferries.

P&O Ferry from Dublin to Liverpool

P&O Ferries runs a regular ferry service from Dublin to Liverpool. P&O Ferries makes 2 daily crossings from Dublin to Liverpool, one in the morning and one in the evening.

The P&O ferry from Dublin to Liverpool takes 7h30m. You can reserve a 2-person room on the ferry.

Norfolkline from Dublin to Liverpool

Norfolkline runs a regular ferry service from Dublin to Liverpool. Norfolkline makes 2 daily crossings from Dublin to Liverpool, one at 10am and one at 10pm. The morning ferry only operates Tuesday through Saturday.

The Norfolkline ferry from Dublin to Liverpool takes 7 hours.

Ferry Discounts

Ferry discounts and deals are available for children and infants. Special discounts are also available for adults throughout the year, so do some research before booking a ferry from Dublin to Liverpool.



Trains from Dublin to Rosslare Europort

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Trains from Dublin to Rosslare Europort run regularly from Dublin Connolly train station to Rosslare Europort train station.

Trains from Dublin to Rosslare Europort are regular trains, not IC trains.

Trains leave Dublin Connolly train station for Rosslare Europort train station four times a day. The total train time from Dublin to Rosslare Europort can be as short as 3h02m.

The cost of a one-way train ticket from Dublin to Rosslare Europort can be as low as 22.50 EUR for standard class for adults and 11.00 EUR for standard class for children at off-peak times.

Discount train tickets from Dublin to Rosslare Europort are available for students and farecard holders.