If you are visiting the Island by sea ------ your first port of call, if you have come like the majority of
travellers using the Steam Packet services will be Douglas. This is the
capital of the island and has a lot to offer the business or leisure
visitor. Positioned on the south east coast of the island you are never
that far from any other place. The Isle of Man Steam Packet run
services all year round between Douglas and Heysham and Douglas and
Liverpool, as well as seasonal services between Douglas and Belfast and
Douglas and Dublin. If using the Heysham route you will more than
likely be using the Ben my Chree which is a conventional Ro-Ro ferry
which makes two return journeys every day. The Liverpool routes
are serviced by either the Super Seacat or Seacat. All carry
cars but restrictions do apply so pre planning is advisable if you
have a larger than normal vehicle........................................
..............For all information regarding sailings or bookings call 08705
523 523 (UK) or 1800 80 50 55 (ROI) or click on the link below............................
Ronaldsway ------ the Isle of Man airport is situated on the south east coast of the island just north
of the ancient capital Castletown. It serves many of the regional
airports in the UK along with Dublin, Belfast and now Amsterdam. The destinations that are available direct from
the Island using scheduled flights with links to the carriers websites
are as follows:
For Flights to Belfast, Blackpool, Gloucester M5, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, Newcastle.
For flights to Birmingham, Geneva, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Southampton.
For flights to Dublin.
For flights to Geneva, Guernsey, Jersey, Zurich.
For flights to Glasgow.
For Flights to Belfast, Blackpool, Gloucester M5, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, Newcastle.
For flights to Birmingham, Geneva, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Southampton.
For flights to Dublin.
For flights to Geneva, Guernsey, Jersey, Zurich.
For flights to Glasgow.
The
airport has everything that the busy business traveller or holiday
maker requires. The usual operational hours are from 06:15hrs to
20:45hrs daily, starting at 06:30 on a Sunday. These times may vary at
any time due to operational services being affected. Up to date
information can be obtained by phoning the airport information desk on
01624 821600 or by clicking here.
If
it's car hire that you are after there are three car hire desks in the
terminal directly on your right as you leave the baggage retrieval
area. You have a choice of ATHOL CAR HIRE who are agents for Europecar phone number 01624 822481, Fax 01624 827764.. MYLCHREESTS
who are agents for Avis, phone number 01624 823533, Fax 01624 825587
and IoM RENT a CAR agents for Hertz, National, phone number 01624
825885, Fax 01624 823783. If you are intending to drive and you have
come during either the TT or Manx Grand Prix races remember that the
roads may be shut and could be for quite a number of hours. There are
different routes that you can take so plan ahead is the best advice
that I can give. Be careful when parking your car as most places are
governed by the 'DISC ZONE' This lets you park for free for a given
period as long as you display your time of arrival in the parking space
on a parking disc which you place on the dashboard.
For those of you not driving, right outside the main entrance is a taxi rank with cabs that will take you to anywhere on the island. Douglas being a 15 to 20 minute journey away will cost in the region of £16. Ramsey on the other hand which is the furthest large town away will set you back around £35 and take around forty minutes. If you are on a tight budget there is also a bus service; numbers 1 and 2 which stop right outside the terminal and operate daily between Douglas, Santon, Ballasalla, Castletown and Port Erin. The number 8 operates Mondays to Saturdays between Peel, Foxdale and Port Erin and this also stops outside the terminal. For all information regarding timetables etc please contact Isle of Man Transport on 01624 662525 or again the airport information desk on 01624 821600.......................
For those of you not driving, right outside the main entrance is a taxi rank with cabs that will take you to anywhere on the island. Douglas being a 15 to 20 minute journey away will cost in the region of £16. Ramsey on the other hand which is the furthest large town away will set you back around £35 and take around forty minutes. If you are on a tight budget there is also a bus service; numbers 1 and 2 which stop right outside the terminal and operate daily between Douglas, Santon, Ballasalla, Castletown and Port Erin. The number 8 operates Mondays to Saturdays between Peel, Foxdale and Port Erin and this also stops outside the terminal. For all information regarding timetables etc please contact Isle of Man Transport on 01624 662525 or again the airport information desk on 01624 821600.......................
Whatever type of accomodation you are looking for you will find it on the island. If it is a five star hotel that you are seeking or maybe a modest camp site is your choice you are in luck as all can be obtained here. I would advise that if you are thinking of visiting during the very busy period of the TT festival (normaly the last week in May first week in June) that you book up as early as possible as places are very thin on the ground if you leave it too late. All information about most types of accommodation can be found on the Isle of Man Government website which you can reach by clicking the logo below. Just put in your preferences and with any luck you might just find what you are looking for.....................
