Our Ireland Adventure: Planning a Trip for 15 People

Planning an international trip is an adventure in itself. Planning one for 15 people, including eight children? That takes a little extra coordination, flexibility, and a whole lot of communication!

Our family’s trip to Ireland in July and August 2026 was a special one, not just because we got to explore a beautiful country, but because of the story behind how it all came together. Along the way, we learned quite a bit about planning a big family trip, finding accommodations, getting around a new country, and keeping everyone organized.

If you’re dreaming of a trip to Ireland or planning a vacation with a large family group, I hope some of what we learned will help you prepare for your own adventure!

The Gift That Started It All

In July 2025, my father-in-law passed away. He loved to travel, and in the midst of grieving, my mother-in-law wanted to give our family something meaningful to look forward to: the opportunity to make memories together.

She gave everyone plane tickets to Ireland for the summer of 2026!

Our final group included 15 people: seven adults and eight children, spread across four family units. The group included my mother-in-law, my husband and me, and my husband’s two siblings and their families.

We were incredibly grateful for the opportunity, but coordinating a trip for that many people required some planning. We had different family needs to consider, a variety of ages, accommodations to find, transportation to arrange, and an itinerary that would work for everyone.

Thankfully, my husband’s sister and her husband took the lead in putting together our itinerary. They did a wonderful job planning a route that allowed us to see a lot of Ireland without spending the entire trip in the car. Since they had a little baby, they tried to keep our driving days to around three or four hours at most.

That became one of our first big planning lessons: You can see a lot without trying to do everything. Building a realistic itinerary makes a big difference, especially when traveling with children.

Planning the Route and Finding Accommodations

Once we had a general idea of where we wanted to go, we worked together to figure out where everyone would stay.

One of our goals was to minimize the number of times we had to pack up and move. With 15 people, moving from place to place is no small task! We still ended up changing accommodations several times, and our longest stay in one location was three days.

Looking back, I would definitely recommend considering how often you want to move before booking your lodging. Every new location means packing luggage, loading vehicles, checking out, driving, checking in, and getting everyone settled again. Sometimes seeing a little less allows you to enjoy the places you visit a whole lot more.

Finding Lodging for a Large Group

Finding accommodations was one of our biggest challenges. Ireland has been experiencing a housing crisis, and finding suitable lodging for a group of 15 wasn't easy.

We ultimately stayed in a combination of accommodations, including a castle, Airbnbs, a hotel, and even a pub! Two of the places we stayed were so difficult to book for a large group that even our own family had to split up!

As we traveled through and around Northern Ireland, finding larger accommodations became particularly challenging. We ended up booking two separate houses for our family, staying relatively close to one another but in different lodgings. It wasn't necessarily our ideal arrangement, but sometimes you have to be flexible when traveling with a large group. Finding two suitable places near each other was better than not finding accommodations that worked at all!

There is also an important travel detail to remember if you're visiting both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, and some visitors may need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), depending on their nationality and circumstances. Check the current requirements before your trip at the official UK ETA website.

Tips for Booking Accommodations

1. Book early.

Finding places that could accommodate a large group took time, especially in popular areas. The earlier you start researching, the more options you'll have. For a group this size, I would begin looking at accommodations as soon as your dates and general route are settled.

2. Read the listing carefully.

This one is important! We accidentally booked three rooms in someone else's house when we thought we were booking a private house. Awkward!

If you want an entire property to yourselves, make sure the listing specifically says that you're booking the entire place. Don't rely on the photos or the general description alone.

3. Be flexible about how your group is divided.

You might not find one property that comfortably accommodates everyone. Consider booking two places close to each other rather than limiting your search to houses large enough for the entire group.

4. Pay attention to cancellation policies.

We tried to find accommodations with free cancellation whenever possible. When you're coordinating several families, plans can change, and having flexibility is valuable.

Also, keep track of payment deadlines and cancellation dates. Put them on your calendar so you don't accidentally miss a deadline or lose the ability to cancel without a penalty.

5. Think about the number of moves, not just the nightly price.

A less expensive place might seem like a great deal, but frequent moves can add stress and eat into your sightseeing time. Consider the overall convenience of each booking as you plan your route.

Getting Around Ireland

Transportation was another piece of the puzzle. With 15 people, we had to think about more than simply getting from one town to the next. We needed to consider luggage, children, and how easily we could get everyone where they needed to go.

Starting in Dublin Without Rental Cars

We decided to delay renting our cars until after we had spent the first couple of days in Dublin. The idea was to use public transportation while exploring the city rather than dealing with rental cars and parking right away.

That sounded reasonable in theory!

In practice, our family had a little trouble figuring out the public bus system. We ended up walking quite a way before finally calling Uncle for help and hailing our first taxi in Ireland. Our seven-year-old was especially proud that she got to help hail the family's first taxi!

It became one of those travel memories that we'll probably laugh about for years. It also reminded us that sometimes the best-laid plans need a little adjustment.

Using Taxis and Free Now

We used the Free Now app to arrange taxi rides, and it was a helpful option when public transportation wasn't working well for us.

One thing we learned quickly was to communicate how many people were traveling and how much luggage we had. Our family alone had six people, six suitcases, and six backpacks. That's quite a bit to fit into a vehicle!

When arranging a ride, we made sure the driver knew in advance that we had six passengers and lots of luggage. This helped us avoid surprises when the taxi arrived.

