Page 137 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

IRELAND  135

Arriving by Sea Rail Travel express links between all major
Ferries from ports in Britain and Although the more rural areas in towns. A “Rambler” ticket allows
France are a popular way of the Republic are not served by a period of unlimited bus travel
getting to Ireland, especially rail, Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) in the Republic. In the North, a
with groups or families operates a service to most large “Freedom of Northern Ireland”
intending to tour the country towns. Dublin has two main train ticket offers the same benefits.
by car. There are large seasonal stations: Connolly serves the Taxis in Ireland range from
variations in fares, but discounts north and the line south along saloon cars to people carriers.
may be available when making the coast to Rosslare; Heuston The most likely places to find
online bookings. serves Cork and the southwest, taxis are at train and bus stations,
Irish Ferries and Stena Line and Galway and the west. hotels, and taxi stands.
operate regular crossings from Dublin’s local railroad service,
Holyhead, Pembroke, and the DART (Dublin Area Rapid
Fishguard in Wales to Dublin Transit), links towns between Car Rental
Port, Dun Laoghaire, and Malahide (County Dublin) and Car-rental firms do good
Rosslare. The fastest routes Greystones (County Wicklow) business, so in summer it is wise
take about 1 hour 40 minutes. with the center. The Luas to book ahead. Car rental –
There are also Irish Ferries tramline runs from Dublin city particularly in the Republic –
services from Holyhead to center to the inland suburbs. can be expensive and the best
Dublin and to Rosslare from There are two main routes rates are often obtained by
Cherbourg and Roscoff. out of Belfast: a line westward reserving in advance online.
From Scotland, both Stena to Londonderry, and Ireland’s Broker companies, such as
Line and P&O Ferries have only cross-border service, a Holiday Autos in the UK, will
crossings from Cairnryan high-speed service linking shop around to get the best
(Stranraer) to Larne (north of Belfast and Dublin. deal. If you intend to cross the
Belfast), taking around 2 hours border in either direction, you
15 minutes; P&O Ferries also must inform the rental
cross from Troon to Larne, Buses and Taxis company, as there may be an
taking about the same time. The Republic’s national bus additional insurance premium.
You can buy combined company, Bus Éireann, runs In both the Republic and
coach/ferry and train/ferry routes to all cities and most Northern Ireland, motorists
tickets from coach offices or towns. Ulsterbus runs a service drive on the left, as in Great
train stations all over Britain. in Northern Ireland, with Britain (see p101).
DIRECTORY
Tourist Boards Canada easyJet Stena Line
7–8 Wilton Terrace, Tel 0870-6000 000 (UK). Tel 01-907 5555.
Fáilte Ireland Dublin 2. ∑ easyjet.com Tel 0844-770 7070 (UK).
Baggot St Bridge, Tel 01-234 4000. Flybe ∑ stenaline.co.uk
Dublin 2. Tel 01-602 4000. UK ∑ flybe.com Rail Travel
29 Merrion Rd,
US: 345 Park Avenue,
Dublin 4. Ryanair Irish Rail (Iarnród
New York, NY 10154. Tel 01-205 3700. Tel 1520 444 004. Éireann)
Tel 1800-223 6470. Tel 0871-246 000 (UK). Tel 01-836 6222.
US ∑ irishrail.ie
∑ discoverireland.ie 42 Elgin Rd, ∑ ryanair.com
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Tel 01-668 8777. United Airlines Railways
Tourist Board Tel 1800-864 8331 (US). Tel 028-9066 6630.
St. Anne’s Court, 59 North Emergency ∑ united.com ∑ translink.co.uk
St, Belfast BT1 1NB. Services Ferry Companies Bus Companies
Tel 028-9023 1221. Police, Ambulance, Bus Éireann
∑ discovernorthern and Fire services Irish Ferries Tel 01-836 6111.
Tel 999. Tel 0818-300 400. ∑ buseireann.ie
ireland.com
(Republic and NI). Tel 08717-300 400 (UK). Ulsterbus/Translink
Embassies Airlines ∑ irishferries.com Tel 028-9066 6630.
∑ translink.co.uk
P&O Ferries
Australia Aer Lingus Car Rental
Tel 1890 800 600 Tel 01-686 9467
7th Floor, Fitzwilton (Republic).
Tel 0333 004 5000 (UK). Holiday Autos
House, Wilton Terrace, Tel 516 622 4222 (US). Tel 0808-130 0030 (UK). Tel 020-3740 9859 (UK).
Dublin 2. Tel 01-664 5300. ∑ aerlingus.com ∑ poferries.com ∑ holidayautos.ie

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