Planning a Trip To Ireland: 8 Big Mistakes To Avoid
This is going to tell you what you should AVOID doing when making Ireland travel plans. Don’t worry, it isn’t all as scary as you may think.
Ireland is an easy-going country to visit, but there are a few things to remember when planning your Ireland itinerary.
I have been to Ireland countless times at this point and have made countless mistakes.
This [unfortunately] has given us first-hand knowledge of what you should NOT DO when planning a trip to Ireland.
Ireland was the very first country abroad I visited. I have since been back multiple times and have covered just about everywhere on the island.
I am now an expert Ireland trip planner!
From the quaint small towns in Ireland to the rugged north of Donegal, these tips are applicable to everybody planning their first trip to Ireland!
Continue reading to learn how to plan a vacation to Ireland!
Planning a Trip To Ireland: 8 Big Mistakes To Avoid
Mistake #1: Spending Too Much Time In Dublin
Ask pretty much every native Irish or Northern Irish person, and they will tell you to get the heck out of Dublin!
This is a mistake I made on my very first trip to Ireland.
I fly into Dublin and stayed there the whole time, with the exception of taking small day trips from Dublin to the close by towns of Howth and Bray [highly recommend!]
If you only have one day in Ireland, then sure, spend it in Dublin because that makes justify.
But if you are planning a trip to Ireland longer than just a day or two, you should avoid spending too much time in Dublin.
Why? Dublin is a nice city, but it is too much expensive and hotels and restaurants will break the bank.
While there is a lot to see and do, it is truly not that interesting when you compare it to the rest of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Spending too much time in Dublin is a general mistake people make when planning a trip to Ireland.
I highly encourage you NOT to make the same mistake I did and only spend a short time in Dublin before leaving to see the rest of this charming country.
I suggest 1-3 days at the most, depending on what you want to see and do. If you can swing for 1-2 days, that is even better!
Mistake #2. Trying To Do Too Much In One Trip
Another of the big mistakes in Ireland is trying to pack too much into one trip.
Again, how do I know this? Because I did it too and constantly see others doing the same thing.
Ireland may look small on the map, but it is actually quite big when you have to explore the entire thing. There is also so much to see and do!
This is why I have been back to Ireland so many times! I have never been able to see and do all I want in one trip.
When planning a trip to Ireland, I highly recommend NOT burning out.
By burning out, I mean trying to do way too much in a short amount of time.
Of course, whatever type of Ireland trip you want is entirely up to you, but slower travel will really let you know more about Ireland, and it will be much more enjoyable.
I suggest choosing your highlights and then going from there. select the places you must see and make those a priority.
If they are all spread throughout the Ireland, and you have only a short amount of time, you may want to rethink your Ireland itinerary.
Sometimes it is better to do the top half or the bottom half of the Ireland if you only have a short time, say, 5 days.
If your major reason to visit Ireland is to see some fantastic scenery, then make that your priority, and don’t try and fit in shopping and pubs and cultural stops all in a few days.
This will make you feel burnt out and at the end of the day, you really won’t enjoy the nature you traveled all the way to Ireland to see!
Mistake #3: Being Too Scared To Drive In Ireland
I am from the United States so I drive on the “right” side of the road.
As you may know, in Ireland they drive on the “left” side of the road which afraid many people away from renting a car.
This is a BIG MISTAKE when planning your trip to Ireland because renting a car will provide you with so much freedom.
While it is possible to take Day tours from Dublin and other main cities, you can’t go everywhere or control the time you visit.
Driving in Ireland opens the doors to so many more things to see and do. Every small castle ruin will be open to exploring.
I suggest checking out Auto Europe to find the best and most affordable rate when renting a car in Ireland.
It allows you to compare rates across a variety of popular car rental websites, including Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, and more.
This way, you can see a plenty of different prices for your Ireland car hire without skipping around through a bunch of different websites.
Make sure to check out the huge cities such as Dublin, Belfast, and Cork for the best deals on car rentals in Ireland!
If you are nervous about driving in Ireland, don’t get upset!
I want to truly tell you it is NOT as bad as you think, and skipping renting a car in Ireland is a mistake!
