Family trip to dublin Help!!

Impster

Hi there,

Taking my family to Dublin next week (me, the wife and three boys aged 2,3 and 8 over to dublin for a trip out on the plane from England)

Going to get the 747 bus from airport to Heuston station very early morning.

Question 1) .... Anyone recommend a good place to get us all a good feed for breakfast in that area for about 8.30am (child friendly obviously - and wallet friendly!). Then getting Luas to red cow and walking to hotel to pick up tickets for zoo (bewleys newlands cross)

The next day we will get the Luas back to Heuston Station from the hotel

so question 2) what to do the next day....from about 9am to 3pm...with the family. Should we head to Temple bar, or where is the best shopping? (or somewhere else good for a young family before we get the plane home?) Is the science gallery worth a visit?

Many many thanks in advance!!! Trying to plan this is a nightmare!

ProudDUB

If you have five kids with you, I'd seriously consider getting a taxi from the airport to Bewleys Hotel. It will be motorway the whole way and it shouldn't take all that long. I'd imagine the fare would be between 30 & 40 euros. The fare on the Airlink 747 bus is 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for kids. That is 21 euros spent before you even get the Luas. The Luas fare for five of you will be the guts of ten euros. So that is over thirty euros in total, using public transport. For just a little bit more, you can ride to your hotel in comfort and not wear out tired little legs.

If by the Science Museum, do you mean the Natural History Museum? If you do, then yes, it's a wonderful place for children. (Dubs call it The Dead Zoo btw. ) The main shopping areas of Grafton St, St Stephens Green are a five minute walk away. Stephens Green is a lovely place to chill out for a while too, especially if the weather is nice. The kids could feed the ducks. The Viking Splash Tour departs from that area too. It's a fun way to see Dublin without having to walk.

Victor

I would recommend a lightweight buggy for the toddler. Useful for the plane, and all buses and trams have a wheelchair space which, if available, can be used by buggies.

There is a bar / restaurant and a choice of cafés in Heuston station.

ProudDUB wrote: »

The fare on the Airlink 747 bus is 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for kids.

Rambler 1 Day Family (bus only) €12.65 - valid on all Dublin Bus services (probably excluding Nitelink, Tours, Special Events and Private Contract services) http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/Family-Tickets/ you can get these tickets from the ticket desk inside the airport terminal. Get a second ticket for the day you are returning.

After 09:30, Luas tickets would be €2.10+€2.10+€0.90+€0.90=€6.00 with the youngest going free. Children under the age of 3 can travel free on Luas and Dublin Bus, but must be accompanied by a paying passenger. The 747 will often drop you at the side of the station, but always departs from the front, as do trams. temple Bar wouldn't have much for children, but check out The Ark http://ark.ie/ and the wax museum http://www.waxmuseumplus.ie/

Alternatively, get off the 747 at Lord Edward Street (next to Christchurch Cathedral in the city centre) and use Dublin Bus route 13 (stopping service) to Red Cow. Price included in the Rambler ticket. This has the advantage of dropping you on the correct side of the road for the hotel, whereas Luas would drop you on the far side of the motorway. Heading back to the city means crossing the dual carriageway (via bridge) though.

If by the Science Museum, do you mean the Natural History Museum?

Science Gallery in Trinity College. https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Science+Gallery+in+Trinity+College&hl=en&ll=53.346811,-6.250362&spn=0.010632,0.030556&sll=53.318326,-6.365869&sspn=0.00532,0.015278&dirflg=w&t=m&z=15&iwloc=A
Check the website and see what the current exhibition is https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/ It is relatively small, but tends to be quite interactive.

The Viking Splash Tour departs from that area too.

Possibly a bit much for 2 & 3 year olds.


For other activities, there are playgrounds in the parks at St. Patrick's Park, St. Stephens Green and Merrion Square in the city centre. The Natural History Museum (dead zoo), National Gallery and National Library are all nearby between Merrion Street and Kildare Street. There is another museum at Collins Barracks one stop (Museum) from Heuston station.

Check out these lists:
http://www.visitdublin.com/see_and_do/Local_Activities/Kids_Dublin
http://www.dublin.ie/disp_list.aspx?catid=133
http://www.dublinkids.ie/Outdoor.html
http://www.familyfun.ie/kids-activities-in-dublin/
http://www.fundays.ie/things-to-do-dublin

terryhobdell

Walking from Red Cow to Bewley s is a nightmare at least 25 mins on busy road with roadworks. Get taxi to Bewleys. And bus to Zoo.

terryhobdell

The more I look at this I think Bewleys in Newlands is totally wrong it may be cheaper but if you transferred to one of their city centre hotels you will save a fortune in fares time and hassle.I can't see it being a sensible place to stay without a car.

