Eire is a spot we’ve wished to journey for a few years, and at last every little thing simply fell into place for us to go to. And never simply go to, however do it in type…as digital nomads dwelling van life in Eire!
Eire lived as much as its status 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 might considerably chase the climate, be spontaneous, work from the snug desk, and keep linked by tethering our telephones for wifi.
On this information, I’m going to stroll you thru the best way to decide a van, the corporate we went with, the precise van we ended up with, and a few ideas we discovered alongside the best way so you may plan a greater digital nomad journey round Eire. See additionally: Finest 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 wish 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 amazing firm, so we had been excited to go together with them anyway.
Although this was a sponsored journey, we did the reserving course of the identical as you’d in the event you rented – so we received the entire expertise. It was tremendous easy to e book the van proper on their web site and there are many add-ons as properly.
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 cherished that it had a correct mattress that was fairly cozy (don’t anticipate a king dimension pillow high although) and an amazing kitchen space, loads of storage and central warmth for the cool Irish nights.
There was additionally a surprisingly snug workspace due to the seats that swivel round to a pullout desk.
Additionally, in the event you’re anxious a few campervan like this being too massive for roads in Eire… it actually wasn’t. Should you’ve pushed on slender roads earlier than, you’ll be nice. And in the event you haven’t, it’ll simply take just a few hours to get used to it.
If I had been to present a critique of the campervan expertise, it could be that the pots and pans and utensils had been fairly minimal and it was a bit annoying having them in a giant tupperware bin within the again. It could be higher in the event that they had been put in drawers with some type of cellular house shelving to maintain them from bouncing round.
The place to Go: Our 10-Day Digital Nomad Route Via Eire
For this journey, we didn’t actually have a strict itinerary, which is de facto the fantastic thing about van life in the event you ask me. We truly booked this journey fairly final minute, so whereas we had a tough thought of the place we had 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 choosing up the van the following day. After we received the van, we headed south to Kilkenny, then labored our means by way 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 a number of spots that we might’ve parked the van for the night time and wild camped with out anybody actually noticing, however we selected a stupendous campsite known as Clifden Eco Seaside Tenting as a result of it was too good to cross 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 just a few days visiting Killarney and the Ring of Kerry.
We completed the journey by trying out Cobh and Blarney Fort earlier than heading again to Dublin. This was a fairly intensive 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 Ideas for Digital Nomads Doing Van Life in Eire
Earlier than we did this journey, we weren’t positive how properly van life and distant work would pair collectively in Eire… particularly in October.
Nevertheless it turned out that it labored superbly, however there have been just a few issues we discovered alongside the best way. Should you’ve ever wished to journey round Eire whereas working from a campervan, hopefully these will show you how to out.
1. Kind your telephone plan out earlier than you allow Dublin.
Eire’s protection is okay in cities, however when you head towards Connemara or the Wild Atlantic Manner it might flip from full bars to zero. Get an area SIM or eSIM proper at the beginning so that you’re not looking for a sign while you really want it.
We used our eSIM from our Revolut Account, and it was respectable, however we most likely would’ve had higher protection with an area SIM. Should you’re touring as a pair, each of you can get an eSIM from a unique firm.
We didn’t consider it till close to the top of the journey, however as soon as we various our eSIMs it normally meant that a minimum of certainly one of us at all times had protection.
2. Use wet days as your workdays.
Irish climate modifications consistently. We finally discovered to dwell with the rain… work when it pours, discover when it isn’t. It retains the entire journey relaxed as an alternative of making an attempt to power a plan.
3. Anticipate 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 had been higher and we truly received extra accomplished. The swivel seats helped, and the quiet mornings had 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 nice mics we now have! Should you’re capturing 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, reap the benefits of it. Cost every little thing. The van batteries, laptops, cameras, energy banks… all of it. You by no means know when the following few nights may be wild tenting or when a campsite received’t have hookups.
5. Empty greywater and blackwater each time you’ve gotten the prospect.
Significantly. Do it even in the event you’re solely half full. There have been just a few occasions once we stated we’d simply wait til the following website after which the following couple of websites didn’t have the amenities so we had been anxious we’d replenish or run out. Not an amazing 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. In case you have a powerbank, convey it.
8. Obtain every little thing 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 telephone so you should use it offline.
9. Combine campsites with some wild tenting
That is one thing we didn’t do, however we type 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 might wild camp about 50% of the time.
Should you learn up on it, it says that it’s not allowed in Eire, however in the event you’re respectful and also you clear up after your self and go away early within the morning, no one would trouble you. At the very least that’s what the Irish folks saved telling us.
10. Preserve the van tidy from day one.
A tiny area will get messy quick. As soon as every little thing had a house, life received simpler. Earlier than that… we had been consistently on the lookout for keys, chargers, socks, every little thing.
11. Positively e book the out of doors 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 out of doors desk set. Indie has them as add-ons they usually’re positively value it.
