Eire is a spot we’ve wished to journey for a few years, and eventually all the pieces simply fell into place for us to go to. And never simply go to, however do it in type…as digital nomads residing van life in Eire!
Eire lived as much as its fame of getting dramatic coastlines, gorgeous rolling inexperienced hills, tiny villages, and loads of locations to cease and take within the views.
However the van actually introduced an additional component to the nation. We may considerably chase the climate, be spontaneous, work from the snug desk, and keep related by tethering our telephones for wifi.
On this information, I’m going to stroll you thru learn how to choose a van, the corporate we went with, the precise van we ended up with, and a few ideas we realized alongside the best way so you may plan a greater digital nomad journey round Eire. See additionally: Greatest Jobs for Van Life
Renting a Campervan in Eire with Indie Campers
Full disclosure, we rented with Indie Campers on this journey as a result of they reached out to us and requested us if we’d prefer to have a campervan journey in Eire and share our expertise with our viewers. I imply… who’s going to say no to that?
However, we’ve truly rented with them earlier than in Portugal and we all know they’re an awesome firm, so we have been excited to go together with them anyway.
Despite the fact that this was a sponsored journey, we did the reserving course of the identical as you’d when you rented – so we bought the entire expertise. It was tremendous easy to guide the van proper on their web site and there are many add-ons as nicely.
The vans are all trendy and well-maintained and the pickup and drop-off went actually easily. It solely took about half-hour from the time we arrived to drive away and the man who checked us in gave us a extremely thorough walkthrough of the van and its options.
We went with the Lively Lengthy mannequin. It was spacious, tremendous snug, and it had very nice finishes. We beloved that it had a correct mattress that was fairly comfortable (don’t count on a king dimension pillow high although) and an awesome kitchen space, loads of storage and central warmth for the cool Irish nights.
There was additionally a surprisingly snug workspace because of the seats that swivel round to a pullout desk.
Additionally, when you’re fearful a couple of campervan like this being too large for roads in Eire… it actually wasn’t. Should you’ve pushed on slim roads earlier than, you’ll be advantageous. And when you haven’t, it’ll simply take a couple of hours to get used to it.
If I have been to offer a critique of the campervan expertise, it might be that the pots and pans and utensils have been fairly minimal and it was a bit annoying having them in a giant tupperware bin within the again. It will be higher in the event that they have been put in drawers with some form of cell house shelving to maintain them from bouncing round.
The place to Go: Our 10-Day Digital Nomad Route By Eire
For this journey, we didn’t actually have a strict itinerary, which is absolutely the great thing about van life when you ask me. We truly booked this journey fairly final minute, so whereas we had a tough thought of the place we have been going, we nonetheless determined daily the place we’d go and sleep for the night time.
We began in Dublin for an evening (we had a couple days in Dublin on the finish of the journey), earlier than selecting up the van the subsequent day. After we bought the van, we headed south to Kilkenny, then labored our method by means of Nenagh, Lorrha, and alongside the coast to Galway.
From Galway, we drove as much as Connemara Nationwide Park and that was one of many main highlights of the journey.
There have been plenty of spots that we may’ve parked the van for the night time and wild camped with out anybody actually noticing, however we selected an exquisite campsite referred to as Clifden Eco Seashore Tenting as a result of it was too good to go up.
After Connemara within the North, we headed south right down to Doolin the place we checked out the well-known Cliffs of Moher, after which southwest to Dingle, then spent a couple of days visiting Killarney and the Ring of Kerry.
We completed the journey by testing Cobh and Blarney Fortress earlier than heading again to Dublin. This was a reasonably in depth journey of the nation, though we didn’t see Northern Eire or the east coast, nevertheless it was simply accomplished in 10 days.
10 Important Suggestions for Digital Nomads Doing Van Life in Eire
Earlier than we did this journey, we weren’t certain how nicely van life and distant work would pair collectively in Eire… particularly in October.
But it surely turned out that it labored fantastically, however there have been a couple of issues we realized alongside the best way. Should you’ve ever wished to journey round Eire whereas working from a campervan, hopefully these will aid you out.
