Fall 10 - Independent Travel to Ireland

Independent Travel to Ireland - Mary Ashlyn Dohoney

I stayed in Dublin for 4 days.  From my experience I can offer a few tips.  First, research where you are going before you leave.  This way you do not waste time while you are there.  Many hostels in Dublin offered free walking tours though the city.  Highly recommended.  The city is so condense that its hard to find all the historical sights on your own.

Most of what Dublin has to offer are pubs and huge shopping centers. You can really find some good deals if you look around. When it comes to pubs one can always hit up Temple Bar though it is a tourist trap. At the same time it’s where you can meet the locals too and find plenty of fun things to do. One thing to keep in mind is that Dublin is pretty pricy.

I found a great pub called the Shakespeare. It’s located on Parnell St. and owned by Koreans. They have Japanese beer in a three pint bottle for 9 euros. Plus the bartenders are really fun loving.

If you get tired of the city, hop on a train to the coast. There’s a little village called Malahide that offers a beach access, a lush park and castle. All of which is free and a round trip was only 4.20 euros.

So to summarize my Ireland experience:

Dublin = expensive indulgence

Malahide = beautiful simplicity