Planning Your Trip to Southern Ireland

• 1). Choose the city that has the most to offer in terms of what you're looking for. According to MyGuideIreland.com, there are four international airports in southern Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock. Dublin is the largest city in Ireland and it is also its capital, so if you're looking for a bustling scene with lots to do, Dublin is the best choice. Cork Airport is south of the city of Cork - a city famous for its rich Irish history. The closest city to Shannon Airport is Limerick - a city with plenty for tourists to do - and Knock Airport is located in County Mayo, which is widely known for its large population of Irish-speaking inhabitants in the Gaeltacht region.
  
  
• 2). Decide on your accommodations early. Dublin has hundreds of hotels, bed and breakfasts and hostels from which to choose, and accommodations are easy to come by. The Alexander Hotel is centrally located and will make getting to just about anywhere in Dublin easy. If you're traveling to Cork or Limerick, lodging shouldn't be a problem. The Maldron Hotel in Cork is a large, 101-room hotel that offers centrality, comfort and convenience. If you decide that your travel desires will be best-met in Limerick, the four-star Clarion Hotel Suites is both affordable and familiar to many American tourists. If you decide to land at Knock, the nearest cities are Swinford and Kiltimagh. Lodging choices around the Knock Airport are limited, but that might just be the adventure you are looking for.
  
  
• 3). Book your flight to Ireland well in advance to ensure that you'll get there when you want to. American-based airlines that fly to the four international airports in southern Ireland include American Airlines, Continental, Delta, United and U.S. Airways. If you want a more authentic experience, Aer Lingus - an Irish airline, will also get you there from most cities in North America. As of September, 2010, airfare for a flight from Chicago's O'Hare International into Dublin in January of 2011 started at around $460 one-way on Aer Lingus, and went up to around $2,600 for a one-way flight aboard American Airlines.