Things to Know About Renting a Car in Ireland

The best mode of travel across Ireland is to rent a car and move around seamlessly. When you have a car at your disposal you have the freedom to go where ever you want. While there are many benefits of Car Hire Ireland, there are few cons as well. So, it is important to take a note of these negatives.

What to do while hiring a car?

   You should take a close look at the packages offered by different Car hire Shannon Airport companies. Also, check what is included and what not in the final price. Talk to them and ask if there are any hidden charges that you need to pay later. You must be well available about the airport and located related surcharges.

·         Do check if you have to pay extra amount of money for the child seat, additional driver, and tolls.

·         You must be clear about the fuel prices as well, most companies expect you to return the car with full tank.

·         You must always ask for how many days the deposit will be held because it may take a few days to get your deposit back.

·         You must know about the age restrictions to rent the car and the driving rules

What you should check while collecting the vehicle?

·         You must check the condition of the car at the time of car Rental Shannon Airport, you must make a written note regarding the car condition if you note there is a damage and get it signed by a representative at the car hire company. You must always capture the image of any damages as a proof about the condition of the car at the time of pick-up as a further safety measure.

·         You must ask about the policies regarding what to do when the car breaks down or if there is a road accident.

·         You must always contact the car rental company whenever you face an issue. No matter if the car breaks down or you get involved in an accident, the first thing you should do is to contact the service provider.

·         When you return the car, park it in the designated area and do not forget to fill the car’s tank.

So, now as you have full knowledge about Car Hire Ireland, you should not be worried about renting a car or returning it. You are sure to have a wonderful time in Ireland.

Eating Out In Northern Ireland’s Capital City

Belfast is alive when it comes to food. If Belfast City has charmed you with its culture and architecture, food is something that you will dive into. The city takes pride in its culinary bounty, especially some of the freshest seafood which has extraordinary taste. Local restaurants buzz with people that have so much to offer the insatiable foodie. Eating is surprising in Belfast, from fine dining, brasseries and bistros to gastro pubs, cafes and coffee shops. These food stations can be easily visited as you go for car rental Belfast City Airport service.

Here are our spots for the best places to eat in Belfast:

Award-Winning Places to Eat

Deanes EIPIC Restaurant 

A Michelin-starred restaurant, just after eighteen months from opening. The food can be intoxicating and offers a rustic flavour. The dishes that are a must-try are lamb breast with garlic, soy and honey, and langoustine with asparagus, endive and lardo. To get a good sampling of McKenna’s work, one can also indulge in the night’s tasting menu, a bargain for three courses and a thoughtful wine pairing. Visit this place by booking a car hire Belfast City Airport service.

OX

Ox is an award-winning restaurant overlooking the River Lagan. The style of this Michelin-starred restaurant is relaxed, the décor is paired back and space buzzes with energy from the open kitchen. OX menus are designed to showcase everything that is seasonal with a focus on fresh vegetables, fish and the finer cuts of venison and beef. Head Chef Stephen Toman together with Front of House Alain Kerloc'h continues to wow foodies with their impeccable food and wine pairings.

Home Restaurant

Home Restaurant is a winner of Michelin Bib Gourmand for the past six years with head chef Ben Arnold (Great British Menu, Great Britain Olympic team). They have created an extensive menu of all-time favourite dishes using fresh and seasonal produce of Ireland as the restaurant appreciates the importance of a nutritious and healthy diet. Home is in Wellington Place, one minute from the welcome centre and Belfast City Hall and hence could be easily reached by car. So, make your car hire Belfast City Airport bookings prior to planning the city tour.

SHU

SHU is a local favourite and has won many accolades over the years, including Food and Wine Magazine's Best Restaurant In Ulster Award and an AA Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence. SHU - the ancient Egyptian God of atmosphere - is located in a fine Victorian terrace on Belfast's stylish Lisburn Road. This place has a basement cocktail bar, the main ground-floor restaurant replete with a theatre-style kitchen, and a private dining room located on the first floor. To give SHU a contemporary style materials such as dark wenge wood and leather have been incorporated. It also has a bright space with lots of natural light.

