Too Early to book rooms, car?

murphy · Guru

Too Early to book rooms, car?

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dan,

It is not too early to begin your shopping around. In fact, I found that it was better to make inquiries towards the end of the season than to wait until the in between time.

If there were more than the two of you, I know of two self-catering cottages in Kanturk that are well worth a look. Pea**** Cottage is designed for 8. Glenlohane Cottage is meant for six people.

With all the headache involved in car rental and the research that must be accomplished, you are wise to start your search as early as possible, in my opinion.

I have been known to actually make my reservations for the following year as I am checking out of some lodgings.

For a B&B close in to Shannon, Mary Browne's Bunratty Lodge would be my suggestion for you above all others.

$755 is a good deal, especially from the West Coast. biggrin

Slan Beo,

Bit

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dia Duit, Dan,

I will try this once again, as there seems to be a posting problem.

As a rule, I try to make contact with my lodging choices before the end of season. That gives them advance notice and they can put it in their planner, which helps them better coordinate their Off-season schedules. As for deposits , I haven't had too many ask for one. Those that do don't want one until after the first of year.

As for car rental, it never hurts to start that boondoggle early, as there is a lot of research and planning to be done.

You got an excellent deal on airfare, especially from the west coast! I can only hope that we fair as well.

I know of two excellent self-catering cottages in Kanturk. However, they are for larger groups. Pea**** Cottage holds 8. Glenlohane Cottage holds 6.

I hope this helps some.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

I like Bit's idea of shopping around now. However, many B&Bs don't even start taking reservations till after the 1st of the year. There are exceptions. For the car keep looking but I would wait till next year to book - unless you find a really good deal.

Specials for hotels will not be online for next year yet. I am just seeing summer specials for this year - not even autumn ones yet.

I know you are anxious to get started but at this point you should be "just looking".

Michele

murphy · Guru

Thanks Michele and Bit!

I may have gotten the cart ahead of the horse here biggrin

. I made at least one reservation tonight for a hotel in Dublin before I got back on line here to heed all your advice! I had gotten a list of a dozen or more of the more popular hotels in Dublin in what I would call the central location for easy on-foot sight seeing, shopping, pubs, restaurants, yet quiet, clean, good reviews, and highly rated on trip advisor.com and other rating sights. In researching these dozen hotels, I found that 4 were already totally booked up for March 27 and 28, 2011. So I decided to at least nail down the first 2 nights of the trip in Dublin. I found a great rate (I think) at the O'Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel for 55 euro/night per room, king bed. I was mentally prepared for $150-200/night/room in Dublin, but was hoping to find something a little less expensive. This figures out about $72/night/room, and we will pay 50% at booking and the balance at check-out. We could have opted for the 15% down payment, but at a rate of 69 euros/room/night. It does not include breakfast, but has a restaurant on sight. It looks like a great location plus it appears to be in a quiet neighborhood.

I am now looking into self catering cottages in County Cork, and will monitor the car rental rates for a while before starting that process. What would you consider a "good deal" on a mid-size manual rental car for 12 days, picking up in Dublin and dropping in Shannon? Thanks for your help! Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Thursday 5th of August 2010 12:35:48 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

There must be something going on in Dublin on those dates. But I'm glad you got your reservations. That is a great price. Maggie got in on the deal at the Mont Clare too.

I really have not been researching 12-day car rentals. Perhaps you can tell us what you are finding and we can comment on it.

Where in Co. Cork for your self-catering? I found a thatched house by the sea in Dingle that I love but it is much too expensive for my budget.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Apart from the 27/8th being the clocks going forwards an hour for summer time, I can only think that the Booked Hotels might be revamping between St Pat's week and Easter.

Car rates wont change worth mentioning in fact they might go up significantly dependant on the Budget measures which might hit motoring hard according to to our press.

This is a Cottage we have used just east from Skibbereen. But Shamrock Cottages who are the agents for this and many other properties would have to be contacted as they wont be showing availability for 2011 as yet.

http://www.shamrockcottages.co.uk/properties/cork/glandore-52/

Given the location of Kanturk this inland Cottage on the Cork / Kerry border might be a closer option.

http://www.shamrockcottages.co.uk/properties/Kerry/gneeveguilla-killarney-363/

-- Edited by tony2phones on Thursday 5th of August 2010 04:13:09 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony,

We had read about the car shortage for car hire companies. Prices went up dramatically last year between spring and fall. Are they predicting more extreme shortages? Or is there some other news about them that we have not heard?

