I found this link: If it is cloudy and we don't do the Ring of Kerry I think everyone will be happy with Dingle. I have done the Ring of Kerry twice and both times it was cloudy and overcast and both times I wasn't overly impressed because I couldn't really see anything.
When I was planning our trip to Ireland I knew that the Ring of Kerry would make it on our itinerary. I mean, how could you go to Ireland and not see one of the most popular scenic drives in the country? But after a few weeks of doing research I discovered other scenic loops such as the Slea Head Drive on Dingle peninsula.
Since we were going to Ireland for 12 days we could afford to add both loops to our list. Unfortunately not everyone has that opportunity and many visitors have to decide which one they see on their trip. In this post I’ll outweigh the pros and cons of each loop so hopefully the decision will be a little easier to make.
Our Itinerary
Brandon and I spent roughly 3 days on the two loops. Our journey began in Killarney where we arrived at about 10 am after spending a night in Kinsale. The whole day there was spent at the Killarney National Park where many of the main attractions for the Ring of Kerry are located. Later that afternoon we took a quick drive to Kenmare and back since our B&B wasn’t ready for us to check in. Many travelers choose to stay in Killarney or Kenmare before starting the Ring of Kerry. The next day we drove the rest of the Ring of Kerry, starting clockwise down N71 and not fully completing the loop but heading straight to Dingle once we passed through Killorglin.
We drove the Ring of Kerry for scenery and didn’t stop at any of the historic sites along the way, having seen all the major attractions we were interested in the day before. Because of this we arrived in Dingle quite early, at about 2 pm, so we got settled in at our B&B and spent the evening at Murphy’s Pub in Dingle having a few drinks and listening to a trad session. The next day our fishing trip was cancelled due to high winds so we spent the day traveling along the Slea Head Drive loop, stopping at Gallarus Oratory, a historic structure that’s believed to be a church built in the 9th century.
Best for Scenery: Dingle Peninsula
In my opinion the Dingle Peninsula handily beats the Ring of Kerry when it comes to beautiful scenery. The coastline is closer and more visible and the farms are more grassy and hilly than along the Ring of Kerry. I have to admit that my opinion may be a little biased because it was cloudier on our drive along the Ring of Kerry but Dingle really is a beautiful part of Ireland. Along the Ring of KerryAlong the Dingle Peninsula
Shortest Loop: Dingle Peninsula
The Slea Head Drive loop is 47 km long, roughly 1/4 the length of the Ring of Kerry which is about 179 km. We took about a half day to drive each loop though we stopped a lot more along the Slea Head Drive than we did along the Ring of Kerry. Tour buses drive the Ring of Kerry in a counter-clockwise fashion and since we were driving clockwise we began to meet them about halfway through our drive. A beautiful view of Dingle Peninsula
Smallest Crowds: Dingle Peninsula
There weren’t nearly as many tour buses along the Slea Head Drive as there were on the Ring of Kerry. This can be both a pro and a con for each of the loops. If you’re doing a self-drive and want to avoid the crowds then Dingle Peninsula would definitely fit the bill. Few cars at a scenic stop in DunquinAll in all we enjoyed the Dingle Peninsula much more than the Ring of Kerry. If you have time then do both and see for yourself. If you only have 2 or 3 days to spend in this part of Ireland then try spending 1 night in Killarney to see the attractions at Killarney National Park and then the next day head straight to Dingle Peninsula. You’ll still be traveling some of the Ring of Kerry along N72 as you head toward Dingle. We stayed at a B&B in Ventry which is no longer in business but we loved the tiny town and it had plenty of shops and pubs for us to enjoy. The more popular town of Dingle was right up the road.
When traveling abroad always be mindful of your actions. Just because it is normal in the US - it might not be normal or mean the same in another country. This is a good example:
§St Mark’s Square – (Piazza San Marco) Free to walk through the square and
listen to the dueling orchestras however if you want to sit and have a wine,
coffee, tea, or an afternoon snack be prepared for a cover charge and high
prices
§St Mark’s Cathredral - (Basilica di San Marco): 9.45 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. - Sunday and
holidays:2.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. - free€5to see the horses.You can buy a skip the line ticket for €22 on
up.
