Dublin Leap Visitor Card

[Willie Bee]

I've just had my 72-hour Leap Visitor Card through the post, in good time for my trip next month. There's not much detail on the accompanying leaflet about the area covered, other than "DART and Commuter Rail in Short Hop Zone". The map I have shows the Short Hop Zone extending to Kilcoole, Sallins & Naas, Kilcock and Balbriggan. Zone 1 as shown in #26 covers a smaller area i.e. to Bray, Clondalkin, Maynooth and Rush & Lusk. It appears from what's written above that Zone 1 is the area covered by my Card. It's good that I'll arrive at the airport "ready ticketed".

OP here

I ordered two 72-hour cards on Wednesday, so hopefully they will arrive here soon.

As you say .. It's good that we'll arrive at the airport "ready ticketed"

My wife and I are travelling to Dublin in August, so we'll validate the cards when we make our way from the airport to the city centre, on bus 41.

On our 4th day, we'll just need to travel to the airport. We'll probably take the tram, then the same 41 bus to the airport. I've just seen on a YT video mention of a €2.60 'Travel 90' ticket. It seems that would let us travel on the tram, then the bus for a single price of €2.60. I'll have to investigate further.

 

[geoffk]

OP here

I ordered two 72-hour cards on Wednesday, so hopefully they will arrive here soon.

As you say .. It's good that we'll arrive at the airport "ready ticketed"

My wife and I are travelling to Dublin in August, so we'll validate the cards when we make our way from the airport to the city centre, on bus 41.

On our 4th day, we'll just need to travel to the airport. We'll probably take the tram, then the same 41 bus to the airport. I've just seen on a YT video mention of a €2.60 'Travel 90' ticket. It seems that would let us travel on the tram, then the bus for a single price of €2.60. I'll have to investigate further.

I'm just going for three nights so the 72-hour Leap Card will be all I need. I'm staying at a B&B in Santry, just off the 16 and 41 bus routes which go to the Airport and I need to study the google map to make sure I know where to get off!

 

[Flying Snail]

OP here

I ordered two 72-hour cards on Wednesday, so hopefully they will arrive here soon.

As you say .. It's good that we'll arrive at the airport "ready ticketed"

My wife and I are travelling to Dublin in August, so we'll validate the cards when we make our way from the airport to the city centre, on bus 41.

On our 4th day, we'll just need to travel to the airport. We'll probably take the tram, then the same 41 bus to the airport. I've just seen on a YT video mention of a €2.60 'Travel 90' ticket. It seems that would let us travel on the tram, then the bus for a single price of €2.60. I'll have to investigate further.

The Dubin Zone 1 90 minute fare is €2 and only available with a regular Leap card, not visitor card.

It is valid on any amount of Bus, Train and Tram for 90 mns from first use to last tap on and conclusion of that journey.

There is no other 90 minute ticket or any comparable fare. There used to be a Dublin Bus "travel 90" ticket but that is long gone.

 

[dubscottie]

It cannot be refunded in person, but you can refund it online by declaring the card lost. You need a European bank account to receive the refund - in the UK you can use a free Euro account from Revolut, Starling, etc.

Not true. Anybody from the UK can still get a refund as the UK is still part of SEPA.

 

[rvdborgt]

Not true. Anybody from the UK can still get a refund as the UK is still part of SEPA.

Correct, but the amount of €5 may be eaten by fees after conversion into pounds... so an account in euros will work better.

 

[Willie Bee]

Does a 24-hour card last a full 24 hours, perhaps spanning over 2 days ?

Example .. If a card was validated, say at 18:00 on a Monday, could it be used at 17:00 on the Tuesday

 

[berneyarms]

Does a 24-hour card last a full 24 hours, perhaps spanning over 2 days ?

Example .. If a card was validated, say at 18:00 on a Monday, could it be used at 17:00 on the Tuesday

Yes it does - they are valid for 24 hours from time of first validation.

 

[Willie Bee]

Yes it does - they are valid for 24 hours from time of first validation.

That's great, many thanks !

I've actually just bought two 72-hour cards for a short trip to Dublin and assuming it's the same with these longer cards, my wife and I will be able to use the cards on the day of departure

 

[berneyarms]

That's great, many thanks !

I've actually just bought two 72-hour cards for a short trip to Dublin and assuming it's the same with these longer cards, my wife and I will be able to use the cards on the day of departure

Yes the same rules apply.

 

[Willie Bee]

how funny, I stayed at that premier inn last year on the way to the USA as its cheaper to fly from Eire.. its a nice hotel, and the tram stop (the point) is right behind the hotel, say five minutes walk max.
i took the tram and 41 to and from the airport, no problem at all. not a lot around there though, a supermarket and a couple of chain restaurants, from what I recall..

Would you recommend having the breakfast in the hotel ?

My wife and I are staying here in a few weeks and I received an email today detailing our booking. There is also the option of amending the booking, such as adding breakfast at €13.45 each per day

We have stayed at several P.I. hotels over the past few years and for probably 80% of our trips we have had breakfast in the hotel. I'm not really sure why, but I didn't add it here. Sometimes, we just have something light in our room, maybe just some cereal (after I have popped out to buy some milk) then we eat later on.

 

[craigybagel]

Would you recommend having the breakfast in the hotel ?

My wife and I are staying here in a few weeks and I received an email today detailing our booking. There is also the option of amending the booking, such as adding breakfast at €13.45 each per day

We have stayed at several P.I. hotels over the past few years and for probably 80% of our trips we have had breakfast in the hotel. I'm not really sure why, but I didn't add it here. Sometimes, we just have something light in our room, maybe just some cereal (after I have popped out to buy some milk) then we eat later on.

