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Original poster

People who know about Ireland- help please

52 replies

yurt1 · 28/12/2007 16:14

OK we need to make a trip by car from Devon to the north coast of Ireland. We trying to sort out ferries etc now.

Our current first choice way of doing it would be to take the ferry from Pembroke in Wales to Rosslare, then stay overnight just outside Rosslare and drive up to northern Ireland the next day. We'd do the reverse journey a week later.

Does anyone know about places to stay in Ireland? Is there some sort of Travel Lodge or motel type equivalent?

We're also wondering about the roads from Rosslare up to Dublin (we've driven from Dublin to Belfast before so are familiar with those). If anyone has any idea of journey time say to the border or even Dublin that would be really helpful.

Our other option might be an overnight from Liverpool to Belfast, but we think that might be hideous. Has anyone done that trip recently? Is the crossing vile?

We can't do sea cats. We could do the HSS, but think its too far to drive to Stranraer.

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Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 16:15

just found out there are travel lodges in ireland- if anyone know whether there's one near Rosslare (or any alternatives) would be grateful.

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Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 16:21

I know I sound like I think we're going to the back of beyond when we're not, but this trip needs to be planned with military precision and is going to be dreadful anyway. We are trying to work out how to make it less dreadful.

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LuckyStarOfBethSalem · 28/12/2007 16:24

I used to do the holyhead - Dunlairee crossing (not sure where that is in relation to dublin) for work (face-painting) and although we were told its the worst crossing to do, there was no bad waves or anything (in the 3 months we were there)

Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 16:28

We did that one last time, but the road trip to holyhead is pretty awful and half the ferries are sea cats which we can't take. I think we could get there OK but would struggle with ferry times avoiding sea cats coming back iyswim. It was after that journey I vowed never to drive to Northern Ireland ever again (hey ho, 3 years later....). I think the big boat they run is the best on the irish crossing so perhaps I should look at that again....

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Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 18:33

bump

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TheGoatofBitterness · 28/12/2007 18:38

i think you are right to do the rosslare crossing as the liverpool one is a pukefest. stranraer is the nicest but the drive up would cancel out any benefit. can you not fly drive?

SatsumaMoon · 28/12/2007 18:41

How about getting the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin? The crossing is no longer than the Pembroke-Rosslare one (maybe even shorter) and you then cut out all the roads between Rosslare and Dublin. Haven't done Rosslare-Dublin by road myself but I hate driving any distance in Ireland as it takes so long and there are so many bad drivers about (I'm Irish btw so feel entitled to say that!) I'd far rather do the driving on the UK side iyswim.

Don't know about hotels I'm afraid but I think you won't get anything for much less than 100 euros per night....

Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 18:43

ha ha- that's what I was wondering - Dh (15 years out of date) reckoned Liverpool was vom city. No chance of flying unfortunately- we're taking severely autistic ds1, there's just no way we could get him on a plane/do the airport thing etc.

Honestly the thought ofthis trip is already sending my blood pressure high and it's not until the spring. So if it's Rosslare I need to find somewhere to stay in Ireland for one night. (haven't looked at trip back yet- maybe we can satay in Wales on the way back).

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Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 18:45

hmmm Holyhead.... honestly the last time was so awful - I do know somewhere we can stay in Wales that was great and about 2 hours from Holyhead (but ds1 had a meltdown- too many shut doors in the hotel and dh ended up having to drive thought N Wales for hours - until 11pm to get him to go to sleep). The ferry over was great- sea cat back- no way are we are never doing that again- I still shiver when I think of the last journey. Will check timings. Interesting about the Rosslare road as that's what I was wondering.

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Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 18:46

the Dublin Belfast road last time was so much better than I expected last time- the only bad bit in NI- that I wondered whether the Rosslare road had improved......

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SatsumaMoon · 28/12/2007 18:55

I think the roads have improved a lot over the years but when they widen them/build new ones they still only put in one lane each way so it's a nightmare if you get stuck behind a lorry, etc

SelfishMrsClaus · 28/12/2007 18:55

Most roads in the South now are supposed to be great to drive on.

I would go for the Rosslare one rather than 8 hours on the boat.. sounds yuk!
Though it does go into Belfast so is less driving in Ireland...

Are you looking for a travel lodge in NI?

If so, this place is nice. £63 per night though so it depends on what you want. It is fantastically close to the North Coast though

roisin · 28/12/2007 19:02

I think distances-wise it's not much different whichever sea-route you take, just depends which country you do your driving in. The route to Holyhead (UK) is quite slow and longer than you think (as is the route to Stranraer from Gretna), but generally the roads are faster in the UK than in Eire.