If you rent a car from the airport, you will quickly be on the motorway [aka interstate], and that is the EASIEST place to learn how to drive on the opposite side of the road.
Unlike driving in your home country, where everything is remembered and you drive like a machine and don’t think about it, you DO have to “think” about driving in Ireland because it is so different from the norm.
I actually think this makes you a cautious driver because you have to put some thought into what you are doing.
My best advice is to drive SLOWLY and CAREFULLY but with belief.
If you turn on your GPS and plug in the location you are heading to, the GPS will put a “path” on your smartphone, and you can simply see which way you are going to turn and how.
If you have never driven on the “wrong” side of the road, make sure to rent an automatic transmission car.
Manual vehicles will be inexpensive , but it will be very difficult to learn how to drive a stick-shift car with the opposite hand.
An automatic transmission is driven the same way on the left side of the road as it is on the right side of the road and the pedals are in the same order.
With a stick shift, you will have to gear shift with your left hand instead of your right and the narrow roads of Ireland aren’t exactly where I recommend doing this for the first time.
The more number of Ireland trips you take, the more confident of a left-side driver you will become!
Mistake #4: Spending Too Much Money On An International Cell Service Plan
Luckily, with Sprint and T-Mobile, I get free international data and text messages so I don’t have to pay for a pricey international plan like others who have AT&T or Verizon.
If you have a mobile network with an expensive international plan, DO NOT GET IT! You don’t need it.
Spending too much money on a expensive international cell phone plan is one of the biggest mistakes people make when planning a trip to Ireland.
I am spared from making this mistake because my plan had it included, but know so many people who don’t know this easy trick I am about to share.
When planning a trip to Ireland, you are preferred to want to get a SIM CARD for “3” NETWORK.
The SIM card was for UNLIMITED smartphone data in Ireland, and I paid around 30 Euros for an whole month of data.
Now, my first time using an international SIM card was in Ireland so I was doubtful about the coverage.
And I am here to tell you that the coverage was BETTER than I get in my own home in the USA.
The internet speeds were so fast and allowed us to use all of our apps and social media just like a local Irish person would.
All for the price of 15-25 euros for an entire month. I was shocked. I am impressed.
Personally, I think it will be a big mistake if you buy an expensive international plan instead of getting a 3 SIM card when planning a trip to Ireland.
Where do you buy a 3 SIM card? You can buy it at a 3 store in Dublin or everywhere around the country.
Easily tell them you want the unlimited plan and pop it in your phone.
It is so simple anyone can do it. WORD FROM THE WISE: Make sure your smartphone is “unlocked” for International SIM card usage.
This involves calling or tweeting your cell network to ensure it is unlocked for SIM additions.
Simply tell them you are traveling abroad and want to get an international SIM and you need your phone unlocked.
This is one of the simplest tips I have for you when planning a trip to Ireland because it makes getting around so much easier.
Mistake #5: Completely Writing Off Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is part of the UK but is situated on the island of Ireland.
The “Republic of Ireland” is the place where most people travel, but Northern Ireland is so worth the trip.
Many people make the mistake of never think to visiting Northern Ireland for one reason or the other.
Maybe they think Northern Ireland is precarious, as Belfast once was.
Maybe they think there isn’t much to do. Or maybe they just aren’t all that familiar with Northern Ireland to even put it on the map when planning a trip to Ireland.
I am here to tell you there are a lot of great things to do in Northern Ireland.
It is simple to visit and Belfast is just 2 hours from Dublin. The country is 100% PROTECTIVE to visit and the natural scenery is unparalleled.
In Northern Ireland, there are castles that tower over the ocean and look false, even when you are standing in front of them.
There are sea cliffs and captivating forests and rolling hills and bustling cities and towns. Maybe you have heard of a little show called Game Of Thrones.
Game Of Thrones was actually filmed in Northern Ireland, and you can visit all of the places where filming took place.
You can simply drive, take the train, take a bus, or fly into Northern Ireland.
Visiting Northern Ireland is a fun way to technically visit two countries on one trip [UK and Ireland] and as early as you cross the border you will see the British flag fly and the dialect change.
I think a Big mistake people make when planning a trip to Ireland is writing off Northern Ireland from the itinerary.