12. Preserve just a few “don’t transfer the van immediately” meals within the cabinet.
There have been days once we discovered the right parking spot and didn’t need to transfer the van in any respect… not for groceries, not for something. Having a few simple meals you may cook dinner with out operating round looking for retailers makes these quiet workdays doable.
13. Construct your work hours round your driving hours.
Some driving days take extra power than you anticipate, particularly on Eire’s slender nation roads. On these days, we’d maintain laptop computer time mild and save the deeper work for days once we weren’t protecting many kilometres.
It’s so much for the mind to deal with in the event you’re watching a highway and dodging different vehicles for five hours, and then you definitely 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. Inns within the fashionable spots can get dear quick, so having our mattress and kitchen with us took numerous the sting out of the journey.
We appeared up some little B&Bs and stuff on the best way they usually had been round $250 per night time for a fundamental small room, though we had 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 received to satisfy folks.
Gas prices had been OK. We crammed up the van twice for round €140 every time in 10 days. Eire seems to be 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 positive.
Campsites had been normally between 35 and 46 euros for a spot with electrical energy, showers, and someplace to dump the tanks.
There have been just a few small extras…tolls, a top-up of AddBlue, a parking charge right here and there. Nothing main. Total, the van made Eire much more inexpensive than it could’ve been hopping between resorts and eating places on daily basis.
The place to Sleep With a Campervan in Eire
One factor we discovered 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 amazing view, however they’re not all over the place, and numerous coastal spots have indicators asking campervans to not keep in a single day. Due to that, we ended up mixing correct campsites with just a few “discovered it on the final minute” locations.
Campsites had been simple sufficient to search out and most had every little thing we would have liked… electrical energy, scorching showers, a spot to dump gray and black water, and normally just a little kitchen sink space.
Total the standard was good in any respect of them and the house owners had been at all times tremendous pleasant (is there a grumpy Irish individual wherever?).
We used Park4Night so much. It isn’t good, nevertheless it saved us greater than as soon as once we had been arriving someplace late and simply wanted a spot to park with out driving round in circles.
The one place we actually thought of wild tenting was round Connemara, however we determined in opposition to it simply because there have been such lovely campsites up there.
Nonetheless, the most effective campsites in Eire are a grass area with a surprising view, and the worst are simply cement parking tons full of 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 every little thing we would have liked. It has fairly a bit while you e book the add-ons, however after all it doesn’t have every little thing a digital nomad would want.
There are some things we had 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 objects that really made a distinction for us and saved the journey operating 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 in the event you’re wild tenting, you’ll positively 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 individual pillows and bedding
Like I stated earlier, the rental stuff works, nevertheless it’s not nice. On the very least, convey your personal pillow in the event you can, or decide 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 received was fairly properly arrange, however I do know they’re not all like that. A protracted 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 every little thing without delay as an alternative of messing round with completely different shops.
5. Telephone holder for the dashboard
You’ll depend on Google Maps consistently, and holding your telephone 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 telephone holders.
6. A water-proof 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 really like YETI for waterproof baggage. I didn’t convey mine on this journey, however it could’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 in the event you’re not used to creating espresso in a type of, then having your personal fast espresso setup makes mornings contained in the van so much smoother.
8. Journey Energy Adaptor
Not all vans may have multi-plugs. Should you’re coming from a rustic that doesn’t use EU type plugins, then convey your personal.
9. A second SIM or eSIM
Protection can soar 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 so much, then it’s at all times good to lookup relatively than down at your display screen. The desk is snug, nevertheless it’s decrease than most kitchen tables, so a stand would positively be a bonus.
FAQs About Van Life in Eire
Is it onerous to drive a giant campervan in Eire?
Folks at all times say the roads in Eire are tremendous slender, however even on The Ring of Kerry, we handed massive buses in our campervan and had no challenge. Not as soon as did I even should again as much as give area.
Are you able to simply pull over and sleep wherever?
Generally. We discovered just a few quiet spots that felt completely nice, 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 could e book campsites?
We didn’t e book forward in any respect in September/October. In summer season, we’d most likely plan a bit extra, however shoulder season was extensive open. Generally it was simply us and one different camper in all the website.
Is the WiFi adequate to work?
In cities, sure. Out within the countryside, it comes and goes. Between our personal information, having 2 eSims, and the campsites wifi, we at all times managed.
Does it get chilly at night time?
It will 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 can dwell with a number 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 had been sufficient.
Is it protected?
We by no means felt unsafe. Campsites had been quiet, and the few rural spots we stayed in felt relaxed. There’s at all times safety on the campsites so far as we might inform and Eire is fairly protected on the whole 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 eternally, and we might positively advocate 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 at all times 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 so much newer than the van we had in Portugal, so we had been actually proud of it.
Should you’ve ever considered visiting Eire, otherwise you’ve been earlier than however you probably did it the standard means in resorts and B&Bs, I extremely advocate making an attempt 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. In case you have any questions, shoot us an e-mail from our Contact Web page.
Joyful travels!
