Ireland to Wales via Ferry
Replies: 2 - Last Post: Jul 17, 2012 1:17 PM Last Post By: fear_rua
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Ireland to Wales via Ferry
In September I'll be spending some time in Ireland, then I'd like to travel by ferry from Dublin to Holyhead. I'll be returning a rental car at Dublin Airport. So I need to get from Dublin airport to the port of Dublin, then board the ferry with my luggage, and then find a rental car place in Holyhead within a short walk (I hope) from the ferry.Any advice on these would be much appreciated:
1) Getting from Dublin airport to the port of Dublin
2) Boarding the ferry - what do I do with my luggage; do I get a room or what?
3) Collecting my luggage and getting from the ferry to a car rental place in Holyhead.
AS I understand it, I cannot take a rental car on the ferry from Ireland to Wales/UK, hence the need to book ferry passage as a 'pedestrian' with luggage.
Thanks for any advice.
1
There is a bus which runs from Busaras (Dublin's central bus station) to the ferry, timed with ferry departure times. It costs EUR3 and starts at Hueston railway station but Busaras will be better I suspect. You can get from the airport to Busaras (or Hueston) on Airlink 747, an express bus which costs about EUR6. Alternately, Dublin bus 41 (which costs about EUR2.30?, you will need correct money) will take you from the airport to Middle Abbey St and it is not a long walk from there to Busaras or the 16a will drop you off in O'Connell St and it is a slightly longer walk to Busaras from there.Ferry bus details
You don't get a room (it is a short journey to Holyhead) and I think you keep your luggage with you.
2
Keep hand luggage with you (if you want to), larger luggage is taken just after check-in and returned via an airport-style conveyor belt in Holyhead. The good news is that you can take two large suitcases with no weight limit.You can pay extra for a room if you're going on the slow ferry, but for a 3 hour 50 minute crossing (if memory serves) you'd want to be pretty tired for it to be worthwhile. If you are, you can do so when you're on the ferry.
Depending on where you want to go in the UK, you should check out sail-rail deals - see here - since this costs only marginally more than a one-way passenger ferry fare, it might save you money if you don't actually plan to spend time near Holyhead. The railway station at Holyhead is in the same complex as the ferryport with good onward connection.
It should also be possible for you to return your hired car at a Dublin city centre location rather than the airport, unless you have already booked it. Usually costs extra but saves a lot of trouble.