I just wanted to shed a little awareness so you can make an informed decision!
Mistake #6: Prioritizing The Ring Of Kerry
I have heard so much about the popular Ring Of Kerry drive in Ireland.
After four trips to Ireland, I FINALLY decided to drive the Ring Of Kerry, and I am here to tell you that it was a total waste of time.
It was also my mom’s first time in Ireland, and she was on the floor of the car super sick from the narrow roads and unimpressed by the scenery.
I have been to pretty much everywhere else in Ireland before I made it to the Ring Of Kerry so I have high standards, and the Ring Of Kerry fell flat.
A Big mistake people make when planning a trip to Ireland is putting too much concentrate on driving the Ring Of Kerry. You heard it here first! Skip the Ring Of Kerry.
It doesn’t provide the best scenery in Ireland or even in the area.
It is throng with massive tour buses that try and make their way down terribly narrow roads at extremely fast speeds.
And you even have to SPEND MONEY to see attractions such as the Kerry Cliffs. It was just…uninspiring, and I think you should skip it.
So if you Ignore the Ring Of Kerry what Ireland road trip planner should you do alternatively?
If you are in southern Ireland [near the Ring of Kerry area] I HIGHLY recommend the Dingle Peninsula.
I cannot recommend visiting Dingle enough. It is everything the Ring Of Kerry should be and more.
Epic views, Star Wars filming locations, little cottages, cute small towns, and not many massive tour coaches.
A friend recommended Dingle to us, and I only budgeted one night on the peninsula which was a BIG MISTAKE!
Ignore the Ring Of Kerry and spend that time on Dingle instead.
If you aren’t going to Southern Ireland, DON’T WORRY. There are multiple scenic drives other than Ring Of Kerry and Dingle.
The “Causeway Coast” drive in Northern Ireland is amazing and way easier to drive than the Ring Of Kerry.
If you are in the far north of Ireland in Donegal, pretty much every road is fabulous.
everywhere along the Wild Atlantic Way is scenic and charming, and it was less crowded than the Ring Of Kerry.
It is one of the best European road trips!
Do your research and do whatever you want anyway.
But I want you to go into Ireland vacation planning with full awareness that there are beautiful places in Ireland than the Ring Of Kerry.
Mistake #7: Only Traveling To Ireland In The Summer
Many people think they can only plan a trip to Ireland during the summer.
Why? Because that is when it will be the scenic with the best climate. I am here to tell you this isn’t exactly true.
You can plan a trip to Ireland any time of year and I highly suggest visiting during the off-season.
When I visited during the summer months, the entire island was crowded as locals were off work for bank holidays.
Also, the heat made hotels without air conditioning Intolerable.
I recommend checking out to find the finest and most affordable time of year to visit Ireland.
When I visited Ireland in the spring or fall, I had a fantastic time every single time I visited.
The climate was cool and pleasant, the tourist season was low, prices were inexpensive, and I didn’t need AC in the hotel.
I am also SURPRISED to discover Ireland is pretty much green 24/7 due to high rainfalls. If you want to see Ireland green, you can visit any time of year.
I visited Ireland once in October and the fall in Ireland was just amazing.
The climate was beyond fabulous and there were hardly any other visitors.
On the other hand, when I visited in June, I was fighting with tourists for a parking spot and everything was overcrowded.
If summer season is the only time you have to plan a trip to Ireland then please, feel free! But I just want to let you know summer isn’t the ONLY time you have to plan your trip.
Ireland is actually a year-round destination! I have wonderful experiences visiting when the air is cooler and more calm outside.
Mistake #8: Not Planning a Budget in Advance
Planning a budget is crucial for any trip, including Ireland. Things can really add up and get so much expensive if you don’t have a preplanning nature.
First, remember the huge expenses like flights, hotels, and rental cars.
Then, plan everyday budget for food and activities. You can simply save money by grocery shopping and looking into free things to do.
If you know in advance the average cost of meals, transportation, lodging, and activities,…etc you will understand what to expect and how to plan your spending.
If you are traveling to Ireland on a budget or plan on staying in a luxury hotel, you will still have a fun and unforgettable time!