Tips on what to do and mistakes to avoid when planning your Ireland trip.

I’ve traveled to Ireland multiple times and every time there is a learning lesson. So why not share the wisdom I’ve built up? Hopefully these basic tips will help you make the most of your stay on the beautiful island.

1. Don’t try to do it all
I’m the WORST at this, no matter where I’m traveling. As soon as I book the flight I’m on Pinterest (yep, I’m talking to you!), Instagram, Google, and checking out any source of travel tips I can get. I simply don’t want to miss out on ANYTHING. But Ireland is different. Everything is much more laid back and go with the flow, so get ready to throw that itinerary out the window and see where the road takes you. Trust me, you’ll appreciate your time there so much more if you just take a deep breath of that fresh Irish air and pull the car over often.

That being said…

2. Have a loose plan
I know… didn’t she just say not to plan? Well yes and no. While I highly recommend wander the country to your heart’s content, I don’t recommend going in completely blind. At least have an idea of the top 2-3 things you want to do or see (for example; you simply MUST see the Dingle Peninsula) and loosely structure your plan of attack from there.

3. Book hotels in advance
Although I literally just said go with the flow… I always recommend booking your hotels in advance. If you’re down to crash in a hostel, then by all means don’t heed this advise, but personally that’s not my style. Take into consideration the 2-3 places on your to-do list and pick a place in those general vicinities.

4. Don’t be afraid to drive
By this point in your research you’ve probably read at least 3 of those “What You Need to Know Before Driving in Ireland” and “Things You Wish You Would’ve Known Before You Rented a Car” blog posts. While they are extremely helpful, don’t let me them freak you out. I have been driven in Ireland multiple times and honestly, yes I did blow a tire on a car from hitting a curb but guess what, I survived! Yes, having car troubles in a ‘foreign’ country is scary but Irish people are so nice. I’m not a great driver in the U.S. so I know I’m not going to be a great driver in Ireland, but take your time and don’t let it scare you!

5. Don’t over pack
Yep, I’m a hypocrite on this one. I constantly over pack even if I’m only traveling for one night. However, don’t over pack in Ireland. You will want to buy things and shipping them home is never cheap (and sometimes items will get broken or lost). Personally, I’m a huge clothing fan and since Europe is vastly ahead of style trends compared to the U.S., I typically end up buying more clothes than I know what to do with. I’ve even at times joked that I should take an empty suitcase with me and buy everything new while in Ireland…all joking aside, I should really take my own advise some day, it will make traveling so much more enjoyable.

6. VENTURE OUT OF DUBLIN
While you could stay in Dublin for months on end and never get bored, DO NOT JUST CAMP OUT THERE. There is so much more to the country to see! So suck it up and hit the road (car, train, bus, whatever) there are lots of options for transportation out of the city so do yourself the favor and see the countryside.

Hopefully these tips will help you make the most of your time in Ireland and provide for a very memorable trip! Have more advice or comments? I’d love to hear them!