St. Mark's Museum: 9.45 a.m. - 4.45 p.m. (entrance: ticket€5
, reduced €2,50
only for groups with more than 15 people) Pala d'oro - 9.45 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. - Sunday and
holidays:2.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.(entrance: ticket €2
, reduced €1 only for groups with more than 15 people) Treasury - 9.45 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. - Sunday and holidays:2.00
p.m. - 5.00 p.m.(entrance:
ticket €3 , reduced €1,50 only for groups with more than 15 people)
Bell Tower
(Campanile di San Marco) – 9.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. (entrance: ticket €8 , reduced €4 only for groups with
more than 15 people)
§Grand Canal
– There are many restaurants along the Grand Canal
where you can have a cocktail and enjoy the beauty.Our favorite restaurant in Venice is Al
Carbon right by the Rialto Bus exit
§Doges’ Palace
– (Palazzo Ducale) 8:30am
– 5:30pm(last admission 4:30pm) Secret Itineraries
Tour - Full price ticket: €20,Reduced ticket: €14 * Children aged from 6 to 14; students aged from 15 to 25; coordinators (max.
2) for groups of children or students; citizens over 65; Venetian residents;
holders of the Rolling Venice Card; holders of the Venice Card Transport &
Culture; holders of the combined ticket to the St. Mark’s Square Museums;
holders of the Museum Pass; holders of the Clock Tower ticket
§Teatro La Fenice di Venezia – Theater opens for tours daily from 9:30am
– 6:00pm.Full price €10 Reduced price € 7 (reduced for students up to 26 years and visitors over 65 years old) Free admission
for children up to 6 years.The ticket
price includes an audio guide, which is available in 5 languages:Italian, English, German, French and Spanish. The ticket price includes the
possibility to visit the internal exhibition dedicated to Maria Callas.
§Bridge of Sighs –Do this as part of the Doges’ Palace Tour
§Gondola Ride – We suggest to group together to cut down on cost.You will need to barter to get the price down.They will start at €150 or more.However
definitely worth the price to do it once.
§Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
& Market – The market runs up and down the north side of the
bridge.On
the south side of the bridge you can cross and look out at the Grand Canal.
§#1 Vaporetto – Take the water bus up and down the canal.It is a great way to spend a couple hours and
see a lot without breaking the bank.
§Take a side trip for a day to Burano
or Murano – take the water bus
§Jewish Ghetto - free
§Peggy Guggenheim Collection (house in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni) –
10am
– 6pm(closed Tuesdays) Prices
adult/senior/students €15/12/9
I posted the most recent itinerary under popular links on the right hand side of the blog. I will bring copies to the meet and greet. - April 9th 2016 at 6pm.
§Dublin Castle – 10am
– 5pm, prices for grounds and Chester Beatty Library free.Tours of the State Apartments, Medieval
Undercroft, and Chapel Royal 10am – 4:45pm, prices guidedadults/students & seniors €8.50/6.50 and prices
self-guided adult/student & senior €6.50/5.50
§Trinity College & The Book of Kells – 9am – 6pm, prices adult/family €10/20
§Kilmainham Gaol – 9:30am
– 5:30pm (last tour at 4:30pm),prices adult/senior/child €4/2/3
§St. Stephen’s Green – 7:30am till dark, prices free
§Christ Church Cathedral – 9am – 7pm, prices adult/children-16/family €6/2/15
§Bram Stoker’s Castle Dracula - Tours
only on Saturdays.If you arrive
in Dublin Saturday May 28th there is a show at 7pm for the price of €25.00.Tickets must be booked in advance and can be
purchased online
§Molly Malone Statue – free
§Irish Whiskey Museum – Standard Tour 10:30am
– 6pm (last tour 6pm), prices adult/senior/student/child €15/13/13/7.50
I know some of these are repeats but I think they are helpful
Take an extra bank card and credit card with
you. Disasters happen. It’s
always good to have a backup in case you get robbed or lose a card. You don’t
want to be stuck somewhere new without access to your funds.
But don’t be afraid to get purposefully lost. Wandering aimlessly through a new city is a
good way to get to know it. You might be surprised by the hidden gems you find.
Always visit the local tourism office. They know about everything going on in town.
They can point you to free activities, special events happening during your
stay, and everything in between. Use this resource.
On international flights, book window seats so
you can rest your head on the bulkhead. Also, book seats close to the front so you can beat everyone to
the passport control line. When
we travel as a couple we book at the back and leave a seat between us.If the flight isn’t full that will be the
last seat used.Most the time you end up
with a free seat in between you.
Don’t buy a money belt — they’re stupid. Thieves know they exist and being seen with one
basically shouts, “Look at me, I’m a tourist with money! Rip me off!”
When you go out, take only what you need. Limit the amount of cash and bank cards you
carry with you, so if something does happen, you can easily recover.
Always carry a lock. They come in handy, especially when you stay in
dorms and need to lock your stuff up.
Make extra copies of your passport and important
documents. Don’t forget to e-mail
a copy to yourself so you’ll almost always have access to them, one way or
another.
Look both ways when you cross the street. Especially in countries whose traffic flow is
different than you’re used to.
Read a history book! You can’t understand a place’s present if you
don’t know anything about its past. Read up on the destinations you are
visiting.