Belfast is a fascinating city and above are some of the Epic restaurants that are worth a visit. So, plan your visit and take car rental Belfast City Airport service for a comfortable to and fro within and outside the Capital city.

4 Awesome Places To Visit In Galway By Car

Galway is one of the most enjoyable destinations in Ireland and is affectionately called the “City of the Tribes”. It is a small vibrant town and is considered to be the gateway to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Galway is also home to many artists, writers and artisans. And there is a lot to see and do as well. To enjoy the most like a local Irish, it is best to take a car hire Galway service so that you can also visit a little outside the Galway city for some spectacular views.
There is a lot more to see about Galway’s history and heritage and also a lot to shop at the weekend markets. We have picked up our 5 favourite places that are a must-visit if you’re planning a trip to Galway.

1. The Beauty of Dunguaire Castle

The 16th-century tower house is undoubtedly picturesque as it is located along the Wild Atlantic Way, just outside the village of Kinvara. Both the 23-metre tower and its encircling wall date back to 1520. In the summer the “Dunguaire Castle Banquet”, is the perfect place to feast on the medieval-style fare and be regaled by live entertainment, particularly the poems of Yeats, Gogarty and Shaw. The best way to reach is by car, so book car rentals Galway at the earliest.

2. Lynch’s Castle

Lynch’s Castle, is a fortified house that could go back as far as the 14th century, which now houses the AIB bank. This four-storeyed castle has embellished carved windows, gargoyles and ornamental mouldings and cornices. This is a must-visit place if you want to know about The Lynches, of Anglo-Norman descent.

3. Visit the Galway City Museum

Galway City Museum is a free and multifaceted attraction covering Galway’s archaeology, folk history, art and natural history. Artefacts like pipes, bottles and tin signs from Galway can be seen. “Medieval Stone Collection”, comprises of corbels, plaques, coats of arms, chimney fragments and two complete 16th-century fireplaces. You can also find “hooker”, the traditional Galway boat. Visit this place by booking car rentals Galway.

4. Wild Atlantic Way

Galway is almost at the halfway point and has incredible road trips to the north and south. The Wild Atlantic Way drive along the Galway coast takes at least 2 days. You can find one of Ireland’s best hiking spot at the cone-shaped Diamond Hill from the village of Letterfrack. Also, there is a 5,000-year-old tomb and up to a summit blessed with far-off mountain and ocean views.


Galway has incredible cafés, bistros and fine-dining restaurants for food lovers too. The lively pedestrian streets of the Latin Quarter is the hotbed of traditional Irish music. Do go for car hire Galway services and don’t miss these amazing tourist places.

An Escape To Shannon And Limerick, Ireland

Shannon in Ireland remains one of the most visited locations mostly because of the cultural experience, breathtaking natural beauty and a relaxed atmosphere. One of the reasons is also due to its proximity to County Clare and Limerick. It just takes around 22 minutes to reach Limerick from Shannon airport. So, on arrival, you can go for car hire Shannon Airport service and pick your vehicle of choice from the airport itself.

A Short Glimpse of Both the Cities

Both Shannon and Limerick region has beautiful places, dripping with nature and history. The Limerick region and the Shannon estuary are connected in a way by a sheltered seaport, established by the Vikings. It was there at the head of the Shannon estuary in the 9th century, which grew into the city of Limerick. Later, during the 12th–15th centuries several monastic orders settled in the area. 

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs get over 1 million visitors a year. Boat trips are most popular as visitors can view the cliffs from a lower vantage point. You can spot seabirds, including fulmars, kittiwakes, razorbills and puffins. The sea below the cliffs serves as one of Europe's top surfing destinations. It takes approx. 50 minutes to reach Cliffs of Moher from Shannon airport.

The Burren

This is a national park with unique flora and fauna and numerous megalithic remains, dating from the Stone and the Bronze ages. You can visit the St Fachtnan’s Cathedral, an attractive 12th-century church here. To watch a short film introducing the unique landscape of the Burren, walk to the Burren Centre. You can find limestone terraces too. Turning left, one can find the beautifully proportioned ruins of Leamaneh Castle. 

