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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Our vacation in Ireland and England
We left 9/1 from JFK to Dublin. We checked-in more than 3 hours before the flight and had loads of time to spare. Aer Lingus has a speed pass automated check-in that helps move things along pretty quickly.
Arrived in Dublin airport at 5:30 a.m. and picked up car from Hertz. I always book Hertz and use my Mastercard because it covers insurance, but as of 8/30 (2 days before we arrived) Hertz dropped coverage in Ireland, Israel and Jamaica. No other credit card company will include the insurance for Ireland now either. We ended up taking the cheapest form of insurance and it cost an additional $300 for the 10 days
Drove to Arklow, County Wicklow, home of my Mom and Dad. It's a beautiful seaside town about 1.5 hours from Dublin city. It's busy in the Summer with tourists and has grown a lot since my parents moved there 4 years ago. It's also known as an area where the weather is particularly good, so any of the days we were there we had lovely sunny days.
That night we drove to Dublin to meet up with friends. I decided to book us a hotel for the night and wanted to get one close to where my friends live (Leopardstown). I booked a new boutique hotel in the Fitzpatrick's group called The Beacon Hotel . I got a 50% discount on ORBITZ so it was also the cheapest hotel available in Dublin that night. Very funky place. Nice rooms with amazing bathrooms. The only draw-back was that it is in the middle of an industrial estate (probably gets a good trade from Microsoft, which is based there), but it suited us perfectly. We took the LUAS into Dublin city, which is the above ground "tram" system. Amazing, amazing, amazing way to travel. It costs EUR3 one way and is quick, clean and easy to work out.
We drank at Cafe en Seine (love that bar!) and ate at Fire on Dawson Street. Fire was great. Food was really good and it worked out pretty reasonable (for Ireland ). After that, we drank in bars off Grafton Street - O'Neills, Bruxelles and McDaids.
The next day was spent back in Arklow with Mom and Dad watching the Hurling final and nursing our sore heads.
On the Monday we drove to Kilkee in Co. Clare. It was pouring and it took hours to get there, but the scenery was beautiful. We stayed at the Strand Guesthouse in Kilkee. Very basic rooms but the food in the restaurant was excellent and the views were gorgeous. I would recommend the guesthouse, even though it was kind of expensive and more like a B&B. The following day we went to the Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch and Loop Head. We went with my parents, so we could have done more sight-seeing, but they were getting tired. That night we ate in at Murphy's pub in Kilrush and that was good too.
Wednesday we drove back to Arklow and on the Thursday a friend visited from Dublin and we got to go to the beach (It wasn't really that hot, but her kids loved it!).
On the Friday at 5 am we were back on the road again to Dublin airport for a very quick, extrememly cheap flight to London. We flew Ryan Air to Gatwick and the cost of the flight round trip was EUR12 each but the taxes were EUR60 each Ryan Air
We stayed with friends in Peaslake, Surrey. It is a gorgeous, quaint, country village with beautiful scenery, great hill paths for long walks and a nice village pub. The weather was fantatic for the three days we were there. We just spent the time talking, walking, eating and drinking. One of the towns in her area is Shere which has great pubs and loads of antique shops. Four Weddings & a Funeral, Bridget Jones Diary and a new movie, Holiday, were all filmed there. It was the best part of our trip and we can't wait to go back!
We arrived back in Dublin late on the Sunday night and the next day (9/11) was our last day We went shopping in Dublin and had another excellent meal in The Woodenbridge Hotel, near Avoca.
We took the 5:20 p.m. flight back to JFK and arrived in 55 minutes early. Yay for Aer Lingus 
If anyone is interested in taking a trip to Ireland, please feel free to FM me. Image Attachment(s):
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Posted 10/2/06 3:37 PM  |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Some pictures of the Cliffs of Moher and Loop Head Image Attachment(s):
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| Posted 10/2/06 3:38 PM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Some pictures from England too Image Attachment(s):
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| Posted 10/2/06 3:42 PM |
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Aga
hello baby Albert
Member since 9/05 7750 total posts
Name:
Aga
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
wow, great pictures, Ireland looks amazing 
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| Posted 10/2/06 4:46 PM |
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sirk1020
*************
Member since 9/06 3046 total posts
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
wow, I would love to get there one day.
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| Posted 10/2/06 4:51 PM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Thanks! I lived there for 31 years, but I still love going back.
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| Posted 10/2/06 4:54 PM |
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baghag
:P
Member since 5/05 10278 total posts
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
How gorgeous!!!!  Sounds like a lovely trip.
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| Posted 10/3/06 8:39 AM |
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beachgirl13
Mommy to 3 boys!
Member since 5/05 4114 total posts
Name:
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
very nice!
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| Posted 10/3/06 10:48 AM |
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2PreciousBlessings
The Perfect Pair
Member since 5/06 19861 total posts
Name:
Best Wife & Mommy
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Nice!!!
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| Posted 10/3/06 1:40 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
It sounds like a WONDERFUL vacation!! Thanks for sharing!
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| Posted 10/3/06 10:58 PM |
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Gorgeous pics! sounds like a fantastic trip!
Now you have me wishing for a trip back to Ireland, would love to see England as well. 
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| Posted 10/4/06 12:00 AM |
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LisaW
Time for me to FLY!
Member since 5/05 13199 total posts
Name:
Did I ever tell you that I hate people?
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Gorgeous!!!
Dh is dying to go to England and Ireland!
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| Posted 10/4/06 12:08 AM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Great pictures and a FANTASTIC review!!
Make me want to go there!
Thanks for sharing!
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| Posted 10/4/06 8:17 AM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Thanks, Ladies. Ireland has changed immensely in the 7 years since I moved to the US, but some parts are still totally untouched. I might be bias, but I think it is a great place to visit
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| Posted 10/4/06 9:33 AM |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
sounds like a dream. Half my family lives in Ireland. I've been there but DH hasn't. Maybe in a couple of years we'll go.
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| Posted 10/5/06 11:56 AM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Beautiful pictures! My father is from Co. Clare and we stay with family there when we go...love Lahinch
Glad you had a good time
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| Posted 10/5/06 12:10 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
It looks lovely! I am so glad that you posted a review of somewhere besides Lahnndonnn.
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| Posted 10/6/06 3:38 PM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Beautiful!! The Cliffs of Moher where my favorite aprt of our trip!!!
I can't wait to go back
Message edited 10/7/2006 11:08:29 PM.
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| Posted 10/7/06 11:08 PM |
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lorich
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Member since 6/05 9987 total posts
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Grammie says "Lora Gina"
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Beautiful pictures!
I've been dying to go to Ireland! I was a week away from booking a trip several years ago...(A Christmas present to myself  ) and I was laid off of work...
I hope and pray to go sometime soon!
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| Posted 10/8/06 5:00 PM |
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IrishTracy
Believe!!
Member since 5/05 15167 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
awesome photos. We're planning a summer trip. Our son has never been in Ireland for the summer. I am hoping to do alot of traveling. I know I will get my usual 1 night in Dublin
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| Posted 10/13/06 11:11 PM |
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KPsquared
Member since 5/05 4663 total posts
Name:
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Re: Our vacation in Ireland and England
Beautiful pictures! I would love to go there one day.
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| Posted 10/14/06 11:21 AM |
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