1. Kind your cellphone plan out earlier than you allow Dublin.
Eire’s protection is ok in cities, however when you head towards Connemara or the Wild Atlantic Method it will possibly flip from full bars to zero. Get a neighborhood SIM or eSIM proper initially so that you’re not looking for a sign while you really need it.
We used our eSIM from our Revolut Account, and it was first rate, however we most likely would’ve had higher protection with a neighborhood SIM. Should you’re touring as a pair, each of you would get an eSIM from a distinct firm.
We didn’t consider it till close to the tip of the journey, however as soon as we assorted our eSIMs it normally meant that a minimum of one in all us all the time had protection.
2. Use wet days as your workdays.
Irish climate adjustments continuously. We ultimately realized to dwell with the rain… work when it pours, discover when it isn’t. It retains the entire journey relaxed as an alternative of attempting to drive a plan.
3. Count on to work from the van greater than you suppose.
We assumed we’d be in cafés on a regular basis, however most days we labored proper from the van as a result of the views have been higher and we truly bought extra accomplished. The swivel seats helped, and the quiet mornings have been nice to get some work accomplished.
We additionally needed to shoot some reels on this journey, which might’ve been OK however the wind made it onerous, even with the great mics we’ve got! Should you’re taking pictures movies, the within of the van on a sunny day is definitely fairly good acoustically and the lighting was nice too.
4. Cost the van battery anytime you pay for a campsite.
Should you’re at a campsite with electrical energy, make the most of it. Cost all the pieces. The van batteries, laptops, cameras, energy banks… all of it. You by no means know when the subsequent few nights is likely to be wild tenting or when a campsite received’t have hookups.
5. Empty greywater and blackwater each time you could have the possibility.
Severely. Do it even when you’re solely half full. There have been a couple of instances after we stated we’d simply wait til the subsequent web site after which the subsequent couple of websites didn’t have the services so we have been fearful we’d replenish or run out. Not an awesome feeling.
6. Convey your personal pillows and bedding.
The Indie Campers bedding works, nevertheless it’s not precisely luxurious. I by no means journey with out my pillow and a bedsheet and on this journey I used to be particularly glad to have it. The blankets Indie provides you’re heat and that makes a giant distinction on chilly nights, however these pillows weren’t nice.
7. Convey a powerbank that really has energy.
Between charging laptops, cameras, telephones, and hotspots, having an additional battery took all of the stress off the van’s system. If in case you have a powerbank, carry it.
8. Obtain all the pieces earlier than leaving greater cities.
Maps, Netflix, playlists, work information… all of it. When you get into the countryside, the sign can vanish with out warning. To obtain Google Maps, simply hover over all of Eire and kind “OK Maps” into the search and it’ll obtain it to your cellphone so you should utilize it offline.
9. Combine campsites with some wild tenting
That is one thing we didn’t do, however we form of wished we did. We spent fairly a little bit of time in cities and villages having fun with the pubs and music, so we simply stayed at close by campsites.
However subsequent time I’d love to return and do a fishing journey round Eire the place I’d wild camp about 50% of the time.
Should you learn up on it, it says that it’s not allowed in Eire, however when you’re respectful and also you clear up after your self and depart early within the morning, no one would trouble you. At the least that’s what the Irish individuals stored telling us.
10. Hold the van tidy from day one.
A tiny area will get messy quick. As soon as all the pieces had a house, life bought simpler. Earlier than that… we have been continuously in search of keys, chargers, socks, all the pieces.
11. Positively guide the outside setup add-on.
This comes with simply two camp chairs and a light-weight desk nevertheless it makes a giant distinction on the sunny days while you don’t wanna be within the van on a regular basis. Each time it was sunny (and never too windy) we’d eat on our outside desk set. Indie has them as add-ons they usually’re undoubtedly value it.
12. Hold a couple of “don’t transfer the van at the moment” meals within the cabinet.
There have been days after we discovered the right parking spot and didn’t wish to transfer the van in any respect… not for groceries, not for something. Having a few straightforward meals you may cook dinner with out working round looking for outlets makes these quiet workdays attainable.
