Ireland

This trip to Ireland was booked roughly two weeks before I left and it was booked on the fact that I had a week off and the flight was cheap. I flew with Aer Lingus out of JFK and the flight plus the AerLingus lounge access was around $320. I booked my stay at Generator Dublin and that was about $225 for a female single bed in a 6 bed dorm with an ensuite for 3 nights.

I know that hostels are not for everyone, however Generator hostels is a company I have stayed multiple times all over Europe. They are a chain within Europe and have a couple places in the US. I love that they are either city center or very close to the center, offer female dorms, and have food/bar on site, so I dont have to leave for a drink if I dont want to.

This trp was jam packed with activites since I was going alone and wanted to make the most of it. The first day I arrived, I changed in the bathroom of my hostel and headed out to catch my tour of the Game of Thrones Studio. The studio tour was $60 includuing the audio tour guide and the transportation from Dublin to Banbridge. The tour was amazing. I was able learn how the show was made, how they did the special effects, and some props used unto the actual show. The studio also has a resturant, where you can grab a bite in the middle of the tour or after the tour.

After the tour I was back in Dublin around 5pm and was able to go back to the hostel, officially check in and then go grab a bite to eat before turning in for the night. The next day I went on a tour of the Wicklow Mountains and Kilkenny. The tour was visiting the Irish countryside and the medieval castle/town of KilKenny. This tour was perfect after a day of traveling/touring. It was a slower paced tour and I had a lot of time to take in the sites.

My last full day was filled with a morning tour to Belfast to see the Titanic, Dunluce, and the Giants Causeway. The tour started early and as we made our way to Belfast, we stopped at a mall for a quick breakfast and for the group to split depending on which option chosen, either Titanic or Black Cab, I chose to visit the Titanic. While at the museum, I learned how the Titanic was made and I was able to see how the rooms were set up depending on what class they were in and I was able to hear testimonals from passengers. After that, the whole group met up and we made our way to the Dunluce Castle, which was another GoT site, and then we went to the Giants Causeway. The Dunluce Castle was a 30 minute stop where we were able to see the ruins of the castle that has been there for around 500 years overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Giants Causeway is a UNESCO site that created by volcanic activity.

When I arrived back to Dublin, as tired as I was, I couldnt leave Dublin without a night out. I joined some of the girls from my room and we went out to dinner and then pub hopped til the early morning. We went to the famous Temple Bar, then to a couple other pubs in the area. My plan was to visit Gunniess in the morning, however my hangover said otherwise. So instead on my last morning, I had an irish breakfast and then headed to the airport to make my flight.