More Planning for my Dream Vacation

Spent the majority of the this rain filled stormy day inside and planning or at least researching stuff for my dream vacation to Ireland / the UK. Today I looked up castles and there are hundreds of different castles all through out the UK and Ireland. I started making a list of ones I wanted to see but after fifty I decided it would be easier to find a book or website that has names of cities and what castles can be found with in them.

I also spent a good deal of the day debating on weather I would take the train up and down the coast or rent a car.

First comparing costs:

• For the train I can get a Britpass for 15 stops only for $745 dollars. That will limit me to how many times I can get off and on the train and I'm sure there are other restrictions that go along with that. 

• For the car it would cost me just over $500 to rent it for the three weeks while I am in the UK, plus I would need gas which I would add another $250 for a total of $750.

So basically both will cost me roughly the same amount.

Pros for taking the train;

• Don't have to deal with traffic
• Can relax and enjoy the scenery

Cons for taking the train;

• Limited to where and what I can see
• Will have luge around luggage with me if I can't store it at a friends house. 

Pros for renting a car;

• Can travel where ever I want
• Don't have to wait for train schedules
• Can explore more of the rural countryside
• Can store luggage inside car
• Can sleep in car (if necessary). 

Cons for renting a car;

• Will have to drive on the opposite side of the road
• Will have to deal with unknown weather conditions
• Will have to find parking for the car
• Will have to deal with traffic

Seeing it all laid out like this and discussing it over with my buddy Erik I think I'm going to go with renting a car. Sure I'll have to deal with traffic but hey I'm from LA and deal with traffic all the time.