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Going to Dublin to watch the Giro

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  • February 18, 2014 at 11:33 am #20736
    notfastenough

    Hey folks,
    I offered my missus a weekend in Dublin so long as we watch the Giro stage 2 finish on Sunday 11th May, and she jumped at the chance. We’ve been for a weekend before and really enjoyed it. So I’m looking for advice as to how best to do it.

    – 2 adults plus 6-month-old twins
    – Twin buggy, it’s a bit chunky
    – Probably go out on Friday afternoon, come back Monday afternoon
    – Need to be within easy distance of race route (and preferably the finish area), and the restaurants/shops in the city centre
    – Undecided whether to take the car on the ferry, or just take a flight
    – How long does it take to get passports for the babies? Have I got enough time?
    – Any suggestions for where to stay? My wife likes her creature comforts, so a decent hotel close to the centre without spending the earth would be good

    I’ve never seen a Grand Tour before, with any luck I’ll get to see 2 this year…

    Cheers all

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Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • February 20, 2014 at 12:01 pm #775585
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    Dizzy

    Thnaks Gang
    The initial plan
    Thnaks Gang
    The initial plan was that we would drive up to my parents in Derbyshire, stay there overnight, then over to Holyhead for the ferry. We’d have then driven to Belfast, watched first 2 stages, then back to Dublin for the third. We’d have slept in the van & used our bikes to get around during the day, get to the races & do some sightseeing.
    I honestly had no idea when I mentally formulated this little trip, that the ferries, would be so much – Having sailed numerous times to go cycling in France I had based my budget on similar costings
    One option left is that we will just fly over & watch the final stage, then fly back.
    Another plan is that we could go watch the Ladies Tour, the dates hadn’t been announced when we planned the Giro trip, if they had I would have opted for that.

    Rupert, thank you so much, that is a fabulous offer, and he is very eager to enter in some ‘big events’
    It’s his birthday treat, so I will leave the choice to him

    x

    February 20, 2014 at 9:23 am #775583
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    notfastenough

    As a 10-year-old I would have
    As a 10-year-old I would have been all over that! =D> Nice offer.

    February 20, 2014 at 2:23 am #775581
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    Rupert

    Hi Dizzy
    If you can’t make
    Hi Dizzy
    If you can’t make the trip to Ireland how about a free entry for your birthday boy in to the Beacon Rouleur Cyclosportive in Sussex ?

    There is a choice of three routes, testing climbs on all three routes at the beginning with one of those hills being the iconic hill of Ditchling Beacon. For those that are not politically correct Ditchling Beacon is now know as Bitchling Beacon. 🙂

    It’s on the 11th MAY the day after his birthday but we will chuck some extra Continental goodies as a way of giving him an extra happy birthday weekend.
    The event opens soon for entries.

    If you feel this is too tough an event for a 10 year old which it might very well be there is the Brighton to Brighton this year which has a shorter route for people to enjoy. As he is only 10, he will need to be accompanied by an adult who we will give a free entry to as well.

    Hope that is of interest if you can’t get to Ireland, there are other events in the SRS Events series which have shorter routes perfect for family groups to take part in the cyclosportives SRS Events run, if you are interested. get in touch Dizzy.

    http://www.srs-events.cc

    February 19, 2014 at 11:43 pm #775579
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    giff77

    Dizzy wrote:May 10th is my

    Dizzy wrote:
    May 10th is my sons 10th birthday, he is mad about TeamSky, so figured what better treat than to take him watch his heroes..
    Sadly the £300 ferry fare is outrageous & no way I can justify the cost
    1 very very dispointed child here

    Dizzy. If your boy’s birthday is on the 10th that’s when the Giro is in Belfast. Take him out of school (a once in a lifetime experience) fly over and catch the TTT on the Friday stay over and see Stage 2 leave and return. The George Best Airport is just down the road from the Titanic Quarter and there’s quite a few good hotels on the TTT route as well as near by for Stage 2.

    February 19, 2014 at 11:33 pm #775577
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    giff77

    Notfastenough. The rail sail
    Notfastenough. The rail sail from Manchester starts at about 72 quid return for an adult. Change at Crewe or Chester . Boat at Holyhead. Finish up at Dublin Connolly. There is also a direct train to Holyhead. You’re also looking at at least 6/7 hours travel.

    February 19, 2014 at 11:17 am #775575
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    farrell

    Dizzy wrote:May 10th is my

    Dizzy wrote:
    May 10th is my sons 10th birthday, he is mad about TeamSky, so figured what better treat than to take him watch his heroes..
    Sadly the £300 ferry fare is outrageous & no way I can justify the cost
    1 very very dispointed child here

    Where are you sailing from/to?

    February 18, 2014 at 6:25 pm #775573
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    notfastenough

    Well if seat61, posted by
    Well if seat61, posted by Simon, lives up to their website hype, then you ought to be looking at much less than that, WHEN they eventually get round to releasing the tickets. Hope you manage to get there Dizzy.

    February 18, 2014 at 4:58 pm #775571
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    Dizzy

    May 10th is my sons 10th
    May 10th is my sons 10th birthday, he is mad about TeamSky, so figured what better treat than to take him watch his heroes..
    Sadly the £300 ferry fare is outrageous & no way I can justify the cost
    1 very very dispointed child here

    February 18, 2014 at 1:22 pm #775569
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    farrell

    Don’t forget that you can
    Don’t forget that you can also head up to Liverpool to get a ferry to Dublin. It’s actually closer to Manchester than going to Holyhead, albeit with less ferry services and slightly longer on the boat..

    Alternatively, you could also get a ferry from Liverpool up to Belfast, get the late ten o’clock ferry, travel overnight, and land in Belfast in time for a breakfast. Watch the first stage up there, nip down to Dublin then head back to Manchester.

    February 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm #775567
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    notfastenough

    You lot are a mine of
    You lot are a mine of information!

    Gave them a call, it seems the tickets have yet to be released. They guy couldn’t tell me when they would be, suggesting I should ring the premium rate number weekly until they were!

    February 18, 2014 at 12:27 pm #775565
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    Simon_MacMichael

    According to the usually
    According to the usually reliable Man In Seat 61, bookings open 12 weeks ahead of travel – which would have been last weekend. I’d be surprised if they’d sold out that quickly, might be worth phoning, number and all other details here:

    http://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm#Buy%20tickets%20online

    February 18, 2014 at 12:17 pm #775563
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    notfastenough

    Al__S wrote:Third option,

    Al__S wrote:
    Third option, might be slightly easier than flying with the kiddies, would be the surprisingly good value Rail Sail through tickets from any GB mainland railway station to Dublin.

    Interesting idea, not heard of that before. No luggage limits either which could be handy with the buggy. However, I just get “no tickets are available”. I’ve tried being less specific, going from any Manchester station and not specifying a time, but still nothing.

    February 18, 2014 at 12:08 pm #775561
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    Al__S

    Third option, might be
    Third option, might be slightly easier than flying with the kiddies, would be the surprisingly good value Rail Sail through tickets from any GB mainland railway station to Dublin.

    February 18, 2014 at 11:59 am #775559
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    netclectic

    Have a look on Air BnB for
    Have a look on Air BnB for accommodation – https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

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