Help with options an early morning flight from Dublin travelling down from Belfast

Dazza

Hi all,

Need URGENT help!!!

We are looking into booking a holiday that has a 6.40am flight from Dublin. We are travelling down from Belfast, there are six of us in total, 3 adults and 3 kids aged 2, 6 and 8. Was wondering if anyone has done this before and how they dealt with it. I.e. did you get a bus down (if so which service), did you stay overnight (doesn't seem that practical to me though considering there would ba a 2 hour check-in??), or anything else??

Any help, experiences would be very much appreciated

Dazza

Dazza

PS Meant to add I only have a passat so it won't accomodate everyone i.e. can't drive down myself...........or does anyone know of cheap car rental? A local taxi firm is looking for £150 each way!!

cifpower

The last time I had a flight from Dublin at an ungodly hour I just took the Ulsterbus from Europa to Dublin airport. It was comfortable enough and there weren't many on the bus at that time.

Dazza

cifpower wrote: »

The last time I had a flight from Dublin at an ungodly hour I just took the Ulsterbus from Europa to Dublin airport. It was comfortable enough and there weren't many on the bus at that time.

How long did it take you to get down at that time of the morning? Was the traffic OK at that time

cifpower

Dazza wrote: »

How long did it take you to get down at that time of the morning? Was the traffic OK at that time

Travel time was about 2 and a half hours and the roads were empty. The M1 into Dublin is never really busy anyway until you hit Swords.

dan2002

hi there translink runs a bus to Dublin airport 24 hours a day 7 days a week from Glengal street,service 200 ,I have used it few times,last time getting a bus at 12.00 midnight great service .It did work out cheaper getting the bus for 5 adults than taking the car ,paying for car park,petrol there and back,+ the toll road .Bus price £15.40 return per adult dont know about kids.The last time I went to the car park in Dublin airport it was 9.00E per day and the euro rate is not the best today

Dazza

dan2002 wrote: »

hi there translink runs a bus to Dublin airport 24 hours a day 7 days a week from Glengal street,service 200 ,I have used it few times,last time getting a bus at 12.00 midnight great service .It did work out cheaper getting the bus for 5 adults than taking the car ,paying for car park,petrol there and back,+ the toll road .Bus price £15.40 return per adult dont know about kids.The last time I went to the car park in Dublin airport it was 9.00E per day and the euro rate is not the best today

My wife is really against this travelling down to Dublin, but for the extra few hours we could be saving over £1500 (!!!!!!) for the exact same holiday. It's due to the kids still being small and the fact that we would be getting another flight from London at 11.15. How long did the midnight journey take, did you have many cases?

PandaPants_2

How about checking in online the night before and getting the Aircoach down? It's cheaper than Ulsterbus, i think. Then you just have to drop off your bags at the airport.

Jaime-V

http://www.aircoach.ie/aircoach.fares.php

some of my family and friends have used the aircoach, from glengall st in Belfast. Said its very comfortable and never had any problems.

HTH

seatzie

how about a 2 way split if your wife drives? book one of the hotels round the airport that does 1 night stay and 7 or 14 nights car park for under £100, one of you drives 2 of the kids down and the other one takes say the oldest one on the bus as an adventure - plus a night in the hotel with shuttle to the airport - Dublin Airport is a sinch to drive to once you hit the border, whoever drives could pick the other up at the airport.........

cifpower

Jaime-V wrote: »

http://www.aircoach.ie/aircoach.fares.php

some of my family and friends have used the aircoach, from glengall st in Belfast. Said its very comfortable and never had any problems.

HTH

I don't think Aircoach covers the overnight hours unlike Ulsterbus.