Thanks for the cottage recommendations for Dan.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

The extreme shortages were a result of the government altering rules on Hire vehicle tax and resale duties, I don't fully understand the ins and outs but the hire companies stopped buying replacement cars for those taken out of service and dramatically reduced the numbers of Auto cars in the fleet as these were primarily high season only rentals. The next problems may stem from the effects of the annual Budget and its influence on fuel, road tax and Insurance. There is also talk of making all of the new/upgraded roads into toll roads. The only benefit we have is that sometimes the Irish Government (unlike many others) can be swayed by the populous into undoing unpopular or extreme rulings.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony,

Thanks for the update. We were aware about the car companies not replacing cars and hanging on to older models longer, thus leading to less cars available to rent. I suppose time will tell about the other things. I still firmly believe that all car hire companies should have the same rules instead of them all making their own. But it has not happened in the 37 years I have been renting in Ireland and I don't think that will happen in my lifetime.

Unfortunately, the car rental situation in Ireland does lead to a loss of tourists. Some people - when the realize the complications - decide to go to another country instead. Too bad because Ireland is a wonderful place to visit.

Michele

murphy · Guru

Michele and Tony,

Thanks for your help. I couldn't find anything going on in Dublin on those dates either, so today I tried pulling up a couple of those hotels again, which were listed the other day as: " unavailable at this time, try other dates." Now they come up with rates and availabilty....so maybe I'm having more computer problems? The successful booking occured several hours later. At any rate, I am happy with our Dublin hotel booking. We arrive Dublin at 7:05AM, and will have all that day, plus the next day for Dublin. We would get our car mid-morning on the 3rd day. Is that enough time for Dublin? We could add another night in Dublin, but really want to spend 2 nights in Kilkenny and 2 in Kenmare, and then will probably have to take a full week at the self catering. Is it unrealistic to expect mid-week to mid-week, or do they structure their weeks differently, or does it depend on the time of year? This is our first time self catering, so a bit unsure how it all works.

As for the self catering location, we know generally where our geneolgy research will take us. I have written down the suggestions from Bit and Tony--thanks. The baptism records are at Dromtariff Parish in rural County cork, about 10 southwest of Kanturk. Some ideas that Itallian Chauffeur Bob came up with last summer to help our search involved the townland of Carragraigue, and he suggested contacting the secretary of the Banteer Parish for records associated with the listing in Griffith's Valuation. So, any self catering accomodation in this area or 10-15 mile radius would be what we are looking for. Of course, close proximity of a pub would be helpful too biggrin

! Our friends want to take day trips from this self catering location, and would need access to bus routes, as they aren't too keen on driving the rental car. They were thinking day trips to Cobh, Kinsale, Blarney Castle, Jameson Distillery, etc. We may need the rental car often that week, depending on the geneolgy search. Thanks for your Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

I don't think you are having computer problems. I think the booking engines are having hiccups. Sometimes so far in advance the data is not input into them yet.

I think your 2 days in Dublin will be fine. Make your first day an easy one and do some close by things. On your second day do the hopper bus tour and see the rest.

As for mid-week to mid-week self-catering. It just really depends on if they have any bookings. If they are empty I'm sure they will do a mid-week rental. Shop around!

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan,

You've come to the right place. What you need is a thorough application of the 4M's --- Michele, Michele's Forum, Millstreet and Me! biggrin

If you want to do a Self-Catering in the Dromtariff area, Millstreet would be an EXCELLENT base for your needs. We've stayed in a very nice, two-bedroomed house for the last two years and the owners are quite accommodating. There are other choices, as well, but Millstreet is a very pleasant little town with good eats, good pubs and even better people -- and it has a train station which connects to Dublin, Killarney, Cork, Cobh and ( I believe) Midelton. Not much of a Live Music scene, I admit, but Killarney is only 30 - 40 minutes away.

Some useful links, to get started:

Millstreet Mallow Heritage Center Civil Registration Office National Archives

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Sunday 8th of August 2010 10:14:12 AM

murphy · Guru

Bob..Just happen to be on this websight, and your post comes up! Thanks. We are looking at all the options. Didn't you go to Ireland recently? You have been kind of quiet on this web sight, till now....unless I missed something! Later....Dan

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Just returned, last Monday, from a three week trip (which may explain the absence). Stayed one week in Millstreet, at: Dooneen . I think it would meet most of your needs/wishes.

Michele knows Ireland best, but the Millstreet area is near and dear to my heart. If you need any advice or info on the area, I would be happy to oblige.

Bob

murphy · Guru

Bob,

Welcome back. biggrin

Hope you had a fantastic trip! Is a trip report forthcoming?