We were warned off the fast Liverpool crossing as being quite bumpy, and also the boys quite like boats so we fancy a longer crossing anyway.

Hope the trip turns out better than the anticipation of it.

Are you OK with Travellodges? There aren't many in Ireland, but a few dotted around. There's certainly one in Dublin and one a bit North, and one in/near Belfast.

Rosylily · 28/12/2007 19:02

My sister just travelled on the liverpool ferry two days ago and her son was sick.

Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 19:04

Looking for a travel lodge in the south - very close to Rosslare- we're staying with dh's parents in the north. We have done Belfast to Devon in one day before but it was carnage so overnight stop is now essential. Not too worried about being stuck behind a lorry, but would be conderned about narrow windy single lanes (much as you get in Devon )

And If I ever suggest another trip to Ireland with ds1 after this one- shoot me- I am not doing it again!

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fireflyfairy2 · 28/12/2007 19:06

Have you thought about a B&B in Rosslare? There's bound to be some B&Bs ot travel lodges near the ferry terminal in Rosslare! Will have a look for ye

Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 19:14

thank you We have thought about B&B but think it would be hard to be somewhere personal/houselike with ds1. Dh said "I'd pity the other guests'. Probably somewhere less personal/lodge like would be better iykwim. DS1 is likelt to meldtdown.

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Original poster
yurt1 · 28/12/2007 21:16

I'm having second thoughts about the Rosslare route. There'll be 7 of us travelling- my Mum, dad, dh, myslef and the 3 boys. My parents are coming specifically to help us or we can't do the tri[ at all. I'm having trouble finding accomodation that can take us all in Ireland. The only thing I've found is two family rooms plus paying extra for one of the boys which comes to over 300 euros for one night, and we'd have to use it on the way back as well.

This whole thing is turning out to be a nightmare. It is quite possible that ds1 won't sleep at all the night we are in the hotel so perhaps we need to take a route that will mean less driving on the Irish side (but then what about coming back???) My head spins when I try and think about it.

Does anyone have a teleport?

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beautifulgirls · 30/12/2007 17:13

Have you thought about flying there and hiring a car once you get there?

Clementine1 · 30/12/2007 17:20

www.dreamireland.com/home/index.php try this site it lists anywhere that has apartments\houses which could prob take you all. Also for distance or directions try www.aaroadwatch.ie

I am in Ireland so if you have any specific question please ask.

The road from Rosslare to Dublin is hit and miss. Most of the road is very good but in spots it will drive you mad.

Original poster
yurt1 · 30/12/2007 20:23

Can't fly with ds1 unfortunately. He can't wait/queue/if he hates it he'll refuse to get on on the way back/the screaming isn't fair on other passengers/if there's a delay -especially if on the tarmac he would be physically violent (to himself mainly but the rest of us may well cop it as well). The big thing is the inability to wait at all. It's enough of a problem on a ferry, but I'm going to email and ask to queue jump with him.

Having looked at the costs and having discovered that we can't find anywhere to stay near Rosslare that would be possible with ds1 for under 300 odd euros a night (!)we've decided we'll have to drive from Devon to Stranraer (stay in a Travelodge somewhere on the way),and take the HSS. Gawd I am dreading this journey. I swear that after this trip I am NEVER doing it again. We haven't booked yet so if anyone has any ideas of ways round it please suggest. Thanks for the help so far, very much appreciated.

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Clementine1 · 30/12/2007 21:13

So where in the North are you actually going to?

Original poster
yurt1 · 30/12/2007 21:14

Port Ballantrae so about as far north as you can get

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roisin · 30/12/2007 21:22

Are all 7 of you in one car? Is there anything that could ease your journey? Could you do a solid section of driving and then stop off and do something? Is he familiar/happy with any 'chains' - I don't know, McDonalds, Pizza Hut or Borders?

How many hours do you think you can reasonably do in a day? How old are the other two boys?

I always think Gretna isn't as far as you think it is, though obviously it's much nearer for us than you! But the road to Stranraer is longer than you think. We nearly missed the ferry first time we went.

dinny · 30/12/2007 21:25

reconsider Stranraer? break in Glasgow and then continue? have done the journey on NE a few times and it wasn't that bad...

but we always flew Exeter-Belfast with BMI, is that not an option? sorry, prob really unhelpful!

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