Shannon Airport Ireland.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

OK after much searching I think I have found my air for England in August.

I will need to spend the first day and night and then a night on the return in or around Shannon Airport.

I need suggestions for hotel, local touristy things and food suggestions.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

We stayed at the Radisson SAS Hotel and Spa Limerick for the day we flew into Shannon and on the night before we left. The rates weren't bad; the hotel lovely and clean. The breakfast buffet was wonderful and we had dinner there the night before we left to come home. There's not too much to do it the immediate area but you could do the Bunratty Castle ...it's sort of like Plimoth Plantation here in Massachusetts.

There is a hotel within walking distance of the airport so you wouldn't need to rent a car for an overnight. I can't remember the name right this moment but if that would interest you PM me and I will see what I can find.

There's also a new Marriott in Galway...but that may be too far for you to travel for such a short time.

Joy

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Lawren, this sounds promising! And the extra night or two in Ireland is a bonus!

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

We stayed at the Radisson SAS Hotel and Spa Limerick for the day we flew into Shannon and on the night before we left. The rates weren't bad; the hotel lovely and clean. The breakfast buffet was wonderful and we had dinner there the night before we left to come home. There's not too much to do it the immediate area but you could do the Bunratty Castle ...it's sort of like Plimoth Plantation here in Massachusetts.

There is a hotel within walking distance of the airport so you wouldn't need to rent a car for an overnight. I can't remember the name right this moment but if that would interest you PM me and I will see what I can find.

There's also a new Marriott in Galway...but that may be too far for you to travel for such a short time.

Joy

Yes Radisson would be fine but not the airport hotel .Clarion in Limerick City is good too . Bunratty would be ideal to visit .If you really want to go posh Dromoland Castle is close too (President Bush has stayed there )
G

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Thank you very much!

More detail and quite a few more questions, some of them pretty dumb questions but bear with me. You will all be tired of me before I'm done just booking airfare, hotels and cars I promise.

We will be arriving at 8AM local time in Shannon on a Saturday. Our final destination is Uley, in the Cotswolds, England.

This is the first time I am not booking all the way through, but in separate segments with different airlines. Assumption is getting thru customs, retrieving bags and re-checking in on time for our 1PM flight on Ryan to Gatwick. Will we have to clear customs again in England?

Where would be the least expensive place for us to get a rental car? I can drive a manual shift but am not sure I want to do so after so many years away from it on the other side of the car. An automatic was disorienting enough on Grand Cayman. Will they gig us badly for picking up in Gatwick but dropping off in Stansted?

Hey the air is only costing $605 US so it is a bargain and I'm willing to go thru a little pain for a good deal.

We will only need the night returning hotel-wise/dinner in Shannon. I will look into the choices that Joyce and Gary have brought up.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Just my opinion but, driving in Ireland is NOT like driving in the rest of the UK. Roads are very narrow, curvy and Irish drivers drive pretty darn fast for those of us not accustomed to them. The Irish idea of a shoulder seems to be a very thick hedge row or a rock wall. It took me at least three days to get the hang of it and I had driven in Scotland once before. If at all possible I would strongly recommend a manual transmission if you're not accustomed to right sided driving and shifting with your left hand.

I'll have to look at the map of Ireland but, you'll be on the same side of the Island as the Cliff's of Mohr. In Limerick there is King John's castle which we found somewhat interesting. Sometimes just driving through the country side is a treat. Since we were south of Dublin (Newtonmountkennedy) we didn't venture to the West side except for the day we drove over to the Cliff's of Mohr so I'm afraid I'm of little help with tourist sites and their distance from Shannon. I do know that next time we'll probably fly into Shannon and maybe spend a day or two in Gallway.

[wandering gnome Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wandering gnome]

Lawren,

Which Airline did you get your good rate?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren,

Which Airline did you get your good rate?

Delta non-stop JFK/SNN $547RT taxes included.
Then Ryan back and forth to London.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Just a thought about your return to Ireland and one overnight - maybe a B&B would be a nice change?
Be aware that the hotels and B&Bs charge extra for that third person even when sharing a room.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I have some pics of our trip to Ireland which includes a couple of pics of the roads we traveled there. Of course there are some very nice carriageways that are larger than the side roads but, it seems as if you much travel the narrower roads to get most places in Ireland.

Here's the link to our pics:

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

Thank you very much!

More detail and quite a few more questions, some of them pretty dumb questions but bear with me. You will all be tired of me before I'm done just booking airfare, hotels and cars I promise.

We will be arriving at 8AM local time in Shannon on a Saturday. Our final destination is Uley, in the Cotswolds, England.

This is the first time I am not booking all the way through, but in separate segments with different airlines. Assumption is getting thru customs, retrieving bags and re-checking in on time for our 1PM flight on Ryan to Gatwick. Will we have to clear customs again in England?

Where would be the least expensive place for us to get a rental car? I can drive a manual shift but am not sure I want to do so after so many years away from it on the other side of the car. An automatic was disorienting enough on Grand Cayman. Will they gig us badly for picking up in Gatwick but dropping off in Stansted?

Hey the air is only costing $605 US so it is a bargain and I'm willing to go thru a little pain for a good deal.

We will only need the night returning hotel-wise/dinner in Shannon. I will look into the choices that Joyce and Gary have brought up.

Lauren, No, once you clear customs and immigration in Shannon , you will be free to travel on to the UK . Technically there are still Customs but 99% pass easily through ! (confine your Coke to soft drinks !!) Not sure of good rental deals in UK ..Keith any thoughts? Enjoy
Garry

[jimbosee Member Find all posts View Profile Close jimbosee]

Shannon Airport.!!!

Hi lawren2,
jimbosee here,just came across this thread.We were on a round world trip last year,2006 and hired cars in Ireland and the USA,our best rates were from Carrentals. com.As a person from Australia who has to drive on my wrong side of the road in Europe or the USA,I much prefer an Automatic,much less to concentrate on.In Ireland we had a HYUNDAI SANTE FE,automatic,unlimited miles,etc and it was wonderful.Enjoy your trip .Regards Jim Seedsman

jimbosee@hotmail.com

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Having just returned from Ireland - hands down one of the most spectacuar sites was the Cliffs of Mohr....we walked along the top and met someone who said they did a boat tour - viewing from the bottom - I would highly recommend that activity ....get the automatic - don't need AC for one day- would go for Automatic over AC to save the money.

Another village near Shannon but the other direction from C of M is Adare - google it and see several sites u can go to there - just a darling town with Thatch Roof houses....ruins - just very nice....

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

Delta non-stop JFK/SNN $547RT taxes included.
Then Ryan back and forth to London.

Just be careful with Ryanair They are fine when all is well..but they charge extra for everything . water , coffee, allocated seat ( not really necessary ) and in particular baggage over their tight limit . Have you chosen where to stay in Ireland as yet?
Regards
G