Has anyone used DVC points to go to Ireland?

[Tig-girl]

Hello All!
I have been a Disboards subscriber for many years, and find myself over here at the DVC section now because my DH has decided that he wants to become a DVC Member! We took the tour on our trip last September, and came "this close" to signing the papers, but got cold feet at the last minute. Fast forward a year, and here we are with reservations for January thinking "why didn't we do this last year?" So we have decided, or should I say DH has decided that the time has come. SO, in light of that decision, we have a question to ask that I hope someone can answer for us. Has anyone used their DVC points to go to Ireland? We are considering this, even though we realize that we would have to stay in one place for the entire trip, and do daily drives, but we are thinking that might be possible. Can anyone shed any light on this for us? Thanks so much!!!

 

[Donald is #1]

I can't help but I am anxiously awaiting the answer also since it has been sometime since my last visit to Ireland.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Cannot help with the actual exchange into Interval Internation, but there are two resorts that are options in Ireland:

Old Killarney Village
Renvyle Strand

 

[Tig-girl]

I can't help but I am anxiously awaiting the answer also since it has been sometime since my last visit to Ireland.

Ok, I'm already jealous that you have been to Ireland before! When were you there?? Was it wonderful??
Ireland is my dream trip, and we are finally making plans. I have been waiting so long to go, and the addition of the DVC may change how we do things, depending upon what kind of feedback I get. Our original plan was to fly into Dublin, rent a car, and basically wing it traveling down around the south and to the west coast. IF we are to use the DVC points, I know that I'd stay in one place, and I just don't know if it's feasible to drive to Dublin "for the day"???

 

[Tig-girl]

Cannot help with the actual exchange into Interval Internation, but there are two resorts that are options in Ireland:

Old Killarney Village
Renvyle Strand

Yes, I've already checked out the cottages online in Old Killarney Village, and they seem splendid. Have you ever been?

 

[Donald is #1]

Ok, I'm already jealous that you have been to Ireland before! When were you there?? Was it wonderful??
Ireland is my dream trip, and we are finally making plans. I have been waiting so long to go, and the addition of the DVC may change how we do things, depending upon what kind of feedback I get. Our original plan was to fly into Dublin, rent a car, and basically wing it traveling down around the south and to the west coast. IF we are to use the DVC points, I know that I'd stay in one place, and I just don't know if it's feasible to drive to Dublin "for the day"???

Let's see. I have had 3 trips to Ireland: 1978, 1990, and 2001. In 1978, my parents took my sisters and me to Ireland for the "big" trip. i.e. They took us to Ireland instead of going to Disney. I didn't go to Disney until after I graduated from college. On my second trip, I was an adult and went with my parents. On that trip, I drove around Ireland for 2 weeks. We did the basic circle tour and had a great time. My last trip was a 2 week photography tour in the Westport area and then I rented a car for a few days so that I could see Northern Ireland. For all 3 trips I flew into Shannon. On the first trip when I was in 8th grade, the bus tour did go to Dublin. On my second trip, we drove around it but didn't go into the City. I didn't have any problems driving in Ireland except that the parking in the cities was difficult but I was to intimidated by Dublin to drive in it. (I am not a city person; I rarely drive in Boston.) So if you are comfortable driving in cities, then I don't see a problem with you renting a car and driving into Dublin. You will be in even better shape if you can drive a standard. I don't drive a standard so I had to pay more to get an automatic.

 

[jekjones1558]

I hope someone posts who has used points to stay in Ireland. I have only been there once for 13 days and I would go back in a heartbeat. I became hopelessly infatuated with hydrangeas while there and am now planting as many varieties as I can fit into my yard. Good luck on having both a DVC dream and an Ireland dream come true!

 

[mickeywho?]

Spent 4 weeks this summer in Ireland - not on DVC points. We stayed in four different cottages in four different areas of the country and spent all of our time driving back and forth through the country. I was born there (Belfast) and have traveled back many times to visit family but this was the first time I really had a chance to be a "tourist" and had a great chance to see the whole country.
I would have to look up Killarney Village to see where it is before I could tell you how feasible it would be to stay there if you were planning a driving holiday.
Renvyle Strand is on the west coast of Galway. Absolutely beautiful! From what I have read the resort has many activities for guests. But it is a couple of hours drive from anywhere. Not a great point to tour from - but probably great if you were staying in one spot for your holiday.

 

[mickeywho?]

I became hopelessly infatuated with hydrangeas while there and am now planting as many varieties as I can fit into my yard.

No kidding! I was driving my kids crazy constantly stopping to look at everyone's amazing gardens. How do they have everything in full bloom all summer long? The hydrangeas were gorgeous - blooms the size of my head in all sorts of colours - in tended gardens and wild on the side of the road. Needless to say I came home with a few hundred pictures of gardens.

 

[mickeywho?]

Our original plan was to fly into Dublin, rent a car, and basically wing it traveling down around the south and to the west coast. IF we are to use the DVC points, I know that I'd stay in one place, and I just don't know if it's feasible to drive to Dublin "for the day"???

You couldn't drive to Dublin "for the day" from either II location. It would probably take 5 - 7 hours depending on weather and traffic. The traffic in and around Dublin is crazy. I was there a month and chose to only go into Dublin for one day when we were staying in Arklow.

 

[GranddadTom]

My recommendation would be to do Ireland on your own - staying in bed and breakfasts. Distances may seem reasonable (by U.S. standards) but the roads in Ireland are not the same as the roads in the US. My wife and I were there last year. We rented a car at Shannon and drove to Killarney, Cork, Waterford, Dublin, and back to Shannon - staying at wonderful B&B's. In the cities, we bought the daily bus passes - there are so many places to see that you can't possibly drive in the cities. With the daily passes, the buses circle the city and you just hop on and hop off at the stops that interest you. On the standard versus automatic transmissions - remember, you drive on the other side of the road and sit on the "other side of the car" when you drive. Can you say "shifting with your left hand?!" and then there are the "roundabouts" and trying to go in the correct direction and to stay on the correct side of the road.

 

[Poppins2000]

We used DVC points to do the Adventures By Disney Ireland tour this past May. Part of the tour was spent in Killarney (3 nights) and we did see Old Killarney Village from the outside - very cute and quaint. DH and I have talked about going back and staying there. Killarney is a wonderful town and the Killarney National Park is incredible. It was a good four hour bus drive from Dublin and it's about three from Shannon (from what I recall)...

 

[tomandrobin]

I would think you would be better off renting your points, taking the money and rent the rooms your self.

 

[Tig-girl]

Wow, thank you all so much for your information. I need to print this thread out in its entirety, and highlight all these good points. I knew I'd get a lot of information. I had asked another question about using DVC points for ABD, and got some good information on that also. Don't know what we will do yet, but I have a lot of reading and research to do. Thanks Again, and if anyone thinks of anything else I need to know, please do post or pm me.