13. Construct your work hours round your driving hours.
Some driving days take extra vitality than you count on, particularly on Eire’s slim nation roads. On these days, we’d preserve laptop computer time gentle and save the deeper work for days after we weren’t masking many kilometres.
It’s quite a bit for the mind to deal with when you’re gazing a highway and dodging different automobiles for five hours, and you then attempt to work for five hours!
Prices of Van Life in Eire
Eire isn’t low-cost, and that was one of many causes the campervan made sense. Resorts within the standard spots can get dear quick, so having our mattress and kitchen with us took a variety of the sting out of the journey.
We seemed up some little B&Bs and stuff on the best way they usually have been round $250 per night time for a fundamental small room, regardless that we have been there within the shoulder season.
The van rental is the large expense, clearly, nevertheless it saves you on the lodging and a few meals in. Thoughts you, we ate out just about each meal nonetheless as a result of we simply love the pubs and eating places in Eire and we bought to satisfy individuals.
Gas prices have been OK. We stuffed up the van twice for round €140 every time in 10 days. Eire seems small till you begin following each scenic highway and taking detours locals recommend. We drove far more than anticipated, nevertheless it was value it for the worth of diesel for certain.
Campsites have been normally between 35 and 46 euros for a spot with electrical energy, showers, and someplace to dump the tanks.
There have been a couple of small extras…tolls, a top-up of AddBlue, a parking price right here and there. Nothing main. Total, the van made Eire much more reasonably priced than it might’ve been hopping between resorts and eating places on daily basis.
The place to Sleep With a Campervan in Eire
One factor we realized fairly rapidly is that Eire doesn’t have the identical wild tenting tradition as locations just like the US or Canada.
You can discover the odd quiet pull-off with an awesome view, however they’re not all over the place, and a variety of coastal spots have indicators asking campervans to not keep in a single day. Due to that, we ended up mixing correct campsites with a couple of “discovered it on the final minute” locations.
Campsites have been straightforward sufficient to seek out and most had all the pieces we would have liked… electrical energy, sizzling showers, a spot to dump gray and black water, and normally a bit of kitchen sink space.
Total the standard was good in any respect of them and the house owners have been all the time tremendous pleasant (is there a grumpy Irish individual anyplace?).
We used Park4Night quite a bit. It isn’t excellent, nevertheless it saved us greater than as soon as after we have been arriving someplace late and simply wanted a spot to park with out driving round in circles.
The one place we actually thought-about wild tenting was round Connemara, however we determined in opposition to it simply because there have been such stunning campsites up there.
Nonetheless, the perfect campsites in Eire are a grass subject with a surprising view, and the worst are simply cement parking tons filled with campers. It’s extra about utilizing the campsite as a spot to sleep and to discover from there.
Digital Nomad Necessities to Pack for Van Life in Eire
Earlier than this journey, we thought the van would have just about all the pieces we would have liked. It has fairly a bit while you guide the add-ons, however after all it doesn’t have all the pieces a digital nomad would wish.
There are some things we have been actually glad we introduced, and some we want we’d considered earlier. Should you’re planning to work from the highway, these are the gadgets that really made a distinction for us and stored the journey working easily.
1. An actual energy financial institution (not a tiny one)
Should you’re staying in paid parking and charging the van each 2-3 nights, this wouldn’t matter, however when you’re wild tenting, you’ll undoubtedly need a big energy financial institution. You’ll find yourself utilizing extra energy than you suppose. A correct energy financial institution that may cost a laptop computer is value bringing from house.
2. Your personal pillows and bedding
Like I stated earlier, the rental stuff works, nevertheless it’s not nice. On the very least, carry your personal pillow when you can, or choose one up in Eire for the journey.
3. An additional lengthy charging cable
Shops in vans are by no means the place you need them to be. The van we bought was fairly nicely arrange, however I do know they’re not all like that. An extended cable saves you from working in awkward positions.
