I recently went on a day trip to Dublin, Ireland and I flew there and back. It is safe to say it has become one of my core memories. I flew from Manchester to Dublin at 9:40 in the morning to enjoy a full day in Ireland’s capital. With advice a ‘plenty, allow me to walk you through the day I had and how you can successfully take a day trip abroad. The most vital lesson I learned during this trip is you must purchase travel insurance for your day trip, even if you are only nipping across the channel to Dublin. You can seek government travel insurance advice and sign up to their website and subscribe to travel updates for the region in which you wish to travel.
Many websites and travel sources debate the best times to book flights in advance. They all have different answers ranging from anywhere between five weeks and eight months in advance. From experience, I have found that the best way to approach booking flights is to use the private or incognito mode on your internet browser. This is so that search engines will not track your browsing history (airline companies may increase prices to match demand). If they cannot track your search history, then you can assess prices over the space of a couple of weeks and find the best deals for you and your budget. I found return flights on the same day to Ireland for £45 and I booked approximately seven weeks before flying. Note here that I found same-day return flights to be a little more pricey than normal return flights on different days. As it is a travel option which is a little more uncommon, this makes sense.
My day trip abroad was a spur of the moment decision and it is always great to just take the leap and book the flights. It was particularly appealing as I did not have to purchase accommodation which, at certain times of the year and with rising living costs throughout the world, can cost a lot of money. Transport to Manchester airport is reasonable with the bus and train routes serving as the money-saving options. Transport from Dublin airport into Dublin city centre was reasonable too. I took the bus which costs about £2 for a single adult ticket, which is pretty much equal to most major bus routes in the UK.
After arriving in Dublin city centre, I got off the bus on O’Connell Street and was greeted by the captivating and unique Dublin spire which reaches a discombobulating one-hundred and twenty-one metres high. Roughly a five-minute walk later and after turning right off O’Connell Street, you are met with the beautiful Ha’penny Bridge. The adjacent colourful buildings make for a great photo opportunity. This location resembles many European sights such as those found in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Planning an itinerary for this trip reminded me that it is important to remain flexible as anything can happen when travelling. For example, our flight was delayed by thirty minutes and this had repercussions on the rest of the day. I had planned to visit Dublin Castle, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, The Temple Bar and the Guiness Storehouse. As I had lost a bit of time and there was a lot to pack in, including having breaks for food and drink, I missed the Guinness Storehouse out. This was a sacrifice I was willing to make as I could still enjoy some Guinness throughout the day. In my eyes, the others were not to be replaced as easily.
As I travelled during the festive period, the city was dressed in tinsel and lights and each pub was decked out in Christmassy nicknacks which made the Dublin vibe even cosier. The Merchants Arch was my personal favourite. It is a traditional Irish pub and they pour the best pints of Guinness. The quality of food and drink in Dublin is next to none, with a plethora of great options to keep you going during the day.
The time arrived sooner than I hoped it would and I made my trip back to the airport. Mirroring my actions earlier in the day, I got the bus back to the terminal and waited for my flight. The flight was a late one which was due to leave at 23:05 and was delayed again by approximately thirty minutes. This was dangerous territory for travel insurance but luckily, I had accounted for this in an emergency. Remember to purchase travel insurance for your day trip. I would recommend buying it for two days just in case your flight is delayed (just as mine was). You need to ensure you are covered for the duration of your trip, including any excess time to account for delays and the possibility of an emergency. It is also worth taking a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you to account for any emergency medical care.
I had managed ten hours in Dublin and I packed a lot into those hours as well. Whilst a day trip abroad can seem stressful, it was an incredibly rewarding day and is a testimony to the frequency of modern airlines that I was able to embark on this journey. It is definitely possible to take day trips in other countries too, budget permitting. Whilst I wanted to stay longer as I had to leave, I reminded myself that I had seen most of what I wanted to see and that there will always be something you can come back for. That can be the most exciting thing about travelling: the desire to return one day. If you book a day trip abroad in 2024, I promise it will not disappoint!