As big a fan as I am of a Premier Inn breakfast, there is no shortage of places to get a decent breakfast in Dublin. If you want the really authentic Irish experience, go to the back of any convenience shop (like a Centra or Spar), go the deli counter, and procure a freshly made breakfast roll. You'll thank me for it later.

 

[danm14]

Would you recommend having the breakfast in the hotel ?

My wife and I are staying here in a few weeks and I received an email today detailing our booking. There is also the option of amending the booking, such as adding breakfast at €13.45 each per day

We have stayed at several P.I. hotels over the past few years and for probably 80% of our trips we have had breakfast in the hotel. I'm not really sure why, but I didn't add it here. Sometimes, we just have something light in our room, maybe just some cereal (after I have popped out to buy some milk) then we eat later on.

Do not pre-book Premier Inn breakfast - there is no discount for doing so, and to the best of my knowledge you can't get a refund if you miss it or opt to eat elsewhere.

 

[stadler]

I would recommend a Premier Inn breakfast too. It is always good quality. They do a nice full english and it is an all you can eat buffet so you can make up your own full english as you like it. So it is actually quite good value as you can have as much as you want. I agree with paying on the day to ensure you do not lose out if you oversleep. I always just pay cash in the morning when i go for my breakfast.

 

[geoffk]

I'm just going for three nights so the 72-hour Leap Card will be all I need. I'm staying at a B&B in Santry, just off the 16 and 41 bus routes which go to the Airport and I need to study the google map to make sure I know where to get off!

Just back from Dublin today and I made good use of the 72-hour Leap Visitor Card on trains, trams and buses. Very good value as naturally I did a lot of riding, including finishing off the sections of tram routes which weren't open when I last visited in 2008, along with the branch railway from Clonsilla to M3 Parkway. I wasn't sure whether I needed to touch in and out every time I changed trains or tram but I did so anyway and certainly you would have to when changing direction or mode. This morning, the very first 41 bus to the airport (at 06.15) was full arriving at Santry and didn't stop! The 16 a few minutes behind had only a few empty seats, so it's a good idea to allow extra time for your journey.

 

[dubscottie]

Just back from Dublin today and I made good use of the 72-hour Leap Visitor Card on trains, trams and buses. Very good value as naturally I did a lot of riding, including finishing off the sections of tram routes which weren't open when I last visited in 2008, along with the branch railway from Clonsilla to M3 Parkway. I wasn't sure whether I needed to touch in and out every time I changed trains or tram but I did so anyway and certainly you would have to when changing direction or mode. This morning, the very first 41 bus to the airport (at 06.15) was full arriving at Santry and didn't stop! The 16 a few minutes behind had only a few empty seats, so it's a good idea to allow extra time for your journey.

Technically you need to tag on/off for each stage of your journey. Revenue sharing and all that.
Visitor leaps are prepaid as you know but some inspectors will take issue with it not being tagged on.

 

[geoffk]

I wouldn't worry about which bus to take. The local bus (16) leaves from the same stop as the airport buses on O Connell Street.

The local bus does take a slightly longer route, but I happened to meet someone I know in the airport, she had taken the 'Express' and it had taken her half an hour, we only took 40 minutes. Transport to and from the airport is the one downside with Dublin visits, it really does need a better solution.

I've just been to Dublin, and used the local buses to and from the guest house at Santry, about half way between the airport and the city centre. Services 16 and 41 both run between the airport and city via Swords Road, the 16 taking a slight detour via Beaumont. Early morning buses to the airport can be busy - yesterday (Saturday) morning, the very first 41 to the airport (at 06.15) was full arriving at Santry and didn't stop. The 16 a few minutes behind had only a few empty seats, so it's a good idea to allow extra time for your journey. Publicity for service 41 states there is limited capacity on board for luggage.

 

[signed]

Would you recommend having the breakfast in the hotel ?

My wife and I are staying here in a few weeks and I received an email today detailing our booking. There is also the option of amending the booking, such as adding breakfast at €13.45 each per day

We have stayed at several P.I. hotels over the past few years and for probably 80% of our trips we have had breakfast in the hotel. I'm not really sure why, but I didn't add it here. Sometimes, we just have something light in our room, maybe just some cereal (after I have popped out to buy some milk) then we eat later on.

Bit late, but for next time (or if you haven't done the trip yet), I wholly recommend having breakfast at Declan and Donal's deli near Parnel street, it's simple breakfast rolls but it's so tasty and the staff is great.

 

[Flying Snail]

I've just been to Dublin, and used the local buses to and from the guest house at Santry, about half way between the airport and the city centre. Services 16 and 41 both run between the airport and city via Swords Road, the 16 taking a slight detour via Beaumont. Early morning buses to the airport can be busy - yesterday (Saturday) morning, the very first 41 to the airport (at 06.15) was full arriving at Santry and didn't stop. The 16 a few minutes behind had only a few empty seats, so it's a good idea to allow extra time for your journey. Publicity for service 41 states there is limited capacity on board for luggage.

There is no first 41, the route runs 24h with at minimum 30 min frequency.

 

[geoffk]

There is no first 41, the route runs 24h with at minimum 30 min frequency.

Yes, I see that now. I've got a paper timetable (actually a list of departure times from each end and running times between the main intermediate points). The photo shows the information on the stop where I was waiting. NB the 41C does not go to the airport!