<p>We traveled to both Ireland & Costa Rica within four months of each other two years ago. I became very familiar with car insurance policies then as we rented a car in both countries. AmEx would cover me for renting a car in all but six countries, and Ireland was one of them. Now, anyone who has ever driven in Costa Rica knows that the roads there are less than ideal and that pedestrians and livestock share the roadways in the evenings and none of the roads are lit. Nonetheless, Am Ex still covered us in CR but not in Ireland. </p>
<p>My advice to anyone renting a car in Ireland is to just pick up the phone and call the agents for clarification in advance. The phones are answered by employees located in Ireland so I felt that I received accurate info. (Keep the time difference in mind when calling.) I truly do not think there is a way around the insurance. AmEx used to offer the coverage in Ireland but probably had a few too many renters like my father forget to set the parking brake on a hillside. </p>
<p>I have rented from Dan Dooley & Hertz and was happy with both. Dooley may have been off the airport grounds but that was in 2007 and may have been in Shannon, so just confirm when calling. Hertz was on the grounds in Dublin so retrieving and returning the car was very easy.</p>
<p>I agree with those who advise against driving in Dublin, and I have owned a car in Boston & Manhattan. The roads are not well-marked (street signs up on the wall of the building instead of on the sidewalk) and there really isn’t anywhere to park. The city itself is compact and very walkable as others have mentioned.</p>
<p>Do try to find time to visit Kilmainham Gaol when in Dublin. Impressive.</p>
<p>Even if you do not purchase the card, I like the geographic organization of the website. We ended up visiting a couple of places that might not have been as high on the tourist list but were great finds given their proximity to other places. (Cahir Castle near Rock of Cashel, for instance.)</p>
<p>We have never taken a tour so cannot offer advice there. Have fun! And pack layers and something waterproof with a hood.</p>
<p>Most US credit cards do not insure cars in Ireland. I believe MasterCard World card is the only one that does. Go to TripAdvisor’s forum and read up on rental cars. You are better off with Super CDW that covers almost everything. It is expensive to rent cars in Ireland but you do get the freedom to go down any little road you want. And don’t rent through a third party, you will have no leverage if something goes wrong.</p>
<p>To be clear, once we made the decision to pay and keep the rental, it worked out fine. We didn’t worry about all the narrow roads, and someone did scratch the car while we were parked in a B and B lot. </p>
<p>Second the recommendation of Kilmainham Gaol–that was an unforgettable experience. Definitely think everyone should go to Galway–I love Dublin, but love Galway more. Other places we stayed at in the West were Inishmore (one of the Aran Islands), Doolin and Dingle. I’d recommend all unreservedly.</p>
<p>A small car sounds idea for 2 people. If you drive Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula (we did both on tour bus), make sure you check ahead for “recommended direction” Due to the many buses, most traffic goes same direction. </p>
<p>We liked the Rick Steves book on Ireland. We are still tempted to go back and try the houseboat canal tours he recommended, touring through small inland towns (with bike on bard for exploring). Maybe after we retire ;)</p>
<p>Counting Down - we stayed in their B & B also and it was great! He tells great stories on his walks and you must eat at Gus O’Conner’s and listen to that wonderful music. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Kilmainham Gaol – that is one I pointed out to DH because he loves that kind of historical thing and has read a good bit about it. We saw a similar prison in Australia.</p>
<p>DH would like to return to Ireland someday. We were discussing the “what if” dream today. I was thinking in fall you might be able to chance not making B&B reservations ahead of time. He disagreed. Thoughts?</p>
<p>We did 10 days in Ireland in June. We booked our own B&Bs and Apartment (in Galway) ourselves (found on trip advisor) and hired tour guides from “tours by locals.” I will absolutely look onto tours by locals again when I travel. They customized the tours and it was absolutely wonderful.</p>
<p>wrt to insurance with car rentals we just bought the CDW because I had read the horror stories if you don’t. Was not worth the headache or hassle so I spent the money. OTOH when we picked up the car (automatic, btw you have enough to worry about without having to deal with driving on the wrong side of the road, driving a standard and having the stick shift on left side), the agent told us we were covered for everything. Good thing because the bushes scrapping the side of the car as we drove down thos narrow roads made some nice scratches on the passenger side of the car.</p>
<p>If you go to Cork, you must stay at the Garnish House B & B. It has the most delicious insane breakfast, and you get tea when you arrive too (with all the fixins). Breakfast starts with oatmeal with your choice of Jameson’s or Bailey’s floating on top and is quite a few courses. The waitstaff is disappointed when you don’t order “sweeties” at the end - some kind of dessert crepe. We were stuffed for hours!</p>
<p>Blarney castle and Jameson’s distillary (one of them) are nearby. There’s also a gaol tour, Cobh (pronounced “cove”) where all the ships left for the new world and a Titanic museum.</p>
<p>So, dear experts, what kind of rain jacket should I get? Short? long? a poncho? a multi-layer jacket? I have a windbreaker that will withstand rain, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough in Ireland. Need to pack light, as DH will probably be schlepping the bag(s) since my neck and shoulders are out of commission.</p>
<p>While I’ve got this thread going, any recommendations for things to do in Glasgow?</p>
<p>Well, I’m not an expert because I’ve been to Ireland exactly once, but before going I went to REI and bought a lightweight high-performance windbreaker designed for mountaineering. It worked well, highly water-resistant and sufficiently warm (especially with a sweater underneath) yet not too hot in warmer temperatures. It also looks pretty good. And it cleverly rolls up to stuff into one of its own pockets, so it takes up very little space or allowable weight in a suitcase. And the hood helps when the weather takes a nasty turn.</p>
<p>It rained pretty much every day during our 8-day stay, but the rain was mostly light and intermittent. You’ll want rain gear, but you’ll want it to be light weight and not bulky, yet efficient in keeping out the rain.</p>
<p>I got a cheaper rain coat at Marshall’s. It was a bit large on me which was key since if I needed to I could fit 2 mohair sweaters underneath. It also had a hood. Mohair sweaters are warm and very thin and light so they pack well. Still, H and I each bought an Irish sweater while in Doolin. They are wonderful! Warm, thick and soft. Mine comes almost down to my knees, zips up, and also has a hood, so I never used the umbrella we brought.</p>
<p>We were there in July and kept a couple days open. Found a BB in Dingle at 6 in the evening (it did take a little looking around, but the nice thing was when we inquired at one place which was full, the owner called around and sent us to her friend"s establishment nearby.)</p>
<p>The coat I bought for our April London & Ireland trip was overkill as the temps were much higher than expected and it never rained. I found a two-piece long (above the knee) from North Face. The outside layer was water repellant and had a removable hood while the inner piece could be worn as a relatively stylish lightweight coat. </p>
<p>Layers & warmth are key. I had merino and cashmere cardigans to layer over long-sleeved tee shirts. This allowed me so shed or add layers as needed. A larger and very lightweight tote bag was invaluable for stashing the extra layers.</p>
<p>Columbia has a “Pardon my trench”, waterproof and slightly longer jacket with a hood. I would suggest a size larger that what you normally wear so that you can layer. Buy a nice Irish knit or cashmere sweater when you arrive and you will be all set. In the fall and winter when we travel to Ireland, I wear a waterproof 3/4 length jacket and a cashmere sweater. For the days that I don’t need the jacket, I wear a fisherman knit sweater or a lightweight, thin fleece zip up. You can also buy a nice waterproof poncho if you already have a jacket that you want to bring.</p>