Limerick City 

Limerick city dates as far as the 12th century with full of historical reminders. The city has Georgian culture everywhere, an impressive castle (King John's) and a cathedral. Book a car rental Limerick service to visit this place.

Adare

Adare is one of Ireland’s prettiest villages and is situated to the southwest of Limerick. It has picturesque thatched cottages which are worth seeing. This place is noted for its antique dealers. One can find the ruins of the 14th-century Desmond Castle and of a 1464 Franciscan Friary.

Bunratty Castle 

This spectacular castle is strategically placed on the road between Shannon Airport and Limerick city. One can find furniture and paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries. There is even a village street with a blacksmith, drapery, pub, print works and post office. It is best to take a car rental Limerick service to be able to hit the village streets. 

The best to get to all these locations is by driving. So, if Shannon or Limerick is in your travel bucket’s list, make a car hire Shannon Airport booking prior to the arrival of your favourite Ireland destination.

Exploring The Route From Belfast To The Giant's Causeway

The trip from Belfast to The Giant’s Causeway takes the visitors through Northern Ireland’s spectacular countryside. The route and the region has some of the most amazing and must see attractions of the country and best way to explore them is by traversing the route in a rented car. The Giant’s Causeway is the most intriguing place with a collection of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns and about 60 million years old. Even the route to this mystical natural beauty from Belfast city can be breathtaking and spectacular. To enjoy a panoramic drive along the North Coast, it is best to hire a car. You can easily book one from the car rental Belfast International Airport counter and take the drive through the rolling farmland of County Antrim to the North Coast of Ireland.

Although other transportation options like bus and train are available, they will take more time to reach the Giant’s Causeway. Moreover, these means will drop you directly to the destination without giving you the freedom to halt wherever you want. Taking your own rental car means cutting on the travelling time and give you more time to explore the stunning scenery, isolated villages, nature reserves, rambling walks and unforgettable attractions along the way. By car, if not taken a stop, it should take an approximately 1h 6m drive from Belfast to Giant's Causeway.

                                                              Quick Itinerary

Depart Belfast

The logical way to start your trip is from the capital of Northern Ireland. You may even take a day to explore this amazing city, Belfast. Known for its enthralling history, the city boasts of superb Victorian architecture besides being home to several noteworthy museums. It is also quite famous for being the birthplace of the doomed ocean liner, RMS Titanic and even has a Titanic Quarter which is often thronged by visitors. From here you can go for car hire Belfast International Airport service and drive along the coast or the highway. The coastal way is full of surprises, so you know which route you will go for.

The Dark Hedges

For the Game of Thrones fans, place is a must visit. Even if you are not a fan of the show, the long country road, framed by interlocking beech trees, which were planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century, is worth a visit. This a place for Photography buffs too, as the trees are a magnificent site and are one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. Dark Hedges is in Ballymoney.

White Park Bay

This is the perfect place for visitors to take a refreshing break and stretch their legs during the long drive, especially when the weather is good. It provides yet another strong reason to opt for car rental Belfast International Airport for this road trip. With its white sandy beach stretching as far as the eye can see, the view is picture perfect and inspiring for a peaceful stroll. Lucky visitors may even get to see the White Park Bay cows, the unusual residents of the beach.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Originally built by a fisherman over 300 years ago to catch salmon, this rope bridge is again a popular destination. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede and proves to be an exhilarating walk that also offers spectacular views of the surroundings. Though safe, the walk can make you balk at the crossing, seeing the rocks and water crashing thirty metres (100 feet) beneath your feet. The bridge is open all year round and visitors intending to cross it need to pay a nominal fee. Visit this place by taking a car hire Belfast International Airport service separately only for this destination.

Giants Causeway

It is clearly the most awaited stop and it has had its spot on the Unesco World Heritage list since 1968. It was built by the Irish giant Fionn and his Scottish rival Angus. You can visit the Causeway for free, but do not use the official parking site for your car. Park anywhere else!

There is no doubt that the route from Belfast to the Giants Causeway is incredibly fascinating and beautiful. If you have a day in your hand, you can go to Derry. All you need to do is book a car rental Belfast International Airport service and make the most of your time in Ireland.