Ireland – Travel

The Basics …
If you use a travel agent and they have any questions, have them contact us.  If you are comfortable booking your own travel, here we go!

Airport code for Dublin is DUB, smaller Shannon is SNN.  Last I checked (Kayak.com or Google.com/flights), LAX to DUB was $1500 and less if dates are flexible.  We recommend you fly in early.  Always nice to get a room, a night or two before your Adventure Voyage to relax, clean up and adjust to the time change, absorb the culture, etc..

We board the boats at Portumna on July 5, 4pm (1600).  We depart the boats at Carrick-on-Shannon on July 12, at 9am (0900).

ireflights

 

To and From the Boats …
Both bases offer taxi transfer from and to airports.  Note a cheaper fare on Saturdays.  If you schedule an early transfer from the airport, you will make it by our 4pm departure time.  Forms to sign up for taxi transfer to the base at Portumna, click below.  The direct email to send the transfer request is reception@leboat.com.  The person receiving is Elgin.

Click PortumnaBase for general, Inn and transfer info
Click CarrickBase for general, Inn and transfer info for Carrick

In the above documents, please disregard mention of pre-cruise boat prep, paperwork, costs etc., your skippers and I handle that.  Your job is to show up, step on the boat and enjoy an amazing cruise.  Bonus … we are getting bikes for the boats!

On the Carrick end, after our floating Adventure, there is a train station in town that goes to Dublin or other parts of Ireland.  There were 6 trains to Dublin on the day I checked, July 12.  Wonderful train booking site, Click Here

If you fly into Ireland a few days early, there are some bus options to visit other cities. If you are not comfortable hopping buses or complicated travel, please book the taxi transfer through the folks at the boat base. Focus on how you are going to get to Portumna on the 5th as it looks tricky.  Galway looks like an interesting stop.  Some pre cruise possibilities …

One Bus from downtown Dublin to Portumna, arrives late, Click Here
Bus/walk/bus option – Dublin Airport to Portumna, arrives late, Click Here
DUB to Galway bus schedule, Click Here
Galway to Portumna bus schedule, Click Here
Some local Portumna bus and other info, Click Here

Note the buses don’t run often and they take most of the day.  You will want to do most bussing Friday as most don’t arrive in time for our 4pm departure on Saturday.  The bus is a great way to see the countryside.  I don’t see a train option for the front end of our Adventure.

Loughrea is the closest ‘city’ to little Portumna.  They have a good ‘get there’ website with options from the airport, and on to Portumna, Click Here.  Loughrea is a 30 minute cab from Galway Airport (GWY), one hour from Shannon Airport (SNN).

Car rental.  The best rates we found were from here. It was $50 one way, DUB to Galway.

If you miss the boat …
They move real slow, are confined to a set route, and we should have a phone number or two, for us on the boats.  We should not be hard to find. Rent the movie Leap Year for an Ireland travel primer ;).

And more …
Ireland has a public transportation app, of course.  Search for Journey Planner Ireland on iPhone/Android.

Travel Insurance …
For those who prefer it, there are many options.  Some credit cards offer it automatically.  Read the fine print as most will not cover you unless there is a verifiable medical or other serious issue.  Some options are AllianzTravelex and TravelGuard.

Travel 101 …
For Captain Woody’s international travel tipsClick Here.

 Some Maps …

trainroutes2

Trains & Ferries

 

trainroutes

Ireland Trains

 

iraylandcruise

Our Cruise Route

PortuMap

Portumna Map

CarrickMap

Carrick Map

 

 

 

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