mickeydfly13

I'll be flying to Ireland, not sure yet if I'll be coming in from Chicago or Stockholm, but I'll be heading to Waterford. Anyone have any recent experience/advice on the easiest airport to get there from? Looks like no flight to Waterford on the day I'll be traveling, so I will have to fly into Shannon, Cork, or Dublin and take a bus/train to Waterford. Thanks for the advice!

stut

The only flights direct to Waterford are from MAN and BHX, so you'd have to fly via either of those airports to go direct.

Having said that, it's pretty much equidistant from Cork and Dublin. There are direct buses from both airports, taking 3 hour or so.

UAPremExecflyer

Why wouldn't you rent a car and drive? Two hours or less from Dublin.

mickeydfly13

Car rental is running $200 as it'd be a one way rental so I'm looking into the bus/train option. Plus, I'm likely to have a couple of cocktails on the plane so forget the driving option. Any experience with the bus from Shannon Airport to Waterford?

Aviatrix

Isn't it much more sensible to let someone else do the driving after an overnight long-haul flight - especially when it's in an unfamiliar environment, and on the "wrong" side of the road?

UAPremExecflyer

Each to his/her own. OP didn't mention driving. I was merely suggesting it from a convenience perspective.

TangoThree

If you're lucky you might be able to time a slightly quicker bus from Dublin Airport, there are a few "express" type services that are 30ish minutes quicker. With services from Shannon, you'll need to transfer at Limerick as there is no direct services afaik.

If you're not up for being scrunched up on a bus for 3 hours you can grab the Airlink (747 bus) from Dublin Airport to Heuston Station and transfer onto an intercity service to Waterford (3 hour journey approx.). Train in my opinion is much more comfortable, plenty of legroom at the table seats, wifi & trolley service (handy if you're over 6ft).

747 is €6 & the train *should* cost €9.99 each way, plus charges if booked in advance online.

measures

If I had to do it, I'd fly to DUB, get on the 747 bus to Heuston station, from where there are direct trains to Waterford (Plunkett station). Check the front of the bus (double deck) to make sure it is going the whole way to Heuston station, as sometimes it stops in the city centre and you need to transfer to the Luas (light rail tram) for the last section).
If you download the Journey Planner app from Transport for Ireland (Android definitely, and probably IOS) you can get live timetables for the buses from your current location, and/or enter your start point and destination (Dublin Airport/Heuston Station) to see what options there are.
For taxis, the Hailo app is great (cr card without fee, definite pickup time, communication from the driver to confirm, you decide what tip %, on the app, no cash changes hands if you register a cr card, but you can pay cash, and the total fare is usually better than normal). Probably not ideal from the airport, with all the special conditions airports have.

Train frequency isn't the same as in other countries, so
a) check the timetable
b) book online if you think you will definitely catch the train you pick, to get a better rate.
http://www.irishrail.ie/

example timetable/fares:- (by the way, I don't know what the 'change' is, in the 2nd one, as its a direct line to Waterford).

From Dublin Heuston to Waterford (Plunkett) DateThursday, 22 May 2014
Dep Arr Dur. & Chg. Service Online Fares Select Info
07:25 09:40 2:15 0 €9.99
08:00 11:26 3:26 1 €15.99
10:15 12:20 2:05 0 €15.99
13:15 15:25 2:10 0 €15.99
15:10 17:15 2:05 0 €9.99
16:40 19:00 2:20 0 €15.99
17:35 19:46 2:11 0 €15.99
18:35 20:48 2:13 0 €15.99

Have a nice journey

mickeydfly13

Great info, thank you very much for taking the time. Now, I can fly nonstop in J from Chicago to Shannon in August and bus/train from there to Waterford, or I can connect in LHR to Dub and bus/train from there. Final Thoughts?

Showbizguru

Shannon every time.
It's much,much quicker.

mickeydfly13

But then I need to take the bus and/or train to Wateford. Still the right choice?

Showbizguru

Think about it.
While you're getting the bus and train to Waterford the plane still has to fly to LHR, you have to change to another flight to Dublin, you have to fly the journey which takes an hour THEN you have to get from Dublin to Waterford.
It's a no-brainier even if you don't have one.

Showbizguru

Yes.

mickeydfly13

Ha--I suppose that's debatable. Thanks, SNN it is.