Don’t be ashamed to walk into a Starbucks. Sometimes familiarity is comforting.In fact it is fun to see what is different in
a familiar restaurant overseas.In Australia they served pickled beets on
everything.In Venice the McDonalds
served beer.
Shop
around. When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper
to fly into airports close to your final destination, and then take a train or
bus to where you need to go.
Always get behind business travelers when in
security lines. They move fast. Try to
keep up.
Never get behind families. They take forever. It’s not their fault; they
just have a lot of stuff.
When you check in to the hotel, don’t be afraid
to ask for an upgrade. They
have a lot of flexibility, and it can’t hurt to ask.
Locals don’t eat out every night and neither
should you. Go grocery shopping.
You can learn a lot about locals’ diets by seeing the type of food they buy.This is one of the reason we love apartments.We can save money eating a meal or two in our
apartment.
Eat at expensive restaurants during lunch. They offer lunch specials — same food as
dinner but half the price.
Carry a basic first-aid kit. Accidents happen, so be prepared. I take with
me band aids, antibacterial cream, and ointments for cuts and scrapes.
Book flights 3-4 months in advance to get the
best price. And don’t drive yourself
too crazy trying to get the absolute cheapest fare. Spending five hours to try
to save $10 will cause you a lot of stress.
Try new food. Don’t ask what it is. Just put it in your mouth and see if you
like it. If you put your guard up, you might miss out on some unusual and
delicious local cuisine.
Avoid taxis. They are always a budget buster.
Take free walking tours. Besides being free, these tours will give you a
good orientation and background of the city you are in.
Get city attraction cards. If you are going to visit a lot of museums and
other attractions in a short period of time, a city pass is going to save you
money on admission (plus most provide free public transportation too!).
Take pictures of your luggage and clothes. If your bag gets lost, this will help identify
it more easily and speed up the process of having your travel insurance
reimburse you.
Get good shoes. You walk a lot when you travel. Don’t beat up
your feet. Love them as much as they love you, and they’ll take you to amazing
places.
Learn to haggle. Haggling is a fun, playful way of not getting
charged the foreigner price. It’s the art of negotiating and one that will help
you throughout all of life, not just at the market.
Use
points and miles for free travel. You can go a lot
further in the world when you don’t have to pay for it. Make sure everything
you do gets you miles.
Take a jacket. Nights get chilly.
Eat street food! If you skip the street food, you miss out on
culture. Don’t be scared. If you’re nervous, look for places where kids are
eating. If it’s safe for them, it’s safe for you.
Get
travel insurance. Don’t be foolish. If something goes wrong, you
don’t want to be out thousands of dollars in bills. Travel insurance is the
most important thing you get that you never want to use.Check with the credit card company that you used to book your air
fare.They might offer free insurance.
Be patient. Things will work out in the end. No need to rush. You’ll get to
where you are going in due time. Travel is about the journey, not the
destination.
Be respectful. Locals are willing to help you out, but there’s probably a
language barrier, so keep your cool when something doesn’t go your way. If you
don’t, you’ll end up just looking like an asshole tourist.
Don’t
overplan your trip. Let your days unfold naturally. Schedule two or
three things and let the day fill in the rest on it’s own. It’s less stressful,
and letting the day just take you is one of the best ways to travel.
Relax. See Be patient.
Be frugal — but not cheap. Don’t be pennywise but pound-foolish. Look for
deals and don’t waste money, but don’t miss out on great experiences or walk 10
miles to save a couple of dollars. Time is money. Spend them both wisely.
Take earplugs. Snorers are everywhere and you need your sleep.
Search incognito. If you are going to be searching for flights,
use the incognito feature in your browser to hide your browsing history so
booking websites don’t track your cookies and raise the price on you.
Always have an extra USB charger. Batteries die. Your good mood shouldn’t.
Take photos of and with people. Lots of photos. Years from now, you’ll want to
look back on those nights you can’t remember and the people who made them
memorable.
Here in the US we hate
carrying change and will leave it building up in a jar at home.In
Ireland coins add up quite fast. Since there’s no paper money less than a five
euro bill, a pocketful of coins can easily add up to a pint of beer or an
Irish breakfast roll.
Always carry cash
We have become
accustomed to using our debit and credit cards for everything.In Ireland and Italy there are still quite a
few places that only accept cash.Always
keep euro in your pocket.
Looking left when
crossing the street (IRELAND)
Since cars drive on the
left side in Ireland, you have to look right before crossing the street. This
takes some time to get used to.When we
rent a car I always have to remind my husband to look right and stay left.
Don’t think the
“third floor” is literally the third floor of the building
Mot times the first
floor is actually called the “ground floor.” The next level up is called the
“first floor” and then the “second floor” is the level after that, which is
literally the third floor. This can be confusing sometimes.
