a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher / Ireland

[striped_bouncer]

good day everyone :-)

I'm planning on a few days away to Ireland in July. I'll be staying in Dublin, doing the round trips to Howth, Killiney etc to relax (my 5th time in Ireland). It's just a short visit to get away from work, so I'll take it slow this time.
However, I've never been to the west coast, and this time I want to see the Cliffs of Moher

Comments

[chadini]

I have actually done this. I went through the tourist board and set it up when I arrived in Dublin. I think I took a train and then a guided tour bus, and then a train back. It sounds like it was about the same schedule and I think it was around $100 (it was years ago, so I am not sure of cost now). I enjoyed it. Someone else to drive me around and tell me about things. The tour is also good because they stopped along the way to let you get off and take pictures.

I would wait until you arrive and chat with the folks in the tourist office. You may have more options when you arrive. Have a great trip!

[striped_bouncer]

This sounds good to me :-) I was a bit worried they'd just hurry you through the day and all you get to see is a quick glimpse of this and someone pointing out of the bus window saying "you don't want to miss that" as you've already driven passed it... but you give me hope :-) so I'll book the trip at the tourist office then and not online now, maybe I can get different offers concerning the costs. But 100 € ssems to be common, depending on the places they visit, I guess.

Thanks a lot for your comment, much appreciated!

[lingrem]

I was in Ireland over Easter for a few days. I was doing the same as you - stayed in Dublin but wanted to go see the Cliffs of Moher. I went through Paddywagon tours: http://www.paddywagontours.com/viewtour.php?id=71&&day=18&&month=06&&year=2010

I quite enjoyed it! My guide was entertaining and informative and there was a nice mix of people from various stages in life.

[striped_bouncer]

oh, this really looks like the perfect company. And that's around 52 Euro for the whole trip, which makes it truly not expensive for a day out on the road.
How many people did they take on that bus when you were there? It looks smaller than those big ones I saw all over Dublin, or the one that took me to Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, etc. Is it comfortable in the buses they have?
And on the way to the west, do they drive on the highway most of the time or will they go through the countryside for bits and parts? I'm thinking of the chances of how much of the Irish landscape you get to see while you're on the way to the Cliffs :-)

thanks for your input! :-)

[lingrem]

I think what bus they use might depend on how many people are going. I was on a smaller bus, and it was quite comfortable.

I don't recall driving much on the highway - there was constant scenery and we went out into the middle of nowhere to go to the various locations on the tour! From what I recall we stopped to see an Abbey and we actually stopped at the Burren on the way to the Cliffs of Moher, not on the way back. I thought it was quite worth the money!

[fivestep]

The other option might be to rent a car. For two or more people it might turn out cheaper and you don't have to start early.

[striped_bouncer]

that's true, and I considered it before, to rent a car. But I'll do that another time, as my budget is really tight for these few days I'm going now, and I'll be on my own, so... nobody to share the bill with ;-)

I've planned to do a 2-3 weeks trip by car next summer so I can go to places outside the tourist routes. I'm interested in the country and the people who live in the smaller villages, you know, to actually see every-day-life and not just the tourist side of Ireland. But this will have to wait for the next trip ;-)

thank you for commenting!

[monkeedreamer]

Please remember to tag your posts in the future.

[striped_bouncer]

I will do that, promised. Sorry :-/

[opendestiny]

I left from Cork, but it was the same tour (you meet up in Limerick and half the bus goes to Blarney and the rest go on to the Cliffs). I did my tour with Paddy Wagon and it was really good. I found it spend enough time at all the different places we went to. this is the tour that I did, but its identical to this one from Limerick onwards.

I was a little disappointed by the "traditional pub lunch" - the food was good but very expensive, even for Ireland. Several people on my tour had brought their own lunch, but the pub did not seem to mind too much.

[striped_bouncer]

thank you for commenting and sharing your experiences, it's really helpful

[opendestiny]

The pub in Doolin was expensive, but the food did look (and smell) good, to be honest. They had tables outside but I believe it was the pub's patio - and I believe there was a coffee shop/cafe a couple blocks away.

I'd say we spend upwards of an hour and a half at the cliffs, half an hour or so (maybe 45 minutes?) at the Burren.