We may have hit pay dirt on one of the sights you mentioned. It was a sight that my wife had been on 4 years ago, but it seems there have been some updates since then. We found that they are starting to put images out that are now available on line by computer, of baptisms, marriages, and death documents from the Dublin and Kerry regions. We think we have found my great grandfathers record, baptism April 5, 1842, in Dromtariffe Parish, Archdiocess-area Kerry (RC). He was suppose to have been 9 years old in 1851 when they left Ireland, so this also matches up. It was listed as a baptism of "Dermot" Murphy, instead of Jeremiah, but this appears to match up with the actual baptismal document my Aunt saw at Dromtariffe Parish about 15 years ago. We think the Priest there at the time, hand wrote the information on a form document, and it was written as Jeremiah. We have a photocopy of this document. According to the websight info, it is listed in book 1, pg 6, entry 189, and has an identifier number, but says that the church register page containing this record has not yet been imaged. This record lists their address as: Glaundaiach ( also spelled Glaundaech in his sister Katherine entry which we also just found). Don't know if it is a town, or townland. Have you heard of this? I Will google this address to try to find out exactly where it is. Looks like a Gaelic name. Wonder if Dermot is the Gaelic name for Jeremiah? We have lots of questions, and hope to find a lot of answers before we hit the ground running on March 29th!

Since Dromtariffe is actually in the Kerry Archdiocess instead of the Diocess mentioned in the Mallow Heritage center websight, it looks like we may have to go west, instead of to Mallow, to look for any other church records. Thanks again for your help...Dan and Joyce

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 8th of August 2010 11:56:04 PM

murphy · Guru

Bob,

Sent an email to Dooneen the Buckley Self catering requesting information. Sounds like it would be convenient for our friends to take the train on day trips. How close is this to a bus route? Thanks again for sharing information with us. Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

Welcome back! I'm glad you're home safe and sound. Hope you had a great trip. I'm looking forward to hearing more once you are settled down again.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan --

The house is about 1 mile north of the train station, which is about one mile north of town center. The bus stop is at the Square, I believe, so a bit too far to walk, but not so far as to be inconvenient.

While Dromtariff USED to be part of Kerry, I believe it is currently part of Cloyne. Regardless, birth and death records are CIVIL matters, so the Mallow and Roscommon offices would come into play for those.

Michele -- Am trying to re-adjust to Real Life and am daunted by the EIGHT CD's worth of photos that we took (using three different cameras) -- trying to decide what to upload and what not ...

It could be a while ....

Bob

murphy · Guru

Bob-

Thanks for the info. Got a reply from Catherine Buckley, and she normally rents from Sat to Sat, but said she may be willing to work something out.

1 or 2 miles from the bus or train would be no problem as we could "chauffeur" biggrin

them there and back. by the way....what prompted your web name "Itallian Chauffeur"? Bet there is a story behind that!

The big question is.....do we want to be that far from a pub with trad music for a full week? If we thought 2-4 days would yield all the geneology results possible, we could then slip down to the Baltimore/Skibbereen area to stay, rather than just day trips. You say there is no trad music in Millstreet....how far and to what town would we have to go to find some? Guess the geneology project takes priority on this trip. We should have plenty of music after 2 nights in Dubs and 2 in Kilkenny at the beginning of the trip, and 2 in Kenmare and 1 in Bunratty afterwords.

Sounds like you did take lots of pictures. We had nearly 1,000 pics on 2 cameras, but don't think it would have filled 8 CD's. Will be anxious to see them and hear all about your trip.

Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

I love looking at and messing with my photos. It brings back such nice memories. I just download all of them to the computer and then prune them later.

A few photos that I've hated turned out to be fantastic when enhanced in with a photo program. I even sold some on Zazzle! You never know what people will buy.

Michele aww

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 05:55:15 PM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Michele --

1,875 files, totaling 6.23 GB of memory -- biggrin

I take all pix at MAXIMUM quality setting to allow for enlarging and cropping.

Memory Cards have gotten so cheap and camera Mega-pixel size has gotten progressively larger. My first trip (in '99) I had a 1/2 MP camera that only allowed image size of 640 X 480. My Canon point-and-shoot is 7 MP and the Olympus DSLR does 10.1 MP.

Dan --

Millstreet is the Eastern anchor of the Killarney - Castleisland - Millstreet Triangle that roughly defines the area known as Sliabh Luchra -- an area RICHLY embued with a long and storied history of fine story-telling, writing, Dance and Music.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Tuesday 10th of August 2010 10:17:02 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

I remember when I bought my first computer. They said the huge hard drive had so much memory it could never be filled. Ha! They lied. Everything takes more and more.

Michele