Police and people
carrying guns
You will not see Garda
(the Irish police) or civilians packing heat. However you will in Italy.In Italy you will see the police marked as
carabinieri or guardia.
Late night trips to a
super center and doing all you shopping in one place
There are no super
centers and the stores all close early. If you need a video game, a cake pan, a
bath towel and a loaf of bread, plan on stopping at four stores all before they
close at 19:00, or sooner.
Buying in bulk
There are several
reasons why buying in bulk is not common in Ireland. There are no club stores
like Sam’s Club or Costco, refrigerators are absurdly small (think college dorm
room size) and whatever you buy at the store you need to carry home.
Eating fries with
ketchup
In Ireland chips (french
fries to us ) come with vinegar and salt and/or mayonnaise. However with
more and more Americans traveling overseas they won’t look at you funny if you
ask for ketchup.
Washing your hands with
warm water
Remember separate hot
and cold water faucets? There’s a reason
those went out of fashion in the U.S. … decades ago. Having the choice between
washing your hands with freezing cold water and water that can boil anything is
like choosing the lesser of two evils, and could be why I often witness
people going to the bathroom and not washing their hands.
Tipping
Here in the US we seem to tip for everything.In Ireland it is very
uncommon to tip your bartender.It is ok
to leave a couple euros at a restaurant.It is the same with Italy.
Expecting free refills
Free refills are very
hard to find.
Looking for street signs
on the street corners
I’m not sure why anyone
would think it’s a better idea to have street signs attached to the side
of buildings in the general vicinity of street corners than on actual signposts
on the street corners. This is only if there is a street sign. Sometimes, there
just isn’t.
Don’t talk politics
Ireland tends to lean
towards Democrats.It is best not to get
into a political discussion.
Getting pizza with
garlic butter
If you ask for garlic
butter - they might look at you weird.Just saying.
Having A/C
It never really gets
cold in Ireland – so if you do have a hot day by chance you won’t really see
any air conditioners.I am finding them
more and more in Italy but don’t expect it.
Taking a hot shower by turning on the faucet
It is very common to
have a water heater attached to the shower.You must turn the water heater on first or you won’t have hot water.
Don’t expect cars to
stop for pedestrians and crossing the street at crosswalks
Crossing the street
wherever and whenever you feel like is totally acceptable. However, do NOT
expect cars to stop for you.
Clothes dryers
It’s normal to NOT have
a clothes dryer. And even if you do, most people still just hang their clothes
to dry on a clothesline outside or clothes rack indoors. So when you do laundry in Venice – don’t be
surprised if you have to hang your clothes to dry.
Sipping ice cold
drinks
Ice cubes, where art
thou? Not in Ireland or Italy. Also, room-temperature soda and beer happens
more often than I’d like. However in Ireland the more modern pubs are
installing Budweiser extra cold taps.If
you want ice you have to ask for it.
Don’t expect to see
Wednesday in the middle of the week on calendars
Irish and Italian
calendars tend to start with Monday.
Finding your favorite US foods
Obviously the food is
different in another country. I expected that. But it doesn’t mean I’m not
going to complain about it. Heartbreakingly, these foods just don’t exist in Ireland:
Mountain Dew, Twizzlers, Cheddar Jalapeno Cheetos, ranch dressing, Kraft
Macaroni & Cheese, peanut butter that actually spreads without ruining your
toast, tater tots, Peanut Butter M&M’s, Italian sausage, oh and real
American bacon. Sigh. I have grown quite fond of Tayto Cheese and Onion Crisps in Ireland and Paprika Crisps in Italy.
Even though they speak
English – understanding what they say
When people speak with
an accent, you have to actively listen. Some Irish accents are so strong you
swear they aren’t speaking English. Plus some of the terms they use are not
common to us.It can be exhausting
listening and understanding.It Venice
quite a few people speak English but there are many that don’t.You forget what it is like to have a simple
conversation.When we hear another
American we tend to gravitate to them for easy conversation.
“Craic” in Ireland
If someone says “Where’s
the craic?” they are in fact not asking you where they can find some
crack cocaine. Actually they are asking where the fun is at.
Fil-LAY in Ireland
The chicken fillet roll,
that’s fil-LIT, is an institution in Ireland. This delicacy is
super cheap, dangerously messy, and can be purchased almost anywhere.
Lots of History
In the U.S., you usually
have to travel long distances to see anything classified as historical and even
then the history is nothing like that of which you can find in the Old World.
Ireland has structures dating back to 3200 B.C. and countless buildings,
walls, castles and streets that are older than America. Italy is just amazing
with so much history and architecture.
