F.A.Q.

For the most up-to-date information go to:
RetreatToIreland.com

How much yoga experience do I need?

This is a great question! I welcome all levels. If you’ve never taken a yoga class in your life you will need to attend four classes before leaving for the workshop. I recommend you take those classes consecutively preferably close to March or April before the retreat. If you have the desire I’d even recommend beginning your training in yoga now and reap the benefits sooner! I will provide some basic yoga information once you sign up for the retreat.

What does the cost of the retreat include?

The cost of the retreat includes drop off and pick up from Shannon Airport in Western Ireland, a room for your entire stay, breakfast and lunch, yoga instruction, and all afternoon activities. Airfare and dinner are NOT included in the price.

When are the pick-up and drop off times for Bantry & Shannon Airport?

Please arrive at the Shannon airport no later than 2pm on Friday May 4th. There are two pick-up times on that day: between 11am-12pm or between 3pm and 4pm. You will need to leave your origin city on Thursday May 3rd in order to acheive this timeline. Your outgoing flight from the Shannon airport should leave no earlier than 11am on Saturday May 12th.

Shuttles from and to Bantry town (which is about a 25 minute drive from the Sheep’s Head) have some flexibility. Please let me know as you flesh out your travel plans.

You are also welcome to rent a car and drive yourself. The official retreat begins with dinner on Thursday evening. You need to arrive at our home by 4:30pm. I will email you directions.

What if I want to arrive in Dublin?

You are welcome to arrive in Dublin. If you do, you will need to rent a car, or get a bus or train to either Bantry town (which is about a 25 minute drive from the Sheep’s Head) or to the Shannon Airport, and then we’ll pick you up from either location. I highly recommend taking extra time to explore this beautiful country either before or after the retreat!

How do I get from Dublin to Shannon Airport or Bantry?

To get to Shannon Airport from Dublin take the train (http://www.irishrail.ie/home/) from Dublin Heuston to Galway. Once you arrive in Galway you will need to take a bus (http://www.buseireann.ie/) from Galway to Shannon Airport.

To get to Bantry from Dublin you can do a combination of things.

1. Take the train from Dublin Heuston to Cork City and from there take the bus to Bantry. This option requires a transfer in Cork from the train station to the bus station. It is easy to hail a cab or walk as long as you don’t have tons of luggage.

2. Take the bus to Bantry.

You can pre-purchase all your tickets online before you arrive. This is usually the cheapest method. Buying your train ticket in the station will double the cost, I’ve been there before, so take a tip from me!

Where do I get my airline ticket?

This is going to be a multi-step process. I suggest looking on websites such as Priceline or Expedia, as well as checking directly with the airlines. Surprisingly, I’ve often found better prices with the airlines themselves. Heads up: It is usually more expensive to fly into Shannon than Dublin.

How do cell phones work in Ireland?

Ireland uses a different bandwidth than America. Some American phones can be used overseas. Check with your provider. Also find out if your SIM card is unlocked. If you have been a customer with your cell phone provider for awhile they should be able to unlock it for you. Then, if your phone has the proper bandwidth you can purchase an Irish SIM card and insert it into your American phone, subsequently getting cheaper rates than your company will ever provide you. If you are interested in learning more about this, email me.

What kind of food will be served?

Breakfast will be simple with both protein and carb options: hard-boiled eggs, meat and cheese slices, muesli, homemade brown bread and yogurt; and beverages such as milk, coffee and tea.

Lunch will include homemade soup or chowder (different everyday), homemade brown breads and butter, mixed salads, poached salmon and quiche.

Dinner is on your own in the pub – you get to choose! There are also grocery stores available for those of you that have special dietary requirements. But remember, the widely available gluten-free products of the US are not so common in Ireland.