Winspire Package Ireland FAQs
Q: What room type will I have?
A: The included room options are a "Double" or a "Twin" room but the names for bed types in Ireland are a bit
different than in North America. Here is a link that explains the differences:
https://www.discoveringireland.com/bed-sizes-in-ireland/
Q: Where and when is the car picked up?
A: The car is typically picked up at the following address:
Dublin City Centre-South Circular Road
151-157 South Circular Road,
Dublin 8
The pick-up and drop-off times is usually set for 10am .
Q: Why doesn't the rental car include time in the city?
A: Dublin's City Center is restricted to taxis and commercial vehicles so private cars and rental cars are not allowed.
Parking is also quite expensive. Getting around without a car is a breeze though! So we recommend that you take a cab to the hotel for your first night and pick up the car on your way out of the city.
Q: Are 2 drivers allowed on the car rental?
The car rental comes with one driver allowed. You can let us know the name of your additional driver and we can pass that along to the vendor. It usually costs about €100 to add an additional driver. You could also do so at the rental office.
Q: How do I get around Dublin if we don’t have the car the first day?
A: Our partner supplier in Ireland sets up the itinerary and car reservation this way as driving in the Dublin city center is not ideal. There are many buses, rail lines, taxis, pedestrians and close to no parking.
It is easy to get a taxi from the airport (they have staff that organize the taxi pick-ups) to the hotel for about 20 Euros. While visiting Dublin at the start of the trip some sights and plenty of dining etc are within walking distance of the hotel. Taxis or buses (including hop on hop off tours buses) are fairly easy to use to get to other attractions like the Cathedrals and Guiness. When leaving Dublin the hotel can call a taxi for you or you can use the “Freenow” app to request a taxi and it was about 15-20 Euros to get to the Hertz rental location. The Hertz location is in a suburb type location, and makes it easier for US drivers to head out of Dublin vs. trying to drive from the city center.
Q: The Car Rental shows 6 Days, why does that not cover every day of the trip?
A: The car rental reservation works a little differently than a hotel reservation. Here is an example of a typical booking:
Jan 1- Day 1 (Pick-up Day)
Jan 2 - Day 2
Jan 3 - Day 3
Jan 4 - Day 4
Jan 5 - Day 5
Jan 6 - Day 6 (Drop-off Day)
Q: Do I need to worry about tolls?
A: There are just a few tolls on the highways between Dublin and Ennis / Killarney, these have booths where it is easy to stop and pay by cash (coins) or credit card. There is one toll when returning the the Clontarf Castle Dublin that is a license plate reader and the rental car company will bill you for that separately (it is only a few Euros).
Q: Can we drop the car off early?
The car can be dropped off any time before the designated drop-off time. Drop-off is allowed 24/7, there might be no
one at the desk at the early hours, but you can lock up the car and drop the keys in their drop-box. The pick-up staff
will ask your planned drop-off time and they can answer any further questions you might have at that point.
Q: What insurance does the rental car come with?
The car rental comes with basic insurance: basic collision damage waiver insurance, basic theft protection insurance and unlimited mileage. When collecting the vehicle, additional insurance will be offered to reduce the liability; in the unlikely event of a collision.
Q: Does Ireland Provide Health Insurance for Tourists?
We highly recommend to travel with insurance with medical cover. Only EU citizens are able to get free medical
service. You can find further information about hospital charges here:
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/patient-care/hospital-charges/
Q: What is the best way to convert USD to EURO for our trip?
Exchange at your bank before your trip. Exchanging currency at your local bank is likely the most cost-effective way to convert currency.
Wanderly Wagon Description:
The Wanderly Wagon is approx. 45 min guided tour, where you will see all the sights and learn all about the history
and culture of Inis Oirr. It stops at all of the important sights; you will have time to take pictures. They will be waiting
for your ferry departure.
Ireland Package Highlights
Our packages all have a great balance of seeing Dublin, the countryside, some tourist highlights and some of everyday Ireland. Our various packages all have different hotel options and stops, but here is some info about the various inclusions in our different packages:
The hotels included are all a nice balance of being nice and having some individual charm. Some furniture a little outdated, but nice overall properties, nice staff, good locations
Good locations, especially Ennis and Killarney where you can walk the town center.
Included breakfast is a good extra value, all a combo of buffet and full service.
Good dining at local pubs, within walking distance, good food, reasonable prices.
Driving is part of the adventure, but we also have the ability to upgrade to group tours or a private driver.
Ennis is a smaller town and can be explored by foot. It is a 45 minute drive to where the Aran Islands tour starts. The top of the Cliffs of Moher visitors area is only a few kilometers away and is a must see as well.
Killarney is a bigger tourist destination. The town center can still be explored by walking, and horse draws buggies can be taken to see nearby sights like Ross Castle, the Muckross House and more.
Both the Aran Island and Gap of Dunloe tours have a small element of adventure. You definitely experience the beauty and learn some of the history of the areas. Guided by locals.
What should I expect on the tours?
Guinness is a self guided tour, if there are lines when you arrive show the staff your voucher and they will direct to a desk separate of the general line to get started.
Aran Islands. The Wanderly Wagon is approx. 45 min guided tour, where you will see all the sights and learn all about the history and culture of Inis Oirr. It stops at all of the important sights; you will have time to take pictures and time to explore and have something to eat on your own before the return ferry.
With the ferry it is common that the seas can be rough. It may be possible to take a ferry directly back to harbor and skip Cliffs of Moher boat tour if you prefer.
It is only a few kilometers from the Harbor to the Cliffs of Moher visitor center and walking paths on the top of the cliffs.
Gap of Dunloe. Be sure to bring your voucher as there are several local operators running the jaunting carts (horse and buggy) and boat tours along this route. The voucher may also note what color boats to go to for the 2nd half of the tour. It is recommended to bring cash for lunch at the cafe and possibly for your cart driver. The carts hold up to 4 people and if you want to guarantee a private ride you may need to pay the driver for not taking a 3rd or 4th guest.
Q: Should i plan to explore Dublin at the beginning or end of the trip?
The hotel locations and rental car arrangements are set-up to explore Dublin at the start of the trip. If you would like more time to visit the sights of Dublin we recommend adding a night at the start of the trip. The Clontarf Castle Hotel stay at the end of the trip is outside the city center and with easy access to the airport. It is set-up for you to enjoy a nice dinner at the end of the trip before heading to the airport the next morning.