Dublin in the Winter

[mcmbenjamin]

Thinking of going to Dublin in late dec/ early jan. What are the highlight? also would one get there passport stamped coming from the UK to dublin and then back to the UK? thanks for the help

[RichardMannion]

Not sure on the stamp, but my initially reaction would be no.

Dublin is a great place, and I'm sure you'll finds lots of things to do. If I can recall correctly there is an open top tour bus that does a great tour of the city with a helpful commentary. I know w number of friends who have done the Guinness Factory tour and enjoyed it.

My highlight for Dublin (sad I know) is the hotel, I absolutely adore the Four Seasons - we have an awesome rate there and the service is absolutely flawless.

Thanks,
Richard

quote:Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Thinking of going to Dublin in late dec/ early jan.

Don't forget that you could tie this in with a certain social gathering that's coming up at the end of Jan :D

Cheers

Michael

If you're travelling on a US passport then I'd imagine that your passport will be stamped in the usual way each time you go through an immigration point.

[honey lamb]

I don't think your passport will be stamped. I've been there and seen loads of UK flights arrive and no checks or stamps undertaken. Teh only people who are likely to be stopped by Immigration (which over here is done by the police authorities) are those suspected of being illegal immigrants or asylum seekers and they usually arrive on the continental flights. I've had friends from the US come to stay with me via the UK and although they have presented themselves at the non-EU desk in ORK they have just been waved through.

As for what to do the open tour bus is good value andyou can get off at various points and then hop back on again. The Guinness Storehouse is well worth a visit with stunning views over the city and the Jameson Tower in another part of the city is the same. I am sure there are James Joyce tours which is essentially a pub crawl as it visits all the pubs mentioned in Ulyssese and other works. Grafton Street is a busy buzzy place and if you're there at weekends look at the impromptu art gallery on the railings of Stephen's Green at one end. There is Trinity College and the Book of Kells and if it's open to the public Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park is well worth a visit.

So there you are - lots to do and I've only scratched the surface. If you are flying in try to get a seat A as the prevailing arrival path has stunning views of the city coming in to land. You fly over Dublin Bay and at one point can see right up the River Liffey to the heart of Dublin. Enjoy!

We went in November and i agree the open top bus is fab with loadz of info on the way round. We stayed at the Clarence ( owned by bono from U2 or is that Bono U2 period?) fab hotel right in the heart of fun town. I also remember that the shopping was just fabby well Mrs thought so and my credit card didn't. Agree that the guinness factory is a must with loadz of history. You must go into as many local pubs as possible and order the black stuff:D our memory was on the way home at the airport when two lots of locals came up to us and asked how we enjoyed the city, even bought us drinks. Fantastic people fab city and enjoy:D

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
As for what to do the open tour bus is good value andyou can get off at various points and then hop back on again.

Ah yes, I really must go back one day and finish off the bus tour that stopped at the Guinness brewey - seemed I needed a "rest stop" before we even got to Guinness and I never made it back on the bus. Some other local hostelry attracted my attention, for some reason......

Cheers

Michael

Can't see immigration stamping anyone's passport at an Irish airport if they arrive on a flight from the U.K. There are no border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic so a non E.U. passport holder could quite easily fly to BHD/BFS from England etc and drive over the border. No one in the immigration department would know they were there.

shoreside

[mitchja]

When I went to Dublin last Dec with a trip with work, we flew from LPL with RyanAir - all we needed was any form of photo ID. I took my passport but it was not stamped. Photo driving licences were also an accepted form of ID.

It was very busy when we were there but I did enjoy it. We didn't overnight though. There is a bus service running to/from the airport which drops you off on the main street of Dublin.

Regards

[mcmbenjamin]

Thanks to all for all the help. Maybe this will turn into a Ireland/UK beer tour; Guiness, Newcastle, etc. Anyhow - thanks

[mcmbenjamin]

Wow how things go full circle in a year. Seams light ages ago when I started this thread. My passport did get stamped when entering Ireland from the UK but not when returning to the UK from Ireland. I travel on an American passport. I digress.

I was at a basketball game with some friends this evening. The idea that St. Patrick's Day is a little over a month away popped into my mind and that it just maybe the most prefect time to visit. Has anyone celebrated the good holiday in Dublin? Pub suggestions?

I would imagine that it would be a blast as Dublin is the home of two major products, Guinness and Jameson.

A Guinness a day
My goodness, My Guinnes

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
The idea that St. Patrick's Day is a little over a month away popped into my mind and that it just maybe the most prefect time to visit. Has anyone celebrated the good holiday in Dublin?

No. It's full of Americans! [:p]

[Scrooge]

Just to echo HL,my ex myself were in Dublin for St patricks day a few years ago,we ended up spending a couple of days outside of waterford just to get away from the americans !