4. A small extension twine or energy strip
Should you’re plugged into campsite electrical energy, this allows you to cost all the pieces directly as an alternative of messing round with completely different retailers.
5. Telephone holder for the dashboard
You’ll depend on Google Maps continuously, and holding your cellphone or propping it someplace will get annoying quick. Surprisingly, the Lively Lengthy in Eire didn’t have any display screen within the sprint so… no Apple CarPlay. Fortunately we nonetheless journey with cellphone holders.
6. A water-resistant bag on your electronics
Eire’s climate turns rapidly. Should you’re strolling to a pub within the rain or hopping out for a hike, this retains your gear protected. I like YETI for waterproof luggage. I didn’t carry mine on this journey, however it might’ve been good if I needed to take my gear out.
7. Journey-sized kettle or a simple espresso setup
The van has a range, and it comes with a Moka Pot, however when you’re not used to creating espresso in a kind of, then having your personal fast espresso setup makes mornings contained in the van quite a bit smoother.
8. Journey Energy Adaptor
Not all vans can have multi-plugs. Should you’re coming from a rustic that doesn’t use EU type plugins, then carry your personal.
9. A second SIM or eSIM
Protection can leap round outdoors cities. Having a backup community saved us greater than as soon as.
10. A small, light-weight laptop computer stand
That is one thing we forgot however would’ve been nice, particularly for a extra prolonged campervan journey in Eire. Should you’re going to be working quite a bit, then it’s all the time good to lookup quite than down at your display screen. The desk is snug, nevertheless it’s decrease than most kitchen tables, so a stand would undoubtedly be a bonus.
FAQs About Van Life in Eire
Is it onerous to drive a giant campervan in Eire?
Individuals all the time say the roads in Eire are tremendous slim, however even on The Ring of Kerry, we handed large buses in our campervan and had no subject. Not as soon as did I even must again as much as give area.
Are you able to simply pull over and sleep anyplace?
Typically. We discovered a couple of quiet spots that felt completely advantageous, nevertheless it’s not a rustic the place you may depend on wild tenting each night time. Campsites ended up being our base more often than not.
Do you’ll want to guide campsites?
We didn’t guide forward in any respect in September/October. In summer time, we’d most likely plan a bit extra, however shoulder season was extensive open. Typically it was simply us and one different camper in all the web site.
Is the WiFi ok to work?
In cities, sure. Out within the countryside, it comes and goes. Between our personal knowledge, having 2 eSims, and the campsites wifi, we all the time managed.
Does it get chilly at night time?
It could possibly. Our van had heating, which made an enormous distinction. And it wasn’t only a fan heater, it was central warmth! Should you are available October, you would dwell with plenty of bedding (we noticed some campers doing it), nevertheless it’s far more snug to get a van with warmth.
Any particular license wanted?
Our common licenses have been sufficient.
Is it protected?
We by no means felt unsafe. Campsites have been quiet, and the few rural spots we stayed in felt relaxed. There’s all the time safety on the campsites so far as we may inform and Eire is fairly protected generally I believe, particularly outdoors of Dublin.
Closing Ideas on Campervan Life in Eire as Digital Nomads
This was a visit we had wished to do without end, and we might undoubtedly suggest doing a campervan journey in Eire, whether or not you’re a digital nomad or not.
For us distant staff, clearly there’s a bit extra to consider logistically, nevertheless it was all doable. We just about all the time had sign and the van was tremendous snug to dwell and work in.
IndieCampers was nice to work with. The checkout and checkin was tremendous fast and straightforward and truthfully, this van was quite a bit newer than the van we had in Portugal, so we have been actually pleased with it.
Should you’ve ever considered visiting Eire, otherwise you’ve been earlier than however you probably did it the standard method in resorts and B&Bs, I extremely suggest attempting it with a campervan. It was a blast and I don’t suppose it’ll be our final time doing Eire this manner.
I hope you discovered this submit useful. If in case you have any questions, shoot us an electronic mail from our Contact Web page.
Blissful travels!
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