Victor

I've just realised that you are staying in Bewleys, not the Red Cow Hotel. Note that there are major road works at Newlands Cross and that the Luas stop is 1.9 km (30+ minutes with kids) from the hotel.

You can get the Airport Hopper route 777 express bus direct from the airport to the hotel.

Timetable: http://www.airporthopper.ie/tallaght-route--timetable-page.html Fares: http://www.airporthopper.ie/fares--online-booking-page.html

Or 747 + 13. Using Luas doesn't make much sense.

Impster

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Have switched hotel to one in the city centre right next to the zoo (The Ashling) so that will make thing much easier.
Think we may also go to the Natural History museum on the second day now.

Anyone eaten at Jimmy Chung's chinese buffet? - i think we might go there to eat dinner.

Thanks for the advice

Phil

terryhobdell

Delighted to hear you have changed hotel I had visions of 5 of you traipsing up the Naas Rd in a snowstorm. Jimmy Chungs has some pretty dire reviews on tripadvisor but it is convenient to you and caters for Kids
Have a good trip

EyeSight

Impster wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Have switched hotel to one in the city centre right next to the zoo (The Ashling) so that will make thing much easier.
Think we may also go to the Natural History museum on the second day now.

Anyone eaten at Jimmy Chung's chinese buffet? - i think we might go there to eat dinner.

Thanks for the advice

Phil

buffet is ok. Never amazing food but it won't be bad. There are cheaper ones but the quality in most will suck!

Penny Tration

Jimmy Chungs is fine. Basic Chinese, nothing amazing, nothing bad.

Paulzx

Impster wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Have switched hotel to one in the city centre right next to the zoo (The Ashling) so that will make thing much easier.
Think we may also go to the Natural History museum on the second day now.

Anyone eaten at Jimmy Chung's chinese buffet? - i think we might go there to eat dinner.

Thanks for the advice

Phil

Much better location. You can walk to the Zoo and if the weathers good:eek::eek: you have the Phoenix Park to let the kids run wild in. There is a decent visitors center in the Park with a playground, Cafe and walled garden too.

Your hotel is about 200 metres from the museum at Collins Barracks. There's loads of military stuff in it and it's free in so if the kids are bored after half an hour you've lost nothing and not travelled out of your way. The Dead Zoo at Merrion Sq is definitely a good option for kids.

Luas goes straight past the front door of the Aishling and will have you in O Connell St. in 10 mins.

dubbie82

The Aishling is a lovely hotel and a great location to visit the city without the hassle of worring about transport. I think you did well on that change.

Nancy Hands and Ryans to nice food too, both on the same street to the hotel. Nancy Hands recently changed their menu but I belive they have some options for kids too. Maybe an option for dinner if the kids get to tired, only a couple of doors up from the Hotel

Science Gallery is a great place but maybe a bit to much for the younger kids, I would suggest the Natural History Museum in the city or Collins Barracks next to the Aishling.

Viking splash tours are an ever popular think for kids and adults, as the younger ones probably don't understand the full contend they might enjoy roaring and shouting at pedestrians from the tour vehicle.

Dublinia Exhibitions www.dublinia.ie
Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection in Rathfarnham http://www.visitdublin.com/Asset/see_and_do/local_activities/Kids_Dublin/Berkeley_costume_and_toy_collection

Enjoy Dublin

sawdoubters

dublin coach goes to red cow luas 5 euro I don't know what it is for kids its at the coach station,its easy to get to from terminal one
ground floor main exit go though car park past some shops and go straight ahead its behind the mourge I don't know why the airport does not have better signs from terminal 2 it harder to find ground floor turn left you will see terminal 1 you going toward terminal one but like a v it looks like its zone 14 bewleys should have ok breakfast but expensive


http://www.dublincoach.ie/timetables/N7-bus-dublin-airport-to-portlaoise.php


http://www.mummypages.ie/5-free-family-activities-in-dublin

8.50 Dublin bus ticket luas and airlink

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/2-Journey-Daily-Weekly/Bus--Luas-Tickets/