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Step 1
Do your research. You are far more likely to have a rewarding trip if you have a clear idea of what you want to see and how far apart your main options are. Comprehensive travel books such as Fodor's or Lonely Planet travel guides are a good way to get an idea of what each part of the Ireland has to offer as well as directions and pricing information.
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Step 2
Determine a budget based on what you want to see in Ireland and how much time you have to accomplish your trip. If you plan to rent a car and drive, take into account the price of gas in Ireland along with the price of the rental car. If traveling by rail through Ireland, be aware that you may need to budget for taxis or buses to take you to more remote spots in the Irish countryside you may want to visit, but that the rail doesn't reach.
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Step 3
Decide on a method of travel. Ireland has an extensive rail system, but you are then subject to the railway schedules that may or may not be as conducive to the amount of time you have. Check the rail schedules for the season you want to go and the cities you would like to visit to get a basic time line. Driving allows you more freedom, but be prepared to add extra time to your schedule to allow for getting lost or searching for a petrol station.
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Step 4
Allow for shifting seasonal operating hours and schedules. Visiting Ireland in the off season may allow for fewer crowds, but you may also come up against limited hours for both sightseeing attractions and train schedules.
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Step 5
Run the route you have chosen through a route planner once you have determined your top locations, method of travel and budget. The route planner allows you to put in your starting and ending destination as well as the stop-off points to see if your plan matches your schedule. Make adjustments accordingly. Two of the top tools for this are located at Discover Ireland and AA Ireland.