If you're traveling with a larger family, remember that a vehicle that can hold everyone doesn't necessarily have room for everyone's luggage, too. Be clear about both when booking transportation.

Renting Cars for the Rest of the Trip

After Dublin, we used rental cars to travel around the country. Having vehicles gave us more flexibility as we moved between destinations and explored places outside the city.

For a large group, I would recommend thinking through the transportation plan before you arrive. Consider when you'll actually need rental cars, where you'll park, how much luggage each vehicle can hold, and whether everyone needs to travel together at every stop.

You don't necessarily have to rent cars for the entire trip if you'll be spending a few days in a city where public transportation or taxis are practical.

Preparing for International Travel

Traveling internationally with children requires a little more preparation than a typical family road trip. We had several things to take care of well before departure.

Passports for Everyone

The adults already had passports, but we needed to get passports for our four children.

Getting passports for children can be a significant expense, so make sure you include them in your travel budget early. Depending on the fees and services you need, the total can add up quickly.

Don't wait until the last minute to begin the process. Give yourself plenty of time to gather documents, schedule appointments, and receive the passports before departure.

Global Entry

My husband and I also enrolled in Global Entry to help make the airport process easier. At the time we enrolled, the fee was $160 per adult, and our children could be added without an additional fee under the program's rules at that time.

Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits for eligible members, which can be helpful when traveling with children.

Program fees and eligibility rules can change, so check the official Global Entry website for current details before applying.

Don't Skimp on Rain Gear!

If there is one practical item I would encourage you to prioritize for Ireland, it's good rain gear.

We purchased windproof, waterproof jackets for everyone and waterproof boots to help keep our feet dry. Wellies, also called Wellington boots, are another option worth considering, depending on your plans.

And let me tell you, these purchases were well worth the money!

When you're traveling with children, being wet and cold can make an otherwise wonderful day much less enjoyable. Having jackets and footwear that can handle the weather made it easier for us to get outside and enjoy our trip.

My advice is to look for genuinely waterproof jackets rather than ones that are simply water-resistant. Think about comfortable footwear, too, especially if your itinerary includes walking, sightseeing, or exploring outdoors.

You don't have to pack your entire closet, but having the right gear makes a difference.

Keeping Everyone Organized

Coordinating 15 people across multiple destinations requires more than a group text! We needed a way to communicate, keep track of preparations, and make sure everyone knew where we were supposed to be.

Weekly Zoom Meetings

Before the trip, we held weekly Zoom meetings to check in on everyone's preparations.

These meetings gave us an opportunity to ask questions, discuss upcoming needs, and make sure each family was making progress. With four family units involved, it was helpful to have a regular time when everyone could get on the same page.

If you're planning a group trip, I recommend setting up regular check-ins. They don't have to be long or formal. Even a short conversation can help catch problems before they become last-minute emergencies.

Using Wanderlog to Plan the Trip

We also used Wanderlog to build our itinerary and share information with the group. It was helpful to have a central place for the trip details rather than relying entirely on messages scattered across different conversations.

However, we discovered something we hadn't anticipated: not everyone could see all the information we thought they could. Some group members couldn't access certain reservation details, including information about where we were staying and ticket reservations. We had assumed that everyone invited to the itinerary would have the same access, but that wasn't the case.

Our lesson? Don't assume everyone can see everything just because you've shared an itinerary.

Before you leave, have each person open the app and check what information is actually visible to them. Make sure everyone can access the details they'll need while traveling.

It is also wise to keep essential information somewhere accessible to everyone, such as a shared document or a message with accommodation addresses, reservation confirmations, ticket details, and important contact information.

A little extra organization before departure can save a lot of confusion once you're in another country!

What We Learned About Planning a Big Family Trip

Looking back, there are several things I would keep in mind when planning another international trip with a large group.

• Start early. Passports, accommodations, and coordinating everyone's schedules take time.

• Build a realistic itinerary. Keep driving days manageable and leave room to enjoy each destination instead of rushing through it.

• Choose accommodations strategically. Consider the number of times you'll move, cancellation policies, and whether your group may need to split into nearby properties.

• Plan transportation around your actual itinerary. You may not need rental cars for every day, and luggage can affect which options work best.

• Prepare for the weather. Waterproof jackets and footwear can be worth every penny.

• Communicate regularly. Weekly check-ins helped keep our four family units moving in the same direction.

• Double-check shared information. Verify that everyone can access reservations, tickets, addresses, and other important details before you leave.

Most importantly, leave room for flexibility. Even with careful planning, things won't always go exactly as expected. A bus system may be confusing, a property may not work out as you imagined, or your group may need to change plans. Sometimes those unexpected moments become the stories you remember most.

More Than a Vacation

Our Ireland trip was about much more than visiting a new country. It was an opportunity to spend time together as a family, make memories with our children and their cousins, and honor the love of someone who had always enjoyed traveling.

Planning a trip for 15 people certainly came with challenges. Finding accommodations was harder than we expected, organizing transportation required thought, and keeping everyone informed took effort. But the opportunity to experience Ireland together made all of that worthwhile.

If you're planning a large family trip of your own, I hope our experience encourages you. You don't have to have every detail figured out perfectly. Start early, communicate often, prepare for the practical things, and be willing to adjust along the way.

And don't forget to enjoy the adventure—even when your plans lead you on a longer walk than expected before you finally hail that first taxi!