GO AHEAD, TAP THAT CLASS
GO AHEAD, TAP THAT CLASS
The island of Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), an independent state covering five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
Visiting Ireland was just a quick long weekend trip since we were already in Europe attending a work event at Oxford University. Traveling to Europe is always fantastic because once you get there, you can travel almost anywhere for cheap – either via the train or by plane. A flight from London to Dublin was about $150 roundtrip on British Airways. NOTE: British Airways is an interesting airline. I would compare it to Spirit in the States, although we have never flown Spirit. I was seated in the exit row and could not have my backpack under the seat in front of me. I could not have my neck pillow with me, and I had to sit directly next to the window, although no one else was in my exit row. It was just an odd experience.
Accommodations: I was traveling with a friend so close to me that I called her a sister. And we love the character of a place, so we selected a place off of VRBO. The place we chose was adorable. However, it does require a car since it is very remote. Here is a direct link to the location. The guest house was behind the main house, separated by a fence. You also drove through two electronic gates before arriving at the property.
We loved that it was located in the country and very quiet. It was spotless, modern, and the perfect size for 2-3 travelers.
Parking was available outside the guest house and a nice area to enjoy the weather. If you want to cook, grocery stores are available to meet your needs. Dunboyne is a close town near the guest house and was our spot for lunch, dinner, and shopping (of course).
Car Rental: We knew we needed a car to get around the country to visit the Cliffs of Moher. We also knew you drove on the left (in case you forgot, there was a reminder on the windshield) and drove from the right in the vehicle….needless to say, we knew it would be an adventure!
In Ireland, most car rentals are manual, which I wasn’t worried about immediately. I grew up driving a manual and thought I would be okay operating a manual…however, I didn’t know about it in relation to the stick shift being on my left (instead of on my right). Once that was brought to my attention (while at the car rental counter), I decided to pay a little extra ($20 per day) to rent an automatic car, and I was so thankful I did so.
You do not need a particular driver’s license to drive in Ireland. Your US driver’s license is accepted. Traveling to other countries may require an international driver’s license. You can learn more by visiting the AAA website.
TIP: Automatic rental cars are uncommon in Ireland. Therefore, we highly suggest you reserve an automatic car in advance! We were lucky there was one available at the car rental location.
The views at the Cliffs of Moher are stunning! We took probably 100 pictures there, and none of them genuinely depicted the beauty of the landscape! SO GORGEOUS! We lucked out on a beautiful day when visiting the cliffs. We didn’t need a jacket at all. I know that isn’t the norm there, but we felt lucky.
The Cliffs of Moher are a MUST when visiting Ireland. We drove there ourselves. 75% of the drive was fantastic, and the last 25% was awful. Small, one-lane roads where each time a car passed, you were going the other direction, you prayed you didn’t hit each other, OR you didn’t go in the ditch.
TIP: The views are beautiful, so stop by a grocery store or a sandwich shop and bring your lunch when you visit the cliffs. If you walk to the left when you arrive at the cliffs, you will see an area perched up a bit higher where people sit while having lunch.
Here is what it looks like as you walk around the Cliffs of Moher. The ground is pretty level but can be steep in some areas. The view is worth it, so do it.
TIP: No tours on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, so plan accordingly.
We should have planned more in advance to pre-book a Vintage Tea Tip, but we are doing it next time! It looked like so much fun!
Their website says, “Savour all your afternoon tea favorites— freshly made sandwiches, desserts, cakes, and pastries—as your bus travels through downtown Dublin. Pass sights such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the grand buildings of Georgian Dublin.
There’s no formal commentary, but expect to hear some favorite Dublin stories from your host before you return to where you started.”
Temple Bar District is THE nightlife hotspot. Granted, we didn’t go there in the evening, but had so much fun in the afternoon. Have we reached that age where we can have as much fun in the afternoon as we can at midnight? I think so.
As you walk from bar to bar, lots of incredible live music can be found.
Dublin is most enjoyable with a 4+ group of friends. We had fun with the two of us, but the more the merrier in Dublin!
O’Dwyers Pub is one of those places that doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the food was delicious! What made it so unique? One of us ordered a steak that came out partially cooked, and then you cooked it yourself on the stone with each piece that you cut off to eat. It was a unique experience and one of those things I am looking to buy in the States now that I am back home.
I am not a foodie and often order off the kid’s menu. Kids mini-corn dogs and chips (fries) for me – and it was good! We visited a pub on our way back from the Cliffs, and I thought I would be more local and ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and chips. I got potato chips and not fries.
LeAnn is a mentor and the ultimate BOUJEE glamour gal. When she left daily drudgery behind to follow her path to joy, she promised herself that she would help others do the same. All she’s ever wanted was to be healthy, live her best life, and give back to others by introducing them to their inner BOUJEE.
